Mystery Shopper

Make Extra Money - Become a Mystery Shopper
By Ed Opperman

In today's tough economy we all find yourself looking to make extra money to make ends meet. Wouldn't it be great if we could make extra money in our spare time while running errands, shopping, watching a movie or dining out? Sounds like a dream job. Make your own schedule and extra money at the same time. Perfect job for a stay at home mom, student or retiree. There's an old saying and old sayings become old sayings because there's a lot of truth in them. "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." There's a lot of truth in that saying when it come to Mystery Shopping companies.

With Mystery Shopping, also known as Secret Shoppers or Integrity Investigations an individual, often a private investigator trainee, walks into a retail, grocery or convenience store, a restaurant, or a gas station to measure specific behaviors and make certain observations. Among them: associate greetings, the length of time to be served, the availability of merchandise, the knowledge of the sales team, and so on.

Many companies request "shops" of their own locations as well as those of their competitors. It enables them to understand how their services stack up against the competition - both generally and in specific areas.One hypothetical example: Mystery shopper assignments might measure the wait in line at Kmart versus Walmart. A hypothetical assignment might also measure how much information a Best Buy sales associate in electronics knows about a specific DVD player , compared with the sales associate at Sears. sometimes it's just the 10 foot rule. Did a sales associate say hello to you once you were within 10 feet of there location.

The problem is that since this is such an attractive part time job there are unscrupulous companies that will offer jobs as a mystery shopper only to lure you in and charge you an up front fee to get assignments. Never pay a fee of any kind to a mystery shopping company.. That is a sure sign of a scam.

In fact you should be required to fill out a lengthy application and pass some online training tests before they offer you assignments. Once you pass the screening and training you can look up assignments in your area and sign up. You can sign up for jobs that are on your route to dropping the kids off at school or soccer practice.

The pay per assignment can be small but as you get experienced ans work the jobs into your daily routine the checks can really add up. also many companies will offer bonuses and incentives. Especially to their loyal and productive shoppers. So you want to be sure you complete all your paperwork promptly and without errors.

Also mystery shopping companies are often affiliated with private investigation agencies. An investigator trainee can use his hours working as an integrity investigator toward obtaining his private investigators license.

It's fun work, easy, great experience and pays well. Just beware of the scams and you're all set.

Copyright (c) 2008 Ed Opperman

Ed Opperman invites you to visit his blog http://accurateinformationrecovery.blogspot.com
where he delves into the topic of Mystery shopping. Follow his advice, tips, links and warning and avoid the scams on your way to a a fun exciting part time job.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Opperman http://EzineArticles.com/?Make-Extra-Money---Become-a-Mystery-Shopper&id=1476726

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Visit mysteryshop.org
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Market force Market Force

Make Extra Money: Become a Mystery Shopper
As profiled on Good Morning America, mystery shopping and merchandising provide a flexible way for individuals to earn extra money. "A nationwide leader in mystery shopping and merchandising among top brands," Market Force Information is constantly looking for people just like you to be our eyes and ears in well-known stores, restaurants and banks.

Read The Story

Click To Apply

Make a Difference: Become a Mystery Shopper (Secret Shopper) or Merchandiser!
Mystery Shopping, which is also referred to as Secret Shopping, is an information-gathering service that allows companies to gather first-hand information about their business. Merchandising jobs involve light, hands on work with the products stores sell. We are constantly looking for observant, conscientious people with strong attention to detail to conduct our mystery shopping, secret shopping or merchandising jobs in well-known stores, restaurants, theatres and banks in your community. By becoming a secret shopper, you will conduct important studies, such as operational evaluations, theatre checks and retail audits that allow our clients to improve their on-site experience for their customers. As a member of our network, you can also sign up for light merchandising assignments which include checking the placement of products on the shelf, stocking products and setting up promotional displays. You're in control. You pick the mystery shopping, secret shopping or merchandising jobs that you want!

How Mystery Shopping and Merchandising Work
Our mystery shoppers, or secret shoppers, are independent contractors who typically enter our clients' locations anonymously, conduct themselves normally inside the location, evaluate a variety of criteria on their experience and then fill out a web-based survey which is reviewed and passed on to our client. For merchandising assignments, they enter a client's locations on a revealed basis, typically with a letter of authorization from our client. They complete their assignment on-site and then file a brief online report. Our clients include large brands in your area, many of which you may visit on a regular basis already. Payment for the assignment (including any purchase reimbursement from our client) will vary depending on the complexity of the work, but as an independent contractor, you can always accept or decline any assignment.

