Download How to Be a Mystery Shopper

How to Be a Mystery Shopper
Work-At-Home Success
http://www.workathomesuccess.com
What is Mystery Shopping?
Businesses hire mystery shoppers to test out their services, facilities, employees and systems to
make sure all is going well or to identify areas that can use improvement. You can mystery shop
in a variety of businesses including stores, restaurants, medical services, financial services,
automotive shops, online and more.
Mystery shopping is flexible and you can do much of your work, such as filing reports, from
home. However, it does require you leave your home to do the shop, so it’s not 100% work from
home.
How Much Can You Make from Mystery Shopping?
It’s my opinion that you can’t make a living on mystery shopping. If you’re looking for income
to pay your mortgage and all your bills, I don’t believe mystery shopping is a good option.
However, you can make mad money and get free stuff, which makes mystery shopping a good
choice for extra income and fun.
How Does Mystery Shopping Work?
Each company and shop will a little different, but in general, you’ll be given specific instructions
on how to do the shop including the location, what you need to look for or do, and how to report
your findings. In some cases, you’ll be given a gift certificate to make a purchase or you might
be asked to buy something and not receive any compensation for the purchase. Some mystery
shops may be done online.
For example, I once did a mystery shop for Kmart. My instructions were to visit a specific
department, ask a customer service person a question and make a purchase. Afterwards, I had to
file a written report on my findings. I was paid about $11 not including the purchase (this was in
the late 1990’s).
Another time I was given a $25 gift certificate and told to have lunch in a specific place.
Afterwards, I submitted a written report. I wasn’t paid anything except a free lunch.
How Many Shops Can I Do?
The number of shops you’ll be assigned depend on the company (you can sign up for more than
one) and where you live. Bigger cities will likely lead to more shop options than smaller areas.
You do need to consider the time it takes to do the shop, including traveling to the location,
doing what the shop asks you to do, returning home and filing the report. Because it’s time
consuming, you’ll be limited to the number of shops you can fit in a day or week. Further, it’s
not likely you’ll be assigned several shops a day or a week. Shop jobs are haphazard.
Is it Safe?
Legitimate mystery shopping is safe if you practice safe shopping methods. There are scams that
suggest they’re mystery shopping opportunities. To stay safe, never pay to sign up for or do a
mystery shop. Further, never use your personal bank account to test a service. For example, fake
check scams may ask you to “test” Western Union, but the check they send to deposit and send
money is bogus, resulting in your losing money.
List of Mystery Shopping Companies
If mystery shopping sounds fun, below you’ll find a list of over 220 companies that take on
mystery shoppers. Some have a variety of shops, while others focus on a specific industry. All
should be free. If you discover one that isn’t free, don’t do it. There is no reason to pay to be a
mystery shopper.
Please note, that I have not signed up and used every service listed below. I’ve made every
attempt to check out each option; however, I can’t make any guarantees about these companies,
so PLEASE read the terms of service, contract and other information on the site carefully.
A Closer Look
AboutFace Consulting
ACE Mystery Shopping
A Customers Point of View
Advisory Group Associates
Albatross Global Solutions
Alcops
AMA Enterprises
Amusement Advantage
Ann Michaels & Associates
Anonymous Insights, Inc
Apartment Shoppe
Archon Development Corp
Ardent Services
A Step Above
Assured Customer Experience
A Top Shop
At Your Service Marketing
ath Power Consulting
Automotive Insights, LLC
Baird Group
Bare International
BDS Marketing
Benchmark Collaboratives
BestMark
Bevinco
Beyond Hello
Beyond Marketing Group
BMA Mystery Shopping
Business Evaluation Services
Campus Consulting
Capstone Research
Certified Marketing Research
Check Mark
Check-Up Marketing
CIMA Insight
Circle of Service
Cirrus Marketing Intelligence
CKA Group
Clear Evaluations LLC
ClientSmart
Coast to Coast Scheduling Services
Concertare
Confero
Constance Anderson and Associates
Consultants for Long Term Care
Consumer Critique
Consumer Impressions
Consumer Research Group
Consumer Service Analysis
Consumer@site
Corporate Research International
Corporate Risk Solutions
Count On Us
Coyle Hospitality Group
Creative Image Associates
CRG Mystery Shopping
CRI
Cross Financial Group
Customer Experience Experts
Customer Feedback
Customer First
Customer Impact
Customer Perspectives
Customer Service Experts
Customer Service Profiles, LLC
Data Quest
David Sparks & Associates
Devon Hill Associates
Draude Marketing Services
DSG Associates
Dunlap Enterprises
Dynamic Advantage
Ellis Partners in Mystery Shopping
ESP
Examine Your Practice
Executive Solutions Mexico
Experience Exchange
Feedback Plus, Inc.
