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Mystery shopping is an enjoyable, flexible way to make extra money. There are thousands of legitimate mystery shopping opportunities available every day, across the U.S. and Canada and around the world.
Mystery shoppers do not need special training or experience. To be a successful professional shopper, you need to be reliable, observant and detail-oriented, and you need good writing skills.
Get started by applying to as many mystery shopping companies as you can. Do not pay a fee to apply. Legitimate mystery shopping companies do not charge you to put in an application.
To jumpstart your mystery shopping career, get a copy of The Mystery Shopper's Manual, the only book for shoppers endorsed by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.
Mystery Shopping News
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBooks About Mystery Shopping
Resources for shoppers, mystery shopping providers and businesses interested in mystery shopping programs.
- Measuring Management
- Veronica Karlsson and Kristina Horbec have written a book that gives businesses detailed information about implementing a mystery shopping program and using the information effectively. Karlsson is the former president of MSPA Europe, and she and her co-author have extensive experience in the industry.
- The Mystery Shopper's Manual
- The book for mystery shoppers by your lensmaster, Cathy Stucker. Step-by-step information to help shoppers get started and become more successful. This is the only book for shoppers endorsed by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.
Tools for Mystery Shoppers
Great tools to make mystery shopping easier.
Olympus(R) W-10 Digital Recorder With Visual Indexing
Price: $99.92
Photos Are Attached To Voice Recording As Indexes While Recording. The Built-In 300000 Pixel C-Mos Sensor Camera Makes It Possible To Take Photos Over... more »
Olympus(R) DS-2000 Digital Voice Recorder
Price: $189.99
"The DS-2000 professional digital voice recorder supports removable SmartMedia cards for up to 22 hours of recording time (on a 64MB SmartMedia card.)... more »
Olympus(R) VN-2000 Digital Recorder
Price: $49.99
The VN-2000 is a compact digital recorder with large 64MB of memory that allows up to 32 hours of recording time. It also features voice-activated rec... more »
Olympus 240-minute Digital Voice Recorder
Price: $119.95
Ideal for the busy executive, student, or anyone trying to get organized, this shirt pocket sized digital voice recorder from Olympus can capture up t... more »
Mini USB Keychain Digital Camera
Price: $22.95
The Mini USB Digital Keychain Camera is ideal for those on the go. Never worry again about forgetting your large digital camera at home�this digita... more »
Scheduling Companies
Scheduling companies give assignments to shoppers on behalf of mystery shopping companies. Apply to these scheduling companies to get more jobs.
- KSS International
- Make you own hours, be your own boss! Sign up to be a mystery shopper today!
- Coast to Coast International
- Hiring shoppers for assignments worldwide.
Mystery Shopping Companies and Resources
- Free Mystery Shopper Resources
- Free articles, FAQ, e-mail course and more about mystery shopping.
- ICC - Decision Services
- Mystery shopping and merchandising solutions. Services retail and restaurant industry. Programs customized to meet the objectives and budget of customers.
- Confero, Inc.
- Nationwide mystery shopping and customer satisfaction measurement services for automotive, banking, restaurant and real estate. Online application.
- ServiceTRAC, Inc.
- National and international mystery shopping and full service market research firm providing market analysis, measurements and solution services.
- Shop'n Chek International
- Mystery shopping and market research services for customer satisfaction measurement.
- IntelliShop
- Wide range of mystery shopping services, on-site, telephone and web-based to the retail industry. Online application.
- Second To None, Inc.
- Full service mystery shopping solutions. Apply online.
- Anonymous Insights, Inc.
- Marketing research firm that specializes in customer satisfaction programs. Online application.
- Tenox Appraisal Systems
- Customer satisfaction measurement specialists. Canada.
- Check Mark, Inc.
- Mystery shopper services to banking, restaurant, retail and entertainment sectors. Online application.
- Count On Us
- Mystery shopper services to restaurants, bars, hotels, banks, retail and service industries. Licensed investigators. Online application.
- At Random Communications
- Telephone based shopper evaluations of service quality and efficiency. Customer follow-up and competitive analysis services also available.
- Shoppers' View
- Provides mystery shopping on site and by telephone to the retail industry. Online application.
- Schryver Enterprises. LLC
- Develops and customizes training courses in customer satisfaction, and provides mystery shopping services.
- imyst
- Mystery shopping, market research, and online surveys.