Join our Network!
If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper or merchandiser-one of the independent contractors who team with Market Force Information and its subsidiaries, Shop'n Chek Worldwide, Speedmark Information Services, SG Marketing and Certified Marketing Services-please click on the link below to access an application form. YOU can make a difference in the service you receive at stores and restaurants, and registration is free!

Make Extra Money: Become a Mystery Shopper

Link Up With Mystery Shopper Web Sites, But Watch Out For Scams

By TORY JOHNSON

July 2, 2008

Many people have heard of mystery shopping, but not all of us understand exactly what it's really about.

Mystery shopping is focused on monitoring and improving service quality to ensure consistency with brand standards using anonymous resources. A growing trend involves home-based mystery shoppers who conduct their work by calling (as opposed to visiting) catalog companies, call centers and others, which accounts for 15 percent of the industry, according to trade group Mystery Shopping Providers Association.

With mystery shopping, an individual walks into a retail, grocery or convenience store, a restaurant, or a gas station to measure specific behaviors and make certain observations. Among them: associate greetings, the length of time to be served, the availability of merchandise, the knowledge of the sales team, and so on.

Many companies request "shops" of their own locations as well as those of their competitors. It enables them to understand how their services stack up against the competition  both generally and in specific areas.

One hypothetical example: Mystery shopper assignments might measure the wait in line at Target versus Wal-Mart. A hypothetical assignment might also measure how much information a Best Buy sales associate in electronics knows about a specific digital camera, compared with the sales associate at Circuit City.

Another option involves merchandising, where you're charged with helping manufacturers and retailers present their product consistent with brand standards in a retail environment to generate sales. You may assemble displays, distribute coupons, sample food, restock shelves or demonstrate products. The needs and the skill levels vary; companies post opportunities for people to sample cheese in grocery stores and they also look for techies to demonstrate a new video camera during in-store promotional events.

In both cases  mystery shopping and merchandising  retailers don't hire shoppers or merchandisers directly; all of this is handled by a third-party vendor. You accept an assigned task and then to get paid you must prove that you've completed it, which is typically done by answering and submitting an online survey about the experience. You might also be required to take photographs of your work, specifically for merchandising assignments. It's all spelled out in advance before you agree to the work.

According to Market Force, a nationwide leader in mystery shopping and merchandising among top brands, some of the requirements in the online questionnaire for a mystery shop may include:

Were you greeted properly?

Were all display items priced and in good condition?

Were accessories priced and well stocked (no empty peg hooks)?

Getting started making money. Both mystery shopping and merchandising pay by the assignment. You work as an independent contractor, which means you work when you want, but work is never guaranteed.

Most mystery shopping assignments pay between $8 and $10. Merchandising is generally in the range of $13 to $18. Some assignments offer free meals and/or groceries either as a form of compensation or in addition to a small fee. More complex assignments pay more  up to $30 or so per assignment. If you're being offered substantially more, that's a red flag and you should question the legitimacy of the assignment.

There are hundreds of companies throughout the country that hire shoppers and merchandisers. Some hire for both; others handle one or the other. Every shopper who told me she makes at least $100 a week is registered with several companies and actively takes on several assignments per week. Some women I spoke with say they make upwards of $500 a month because they're diligent about working at it.

Register with multiple companies because they all have different needs and they serve different clients. (If you live in a remote area without access to ample stores and restaurants, unfortunately your options are severely limited. Home-based "shops" might be best for you. Merchandising cannot be done from home.)

Click here for a listing of companies that offer mystery shopping and merchandising opportunities to independent contractors.

Details, details. Most companies critique your online application for proper spelling, grammar and punctuation, especially since your proof-of-completion reports are submitted in writing to the client. Poor spelling will knock you out of the running.

Pay attention to distance. Don't accept an assignment that pays $10 if you have to drive 20 miles each way to complete the task. The gas will eat up your fee.

Think about bundling assignments. Pick a time  after work, early mornings while your kids are in school or on a weekend  and pack as many assignments into those timeslots as possible. Companies will alert you to restrictions, if any, on how many competitive events you can work at once.

Many assignments require you to monitor the exact time of specific tasks. If you're easily flustered and don't like to multitask, this probably isn't the right fit for you. You'll find many people who've tried this type of work and hated it. They complain it's tedious and time-consuming  not worth the minimal money they were paid.

