Should I sign up as a mystery shopper with Gap Buster Worldwide?

As a UK mystery shopper, Gap Buster Worldwide or GBW is one of the first companies that you will come across. They have been going for several years and appear to be one of the more solid and dependable mystery shopping companies. GBW offer a wide range of opportunities for the mystery shopper and could be a good place to start out as a mystery shopper or to expand into new mystery shopping companies. Here is our guide to mystery shopping with GapBuster Worldwide -

Sign-up process with Gap Buster mystery shopping

To start with Gap Buster Worldwide is an easy process. they want to know some basic information about you and then get to know a little more about what you can bring to the table as a mystery shopper. This is a natural thing for any mystery shopping company in the UK.

After the initial sign-up, GBW then have separate orientations for their different clients. This means that you have to learn a lot of information about each client before you are allowed to shop there. Each orientation has a test that you must pass in order to be allowed to conduct a mystery shop with that client. GapBuster Worldwide mystery shopping have quite strict requirements here, and if you fail the test 3 time then you cannot shop with that client on their behalf.

The type of assignments that GBW have

Gap Buster Worldwide mystery shopping have ,any different types of assignments and these change in a regular basis, they cover the whole of the UK for some major retailers and hospitality outlets, so you should always be able to find the one that will suit you. These include -

• Fast food mystery shops
• DIY store mystery shops
• Petrol station mystery shops
• Convenience store mystery shops

Don't forget that you have to pass an orientation for each client to be able to conduct an assignment there for GBW mystery shopping.

Sending reports to GapBuster

The report system is a simple, way to get your information back to GapBuster after an assignment. It is an online form that gives you multiple choice questions. It usually inly asks for extra information to be types if there is a problem. Gap Buster mystery shopping have one of the best systems for sending reports around.

Payment schedules for GBW

This is one of the bugbears with Gap Buster mystery shopping that is reported. They pay at the end of the month following the month where you conduct an assignment. So if you carry out a mystery shop on the 1st June, it is the 31st of July when you are paid for this. Of course if you carry one out on the 30th June, you still get paid on 31st July. Waiting up to 8 weeks to be reimbursed for a mystery shop works for some, but not for others. Think about this before you sign up.

Summary - is Gap Buster the right shopping company for me?

This is ideal for the newbie mystery shopper who wants to learn what it is all about. The orientations may feel like a burden at fist, but they give you a thorough grounding in what a mystery shopping company is looking for. Once you have got to grips with this, then you can apply your learnings to other mystery shopping companies. Think about the payment schedule though, as for some this is a problem.

Should I sign up as a mystery shopper with Market Force ?

There are many UK mystery shopping companies that you could work for. The decision depends on what is important to you. Here is my guide to being a mystery shopper with Market Force and what being a Market Force mystery shopper entails –

Sign-up process for Market Force

Starting out as a mystery shopper with Market Force couldn’t be easier. You complete your details and answer a few simple questions before they assess your application. They need things that will help them assess if you are a good fit for their mystery shopping programme, such as –

·         Where you work and where you have worked previously

·         The makeup of your household

·         If you have a business

This helps Market force to link you to the right jobs. If you are accepted as a mystery shopper with Market Force then you can look for assignments. A Market Force mystery shopper can only carry out 2 assignments in the first month while you get used to their systems and they become confident that you can meet the standards of their customers.

Don’t worry about this. My book is available now to help you understand all there is to know about mystery shopping – including getting started.

The type of assignments Market Force have available

Becoming a Market Force mystery shopper gives you access to some of the best mystery shops out there. Their customers change all the time, so I won’t go into specifics but needless to say, being a mystery shopper with Market Force will give you access to –

·         Pub mystery shops

·         Restaurant mystery shops

·         Takeaway mystery shops

·         Chemist mystery shops

·         And many more

They are an established company that has been around for some time with some high-profile clients. This means that they are a name you can trust and will be around for a long time. A Market Force mystery shopper will have access to many and varied mystery shops that will keep it interesting.

Sending reports to Market Force

Reporting back your findings to Market Force is by way of their website, with easy to follow and complete forms. The website works on all devices and the forms are super-easy to complete. Most of the questions have a simple check-box answer (mainly yes or no) and then a space under to write any comments, if necessary.

Their reports often have a question where you must put in an overall summary of your visit, but even these usually only require 500 characters.

Market Force payment schedules

One of the main reasons you might want to be a mystery shopper with Market Force is the pay, of course. They pay twice a month in arrears for the work you have carried out, usually on the 15^th and the last day of the month, depending on weekends.