- Shadow Shopper
- Video mystery shopping company. Shoppers wear microvideo equipment to record interactions. Services, press releases and news, dealers, and contact information.
- J.M. Ridgeway Co.
- A market research and mystery shopping company providing national coverage.
- ITS (Incognito)
- Offers assessment of customer service, call handling and sales skills through the implementation of mystery customer programs. Specialising in the hospitality industry.
- Secret ShopNET
- Mystery shopping services. Apply online.
- Performance In People Ltd
- UK-based telephone and video mystery shopping services.
- Bare Associates International
- Mystery guest retail, hotel and restaurant reports since 1987. Video training and guest intercept programs also available. Online application.
- Presence Quality Mystery Shopping
- Specialists of network assessments.
- Creative Image Associates
- A consulting and training company specializing in assisting financial institutions to achieve a successful sales and service culture. Training, evaluation, and incentive programs designed to maximize employee performance.
- Sutter Marketing
- Mystery shopping and compliance audits powered by Palm technology with digital photo documentation. Website accessable data. Find details about the business, services offered, and contact information.
- Webbtech Data
- Quality assurance company specializing in mystery and comparison shopping.
- ACRA, Inc.
- Retail, restaurant, service, sales and entertainment complex mystery shopping. Online application.
- Quality Consultants, Inc
- Conducts mystery shopping and quality reports for restaurants and lodging facilities.
- Ath Power
- Mystery shopper services catering to retail and financial services. Sales staff and management training and market research. Online application.
- Shoppers Critique International
- Provides independent customer service evaluations by using guest mystery shoppers to evaluate employee performance. Details about services and industries served, mystery shopping details, FAQs and contact information.
- Mystery Shoppers
- Evaluates customer service and quality control. News for potential clients and shoppers, contact information, and details about the business.
- Service Excellence Group
- Provides customer service development through mystery shops, customer service/management/sales training, personalized consultation, and a quarterly training publication. Find contact information, list of services, and details for potential shoppers and clients.
- Certified Reports, Inc.
- Mystery shopping and market research surveys for financial, restaurant, retail and service industries. Also offer proof-of-performance theatre audits. Online application.
- Service Evaluation
- Provides a comprehensive solution for keeping on top of the front line.
- Jancyn Evaluation Shops
- Secret shopping services used by the retail, restaurant and rental housing industry.
- Support Financial Resources, Inc.
- Customer-driven mystery shopping and consultative services specializing in the financial services industry.
- Satisfaction Services, inc.
- Providing customized quality and service evaluation programs (a concept of mystery shopping) to restaurant, hospitality, retail, and service companies. Online service available.
- Ardent Services, Inc.
- Mystery shopper services catering to retail, restaurant, hotel, airline and car rental industries. Online application.
- A Customer's Point of View, Inc.
- Mystery shopping services for retail, restaurants, transit providers, housing, living and care facilities, entertainment facilities and health care providers. Online application.
- Service Intelligence, Inc.
- Provides actionable, real-time Internet-based mystery shopping and performance assessment across all of North America.
- About Face
- (Formerly The Secret Shopper Company)
Offers a full range of secret shopping services, with reports tailored to motivate rather than criticize. Online training required for all shoppers. - Infotel
- Serving retailers, restaurant/quick-serve, manufacturing and service industries with custom-designed mystery shopping programs.
- Greet America Mystery Shopping
- Conducts many types of evaluations and surveys across North America.
- National Shopping Service Network, LLC
- Offers a variety of mystery shopping services.
- SG Marketing Group
- Company description, services offered, and online shopper application.
- Sensor Quality Management Inc.
- Mystery shopping services with either local residents or shoppers who have experience in a particular industry. Information for clients; application form for prospective shoppers.
- Mars Research
- Offers a wide variety of quantitative research studies, including mystery shopping and customer surveys.
- Mystery Shopping Resources
- Listings of companies needing shoppers, a shoppers' bulletin board, a live chat area, and a page of links to free or inexpensive items.
- The Hotel Shopping Network
- Provider of hotel mystery shopping and sales training services to the hospitality industry.
- Associate Consumer Evaluations Mystery Shopping
- Offering customer service evaluations, exit interviews, and employee training with web access. Resource for shoppers and online application.
- Anonymous Shoppers and Assessments of Pittsburgh (ASAP)
- Shopper evaluations of restaurant, fast food, retail, health care, insurance, banking, grocery, automobile and sales and service. Online application.
