Pros and Cons of Mystery Shopping
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Mystery Shopping: What you really need to know
Are you thinking about trying mystery shopping to earn some extra money? Sounds pretty cool, doesn't it? You get to visit a business, incognito, check out their services, give feedback and get paid for it!
Last Spring and Summer, I spent several months delving into the undercover world of mystery shopping. I learned a lot about how Mystery Shopping works and I will share my experiences with you here on this page. These are the pros and cons of what you might expect when you take a mystery shopping assignment.
Last Spring and Summer, I spent several months delving into the undercover world of mystery shopping. I learned a lot about how Mystery Shopping works and I will share my experiences with you here on this page. These are the pros and cons of what you might expect when you take a mystery shopping assignment.
What is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery Shopping is a way for companies to find out what quality of service or performance their customers are being offered in the market place. A mystery shopper is generally an independent contractor hired through a scheduling company to perform mystery shops.
The mystery shopper will be given specific instructions as to how they should perform the shop. For example, a mystery shopper may be asked to keep track of time sequences, employee names, their experiences in the store, how many customers were in the store, and the quality of service they received. Once the shop is completed, the mystery shopper will submit an online feedback report to the company.
The mystery shopper will be given specific instructions as to how they should perform the shop. For example, a mystery shopper may be asked to keep track of time sequences, employee names, their experiences in the store, how many customers were in the store, and the quality of service they received. Once the shop is completed, the mystery shopper will submit an online feedback report to the company.
You should never pay money to join a Mystery Shopping Company
How do you get Mystery Shopping assignments?
To become a mystery shopper you will need to complete an online sign up form with multiple Mystery Shopper companies. You will find an extensive list of mystery shopping companies at the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.
Once you have signed up with each company, you will be able to go to their websites to begin looking for mystery shopping assignments. You will then sign up for the jobs you are interested in. This does not always mean you will get the job; you must wait to see if it is assigned to you. You will then have access to view on the website the instructions for the assignment as well as view the feedback form you will be using to complete your report.
Signing up with multiple companies will assist you in getting the most opportunities to get assignments. For example: Company A might only do business with clothing stores and Company B might only do business with fast food restaurants. The difficult part is you don't know which companies have mystery shoppers for a particular business.
Once you have signed up with each company, you will be able to go to their websites to begin looking for mystery shopping assignments. You will then sign up for the jobs you are interested in. This does not always mean you will get the job; you must wait to see if it is assigned to you. You will then have access to view on the website the instructions for the assignment as well as view the feedback form you will be using to complete your report.
Signing up with multiple companies will assist you in getting the most opportunities to get assignments. For example: Company A might only do business with clothing stores and Company B might only do business with fast food restaurants. The difficult part is you don't know which companies have mystery shoppers for a particular business.
Pros of Mystery Shopping
1) You really do make money!
2) You can mystery shop as a second job.
3) You can schedule your own mystery shopping assignments
4) Mystery shopping reports can be typed and submitted online
5) It's easy to sign up for with mystery shopping scheduling companies
6) There are hundreds of mystery shopping companies to choose from
7) You get to give your honest opinion about the establishment you are shopping at
8) You can schedule two or more mystery shopping assignments in a day. This works out great if you can schedule more than one shop in the same mall.
2) You can mystery shop as a second job.
3) You can schedule your own mystery shopping assignments
4) Mystery shopping reports can be typed and submitted online
5) It's easy to sign up for with mystery shopping scheduling companies
6) There are hundreds of mystery shopping companies to choose from
7) You get to give your honest opinion about the establishment you are shopping at
8) You can schedule two or more mystery shopping assignments in a day. This works out great if you can schedule more than one shop in the same mall.
Cons of Mystery Shopping
1) Most mystery shopping assignments pay little money for the time you spend shopping and completing the report
2) You are expected to have a very good memory and be able to recall very specific times, names, and details for filling out the report later
3) You must have your own money to spend when you mystery shop. Mystery shopping assignments normally include buying or using a service from the business you are visiting. You will then either be reimbursed for the item or service or you can return it. Returning is often required also.
4) It can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to get paid for your mystery shopping assignment. That means in the above (#3) if you have bought something you will be reimbursed for, it will take a while before you get your money back.
5) Sometimes you are required to ask questions that pretty much give away that you are a mystery shopper. Like, if the employees don't wear name tags, you must get their name for the report. How many times do you go into a store and ask the employee their name?
6) Many times you will have to return an item, sometimes it is the same day or it may even be the next day. This will require another trip to the business you just visited, plus you have to make up an excuse for returning.
7) Many mystery shopping require that you shop alone. Actually, the majority of mystery shopping assignments I received specifically stated that I could not take my children or any one else.
8) Competition among other mystery shoppers is plentiful. There are a lot of mystery shoppers out there; getting a decent paying mystery shopping assignment is difficult when there are so many people trying to get the same assignment.