So, if you work for them between the 1^st and the 15^th of the month then you will receive that money at the end of the same month. If you work between the 16^th and the end of the month, then you only have to wait until the 15^th of the next month for your payment.

Summary -  is Market Force right for me?

I recommend Market Force, particularly for those mystery shoppers that are just starting out. They offer support, a quality website and the payments are pretty good. If you want to use a mystery shopping company to build up your skills for other providers then this is the perfect place to start. Just check them out today and see how you can become a Market Force mystery shopper today.

The top 5 UK mystery shopping companies according to Google

We use Google to run most of our life in the modern day. It gives us information about the latest movie times, where to eat and who to use to fix our home. Mystery shopping is a great way to earn some extra cash and get your hands on some free goodies. Do a simple Google search on mystery shopping in the UK and you will find the companies that are top of the list. Here is The top 5 UK mystery shopping companies according to Google -

1 - Mystery Shoppers - Customer Experience Specialists

This looks like a company that has mystery shopped a vast number of outlets and provided mystery shoppers with the chance to make great money. It's number one on the list of the top 5 UK mystery shopping companies according to Google so take a look.

Mystery Shoppers - Customer Experience Specialists

2 - Marketforce - Get Paid To Shop

Number two on the list of the top 5 UK mystery shopping companies according to Google is MarketForce. This company have been providing mystery shopping opportunities for many years now. They are at the forefront of the UK mystery shopping community. You can apply to join them here.

Marketforce - Get Paid To Shop

3 - Checkout - Have you thought about becoming a mystery shopper?

Checkout are looking for observant and reliable people to mystery shop on their behalf. They are also experts in video mystery shopping, so there are a wide range of mystery shops.

Checkout - Have you thought about becoming a mystery shopper?

4 - Secret Shopping - Mystery Shopper Company & Jobs

They say that it is easy to apply to be a mystery shopper with Secret Shopping , so they are well worth a look. They quite part-time work that pays well, so this may be the opportunity for you.

Secret Shopping - Mystery Shopper Company & Jobs

5 - Scisco UK - Understand and improve your business

Last but not least on the current list of the top 5 UK mystery shopping companies according to Google is Scisco. They look to build strong relationships with their mystery shoppers. It is really important to work for a mystery shopping company you can trust - and never pay to become a mystery shopper.

Scisco UK - Understand and improve your business

Supermarket mystery shopper vacancies

Mystery shopping is something that can make a change to your life. Picking up some extra goods while earning money for it is a great feeling. There are many supermarket mystery shopper vacancies if you know where to look. The big supermarkets are often looking for mystery shoppers to ensure that their service standards are up to scratch. This includes –

·         Asda

·         Tesco

·         Sainsburys

·         Morrisons

·         And more

Supermarket mystery shopper vacancies are some of the most sought after in the whole of the world of mystery shopping. Here’s how you can look for these opportunities.

What is a supermarket mystery shop?

Many retail and hospitality outlets want to know how they are performing. They set standards for customer service and spend a lot of money in recruiting the right people and then training them to hit these standards. The best way to see if this is working is to get feedback from customers. This is where the mystery shopper comes in.

If you apply for supermarket mystery shopper vacancies then you can expect to be asked a few questions. Mystery shopping companies are looking for people who are –

·         Good timekeepers

·         Objective

·         Observant

·         Can write a good report

If you think that you fit into these criteria, then you can apply for supermarket mystery shopper vacancies and the people at Market Force are probably the best place to start. They will give you a good grounding in what is required. After that you can look at the other mystery shopping companies in the UK for more details.

Supermarket mystery shopper vacancies

The mystery shops in supermarkets are generally quite easy to conduct. People may look at supermarket mystery shopper vacancies and think that they need to perform quite an arduous task to succeed. But it just isn’t this way at all. Supermarket mystery shopping has a set formula that you need to follow. This will generally be –

·         Assess the store for cleanliness

·         Browse for a while

·         Ask a question of a team member

·         Note the answer

·         Buy some products at the tills

·         Assess the time taken to be served

Although there are always going to be some variations, this is the general formula. Don’t be afraid to apply for supermarket mystery shopper vacancies and see how it can bring you some extra groceries – and a bit of cash too.

What are the rewards?

Supermarket mystery shopper vacancies bring with them some pretty good rewards, especially if you live near a few supermarkets. Often a mystery shopping company will only allow you to visit every other month, so don’ think that this will bring you more groceries than you will ever need. The rewards on their own are reasonable, but together they can add up.

You will be reimbursed for your purchases. This is often up to £10, so can help the groceries a few times a year per supermarket that you have in your local area. I have 4 Morrisons, 4 Tesco, 2 Sainsburys and 4 Asda that are close to where I live. This allows me to get free groceries more than once per month.