Two trade associations offer extensive information on their respective industries. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association and the and the National Association for Retail Marketing Services offer listings of legitimate companies and opportunities, a code of ethics guiding their industry and tips for success.

Avoid the scams. Many people are concerned about scams and rightly so, since they're everywhere in this space. Arm yourself with knowledge before getting started.

Never pay to be a mystery shopper or merchandiser. No legitimate opportunity requires a fee. (The MSPA offers a certification process that is optional, not required, to get work.)

Never get involved in check-cashing schemes. Legitimate opportunities will never require you to cash any checks as an assignment. If your assignment requires you to order a specific item in a restaurant, you'll have to front the cash, but with a receipt you'll be reimbursed.

Never respond to unsolicited requests by phone, e-mail or mail to become a mystery shopper or merchandiser. Most likely a fee will be involved with promises to teach you the "secrets" of making big bucks with little effort. That "secret" is a lie: There's no way to make lots of money with minimal effort in these industries.

Tory Johnson is the Workplace Contributor on ABC's Good Morning America and the CEO of Women For Hire. Connect with her at www.womenforhire.com.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

Legitimate Mystery Shopper Jobs
By Marcus Peterson

In recent years, the mystery shopping industry has become popular and is growing steadily as an additional source of income for many. As it is fairly easy to earn money doing mystery shopping, there is a lot of competition for these jobs. The past few years have seen a tremendous increase in the registration process for legitimate mystery shopper jobs.

By applying directly to mystery shopping companies, one can get mystery shopper jobs without paying any application fee. To qualify for a mystery shopper job, applicants should possess good communication and socializing skills. Male or female, senior citizens, employed, self employed, homemakers or retired persons can apply for mystery shopper jobs. Previous experience, special training or a bachelor's degree are not required for legitimate mystery shopper jobs.

Companies that offer legitimate mystery shopper jobs do not charge an application fee. The majority of these companies provide a simple online form that takes only a few minutes to complete. The employer may ask for the applicant's age, race, marital status and other personal details. Shopping companies can reject incomplete applications. This means that online forms must be carefully handled.

Once an applicant is registered, the hiring company will inform him about hundreds of mystery shopping job opportunities through email. Applicants are served on first come first serve basis. Those who are registered for mystery shopper jobs are provided with free training and shopping opportunities.

There are part time as well as full time mystery shopper job opportunities. Finding legitimate mystery shopper jobs on the Internet is just a click away. The majority of these mystery shopping companies are members of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA).

The MSPA web site, www.mysteryshop.org, is the ideal place to find legitimate mystery shopper jobs. It provides a list of available jobs along with additional information on the mystery shopping industry. Online mystery shopping message boards and forums are other sources of potential opportunities. [http://www.i-mysteryshopper.com]Mystery Shopper provides detailed information on Mystery Shopper, Mystery Shopper Jobs, Become a Mystery Shopper, Free Mystery Shopper and more. Mystery Shopper is affiliated with [http://www.e-secretshoppers.com]How To Become A Secret Shopper.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson http://EzineArticles.com/?Legitimate-Mystery-Shopper-Jobs&id=354597

Professional Mystery Shoppers
By Marcus Peterson

Also known as secret shopping, mystery shopping is an easy way to make money. The main purpose of mystery shopping is to evaluate a company in terms of the level of customer service, product quality and employee performance.

Professional mystery shoppers are freelance shoppers usually hired by mystery shopping companies to visit customer service oriented businesses such as restaurants, hotels, stores, banks, amusement parks, gas stations, hair salons, and even web sites or the telephone industry. There are part time as well full time professional mystery shoppers, trained to understand all aspects of the mystery shopping trade.

To evaluate the quality of customer service, professional mystery shoppers visit a concern anonymously and rate their client against a standard set of criteria. After evaluating the key areas of business operation, mystery shoppers prepare reports based on the data gathered during mystery shopping. Their reports help clients to identify the areas that require improvement. Professional mystery shoppers also indicate the need for incentives, bonus programs and training personnel.

Professional mystery shoppers are paid in the form of bank deposits, gift vouchers, checks or free products. The payment depends on the type of assignment and normally ranges from $10 to $100 plus per assignment.

Nowadays, there are countless numbers of mystery shopping companies that hire mystery shoppers. To get hired as a professional mystery shopper, one must sign a contract with a mystery shopping firm. Most of the mystery shopping companies can be contacted through their web sites.

