Mystery shoppers go to companies to find out how the average customer is treated. While shopping, they act as normal customers and do not inform stores of their presence. The shopper will then write a detailed report, evaluating their experiences. Most mystery shopping focuses on learning more about employee-customer interactions. Mystery shoppers are expected to provide non-biased data. Mystery shopping is also known as secret shopping, experience evaluation, anonymous audits and performance audits.

Becoming a Mystery Shopper

Most mystery shopper companies offer you the chance to register with them online, and will then provide you training and opportunities. Make sure you provide them with a phone number or email address you check regularly, because most companies will just go down their list, contacting shoppers. The first one to respond gets the job.

The Money Side

Most secret shoppers do not make a living from their evaluations. However, it can be a nice side income, especially if you evaluate stores you commonly shop at since some employers will pay you by reimbursing you for items bought in the course of the evaluation. Others will pay a per store fee, or a combination of the two. Some evaluations, however, will earn you less than minimum wage, when you figure in gas mileage to and from, the length of time spent at the store and how long it takes to write up your experience. Scenarios where you are asked to return an item and report on the experience are notoriously time consuming.

Building a Reputation

Just like everyone else, employers of mystery shoppers like reliable employees. If you are consistently dependable, whether you’re evaluating a fast food restaurant or a high-end boutique, you’ll be able to get more work. You can stand out from the rest with a few small touches:

• Have a small reliable digital camera to record product placement, specific issues, etc.
• Always return evaluations on time, and where possible, early.
• Be professional and unbiased.
• Follow a few online resources, like the Mystique Shopping Forum or the Mystery Shopping Providers Association, to get an idea of what other shoppers are doing.

The Mystery Shopper Scam

Lots of companies will offer to train you as a mystery shopper, as well as provide you with job opportunities, as long as you pay them a fee. Remember, though, jobs you have to pay to get are jobs you don’t want. Legitimate companies hiring secret shoppers do not require you to pay them. They are looking for employees.

There is also a relatively new scam which focuses on a request for a mystery shopper to deposit a check to their own account, wire a portion of the check through Western Union or another wire transfer company and keep the rest as their payment. The original check is always bad, and the idea is to get people to wire their own money.

Links to Mystery Shopping Companies

Volition.com

National Shopping Service Network

Shoppers Critique

These are just to get you started. Make sure you keep looking for the company that is right for you.