In addition, you are usually paid a fee for your time, to cover petrol and any other costs. This means that you can also generate a small income to go with your free groceries. Supermarket mystery shopper vacancies are well worth looking into. If you want to know about how to become a mystery shopper, then my book will guide you through the process –

What to do if you get spotted as a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping is something that you can pick up quite easily. You have to apply to a mystery shopping company, but if you get my book The Secrets of Mystery Shopping: How To Become a Mystery Shopper then you can deal with that without any hassle at all. When you begin mystery shopping, there are a few things that can cause an issue. Being spotted by a member of staff could cause an issue. Here is my guide to what to do if you get spotted as a mystery shopper and how to overcome any potential issues that surround this.

When I carried out a mystery shop in a well-known public house chain this Saturday I thought I was being discrete. After I visited the bar and returned to my son, another customer came over and said that the people at the bar thought I was a mystery shopper. It made me think about how I carry out my mystery shops. I wondered, as many others do, what to do if you get spotted as a mystery shopper and decided to write a few tips here.

Prepare well in advance

The best way to avoid needing to know what to do if you get spotted as a mystery shopper is to not get spotted in the first place. I know I couldn't have made a more obvious statement if I tried, but there are steps you can take to lessen the chance you are spotted -

• Know where you are going
• Read and re-read the assignment notes so you don't need to refer to them during an assignment
• Be confident in what you do
• Don't make notes when you are in the location
• Take your photograph of the location after the visit, not before

All of these will help you to be less conspicuous as a mystery shopper. What to do if you get spotted as a mystery shopper becomes less of an issue if you can look like any other customer.

Stand your ground

If someone says to you, "are you a mystery shopper?" then the worst thing to do is admit it. Your mystery shopping company will probably invalidate your report and not pay you. There are so many better things to say -

• "What's one of them?"
• "A mystery shopper? What's that all about?"
• "Tell me more."
• "I'd like to be"
• Or just a plain old, "no!"

These will put the staff member in the position where they either continue and risk upsetting a customer, or they back down and apologise. You may look back and think that you could have acted differently - use that s a learning for the next time. You might even choose to stay away from that particular location in the future. If you understand what to do if you get spotted as a mystery shopper then you have a greater chance of protecting your income from that mystery shop.

Keep calm and carry on!

I know - I hate that slogan too now it has been overused. But, knowing what to do if you get spotted as a mystery shopper can help to keep you calm and composed. Don't worry about things. Just act like a normal customer and get on with what you have to do. Most mystery shopping assignments are over in a matter of a few minutes, so the embarrassment won't last long if this is how you feel.

The staff members are there to give you great service, so tell them you have no idea what they are talking about and let them get on with looking after you. If they still have thoughts that you might be a mystery shopper then the service will probably be excellent from then on - they won't want to take the risk!

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper then Market Force area  leading UK mystery shopping company and they are looking for shoppers right now!!

How much can I earn as a mystery shopper ?

There is a lot said and written about mystery shopping and one of the main topics of conversation is ' How much can I earn as a mystery shopper ?' Some say that you can't earn a great deal at all, while others state that you can make a living out of it. With such confusion, it is little wonder that mystery shopping companies often struggle to attract people. When I go on the majority of mystery shopping websites I am signed up for, they are advertising for new applicants, or offering incentives for existing shoppers to refer a friend.

I have been mystery shopping for several years now, and I have tried it out with scores of different mystery shopping companies. Some I still work with, while others have either drifted away or I just don't find anything from them. This is the way with an industry like this. A company may rely on one big client, then a lost contract can mean they don't have a great deal available. I have always had to think about how much can I earn as a mystery shopper ?

So, how do you earn as a mystery shopper?

Mystery shopping gives you the opportunity to go out there and test the service of retail and hospitality outlets in exchange for two payments -

1. You are repaid for what you spend in the shop - known as a reimbursement
2. You are paid for your time and trouble - known as the fee

Together, these are the earnings that you get from conducting a mystery shop. This is the answer to the question - ' How much can I earn as a mystery shopper ?'

Like many things in life, this is best explained by way of an example -

You select a task where you have to go into a pub, buy a meal and two drinks.

The reimbursement is up to £9.75

The fee is £2.50

If you spend £9.75, then you will receive your money back and a fee of £2.50 to cover your time, petrol, parking and any other expenses.

You have also had a free meal, in effect.

Mystery shopping isn't going to make you rich, as you can see from this typical example. There are more lucrative mystery shops and ones where you are paid a fee of say £10 and don't have to make a purchase, but these are not as common as the ones outlined above.

