You’ve been hired to be a mystery shopper. The company you work for has given you a list of stores to secretly evaluate. You’re to go in, act like a normal customer, and take note of your experience. This is an important job. The information you gather will help the company make decisions on everything from store layout to employee training.
As the world increasingly moves online, businesses are looking for new ways to reach their customers. Mystery shopping is one way that companies are able to get feedback about their products and services. But how much can you actually make by mystery shopping?
What Is Mystery Shopping?
A mystery shopper is a person who is hired by a company to evaluate the level of customer service at a particular business. The mystery shopper will pose as a regular customer and interact with the staff in order to get a sense of the quality of service provided. This information can then be used by the company to improve its customer service.
Mystery shopping can be used in a variety of businesses, such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and more. It is an effective way to measure customer satisfaction and identify areas where improvement is needed.
The Benefits of Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping can be an extremely beneficial way to improve your business. Here are just a few of the benefits:
1. You can get an impartial view of your business.
A mystery shopper will give you an honest, unbiased opinion of your business. This can be invaluable in helping you to identify any areas that need improvement.
2. It can help to improve customer service levels.
By using mystery shoppers, you can track and measure the level of customer service being provided by your staff. This information can then be used to help train and motivate your team to provide better service levels.
3. It can help increase sales.
By providing excellent customer service and addressing any areas identified for improvement, mystery shopping can help lead to increased sales for your business.
How To Get Started as a Mystery Shopper
Here are the steps to get started as a mystery shopper.
Find a Job
- First, go to Mystery Shopper Job Finder run by the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association) so you can find a reputable mystery shopping company to work with.
- Once you've found a company you'd like to work with, you'll need to create an account and provide some basic information about yourself.
- Now you'll be able to browse through the available mystery shopping assignments.
- When you find an assignment that interests you, click on the listing and follow the instructions for applying.
If your application is approved, you'll be given all the details about the assignment, including when and where it will take place and what your specific tasks will be.
Once Your Assignment Is completed
Once you've completed the mystery shopping assignment, you'll need to submit a report detailing your experience. The report will usually include questions about your overall experience, as well as specific questions about the product or service being evaluated. Most companies have strict guidelines for how reports must be submitted, so be sure to follow instructions carefully.
By following these simple steps, you can even get started as a mystery shopper today.
The Different Types Of Mystery Shopping Assignments
There are many different types of mystery shopping assignments that businesses use to measure customer service and employee performance. Here are some of the most common assignment types:
- Purchase-based assignments involve making a purchase at the store and then providing feedback on the overall experience.
- Phone-based assignments involve calling the business and pretending to be a customer. The shopper will then provide feedback on the phone interaction.
- Email-based assignments involve sending an email inquiry to the business and assessing the response time and quality of the reply.
Mystery shoppers may also be asked to provide general feedback on their overall experience with the business, without specifically completing a task or purchase.
Tips For Becoming A Successful Mystery Shopper
There are a few key things you need to do in order to be successful.
Follow Instructions Carefully
Make sure you follow instructions carefully. This means reading the client brief thoroughly and understanding exactly what is required of them. You also need to be able to stick to deadlines and not take on more assignments than you can handle.
Be Professional
Shopping does not mean you can do it half-heartedly. The job is a job. Successful mystery shoppers should always be professional. This means being polite and courteous to staff, not causing a scene or drawing attention to themselves, and being discreet about taking notes and taking photos.
Attention To Detail
You need to have an eye for detail. This means noticing things that others might not, such as small changes in the store layout or signage, and being able to remember details from previous visits.
Problem Solving Skills
You should also be good at problem-solving. This means being able to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions if something goes wrong on the assignment.
Write Decent Reports
You need to be able to write clear and concise reports. This means using proper grammar and spelling and including all the relevant information that the client has asked for in the report template.
How Much Can You Make With Mystery Shopping?
Some of these companies will pay you for each task that you complete, while others will pay you an hourly rate. The pay varies from company to company, but most companies will pay between $8 and $25 per hour. According to Indeed.com, the average pay is around $22 per hour (as of November 2022.)
The Pros and Cons of Mystery Shopping Jobs
If I was to list up the pros and cons, there would be a few benefits to becoming a mystery shopper, but not many disadvantages. But of course, the greatness of mystery shopping can only be achieved are you keep building your experiences. Like any other job, you may struggle to get used to it in the beginning, but once you become an expert, the pros outweigh the cons.
Pros:
- Perhaps the most obvious is that you can earn money by doing something that you may already enjoy - shopping. As a mystery shopper, you will be paid to visit stores and collect information about the customer service experience. This can be an enjoyable way to make some extra money.
- You can often work flexible hours to suit your lifestyle.
- Mystery shopping can be a great way to gain insights into how businesses operate. By observing and reporting on your experiences as a mystery shopper, you can provide valuable feedback that can help businesses improve their operations. This can be a very satisfying role, knowing that you are helping to make businesses better for both consumers and employees.
- You will have opportunities to score freebies and discounts. Many businesses offer incentives for mystery shoppers, such as free merchandise or coupons for future purchases. So not only can you earn money as a mystery shopper, but you can also save money on your own shopping trips.
Cons
- There may not have many openings in your area.
- Mystery shopping is also a relatively low-paying job, so it may not be worth your time if you're looking for a way to make a significant amount of money.
- Mystery shopping can be stressful and time-consuming, as you often have to rush to complete assignments and meet deadlines.
Are There Online Mystery Shopping Opportunities?
There are a few online mystery shopping opportunities out there, but the job is much more difficult to get because online shoppers are not visible to merchants, anyway! If there is an opportunity, there are a few pros and cons:
Pros:
- You can do it from the comfort of your own home, no need to travel to different stores.
- Can be done at any time of day or night, on your own schedule.
Cons:
- May not be as high paying as in-person mystery shopping.
- Can be more difficult to get accepted for online mystery shopping assignments.
If you are more willing to work online, I would recommend you to try other business models such as e-commerce or affiliate marketing, as they can be a lot more profitable.
Mystery Shopper Scams To Avoid
There are a few mystery shopper scams to avoid.;
- When a company asks you to pay a fee to become a mystery shopper. You should never have to pay to be a mystery shopper.
- When a company asks you to buy something and keep the change as your payment. This is not a legitimate way for companies to pay their mystery shoppers.
- Companies that send you checks for more than the amount you were supposed to spend on your shopping assignment. These companies are trying to scam you out of your hard-earned money. If you receive one of these overpayment checks, do not deposit it into your bank account. Instead, contact the company immediately and let them know what happened.
Conclusion
Overall, mystery shopping is a great way to make some extra money. It's also a fun way to explore new places and try out new products. If you're looking for a flexible gig that you can do on your own time, mystery shopping is definitely worth considering. Just be sure to do your research beforehand so that you know what to expect and are not scammed in any way.
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