9) You look for assignments online with the various scheduling companies you sign up with, this means you constantly have to look at several websites for assignments. This takes a lot of time but you really have to stay on top of this or you will lose out on assignments
10) When you sign up with mystery shopping scheduling companies, you don't know what businesses they are affiliated with or even if they have any jobs in your area. There is a lot trial and error here. I signed up with over 40 scheduling companies and found assignments in my area with 7 companies.
2) You are expected to have a very good memory and be able to recall very specific times, names, and details for filling out the report later
3) You must have your own money to spend when you mystery shop. Mystery shopping assignments normally include buying or using a service from the business you are visiting. You will then either be reimbursed for the item or service or you can return it. Returning is often required also.
4) It can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to get paid for your mystery shopping assignment. That means in the above (#3) if you have bought something you will be reimbursed for, it will take a while before you get your money back.
5) Sometimes you are required to ask questions that pretty much give away that you are a mystery shopper. Like, if the employees don't wear name tags, you must get their name for the report. How many times do you go into a store and ask the employee their name?
6) Many times you will have to return an item, sometimes it is the same day or it may even be the next day. This will require another trip to the business you just visited, plus you have to make up an excuse for returning.
7) Many mystery shopping require that you shop alone. Actually, the majority of mystery shopping assignments I received specifically stated that I could not take my children or any one else.
8) Competition among other mystery shoppers is plentiful. There are a lot of mystery shoppers out there; getting a decent paying mystery shopping assignment is difficult when there are so many people trying to get the same assignment.
9) You look for assignments online with the various scheduling companies you sign up with, this means you constantly have to look at several websites for assignments. This takes a lot of time but you really have to stay on top of this or you will lose out on assignments
10) When you sign up with mystery shopping scheduling companies, you don't know what businesses they are affiliated with or even if they have any jobs in your area. There is a lot trial and error here. I signed up with over 40 scheduling companies and found assignments in my area with 7 companies.
Are you or have you ever been a Mystery Shopper?
Tell everyone what you think!
What do you think about Mystery Shopping?
It's great! I've made lots of money!
It's not for me, not worth my time!
Laniann says:
Pay is too low for the amount of time you have to work as a Mystery Shopper. You have to spend your own money and wait a long time to get it back. But the main reason is the time - way too much time spent on little return.
kimmanleyort says:
I'm not a big shopper but it would be a great job for someone who loves to shop.
My very first experience Mystery Shopping
My very first experience with mystery shopping was at a fast food restaurant I was so nervous because I really had no idea what I was doing. I was required to get specific times for when I first got in line, when the employee first greeted me and took my order, and when I received my order. Wow, that was a lot of times to remember. I took my cell phone along and pretended to be texting but I was really watching the time and inputting the times into my notepad on my cell phone.
I was also required to eat alone in the dining area for the longest 15 minutes of my life. Here, I was to observe the dining areas cleanliness and overall condition. I also had to check out the bathroom. Once I had completed my 15 minutes in the dining area, I was required to make a trip though the drive-thru. I had to make another purchase and also make timing observations.
Once the mystery shopping was completed, I was required to fill out a rather lengthy report online that took about 30 minutes. All totaled with drive time, time spent in the restaurant, in the drive-thru, and writing the report it took approximately one and a half hours. For my time, I was paid $14.00 plus reimbursed for the food I purchased.
I was also required to eat alone in the dining area for the longest 15 minutes of my life. Here, I was to observe the dining areas cleanliness and overall condition. I also had to check out the bathroom. Once I had completed my 15 minutes in the dining area, I was required to make a trip though the drive-thru. I had to make another purchase and also make timing observations.
Once the mystery shopping was completed, I was required to fill out a rather lengthy report online that took about 30 minutes. All totaled with drive time, time spent in the restaurant, in the drive-thru, and writing the report it took approximately one and a half hours. For my time, I was paid $14.00 plus reimbursed for the food I purchased.
More of my mystery Shopping experiences
After mystery shopping the fast food restaurant, I turned my attention to mystery shopping retail stores. These were further away from my house and required about 30 minutes of driving time round trip.
Almost all the retail stores I mystery shopped required spending money out of my pocket or placing a purchase on a credit card, I would then either be required to return the item at a later time (most you can return after 30 minutes) or I would have to wait for a reimbursement. (4 to 6 weeks)
The assignments were pretty straight forward, go to the store, shop around for at least 15-20 minutes (it took closer to 30 minutes), interact with a store associate, buy something, sometimes return it, and then go home and write a report about my experience.
I have since retired from my mystery shopping days. To me I really wasn't getting paid enough for my time and I was spending a lot of time on the computer looking for assignments. It was interesting while it lasted and I learned a lot but I decided it just wasn't for me and not a great way to make an extra income.