How do I make the most of mystery shopping?

The best way to do this is to carry out more than one mystery shop in the same location, or close to each other. In the example above, I would need to not travel very far and have no parking charges to make this worthwhile in terms of pure income. Of course I wouldn't need to buy dinner that day, but as an income £2.50 isn't going to get me very far. The answer to the question ' How much can I earn as a mystery shopper ?' suddenly doesn't look as great.

To make this worthwhile I might have -

• A grocery store visit with a £3 fee
• A clothing store visit with a £2.50 fee
• The pub, as above, with a £2.50 fee
• A coffee shop with a £3 fee
• A perfume shop with a £2 fee
• A visit to an outlet with a £3 fee
• A £10 fee for visiting a mobile phone shop and making an enquiry

So I can walk away with this with

• Coffee and cake, plus a pub lunch
• Groceries to pay for meals for the next few days, plus perfume, clothes and another item
• £26 across the visits to pay for petrol, parking, etc.

This isn't going to make you rich by any means but could be a nice supplement to a day out that you already have planned.

How much can I earn as a mystery shopper ?

The long and the short of it is that you are not very likely to be able to live off mystery shopping. If you live alone with no mortgage in a big city then there is the slight possibility that you could make this happen, but that description doesn't fit many of us. It is a lifestyle business that can help you soften the blow of monthly spending, go out for a meal every now and again or get presents fro Christmas or birthdays. There isn't really anything else in it. I think that a full-time mystery shopper could probably manage between £15,000 and £25,000 worth of good and income in a year, but more than half of this would be goods. This can't sustain most people. How much can I earn as a mystery shopper can be a bit of a how long is a piece of string question. I hope this sheds some light on it.

If you are considering mystery shopping then my book is a great place to learn all the basics and be prepared for what it might throw at you. Check it out now -

The top 5 questions to ask a mystery shopping company

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper, then you may find that there are a few veils of secrecy over the industry. This is right in many ways, because it wouldn't be a mystery if all the cards were laid on the table. But you want to know what you are letting yourself in for. So, there are certain answers that you will need. Here are my top 5 questions to ask a mystery shopping company to make sure you know what is required of you and whether you can work together -

1 - Do you charge a fee for me to mystery shop with you?

This is a question that seems obvious to those of us that have been doing this for a while, but I have read more and more scams out there, so beware. The fact that there is a lot of secrecy in mystery shopping has opened it up to some unscrupulous operators. They think they can earn money from others without any work. This is a scam.

No genuine mystery shopping company will take cash from you up front to join their panel or assign you jobs. I have a list of the legitimate UK mystery shopping companies on this blog, so this is the perfect place to begin. Don't part with your money for a mystery shopping opportunity.

2 - How do I apply?

Each mystery shopping company has a different way for you to send your details and make an application to become one of their mystery shoppers. You will need to know what they are looking for. It is no use telling them you are an avid online shopper if they are looking for new recruits for physical shops. Read up on what they want and make sure you fit the bill.

Some will have multiple choice tests that you have to pass while others might ask you why you think you are suited to mystery shopping. It seems that many of these sites I frequent are regularly looking for shoppers, so take a look at what they need and let them know that you fir the bill.

3- How are shops assigned?

For me, this is the third most important on the list of the top 5 questions to ask a mystery shopping company before you begin. Some will have online systems where you search and then assign yourself the work. This means that it is a first-come-first-served system and you stand as good a chance as all the other registered workers.

Others have certain criteria, which means that not all the available jobs are visible to you. So you might need to work your way up with these companies and build a profile. At least one of the mystery shopping companies I use has a ratings system. You are marked out of 10 for each mystery shop you carry out and only people with a 7 or above (sometimes 8) can apply for specific assignments.

Others still call shoppers when they have an available assignment. this may not work for you if you have others commitments. Find out how the jobs are assigned and choose the most appropriate company for you.

4 - When do you pay me?

This is a crucial entry in the top 5 questions to ask a mystery shopping company because that's what we are all in it for, right? With mystery shopping you generally buy goods and then wait for the company to pay you back what you have spent plus a fee for your time and trouble.

But what if this wait is up to 8 weeks? Are you still happy to mystery shop for them now?

Some companies pay at the end of one month for work you have done in the month before. Carry out an assignment on the 1st of August and you won't be paid until 30th September. This doesn't feel great.

But most don't work this way. They pay twice a month and pretty quickly at that. Look for the payment schedules and wait times so you know where you stand. If this is something you are doing for extra money then you might want to go slowly to begin with so you build up your cash reserves. Going out and doing 10 mystery shops in one day might feel great, but your bank account needs to suck up this money until you get paid.