Finding a professional mystery shopper on the Internet is fairly easy. Websites provide a list of companies that employ professional mystery shoppers in each area. Creative Image Associates, Inc., Barry Leeds and Associates, Certified Reports, Inc., Hotel Shopping Network, Coyle Hospitality Group, and Professional Review and Operational Shoppers, Inc. are some of the leading firms that offer professional mystery shopping services for hotels, restaurants and financial institutions. [http://www.i-mysteryshopper.com]Mystery Shopper provides detailed information on Mystery Shopper, Mystery Shopper Jobs, Become a Mystery Shopper, Free Mystery Shopper and more. Mystery Shopper is affiliated with [http://www.e-secretshoppers.com]How To Become A Secret Shopper.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson http://EzineArticles.com/?Professional-Mystery-Shoppers&id=354605

Free Mystery Shopper Opportunities
By Marcus Peterson

Mystery shoppers visit establishments and pretend to be customers. Businesses from auto dealers to fast food restaurants hire mystery shoppers. These shoppers conduct assigned transactions for the purpose of consumer research. They observe such things as employee responsiveness, customer service, product quality, and business cleanliness. Then they write a report describing the experience in detail.

Businesses use these reports to pinpoint weaknesses and improve them. They also use them to locate strengths and build on them.

Mystery shoppers are generally paid about $10 to $40 per shop. In addition, they are reimbursed for assigned purchases. You might occasionally be a "free mystery shopper" who does not get paid in money. For example, if the assignment is to visit a hotel, the shopper may only receive the free hotel room. To become a mystery shopper, a person should be a good communicator. They should be able to interact with employees of the businesses they are shopping. Shoppers must also be adept at written communication, as they must accurately relay the transaction. Mystery shoppers should also be observant and detail-oriented. They should also be fairly computer and Internet savvy, as forms must be downloaded from the Internet. Most reports are sent back via email.

For anyone considering becoming a mystery shopper, there is a dizzying array of information available. Hundreds of websites offer to sell you kits or access to databases. For anywhere from $10 to $50 you can have a wealth of information at your fingertips. They are all so reasonably priced it's difficult to know which membership to buy. In a word: None.

Never pay a fee to a company for a list of mystery shopper jobs. There is an abundance of free mystery shopper information available. For example, the Mystery Shopping Providers Association offers a searchable database of job listings and companies who hire mystery shoppers. They also offer information about training and certification for mystery shoppers. Legitimate hiring companies will also give free mystery shopper information. [http://www.i-mysteryshopper.com]Mystery Shoppers Info provides detailed information about mystery shopper jobs, mystery shopper networks, mystery shopper companies, advice about how to become a mystery shopper, and cautions about mystery shopper scams. Mystery Shoppers Info is the sister site of [http://www.i-paidsurveys.com]Paid Surveys Web.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson http://EzineArticles.com/?Free-Mystery-Shopper-Opportunities&id=65341

Customer Survey Or Mystery Shopper - Which Is Best?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kamyar_Shah]Kamyar Shah

If you are interested in a way to uncover the truth about how your business handles customers on the phone and how they treat customers in your store, there are several tools you can use to learn the truth.

One method that is popular among retail businesses is a customer survey. In a customer survey, the company allows customers to answer questions that may relate to the quality of service or quality of the product. The answers are usually on a sliding scale of 1 to 5, or something similar. Open-ended questions are not typical, as the numerical data is the goal of the customer survey.

The data gathered from a customer survey can be charted and used for graphs. These graphs will show the management team the strengths and weaknesses of the team and allow them to gauge what grows areas to focus on.

Fast food chains also find the customer survey a good way to gather customer satisfaction data. One of the most common ways to conduct it is to print the information on the bottom or back of the customers receipt. There is often an incentive tied into completing the survey, such as a discount for the next purchase or the chance to win money or prizes.

The data collected here is very simplistic and not too direct towards the company's standard operating procedures.

Another method that gives a business an inside look at how the customers feel is a mystery shopping service . These services are conducted by professionals who anonymously shop your store under the ruse of an every day customer. Although the shopper appears as any other customer, he or she is making a mental note of each interaction with your associates and taking a mental picture of his surroundings. The feedback provided from a mystery shopping service is usually statistical and in essay form.

