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-

What goes into a mystery shop?

This week I have been trying to get my main meal every day paid for from mystery shopping. I have set up a mystery shop every day in a restaurant, bar or pub. I think that there are great benefits to mystery shopping and to prove it can feed me for a week!

But a lot of people ask me what mystery shopping is all about. Let me talk you through today's mystery shop so you can see what it entails-

First I had to read and print all the job notes and the questionnaire - 10 minutes

I had to plan the visit such as travelling there, parking and how long I'd be there - 5 minutes

Travelling to the venue in a nearby town - 10 minutes

I carried out the mystery shop itself with all the requirements that the company gave me - 30  minutes

For this one I had to buy a meal and a drink, ask a question about the meal - is the coffee you use Free-Trade?

This also had a requirement that is becoming more common, which is to take a photo of the meal before I eat it. I guess they are looking 

After the job I had to complete the questionnaire on paper soon after completing the mystery shop - 5 minutes

Then it was on to home to answer the questionnaire online - 10 minutes travel and 20 minutes online

The whole mystery shop from start to finish took around an hour and a half. So you have to weigh this up when thinking about whether mystery shopping will work for you. An hour and a half might be too much out of the day of certain people. It might be a good amount of time to earn a free meal for others.

On to the next meal!

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn some extra money. If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book will let you know what it is all about and guide you through the application process. Check it out now!

Can I have a full week without paying for my main meal through mystery shopping?

I often write about the benefits of mystery shopping and how it cab bring you some little treats and some much-needed cash to help ease the pressure of modern family life. This week I have set myself a challenge. There are a lot of mystery shops available at the moment for restaurants and pubs to go out and have something to eat. My mission for the week is to have my main meal every day for one week without having to out my hand in my pocket.

We are a family of four so this challenge is a little more difficult than it would be if you were on your own. The kids have a school dinner Monday to Friday so at the weekend I will have to find a mystery shop that will cater for four people rather than two.

Let's have a look at the challenge-

On Monday I have penciled in a mystery shop at the restaurant in the local hospital.

On Tuesday my wife and I will be having a main meal in a well-known British pub chain that is famous for its food offering.

On Wednesday we will be visiting a pub/restaurant chain locally.

On Thursday I have planned a visit for four in the evening to the cafe in a major supermarket chain

On Friday my wife and I will be having a main meal in a well-known British pub chain that is famous for its food offering - the same chain but a different location to Tuesday

Saturday is at a branch of a nationwide pizza restaurant

Sunday will be at an Italian chain restaurant in a nearby town

So, as you can see the plans are in place. Don't get me wrong, mystery shopping isn't a way to never have to buy a meal again but it can get you out to restaurants that you may not have been able to afford any other way or at least to loosen the pressure on the purse strings every now and again.

I will keep you updated as the week goes by with further small blog entries with a few details of how each one went and to let you know if I am still on track with my mission. Wish me luck!

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then there is a lot that you need to know and learn. My book is available to help you understand what it is to be a mystery shopper and guides you through the application process. Check it out-

Who is mystery shopping ideal for?

Mystery shopping is accessible to all kinds of people and is a great way to supplement your income and get your hands on some free items or food. Mystery shopping can make a real difference to your finances as you get those extra bits or the odd free meal that will lighten the financial load from time to time. But who is mystery shopping ideal for? Check out my guide to the people that will benefit the most from mystery shopping-

Students will love mystery shopping
Because mystery shopping requires you to have little more than some free time and access to a computer it is ideal for university students. As most universities are in or close to a big town or city then the number of available jobs will be great so a student can find access to a ready supply of mystery shopping opportunities. It is a great way to get a free meal, go for a drink or get some free items that will help when money is tight.

Mothers with children at school are ideal candidates for mystery shopping
Again this is a wonderful opportunity for stay-at-home mums because they can drop the kids off at school, go out and do a bit of mystery shopping and be back in time for the kids coming out of school again. Mystery shopping doesn't require you to commit week-in-week-out so you can take time off when the kids are on their school holidays. It gives you a chance to go out and meet people as well as picking up a free coffee or some bits for the kids. There are also many fashion shops that need to be mystery shopped so you can supplement your wardrobe too!

People who have retired can get a lot from mystery shopping
Again the way that mystery shopping is structured means that someone who is retired and has free time can get out there to mystery shop and earn a little extra money. It is a great way to pick up extra items for free when you go out and perform a mystery shop so it is well worth giving it a go. The forms that need to be completed online are usually quite basic so you won't be bamboozled by technology.