5 - Which clients do you work with?

The fifth entry on my list of the top 5 questions to ask a mystery shopping company is still a crucial one. It doesn't feel as important as the others, but will still help you decide if the mystery shopping company is right for you. If you sign up with a mystery shopping company for free meals and they exclusively deal with fashion retailers, then you won't feel like mystery shopping is worth it for you.

Do your homework before you sign up so you don't waste your time. Mystery shopping can be great if you get the right assignments so you need to know hat those might be. The companies are usually quite coy about giving out this information in case you are a competitor trying to steal clients, but you can get a good idea if you ask the question.

Mystery shopping is something that you can grow to love if you start out on the right foot. My guide to mystery shopping is available now, so check it out -

Who would be a mystery shopper ?

The scene is set. You are walking around a shop trying desperately to get the attention of a shop assistant. You will have to write a report on this later and then your actions will in all probability be studied on CCTV to see if you have kept up your side of the bargain. And you are right to ask yourself the question - who would be a mystery shopper in this day and age?

So what is mystery shopping like on the bad days?

Mystery shopping is supposed to be easy. You go to a shop and buy a couple of things before sending a short report and getting paid. And when it goes right, it can be that easy. But there are times when you read the assignment notes, study the location and rehearse what you have to say - but nothing falls right for you. Your sat nav doesn't like the postcode that you have been given You drive up and down time and again to see if you can find the right spot, but it just isn't having it You decide to park and go on foot to look for the place but that isn't any better. The life of a mystery shopper runs smoothly most of the time but occasionally it just feels like a pain.

Who would be a mystery shopper is something that crosses my mind at times like this. To make matters worse, these events always seem to happen when

• It is raining
• It is windy
• I just don't feel very well

You know those days. But you keep on going because you have told someone you will do it. You can't let people down, that is in the nature of most of those who mystery shop for extra cash or a few treats every now and again.

But what about the good days?

When it all falls into place it is a breeze. I can often go out for the day, conduct several mystery shops (my PB is 12 in one day) and then get home to fill out some simple reports that are well-structured and help you to get the story of your visit across. But on others this doesn't work at all. Look for the good and remember if the bad comes along then you can get through it and live to see another day! The ratio of good to bad is around 50 to 1 so don't get down if it happens to you and jump back on the horse again.

Who would be a mystery shopper now?

There are certain groups that would be ideal for mystery shopping. The nature of the job is that you can pick and choose jobs, work across a variety of places and pick up some extra money, free goods or a free meal.

Mystery shopping for students is a great way to get some extra food, have a drink on someone else's money or buy a few groceries.

Mystery shopping for mums is a the ideal way to meet up for a coffee with someone else picking up the tab or to get a few bits for the kids.

Mystery shopping for retired people gets you out of the house or might supplement pension income.

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is the perfect place to learn all about it and get you on the right track. Check it out today -

Four reasons why you shouldn't mystery shop

Mystery shopping isn't for everyone. Some people will get a lot from it, while others will just not see what all the fuss is about. If you want an excuse not to try it then this is the right blog for you. Mystery shopping isn't a full-time job and you can't make the £40,000 a year plus that some websites tell you is possible. I have worked in mystery shopping for long enough to know what difference it can make - it is a lifestyle thing that will bring you free food, shopping and experiences. here are the top 4 reasons NOT to mystery shop -

Nobody really wants free stuff

It's true. The kind of things that they give away free when you mystery shop are really not worth having. The free meals out at quality restaurants are just a chore. The free gifts such as designer label perfume and clothing would just gather dust in your cupboard. You don't want to look great or smell great anyway - it's so overrated. The fact that you can grab a free coffee or spot of lunch when you are out somewhere doesn't really help lighten the load. the fact that it only takes a few minutes to complete a mystery shop and fill in the online form when you've done a few and know what it entails isn't that appealing either.

It doesn't take much time

The fact that mystery shopping doesn't take up mic of your time doesn't really appeal either. In fact for many people, the mystery shops they carry out are in their own town or somewhere they were going to anyway. So you can get your hands on free gifts, extra stocking fillers for the kids at Christmas and be fed and watered at the same time with someone else picking up the bill. But why would that appeal to anyone?

It is easy to select assignments online

I'm sure we all want a return to the old days where everything was difficult. the fact that mystery shopping companies operate online just make things far too simple. You don't want to be able to select a mystery shopping assignment at the click or a button or complete the report online in a few minutes - that would be far too easy. There are also mystery shops that you can do online from the comfort of your own sofa - far too easy!

