Mystery Shopping FAQs for Shoppers
In addition, please check out our Become a Mystery Shopper page
Here are some of the questions we hear on a regular basis.
What is Mystery Shopping?
It’s a method of marketing research that’s used by a wide range of industries whereby someone poses as a real customer, and then (traditionally) follows up by preparing a report about their experience. The person posing as a real customer is the “Mystery Shopper”.
These days there are a wide variety of different uses in terms of technology and different enquiry channels. Many assignments can be completed remotely from home (e.g. phone or online enquiries or experiences). The best paying jobs require the Shopper to travel by car to the client’s business location. Some companies reimburse you for a purchase, such as oil change shops or fast food restaurant shops. Many assignments (including Video Mystery Shopping assignments) require the Shopper to provide the latest in recording devices.
What is it used for?
The information and feedback within Mystery Shopping reports (and any relevant supporting evidence such as documents, photographs, audio recordings, and video footage) is used by the client to help them better understand the customer experience and monitor their performance. For example, a hamburger chain may ask you to time how long it takes for you to be served.
Information provided in the report is objective and balanced, and often recorded to ensure fairness and accuracy.
The information is used to help the client to see where it needs to improve, for example through staff training, or through better systems and processes.
How much can I get paid, and can I do this for a main income?
Mystery Shoppers are paid for each assignment that they complete. Different assignments have different rates of pay and these rates broadly reflect the amount of time that should need to be spent to complete the assignment, and/or the level of challenge or difficulty involved. Shop pay ranges from reimbursement of expenses only (restaurants, services, hotels) to $100/shop for high-end shops. Audio and Video Shoppers are expected to have their own equipment.
Our rates of pay are far above average and among the highest in the industry (within the USA). A new home purchase is likely the largest investment a customer will make. The New Home industry spends millions every year just on training their onsite sales staff.
It is possible for Mystery Shopping to produce a full time income for an individual in the USA. This is most likely to be achieved for Video Mystery Shoppers, and in any case, is likely to require a high level of efficiency and organization. The availability of assignments from any one company in any one geographic will fluctuate, so a full time income through Mystery Shopping is most often achieved by those who register and work with more than one company, and have the ability to travel outside their home areas.
What skills or qualifications are needed?
There are no mandatory formal qualifications required. However there are specific attributes that are essential, and that are not very common.
For report-based Mystery Shopping, Mystery Shoppers need to be highly literate (in the English language, if working in the USA).
Shoppers must also have all of these attributes:
- OWN, OPERATE and MAINTAIN your own audio and video equipment.
- Reliability, honesty and diligence (always completing any assignment you accept and doing so on time and to the highest standard possible).
- Organizational skills and punctuality. You must be able to plan ahead, make commitments and be able to keep them.
- Presence of mind, clarity of thought and concentration.
- Self-confidence in everyday face-to-face dealings with people.
- Ability to keep a cool head and remain focused, objective and professional even when under pressure.
- Attention to detail.
- A very good memory – for detail.
- Basic computer literacy.
- Access to a computer or tablet and regular internet access.
Mystery Shopping is something that’s appropriate for people of all ages (18 and over) and backgrounds, but it is really only suitable for those who possess the attributes above in abundance.
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