Would you like to enjoy meals at restaurants in your area free or at a significantly reduced cost? Are you organized with good writing skills? If so, you might find that participating in restaurant mystery shopping opportunities is something that you will enjoy.

What is Restaurant Mystery Shopping?
Many restaurants utilize the services of mystery shoppers as part of their marketing research and customer service programs. Mystery shoppers are assigned to go to certain locations at specified times and report back on what the customer experience is like.

Through mystery shopping programs, restaurant owners and mangers are able to learn whether or not employees are complying with policies, identify areas where employees are excelling, and identify areas where employees might need additional training.

Becoming a Restaurant Mystery Shopper

If you're interested in doing restaurant mystery shopping, you will need to register with a variety of mystery shopping companies. You'll need to find companies to sign up with (see the www.volition.com forum for a list of legitimate mystery shopping companies and read the "a word of caution" section below first).

Each shopping company has its own application process that typically includes an agreement that requires shoppers to avoid disclosing who the organization's clients are. Additionally, you'll have to fill out a questionnaire, and in many cases also provide a writing sample. You may also need to submit a W-9 form.

If you are assigned to mystery shop a restaurant, you will be provided with a specific set of guidelines that you will have to follow. The guidelines often include directives to order particular items, along with specific questions that need to be answered about service, food quality, and service times, facility maintenance, and more. There will also be instructions about how the receipt must be submitted, a report deadline, and guidelines for actually writing the report.

Most restaurant mystery shopping opportunities provide reimbursement for all of part of the cost of the meal and/or additional compensation for filling out the report. While you probably won't really make a lot of money from performing restaurant mystery shops, you may have an opportunity to enjoy delicious meals for free or at very little cost to you. Keep in mind that you'll need to be able to pay for your meals yourself and wait for reimbursement if you plan to become a restaurant mystery shopper. Additionally, all shop guidelines will have to be met in order for you to be compensated.

A Word of Caution

Legitimate mystery shopping companies will never ask you to pay money in order to apply or to learn about mystery shopping opportunities. Additionally, shopping companies will not send you checks or money orders to cash in advance of shops being completed. There are many, many scams floating around on the Internet disguising themselves as mystery shopping opportunities. Don't allow yourself to fall for these scams. Be sure that any company you sign up with is legitimate. Rely on the forums at www.volition.com to help you separate true shopping opportunities from scams.