There is no such thing as a free lunch

I'm told this all the time - there is no such thing as a free lunch. I suppose that they are correct. In return for the lunch you have to travel to the destination, pay for the food and eat it. But you would have done that anyway for lunch. Nobody wants something for nothing anymore. They want to jump through a load of hoops and have life as difficult as possible. Take this 'free lunch' thing away from me. It's far too simple.

I hope that I have put you off sufficiently so that those of us that want to mystery shop have all the best assignments to ourselves. But if you still want to mystery shop then the best place to get ready is my book, available now -

How to get into mystery shopping

Mystery shopping can be a great way to make extra money, pick up some free stuff or get a meal out paid by someone else. I love mystery shopping and all that it brings me. I use it for extra presents for the kids at birthday and Christmas and going out for something to eat once or twice a week. You can also make a little extra cash from it, if you do the right shops in the right places. But for many people, the idea of being a mystery shopper is great - they just don't know where to begin. Here is a quick guide on how to get into it.

Do your research

You need to know where to start. Online resources will give you an idea of what opportunities are out there. If you Google 'mystery shopping YOUR COUNTRY' then you will get a good idea about who is hiring. The first piece of advice here is never sign up with a company that wants you to pay yo become a part of their panel. Mystery shopping companies are paid by the retailers and hospitality venues they service, so legitimate companies don't ask for a fee.

When you have looked at some of the companies that are hiring, you should do some research on how they are viewed by the mystery shopping community. Online reviews will let you know if there have been payment problems, reports rejected or other reasons to think twice about working for a particular company. And there are also great online reviews that will let you see who could be a great company to work with. Don't forget that you are self-employed so you would not be working for them - but with them.

Learn about what makes a good mystery shopper

It may be tempting at this stage to get your application filled out online and go straight ahead with the process of becoming a mystery shopper. I suggest a little caution before you do this. Many mystery shopping companies have an application process (not too onerous) where you have to fill out some questions and tell them a bit about yourself. They want to know certain things, so it is always good to understand what they are looking for. My book The Secrets of Mystery Shopping: How To Become a Mystery Shopper is a great guide to the skills and behaviours that a mystery shopping company requires. Check it out today.

Use your knowledge to apply

The next step is to get that application in. Mystery shopping companies that are hiring will want people to join them as soon as possible. Once you know what they are looking for then get that application in and you can start to see the jobs available.

Start with one job and see where it takes you

You may look at scores of jobs available and think that you can jump in right away. Although at this point it is tempting to get on with it, I suggest that you select one mystery shopping assignment and complete it fully before moving on to the next. If you get a detail wring then there is  chance that the mystery shop company withholds payment and you are out of pocket. So to make sure you know what you are doing, read my book and complete the first assignment. From there you will have the feedback from the shop you have carried out and can build your confidence that you are doing all the right things.

Mystery shopping will give you access to anything from a free cup of tea to a meal out and many things in between. It is an interesting and fun way to pick up some extra items such as groceries or toiletries. Once you get started, you will see the potential every day.

The 4 best mystery shopping experiences for the newbie mystery shopper

I help people to understand mystery shopping and go through the steps to become a mystery shopper. It is an interesting thing to do and many of the mystery shops end up with a free meal, some new clothes or an income at the end of it. Mystery shopping is a great addition to any lifestyle and is ideal for stay at home mums, the retired or students. It supplements your lifestyle and maybe gives you the chance to do some things that you wouldn't have been able to otherwise. For me it gives the family a free meal out at least once a week and helps around Christmas and birthdays with extra gifts for the kids. Starting out as a mystery shopper can feel daunting. Many of the assignments require you to visit on your own and you may feel like you don't quite know what you are doing. But don't worry. There are some easy mystery shops for the newbie that will help you to get into your stride. Here is my guide to the best experiences that will get you up and running -

4- Restaurant mystery shop

There are many restaurant visits available for the new mystery shopper. When you first look at the assignment notes these may feel like they give you a lot to look at but when you scratch the surface you can see that many of the questions are things that you would have noticed anyway -

"Were the toilets clean?"

 "Did your food look appetising?"

"Did the team member wear a uniform?"

These are a good way to get into mystery shopping and are something that I started out with years ago when I was a fledgling mystery shopper. I still do them today. If you read the notes and take out all that is important, then you can make a success of this and build to future mystery shops that may be more complicated.

3- Mystery shop in a clothing store

The reason I like these is there is always the opportunity to check your notes. The fittings room of a clothing store is paradise for the mystery shopper. It allows you to take a few moments, check your notes and make sure you are on track. I also use this time to write down anything I have observed. Taking a time-out isn't usually something you can do with a mystery shopping assignment but with a clothing store you get to step away for a few seconds.