Anyone that lives in a big city will get loads from mystery shopping
Cities are great for mystery shopping because there are so many shops and restaurants there that need to be mystery shopped. Whenever I'm in a big city I get free meals to keep down the cost of spending time there. There are always so many restaurants to choose from that you can easily have at least a meal or two a week paid for by someone else. It is a great way to make the most from mystery shopping. I had four meals in restaurants from mystery shopping last week and over the year this saves a lot of money.

Mystery shopping is a really interesting way to pass the time and get free items while earning a little extra cash. I love mystery shopping and I'm sure you will too.

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book will give you the lowdown on how to apply and how to be a successful mystery shopper. Check it out today-

6 things that you don't know about mystery shopping (yet!)

Mystery shopping is exactly what it says in the tin - large parts of it remain a mystery. There are six key things that you don't know about mystery shopping. You need to know these before you set out to be a mystery shopper-

6- It can be tough to get started

Mystery shopping companies have to look out for their clients. They only want their best shoppers working for Thor top customers. Because of this you have to start from the bottom and prove yourself. Many mystery shop companies will only allow you to do one or two jobs a month to begin with as you build up your profile. This means or can be hard to get established as a mystery shopper.

5- There can be more costs than just the purchase

Although the mystery shopping company will reimburse your purchase (up to a point) and often pay you a few there are other costs to take into account. You will need to factor in in the cost of travelling to the location and any parking costs as well. You will find that many mystery shoppers try to carry out many mystery shops in one location to minimise this cost. You will also find that your average mystery shopper is an expert on all the free places to park in their local area.

4- You are self-employed

You won't be employed by a mystery shopping company. You will be a contractor that carries out work for them on an ad hoc basis. This has the benefit that you can work for many different mystery shopping companies at once. But it also means that you are self-employed and responsible for your relationship with the tax man.

3- Mystery shopping companies do more than mystery shopping

You will find other opportunities on the job pages of your mystery shopping companies. Audits snd exit interviews are common ones that I have seen. It does give you a bit of variety if that is what you are looking for. But beware when you are selecting an assignment that you have read the notes thoroughly and you know what is expected of you.

2- Get it wrong and you may not get paid

Mystery shopping companies will only get paid if the report you produce can be sent through to their client. Make sure you read all the notes carefully so you totally understand the expectations. For example, you may be required to purchase a particular product. If you fail to carry out the assignment correctly then you may very well not get paid, and be out of pocket.

1- You have to speculate to accumulate

With mystery shopping you pay out for the required purchases but it can be some time Becker you get the reimbursement back in your bank account. Many UK mystery shopping companies pay twice a month but with others it can be up to 90 days. Factor this in when you look at becoming s mystery shopper and you won't get s y nasty surprises.

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper then my Amazon Kindle book is a great pace to start. It gives great advice like that found above and also talks you through step by step the way to become a mystery shopper-

Top 5 tips on how to be a better mystery shopper

When it comes to mystery shopping we all want to get better at it. The more time you can save by becoming efficient then the more money you can earn. As far as mystery shopping companies are concerned they want you to get better too. More accurate reporting means that they don't have to get back in touch with you to clarify anything and they can get your report back to their clients as quickly as possible. Here are the top 5 ways that you can become a better mystery shopper.

5 - Use a stopwatch or smartphone to make sure your timings are accurate

The timings that you record are used to measure service times so they need to be totally accurate. In some mystery shops such as fast food outlets the timings are absolutely crucial. Make sure that you report these accurately by using s stopwatch of the stopwatch facility on your smartphone. If you don't include accurate timings then your report may be rejected and you may not get paid. Not a great thing for a mystery shopper!

4 - Think like a mystery shopper everywhere you go

I find that practice makes perfect. I think l like a mystery shopper whenever I'm out shopping or having something to eat. I look for name badges, record service times and think about the service I am being given. This all helps when it comes to the real mystery shops. Get into that frame of mind and it will help you to get better at mystery shopping!

3 - Ask the mystery shop company of there is anything you are not sure about

This is a simple rule that makes a big difference. If you read through all the mystery shop job notes and there is something you are still not sure about then ask. All mystery shopping companies have contact numbers or email addresses so you can contact them to clarify what you have to do. Never go in to a mystery shop unless you are certain you know what is required of you.