The results a mystery shopping service will give detailed feedback regarding a specific interaction between the shopper and the associate. These mystery audits are usually done sporadically or monthly so the data is not as vast as that of a customer survey. However, a customer survey can not be directed too closely to the detailed sales strategies the company practices but a professional shopper is able to report specifics about what sales techniques worked well and what sales techniques need improvement. This data is very powerful as a sales tool for the growth of the business.

Some of the most popular industries that use a mystery shopping service are retailers, fast food restaurants, dining restaurants, doctors offices, car dealerships, hotel and resort destinations and more. The list is ever-growing as new industries discover the power of the anonymous shopper.

There are pros and cons to a customer survey as well as a mystery shopping service . In fact, many businesses feel that a combination of both is the best way to go. Whether you choose just one, or both, you are sure to find the benefits discovering what your customers experience when they use your services. Any business who puts an interest into how their customers feel has already made a step in the right direction. The easy part is gathering the data. The hard part is making the necessary changes, but a determined business person will not fail.

Source : [http://www.secretshoppingblog.com/detail.asp?ID=516 ]Customer Survey Or Mystery Shopper - Which Is Best

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kamyar_Shah http://EzineArticles.com/?Customer-Survey-Or-Mystery-Shopper---Which-Is-Best?&id=1208098

Mystery Shopper, Who Me?Author: Alyice Edrich

Be A Mystery Shopper, Who Me?

Mystery shoppers are not all that mysterious, but they do have a cool name. They aren't detectives trying to solve a crime, and they don't wear obscure clothing and dark glasses. They don't carry spy equipment and they don't sneak around, like someone on the prowl. Instead, they walk around like any other "ordinary" shopper and shop.

Their goal is to shop without being so conspicuous that they are observed observing the store employees or store itself. They have a set criteria that must be followed, whether it be checking out the merchandise, observing the store clerks, tasting the quality of the food, or experiencing the dreaded "return of an item."

Mystery Shoppers are often on a deadline. Their job is to enter a store, restaurant, of other facility, follow their list of criteria and be out of the store without anyone becoming suspicious of their purpose. Sometimes they have to arrive at exactly 4 p.m. Other times, they have a window frame of 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. And other times, they are given a week in which to complete their assignment.

Mystery Shoppers must fill out questionnaires such as:

"How long did it take you to get seated?"

"How long did you wait for your food?"

"Was your food hot when it arrived?"

"When you walked into the store, how were you greeted?"

"Did you find everything easily and if not, when you asked for help, how were you helped?"

"Give a detailed account of what followed when you asked for the out of stock item."

"How many customers were in the stores and how were they being helped?"

"What did the bathrooms look like? Were they properly stocked and clean?"

"After handing the money to the clerk, what did he or she do with the money?"

"Were the advertised specials displayed according to the following standards?"

With so many questions, it can often be difficult to remember everything. Some Mystery Shoppers have come up with a little system to help them along the way.

Make extra copies of the questionnaires, so that after you have driven a few blocks away, you can fill in the information and not forget anything.

Take a friend or spouse along, they can observe what the clerk looks like while you concentrate on the purchase and return policy. This is a great way to take a friend out to lunch, free.

Bring a tape recorder with you, once you leave the store, hit the record button (hidden away in your purse) and commence talking%u2026 you can act like you are on the phone, or talking to your friend or child.

For the most part, nothing unusual happens when you do a mystery shop. It's simply like any other shopping day, only this time you are being paid. However, there was one experience that took a shopper by surprise. She was asked to observe an employee doing taste tests. As the shopper approached the employee, a rat jumped out from under one of the racks, onto a sample cart and began eating all the samples!

One shopper gave some words of wisdom. She said, "Some shoppers are so excited to get a free meal that they can't contain themselves and are easily overheard by waiters and waitresses. Others have wandering eyes that are unusual for a regular customer. If you don't want to be made, act like you would any other time you eat out."

The pay you ask? It's not a rags to riches job, but it can add money to that holiday savings account%u2026 it can even pay for those trips to the movie theatres with your kids. On average, the shops range from $5 to $20 per shop. Some shops pay for your time and reimburse for the meal you have eaten, while other shops simply reimburse for the meals you have eaten. I have even heard of stores paying customers a set $200 a month to shop their store once a week.

About the Author:

Alyice Edrich is the editor of The Dabbling Mum®, a free parenting publication, and the author of several work from home e-books designed to help parents earn extra cash while spending more time with their children. To learn more, visit her at http://thedabblingmum.com/ebookstore

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Mystery Shopper, Who Me?