Clothing retailers always need to be mystery shopped because so much of what they do depends on the service they give. You get to browse, try on some clothes and earn yourself a free item of clothing. What could be better? Combine it with your normal shopping trip to your local town or shopping centre and save on travel too.

2 - Online mystery shop

Another way to get started without the pressure of a face to face interaction is the inline mystery shop. There are many of these available where you ask a question on social media, send an email or spend time on a website. Your report comes back in terms of your online experience.

This can be a great way to get used to mystery shopping. When you start there can be a lot of things to remember all at once. Online mystery shopping gives you the chance to practice from the comfort of your own PC, tablet or smartphone. Check them out, as they may be the ideal way for you to start on this path.

1 - Enquiry mystery shop

These ate where you go to a shop, travel agent or concession stand and ask a few questions without buying. They are a great way to learn how to mystery shop because you commit nothing but your time. There is no expenditure, so if you do get a few things wrong, you won't lose out if the mystery shopping company can't use the report and choose not to pay you. This can happen although it is very rare) so using an enquiry mystery shop gives you the chance to try it out and see if you like it.

Mystery shopping is something that supplements my lifestyle and gives me access to free goods, meals out and cash on a regular basis. If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is the perfect place to start. It gives you all the information you might need to start mystery shopping -

The 5 reasons mystery shopping is great for retired people (and why retired people are perfect for mystery shopping)

Mystery shopping is perfect for people that have retired and may want either a hobby or something to supplement their income. Mystery shopping is a great way to get your hands on some free things, such as a meal out, some clothing or a coffee. Mystery shopping is ideal for retired people for a number of reasons. Here is our guide to the 5 reasons why mystery shopping is great for retired people (and why retired people are perfect for mystery shopping) -

5 - Time
You need to be flexible with our time to mystery shop. Some of the assignments require people to shop at certain times (restaurants want people to be there at meal times, pubs want people to be there in the evening) and the fact that retired people have fewer commitments than those that work makes it perfect for them. Mystery shopping can start to add up if you can conduct a few shops in the same day. Not having to rush back to work or to pick up the kids from school means that you can really make it worthwhile. The best days mystery shopping for me are when I can carry out 8 to 10 shops and stack up some decent payments.

4 - Experience
Retired people have a lot of experience in dealing with situations that mystery shopping companies are trying to assess. Buying a meal out or having a quality shopping experience are the most common types of mystery shops. The companies want to know what is going on with the service with their team. Retired people have a greater resource to draw on with these experiences.

3 - Pick up some income
Mystery shopping allows people to pick up some extra money or free stuff here and there. It helps if you want an occasional meal out, need to pick up some groceries or have to get a gift for someone in your life. Mystery shops often have reimbursements of £10 to £25 so you can easily get something of value. The reimbursements for meals out are generous and can easily sustain a meal for two. I find this most helpful!

2 - Reliability
Mystery shopping companies need someone that they can rely on to turn up, carry out the assignment properly and file a report. Retired people are reliable and diligent on the whole. They take their responsibilities seriously and this is a boon for mystery shopping companies. This is a problem and some mystery shopping companies even strike people off for repeat offences. Retired people can really help with this.

1 - Get out of the house

Mystery shopping is a good reason to get out there and meet other people. You can meet a friend for a coffee, all expenses paid, or go out for a meal. You can spend some time talking to someone in a shop, while being paid for the privilege. Whatever the mystery shop, it gets you active and gets the brain going. Now that can't be a bad thing!

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book is a great place to start. Check it out here -

Why wouldn't you mystery shop?

The vast majority of us shop at one time or another. If we don't shop then we go out for a meal or a coffee or a pint. The fact is that we spend money in various places during the course of a normal week. All mystery shopping does is put some money in your pocket for these occasions.

Stay with me for a few minutes as I let you know the places I have mystery shopped recently to get an idea of how it could help you. At the end of this short article I want you to ask yourself the question -

Why wouldn't I mystery shop?

The family meal

At a popular location restaurant I got to treat my family of four (including me) to a meal which was covered by the reimbursement and the fee. Although I didn't walk away with any money in my pocket (or my bank account to be more precise) I did get to feed the four of us. In return I had to -

• Spend around 5 minutes reading the notes so I was ready
• Time certain points in the restaurant such as how long top be served, how long for the label to be cleared
• Remember the name and description of all who served me (notes on the iPhone works perfectly here)
• Take a photo of my meal and of the venue
• Spend around 10 minutes filling out the report online afterwards

I think that's a price worth paying.