2 - Read your assignments notes thoroughly before you go

This may sound obvious but it can trip you up, especially if you are shopping a location or company that you have been to before. The notes and the questionnaire give you all the details you need when it comes to the mystery shop you have been assigned. Read the notes thoroughly at home and once again just before you go in to the location - making sure you are not seen.

It is by knowing what is expected of you when it comes to a mystery shop that you can deliver what is required.

1 - Write your reports in Word and spellcheck them before uploading and submitting

Your spelling and grammar need to be perfect when you send through your reports. The mystery shop company and the end client need to be able to read and understand what you have written.

We're not all great at these things all the time so writing in Word and using the spelling and grammar check is the top tip when it comes to getting better at being a mystery shopper.

If you are thinking of becoming a mystery shopper then my Amazon Kindle book is a great place to start. If gives a step by step guide on how to become a mystery shopper and how to get the most out of it.

The top 4 reasons to get out and mystery shop

Mystery shopping is fun. It gives you lots of things that you can benefit from. Here's the top 4 reasons to go out and mystery shop-

4 - Something to do

For some people mystery shopping is a great way of getting out of the house. It gives you the chance to travel around and visit new places. Mystery shopping got me around the area when I moved home. I credit it with me knowing so much about where I live. It took me to new towns, I found new attractions and learned about new places to eat and drink. It made a big difference to my life.

3 - The chance to meet people 

This links in to the previous thing. The mystery shopping you do will put you in contact with lots of new people. There are many people that I stand and chat to in certain shops now and I only know them from mystery shopping them several times. It's a great way to relieve loneliness and get you out and about talking to people.

2 - Free stuff

When you mystery shop there is usually a purchase that you have to make. In the vast majority of cases you get to keep whatever it is you have bought. When you mystery shop a restaurant or pub then this is a great free meal or drink! When you mystery shop in a retail outlet then you get to buy something that you might like or that would make a great gift. Clothing is a particular favourite!

1 - Money

For many people this is the reason they go out and mystery shop. On top of getting the cash to pay for whatever you buy you will also be paid a fee. Although it has to cover expenses such as fuel and parking the fees can add up - especially if you carry out a few mystery shops in the same location on the same day.

Unless you are incredibly dedicated and live somewhere that there are loads of mystery shop opportunities then you probably can't quit your day job but there is plenty of money to be earned.

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my Amazon Kindle book is a great place to find out all you need to know. It takes you through the process of becoming a mystery shopper step by step.

Beware of mystery shopping scams - they are out there

The BBC website reports that a woman who was arrested for theft claims she was "working undercover" for a company that called itself Mystery Shopping UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36576170/dont-get-tricked-into-being-a-personal-shoplifter-this-summer

This is an incredible story and just goes to show that there are unscrupulous companies out there that want to exploit people. All of the mystery shop companies that I feature in my blog and my book are legitimate companies that I have been able to check out.

If you are ever in any doubt about what you have been asked to do then do some background research and find out about what the company is and if they have any online reviews. Some websites like Trustpilot are a great way to see if the company you are dealing with has been marked down by other users in the past.

If you have any questions about any of the mystery shopping companies that you use then please get in touch using the comments section here or ask me on Twitter. I'll be glad to help.

My book on mystery shopping is available on the Amazon Kindle store and can really help anyone who is looking to become a mystery shopper. It is full of the steps you will need to take to become a success in this area.

The top 5 UK mystery shopping companies to sign up for

My blog on mystery shopping has become more popular as time goes on and I get many questions relating to all aspects of mystery shopping. One question I am often asked is which mystery shopping companies to sign up for. I don't have a definitive answer but here are my favourite five-

5- Aba-i

Their website is a breeze to use with these guys. I love to carry out mystery shopping with aba-i because their reports are simple to follow as well. It's easy one-click answers followed by some description. This is a great place to start your mystery shopping career.

4- React Surveys

They are one of the mystery shop companies that use the Sassie system for their job search and results entering. React Surveys are really specific on what they want from you and this helps the first time mystery shopper to get up and running when they first start. Try them out.

3- Grass Roots

These are a mystery shopping company that likes to keep you informed. You get an email whenever there is a job in your area so you never miss out. Their reporting system guides you through question by question so you know exactly what is required from you. Great stuff Grass Roots!