- Person To Person Quality
- Provides transaction experience studies, mystery shopping, customer surveys, competitive intelligence services, and special consulting services. Apply online to be a shopper.
- Pinkerton Field Research Services
- Customer service mystery shopping, marketing data collection and compliance audit programs. Apply online to be a shopper.
- Reality Check Mystery Shopper
- Shopper evaluations. Apply online.
- Speedmark Information Services
- Marketing services company that specializes in providing customized data collection for Consumer Products Manufacturers and multi-unit retailers. Services offered, and mystery shopper application.
- Green & Associates
- News, articles, and mystery shopper details.
- Marketing Systems Unlimited
- Mystery shopping company
- Michelson & Associates, Inc.
- Description of the company and services offered. Apply online to be a shopper.
- Hilli Dunlap Enterprises
- Services offered, contact details, and application to be a shopper.
- SNEAK PEAKms
- Offers a variety of customized mystery shopper and caller services.
- csmonitor.com - Shoppers spy on those who serve
- Each week, as many as 500,000 amateur detectives rate firms on everything from cleanliness to customer service.
- Imaginus Training & Development Inc.
- Mystery shopping, web shopping, training, motivational seminars, and focus groups.
- Retail Rapport Ltd.
- Mystery shopping agency. List of services, details about applying, and contact information.
- Amusement Advantage, LLC
- Amusement park mystery shopping. Online application.
- Power Information Gathering Services
- UK business specializing in phone and personal visits, and mail and email inquiries to customer service departments.
- Barry Leeds and Associates
- Offers a range of mystery shopping services with a core focus on the financial services industry and service-oriented retail companies. Core competence is helping companies prevent discriminatory and unfair sales practices.
- Richey International
- Quality management programs to enhance performance, measure product quality, and maintain brand stature.
- Mystery Shopping Providers Association
- Trade association of mystery shopping providers and resource for shopper applicants.
- The Insight Group International
- Provides food and beverage service evaluations and full property evaluations for hotels.
- Mystery Shoppers Ltd.
- Mystery shopping and customer service training and consultancy services. UK.
- Consumer Research Group (CRG)
- Mystery shopper consultant services to the retail industry.
- Business Evaluation Services
- Business and retail on-site, telephone and customer feedback secret shopper services.
- Secret Sleuths
- Services offered, staff, contact details, and shopper application.
- A Closer Look, Inc.
- Online mystery shopping services with resource links for shopper applicants. Online application.
- Service Performance Group
- Mystery shopper program designed to objectively measure employee customer service skills, sales skills, product knowledge and other related criteria.
- Scholl Market Research, Inc.
- Full service market research firm.
- DSG Associates, Inc.
- Myster shopping services to the retail food service industry. Online application.
- Sinclair Service Assessments
- Company provides mystery shopping services throughout the U.S. and abroad. Site includes a sign-up area for shoppers.
- Mystique Shopper LLC
- Mystery shopping services to varied industries. Web-based reporting.
- A Step Above Service Evaluations, Inc.
- Florida-based service evaluations to varied industries.
- Shoppers, Inc.
- Mystery shopper services to bank, restaurant and retail industries. Employee incentive plans and surveys. Online application and shopper resource.
- Video Stars Real Time Video Training
- Hidden camera video captures real-time employee interactions to improve customer service, sales, and other target areas.
- Game Film Consultants
- Video mystery shopping.
- Northwest Loss Prevention Consultants
- Restaurant, apartment and retail mystery shops. On line shopper application.
- ServiceSense
- Service evaluation programs and customer care consulting for restaurants, retail stores, service businesses and call centers.
- Berring HIne Consulting
- Telephone-based mystery shopper programmes as part of a wider evaluation of public sector services.
- Evaluation Systems for Personnel
- Provides mystery shopping and sales training services. [Houston]
- The Performance Edge, Inc
- Mystery Shopping services. Customer Service Feedback. Online application.
- J. E. Lowery Professional Services Corporation
- Customized mystery shopping services.
- Mystery Surfing
- Independent website usability evaluation service.
- Mystery Shopper, USA
- Sign up to be a shopper or inquire about using this business's services.
- Sonya's Mystery Shoppers
- Has some current jobs, a polling area where shoppers can rate shopping companies, and a private list of companies looking for shoppers (list is available for a fee).
- CV Marketing Research Inc.