A coffee and cake

A multinational coffee chain also needs to be mystery shopped too. I got two free coffees, two treats and still made a little extra money on the side. I found this even easier than the family meal as there were no distractions from the kids. It is an easy way to get a free coffee, especially if you were going for one anyway.

Some free groceries

This was in my town, right next to the supermarket I usually visit. I popped into his other, smaller supermarket on the way there. I had to make an enquiry on the shop floor and then buy some items at the till. I was looking for cleanliness, clear aisles and great customer service, including queue management. It took a couple of minutes each for the preparation, the shop and the online feedback. Easy money!

And these are not the only places you can mystery shop...

If you don't spend your time like this then there are other opportunities that you might like to gain from. The use of social media by companies is under the spotlight and they are always looking for mystery shoppers to send a tweet or fill in a contact form to see the response times and quality.

Bookmakers are a popular UK mystery shopping destination and I've even seen mystery shops to hotels or for holidays in my time after you have worked up to the required level. I'm sure that there are opportunities out there for you.

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper but don't know which way ti turn then my book is the ideal place to start. It is available on the Amazon Kindle store now -

There are loads of mystery shopping opportunities out there again

It's that time of year for mystery shoppers. Christmas is over and done with and the sales are a thing of distant memory for most of us. And it is this time of year that mystery shopping comes back with a vengeance. Things really start to pick up now for mystery shoppers. Over the Christmas period the retailers and hospitality businesses want to concentrate on their busiest period so mystery shopping pretty much stops. They are too busy to think about their mystery shopping programmes.

Then as the new year arrives it all starts again. Business as usual means that companies want to know what service their teams are giving their customers. So it's over to the growing army of mystery shoppers to go out there and complete assignments. The mystery shoppers will work to assess the value, service and other aspects of the way they find retail outlets and hospitality places such as coffee shops, restaurants and pubs.

And they are looking for new mystery shoppers all the time. You can join this growing army. If you sign up today then you can find mystery shopping assignments like the following-

* A meal in a local pub for two. Here you have to assess the service and food available and report back on things like how quickly you were served in exchange for having your meal paid for.

* A clothing purchase at a national retailer known for service and quality. You get to keep whatever you buy and are paid a small fee too!

* Grab a quick lunch on the go and get someone else to pick up the tab. There are always mystery shops that need you to assess how quickly you are served at lunchtime.

* Betting shops want to know that their teams are engaging their customers in more than taking their money. You can get a free bet and keep any winnings if you pick up one of these.

* National coffee shop chains also want to know if their team ms are following procedures. If you choose one of these mystery shops then you can get a free coffee for you and a friend - and often a cake to go with it too!

Mystery shopping can bring you in some extra money, help with the groceries or provide the occasional treat. If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is the best place to learn all the skills you need. Check it out today-

What is mystery shopping?

If I ever let people know that I am a mystery shopper (and it does come up from time to time) then the most common response I get in return is-

"What is mystery shopping?"

 It is a really interesting subject and people always have a load of questions to back up that first one, such as-

• How did you get into it?
• Can you make a lot of money from it?
• How can I get started?

So let's begin at the beginning and give you an idea of what mystery shopping is. Companies have got bigger and bigger. The days of one store owner being able to watch, advise and support all of the team while serving customers are gone. Businesses are now run by a board that rarely see the inside of their own store or hospitality venues.The ability to see what is going on, reinforce best practice and advise where to put things right has disappeared from the hands of the decision makers.

So they have put it in the hands of the likes of you and I - the people that would normally frequent the stores anyway. So we report back on the experience we have had to see how closely it matches the experience that the big bosses expect.

Mystery shopping is the best way that big companies have at the moment to monitor the service that their customers are being given. If they have set rules on how customers should be engaged and served to ensure that they offer the best care and maximise sales.

So how do we fit into all of this?

Well I fell into mystery shopping when I was looking for a job. I saw it advertised online and thought I'd give it a go. I have now carried out hundreds of mystery shops and written a book on the subject.

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn extra money and get hold of free things but I haven't seen a way to turn it into a full-time job. The assignments are too far and between even if you live in a big city. It does change your life, though. I have been able to get free meals every week, a hand with my grocery shop and pick up stocking fillers for the kids birthdays and Christmas. It is a nice little lifestyle job which is why it fits perfectly for stay at home Mums or university students where you can work from home.

Mystery shopping is easy to get started. Just Google the words 'mystery shopping' and you will see lots of adverts for companies that need shoppers. Never pay to join one and make sure that you understand what is required of you. If you spend on a mystery shop and get it wrong then you won't get paid and you'll be out of pocket.

My book on mystery shopping is the best place to start your journey-