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Mystery Shopping: Frequently Asked Questions
What is mystery shopping? Mystery shoppers go into
businesses as customers. They interact with employees, make a
purchase and possibly a return, then fill out an evaluation form
describing what happened during the visit. Mystery shoppers get
paid for providing this service.
What kinds of businesses use mystery shoppers? Any
business which deals with the public may use mystery
shoppers—stores, restaurants, banks, hotels, salons, home
builders, apartment complexes, gas stations, casinos, auto
dealers, auto service centers, movie theaters, health clubs, pet
stores, amusement parks, optical providers and more. You can get
paid to get your hair cut or your eyes examined, have dinner, go
to the bank, have your car worked on or fill up the gas tank,
watch a movie, get your dog groomed, and lots of other things
you like to (or have to) do.
How much will I earn? Fees for a mystery shop (including
purchase reimbursement when a purchase is required) may range
from about or on up to , 0 or more. Fees will
depend on the time required, difficulty, etc. The time required
to complete a shop and fill out the form may be a few minutes to
an hour or longer.
Many shoppers do this in their spare time, and earn a few
hundred dollars per month. Some consistently earn more—often a
lot more. It is not unusual for a part time shopper to make 0
to 00 or more per month.
There are some mystery shoppers who shop full time and earn a
living this way. It's not easy, though, to be a full time
shopper. You will have to juggle lots of assignments with
different requirements, due dates and report formats, so you
must be very organized and disciplined.
What are the requirements to be a mystery shopper? You
can be any (adult) age, male or female. You need to be observant
and able to follow directions. You must be reliable. You don't
have to have a degree or any special training, but good writing
skills are important.
The Certifications offered by the Myst
ery Shopping Providers Association, can be useful but are
not required.
Companies use the Internet to recruit shoppers, make
assignments, and complete reports. Internet access is becoming a
necessity to work with most mystery shopping companies.
How do I become a mystery shopper? Apply to as many
mystery shopping companies as you can. Watch out for scams.
Legitimate mystery shopping companies will not charge you to
apply.
When you get your first assignments, do them on time and do a
great job. That will make you a successful professional shopper.
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