- Full-service mystery shopping and market research company serving Canada and the US. Custom designed customer service and satisfaction surveys, and secret shopping programs designed to help businesses improve their critical customer satisfaction levels
- Kinesis CEM, Redefining the Customer Experience
- Web-based reporting that targets all levels of an enterprise. Mystery shopping, focus groups, web-site pop up surveys, telephone interviews and customer feedback.
- Customer Service Perceptions
- Website, telephone and on-site mystery shopping services. Online application. Employee surveys and competitor price check services also available.
- Premier Service
- A Montreal-based firm in business for over 11 years, provides mystery shopping and consulting services across Canada, the US and Puerto Rico.
- Westcoast Mystery Shopping
- Specializes in serving smaller retail chains throughout North America.
- National Shopping Service
- Mystery shopping in America and Europe.
- Pacific Research Group
- Services include mystery shops, site inspections, and phone surveys.
- Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers, LLC
- Details how to become a customer and receive feedback on quality service, how to stimulate word-of-mouth, and suggestive selling.
- Douglas Stafford International
- Video, telephone, and physical mystery shopping. Automotive industry specialists. Streaming video and audio results online.
- FYI Video Mystery Shopping
- Video Mystery Shopping specializes in new home shops.
- eMysteryShopper
- Independent review of website usability and efficiency from a customer's point of view. Online application.
- MacPherson Mystery Shopping and Research
- A British company specializing in worldwide mystery shopping and market research.
- Service Alliance, Inc.
- Provides mystery shopping services to a variety of industries throughout the United States.
- Guest Check
- Offers mystery shopping investigative services exclusively to hotels, restaurants, and resorts.
- Advanced Phone Ups
- Telephone training and mystery shopping of all types of vehicle dealerships.
- Barfly Consulting
- A full-service mystery shopping and restaurant consulting firm. Barfly uses hospitality industry professionals to conduct its shops.
- C-Chex
- Partners with retailers to ensure cashiers comply with age-restricted sales policies while providing an objective view of operations.
- Feedback Plus, Inc.
- Customized mystery shopping programs.
- The Kirandt Group, LLC
- Offers mystery shopping and competitive intelligence services exclusively the casino gaming industry.
- Mysteryshopper.com.au Pty Limited
- Focuses on Australian shops but also New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
- Quality Eye Mystery Shopping
- A UK-based company providing telephone audits, mystery shopping, website evaluations, and competitor comparisons for the retail and public sector.
- Volcano Scheduling Services
- Provides scheduling and recruitment services to mystery shopping companies.
- Consumer Connection
- Providing mystery shopping, customer service seminars and front line service employee training programs.
- ICU Associates Inc.
- Provides services in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico to fast food chains, restaurants, airports, and convenient stores. Also provides private investigations in the US. Shopper application available.
- The Johnson Groups
- Customer service audits, mystery shopping, documentation, training, and records management.
- Mystery Shop Inc.
- Print, telephone, and video mystery shop services.
- QualityWorks Associates
- A market research organization that conducts surveys and mystery shopping.
- Retail Maxim
- UK-based mystery shopping services including competitor visits and internet and telephone shopping.
- RetailTrack
- Retail, service, hospitality and call center mystery shopping.
- Shopper Anonymous
- Australian mystery shopping organization.
- Inland Retail Services
- Specialists in mystery shopping and merchandising services. Includes services and contacts.
- U.S. Mystery Shoppers, Inc.
- Offers services to retail and service industries in the United States. Online application.
- Checkout (UK) Ltd
- A customized mystery shopper program using specialized secret shoppers with a video recorded analysis.
- Customer Point of View
- A mystery shopping service catering exclusively to the restaurant and hotel foodservice industries since 1985.
- Customer 1st
- Full service mystery shopping company providing on-line reporting for customer service evaluation.
- Mom Advice - Taking the Mystery Out of Mystery Shopping
- Introductory article covering the basics.
- ServiceCheck.com
- Customer service audits performed throughout North America.
- I-Spy Mystery Shoppers
- At I-Spy Mystery Shoppers, we're always on the lookout for discerning shoppers. If you're dependable, honest, discreet, and, of course, love to shop, then we've got a job for you!
- Beyond Hello
- Reflecting the customer's experience.
- The Sentry Marketing Group, LLC.
- The Sentry Marketing Group designs, implements and manages mystery shopping programs in a variety of industries. Their current clients range from restaurants to hair salons and auto dealers to optometrists.
- Mystery Shopping Blog by Cathy Stucker
- Tips for being a successful professional shopper.