Franchise Compliance
Freeeman Group Solutions
Forum Research, Inc
Frontline Focus International
GAPbuster Worldwide Pty
GfK Mystery Shopping
GigWalk
Goodwin & Associates
Grass Roots America, Inc
Greenhouse Marketing & Communications (Canada)
Greymark Security Services
Guest Check, Inc
Harland Clarke
Hidden Concepts
HOPE Research Group
Hospitality Now
HS Brands International
ICC/Decision Services
ICU Associates
Imaginus
IMYST, Inc.
Informa Research Services
Infotel
Insight Twenty20
Instant-Replays
Instant Reply
Insula Research
Integrity Consultants, LLC
IntelliShop
Interactions Marketing
In-Touch Insight Systems dba Service Intelligence
IPSOS Mystery Shopping
iSecretShop
J.D. Power and Associates
Jancyn Evaluation Shops
JM Ridgway
Kinesis-CEM
LRA Worldwide
Management Consultant Group
Maritz Research
Market Force Information
Market Viewpoint
Marketing Systems Unlimited
Marketwise Consulting Group
MASSolutions
Matrix Hospitality Management
MCG, Management Consultant Group
Measure Consumer Perspectives
Melinda Brody and Co
Merchandise Concepts
Merchantile Systems
Michelson & Associates
Mintel International Group
Monterey Mystery Shopping
MSP Services dba Mystery Shopper Pros
mVentix, Inc
Mystery Clicks
Mystery Researchers
Mystery Shoppers, Inc
Mystery Shopping Canada
National Shopping Network
National Shopping Service
Nationwide Services Group
New Image Marketing
Northwest Loss Prevention Consultant
Norton Norris
Nsite
Oculus Solutions
Opinions, Ltd.
Pacific Research Group
Pat Henry Group
Perception Strategies
PerformaLogics Inc
Performance Edge
Person to Person Quality
Phantom Shoppers
Pinnacle Financial Strategies
Premier Service Inc
Primo Solutions, LLC
ProVantage Corporate Analytics
Pulseback
QSI Specialists
Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers
Quality Assurance Consulting
Quality Shopper
Quality Works
Quest for Best/Quest Associates
RDAssociates, Inc
Reality Check
Realty Based Group, Inc
Regal Hospitality Group
Remington Evaluations LLC
Rentrak Corporation
Research Intelligence Group
RetailTrack Mystery Shopping
Restaurant Cops
Restaurant Evaluators
RitterAssociates
RQA Inc.
Sales Quality Research Group
Satisfaction Services Inc.
Second to None
Secret Shopper (Sights on Service)
Secret Shopper Company
Secret Shopping Services
Sensus Shop (Canada)
Sentry Marketing Group
Service Alliance Inc.
Service Check
Service Evaluation Concepts
Service Excellence Group
Service Impressions
Service Intelligence
Service Metrics Group
Service Performance Group
Service Probe
Service Research Corporation
Service Scan Evaluations
Service Sense
Service Sleuth
Service Scouts
Service with Style
Shopmetrics, Inc
Shoppers Canada
Shoppers Confidential
Shoppers Critique International
Shopper Jobs
Shoppers’ View
Shoppers, Inc.
Sinclair Customer Metrics
SIS International Research
Six Star Solutions
Spies In Disguise
Spot Check Services, Inc.
Statopex, Inc
Stratigic Reflections
Summit Scheduling and Editing
Technology Store Shopper
Texas Shoppers Network, Inc
The 16 Marketing, LLC
The Shadow Agency
The Troy Dolan Group
Threads Qualitative Research
TrendSource
uSamp
Verify International
Vision Client
White Clay
Winning Research Groups
Winthrop Douglas, Inc
Wordsmith Pros, Inc.
You can also check out Mystery Shopping Providers Association for options to find mystery
shopping work by location.