Can I Really Get Paid To Shop? Eat at a Restaurant?
I have been hearing about mystery shopping – What is it?
Mystery shopping is a very attractive concept to the everyday shop-a-holic. Not only can you do what you love to do best – SHOP! You get paid to do that very thing. Companies want to know what is going on at their place of business when they are not there to see. They want to know what the experience is of the general public – the average shopper. That’s where the mystery shopper comes in to play.
To help the company get unbiased, unrehearsed, typical experience information – the company needs to have individuals that no one knows is evaluating the situation. If the store personnel do not know that they are being appraised, they are more likely to demonstrate the behaviors that they display on a regular basis. This may not be the same performance that the boss sees when he or she visits the site. When the boss is coming folks may be on their best behavior. Shelves that typically are not ordered are perfectly aligned and the staff have smiles and are helpful to customers in the area. What happens when the boss is away? That is the information that the mystery shopper gathers.
Reports from individuals who are hired to shop anonymously can provide the company with an array of information that they cannot gather themselves. This third party information provides a different view of the company and how it is seen by others. Since no one knows who is visiting and when they are visiting (they may not even know that anyone at all is coming to take a look) the mystery shopper has an opportunity to see a variety of pieces of the business in action. What is the customer service like? What is the quality of the products? Are the surroundings clean and appealing? Is the ambiance warm and inviting?
This information helps the company in a variety of ways. It can help them identify training needs for staff. Help with providing feedback regarding performance to their employees. Identify gaps in providing service. Discover new ideas for improving overall performance and productivity, and more.
What Does a Mystery Shopper Do Exactly?
Mystery shoppers are responsible for visiting the store or business and assessing the overall picture – customer service, the environment, the product etc. They do this by being ‘just another customer’ of that business whether it be a store, restaurant or other type of business.
If you choose to be a mystery shopper, before going to the target store you would be provided with information about any specific observations the company is looking for during the visit. You would visit the location and gather impressions of the business and its operation. Generally you will need to remember these as writing down your observations on the spot may clue the employees that something is going on. After your trip is completed you would put together a report via online form (some companies may have you complete a written report that is submitted by mail, but typically your report is provided electronically). This report can be a questionnaire or other format designed to gather the information t he company is looking to obtain. And that’s it. You are done. You had a nice time shopping, or a nice lunch at the restaurant, came home wrote up your thoughts and an account of your observations and your assignment is finished.
How long does it take to complete an assignment?
The time it takes for you to complete the assignment may depend on what the assignment is and where. Usually the completing the actual task takes less than an hour. If your assignment involves a trip to the theater, it may be a bit longer. You may have to travel to the assignment, will add on to the overall time you have invested in the job. You can choose assignments based on their proximity to your home if you want, or you can plan your other chores and shopping around your assignment.
What do you get paid for shopping? There is no standard fee that is paid to the shopper. Fees vary – however $10 to $20 is often quoted for the ‘average’ shopping assignment. In some cases the assignment may include free meals, savings on products, or other benefits. Sometimes you may be asked to buy something as part of the job. Generally you will be reimbursed for this purchase. This should be spelled out in the assignment. You should be clear about what the expectations are before you accept the work, this includes: what you are the parameters of the job? What you are to observe while in the shopping experience? How long it is anticipated to take? And, what payment (including any expenses that will be reimbursed, if applicable to the assignment)?
It Sounds Good – Where Do I Find Jobs?
You will need to contact a company that arranges mystery shopping for stores and businesses. Typically they will ask you to register with them in order to get assignments. There are lists of mystery shopping companies at mysteryshop.org or you can search the web to locate these companies. Visit the sites and respond to shopper assignment listings.. Follow their instructions. You may not get an assignment right away; don’t give up – to be successful you may need to be patient and persistent.
How many of these assignments can I take?
How often you work at completing shopping assignments depends in part on your availability. It also depends on a number of other factors including how many opportunities there are to shop in your area and how many other shoppers are there in your area competing with you for the assignments. Different mystery shopping companies handle different clients (companies) so you may be able to increase your potential for getting assignments if you register with more than one company.
Remember that this is a job.
Only take the assignments that you will be able to complete. Don’t just accept a lot of assignments and then fail to finish the job. This will lead to your not being considered for future assignments as the mystery shopping company has a reputation that they need to maintain with the companies for which they provide mystery shoppers. If you do not show yourself as reliable, you are a liability to them and they will be less likely to offer you assignment. On the other hand, if you are able to take a number of assignments and complete each in a timely and professional manner, you will increase your chances that future jobs may come your way.