Almost all the retail stores I mystery shopped required spending money out of my pocket or placing a purchase on a credit card, I would then either be required to return the item at a later time (most you can return after 30 minutes) or I would have to wait for a reimbursement. (4 to 6 weeks)
The assignments were pretty straight forward, go to the store, shop around for at least 15-20 minutes (it took closer to 30 minutes), interact with a store associate, buy something, sometimes return it, and then go home and write a report about my experience.
I have since retired from my mystery shopping days. To me I really wasn't getting paid enough for my time and I was spending a lot of time on the computer looking for assignments. It was interesting while it lasted and I learned a lot but I decided it just wasn't for me and not a great way to make an extra income.
Mystery Shopping Math - Payment Example
For retail shopping assignments I was paid anywhere between $10 and $15 per shop. So let's do the math:
30 minutes round trip for me drive (remember gas prices here)
30 minutes to complete the shop
30 minutes to write the report
= 1 and half hours for $15.00
That comes out to about $10.00 an hour
But wait, what about the return?
Add the 1 and half hours from above
30 minutes before you can return an item
15 more minutes in the store
= 2 hours and 15 minutes for $15.00
That comes out to about $6.66 and hour
This just an example of my experience and you can earn more money mystery shopping or even less, especially if it is only a $10.00 assignment. I have read about shoppers who mystery shop full time and make a living at it. I don't know if that is true or not but I would have to think that these shoppers have been mystery shopping for quite some time. I would think they are getting many top paying assignments on a daily basis from the scheduling companies with whom they have built close business relationships with.
My advice would be to look at the whole picture when you are thinking of taking a mystery shopping assignment. Ask yourself some questions. How much time will it take me? Am I going shopping at that mall anyway? What will I do with the kids if I can't take them? Do I have to pay a baby sitter? Is it worth the money I will earn?
30 minutes round trip for me drive (remember gas prices here)
30 minutes to complete the shop
30 minutes to write the report
= 1 and half hours for $15.00
That comes out to about $10.00 an hour
But wait, what about the return?
Add the 1 and half hours from above
30 minutes before you can return an item
15 more minutes in the store
= 2 hours and 15 minutes for $15.00
That comes out to about $6.66 and hour
This just an example of my experience and you can earn more money mystery shopping or even less, especially if it is only a $10.00 assignment. I have read about shoppers who mystery shop full time and make a living at it. I don't know if that is true or not but I would have to think that these shoppers have been mystery shopping for quite some time. I would think they are getting many top paying assignments on a daily basis from the scheduling companies with whom they have built close business relationships with.
My advice would be to look at the whole picture when you are thinking of taking a mystery shopping assignment. Ask yourself some questions. How much time will it take me? Am I going shopping at that mall anyway? What will I do with the kids if I can't take them? Do I have to pay a baby sitter? Is it worth the money I will earn?
Mystery Shopping Tools
Here are some tools you might find useful when completing a mystery shopping assignments. Sometimes a stopwatch or digital camera is required, make sure you have a complete understanding of what is expected of you and what is required for a mystery shopping assignment before you take the job.
Mystery Shopping Links
- Mystery Shopping Providers Association
- Mystery shopping directories by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association's Web site. A one-stop source of information on finding a Mystery shopping or marketing research company, with a directory of 130 mystery shopping companies and providers.
- Mystery Shopper Fraud
- Intelligence Note Prepared by the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
February 3, 2009 Work-At-Home ScamsConsumers need to be vigilant when seeking employment on-line. The IC3 continues to receive numerous complaints from individuals who have fallen victim to work-at-home scams. - Volition® Mystery Shopping
- There are many marketing research firms looking to pay you to shop. There are also lots of scammers trying to make you pay for the information. Listed here are several reputable companies that you can contact directly.
- The Secret List of SassieShop Companies at Jacob Jans / Mystery Shopping Tips
- Tips, Strategies, and Resources for Mystery Shoppers
- National Association for Retail Marketing Services
- NARMS is the place for retail marketing services....
Let me know you stopped by...
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huvalbd
Mar 15, 2011 @ 5:07 am | delete
- Most pages about mystery shopping only talk about the upside. Glad to see you showing both sides and giving specifics about how it works--there's obviously a lot more to it than just shopping at a designated place and saying whether it went well or badly.
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akhiljpr
Apr 9, 2010 @ 1:46 am | delete
- I very much liked the concept of Mystery shopping but unfortunately i hope that it is not available in India. But the explanation of Mystery shopping and their after pros and cons of same are explained in very excellent manner.
I think is good way to make some pocket money with this kind of shopping.
Thanks
Nokia 5800 Applications
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HorseAndPony
Nov 2, 2009 @ 9:46 pm | delete
- This is great info. I always wondered what went on with mystery shopping.
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BevsPaper
Oct 25, 2009 @ 10:34 pm | delete
- Great information on Mystery Shopping!
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poutine
Sep 24, 2009 @ 3:07 pm | delete
- Excellent review on how the mystery shopping business works.
I'm sure it will help some ladies who are looking for a few extra
dollars.
Poutine
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