Mystery Shopping FAQFree Secret Shopper InfoThe mystery shopping faq answers the most frequently asked secret shopping questions. Free secret shopper info is provided as well as guidance on how to get into mystery shopping.
Mystery Shopping FAQ part 1What is Mystery Shopping?When a business owner wants to know how well their employees are serving their customers they hire a secret shopper service to find out for them.The secret shopper service sends a mystery shopper to the business to perform specific tasks while posing as an ordinary customer. After the mystery shopper performs these tasks she (or he) submits a report detailing her experiences to the secret shopper service. They then turn this information over to the business owner.
Is Mystery Shopping Legitimate?Mystery shopping is a legitimate business but there are also a lot of secret shopper scams out there.Read
Mystery Shopping Scams
for information on how to avoid the scams.
Is Mystery Shopping a Legitimate Career?While mystery shopping can be legitimate, I would never characterize it as a career. To me, a career is something you can pursue full-time and make a full-time income from it. This does not describe mystery shopping.Mystery shopping is a fun and profitable hobby. A way to shop and eat out for free. You can get free food and other products and even make a little money too, but I doubt that you could make a living as a secret shopper. Most shops (secret shopping assignments) pay about $10. Occasionally, an experienced shopper may snag a premium assignment. I know of one mystery shopper who shopped a cruise line. She and her husband got to go on a free cruise. She had been working as a mystery shopper for 5 or 6 years before this happened and, to my knowledge, this was the only time she had ever received anything this valuable.
Where Can I Go To School for Mystery Shopping?There is no secret shopping school. There are however, two levels (silver and gold) of certification offered by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association or MSPA. While certification is not required, certified shoppers receive priority consideration for assignments.Silver certification consists of an online test. There is a $15 fee. You must obtain silver certification before you can become gold certified. The MSPA is charging $104 for the gold certification DVD package. My advice: Apply to a few companies and get a little experience. If, after completing several shops, you feel this is for you, get the silver certification. It tells companies you are trying to get your foot in the door with that you are serious about mystery shopping and assures them that you have the basic skills required.
Mystery Shopping FAQ part 2How to Get Into Mystery Shopping:Companies can't keep sending the same shoppers into stores or the store employees will catch on to what is happening. Therefore, there is always a need for new shoppers.Find a legitimate mystery shopping company. Then apply to be a shopper through their website. There will be an online application and probably a test. They will need your social security number. This alone should not set off alarms in your head. Any company that is going to be paying you must have your social security number in order to report the payments to the IRS. I would be suspicious of any company that doesn't ask you for your SSN. They don't plan to pay you.
What's The Best Approach to Mystery Shopping?Do it in your free time and have fun. Sign up with one company to start. If you want more assignments than they can provide you with, add another company. Repeat until you have as many shops as you have time to do.Companies Looking For Secret Shoppers
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