2- Retail Active

Although they have changed their website recently (I absolutely loved the old one) Retail Active are a great mystery shopping company. They have a great range of clients and their assignments are always interesting. You get to try out your role play skills with these guys!

1- Market Force

For me these are the best mystery shopping company. You can set out your own search areas on a map and it brings up the mystery shops that match your requirements. They have a great choice of clients and the reports are easy to follow. What's more the guys on the office are brilliant too. These are a must to sign up with.

If you want to know more about mystery shopping then check out my book on the Amazon Kindle store today.

The accuracy of your preparation determines the accuracy of your report

I have a series of mystery shops over the next few days and they highlight one of the major issues that comes with mystery shopping. It relates to the clarity of what you do.

All three of my mystery shops over the next three days are in restaurants. All three of my mystery shops over the next three days have similar remits.

This is where things can get difficult if you are underprepared with your paperwork and your organisation. Let me explain.

1st job

This is to a local pub that serves food. It is to order one starter, 2 main courses, 1 dessert and 1 drink. The focus is on the service at the order point and the quality of the food. There is a requirement to take a photo of the main meal before starting to eat it. I find this requirement difficult to remember because so many other things are going through my head at the same time.

2nd job

This is another pub and another set of requirements. I have to order one of a set list of meals and two drinks from another set list. The focus here is totally on the service received with an eye on the food and drink quality. It is different to the first job in subtle ways so this is when it gets diffucult to remember exact details.

3rd job

This is a hot meal and drink order in the cafe of a garden centre. The ficus here is in speed of service and quality of the food and drink. Again it is important to remember how each job is different.

How to get this right is a matter of making sure your paperwork is in order and being organised.

Print out your job notes and questionnaire and read them thoroughly before you go. Make any notes you need as you condo you have a full understandings of what you need to do. Fill out the questionnaire as soon as you can after the visit to ensure you capture all the right details.

Having a few mystery shops in a short space of time is a good thing but you need to make sure that you get the reports correct so you get paid.

If you are thinking about mystery shopping as a way of enhancing your income or working part-time then a great place to start id my book-

There were some subtle but important differences on the mystery shops Icarried out yesterday

I carried out two mystery shops yesterday, and both had subtle differences to the standard mystery shops I carry out that made then interesting. In my view these changes also made the shops more relevant to the companies I visited.

The first one was a visit to a discount store that sells all kinds of items for the home. The mystery shop in general was to check out the service - pretty standard I hear you say. But the difference was that I was to stand close to a member of staff and look at a product. This was to see how long (if at all) it was before I was approached. The measure is that a customer shouldn't have to approach the member of staff for help. The member of staff should approach customers and see if they can help.

The subtle difference is in the level of customer service and interaction. The fact is that customers that aren't approached may just go without asking, resulting in lost sales.

In this case, the team member asked if I was okay after only about 30 seconds. This was good service.

Fee = £7.00

Reimbursement = £1.00

Spend = £1.50

Profit/Loss = +£6.50

The second mystery shop was to a cafe situated inside another store. Again it was mainly standard fayre for most of the mystery shop-

How long to be served?
Cleanliness of the cafe
Quality of the food

The difference in this assignment was the fact that the instructions stated "be honest, fair but be strict." The honesty and fair are how you approach every mystery shop. It is quite rare that you are instructed to be strict. I feel that must mystery shopping companies I carry out shops for allow a little leeway for the place you are assessing. But the instructions here were to be strict.

I do feel as though I pointed out things that I may have overlooked in past shops so it does make a difference.

Fee = £0.00

Reimbursement = £11.00

Spend = £12.00

Profit/Loss = -£1.00

TOTAL = +£5.50 + a tube of toothpaste and lunch for 2

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper then a great way to get into it is to read my book on how to become a mystery shopper. It will help you to apply to be a mystery shopper and then shows you great ideas on how to be successful.

A visit to a national clothing retailer brings a chance to learn about mystery shopping

This really has been a strange January for mystery shops. I was braced for another busy month after January of last year but it's been a real washout. I carried out a shop on Sunday of this week to a clothing retailer that has a national chain and is hugely well-known.

The mystery shop was split into three parts and I'll look at each in turn to give new mystery shoppers an idea of what may be expected of them-

Shop floor enquiry
I was to browse until I was approached by a sales assistant. I then had to make a broad enquiry about an item of clothing. A question along the lines of "I'm looking for some new trousers." The question needs to be this vague so the sales assistant can ask you several questions that lead to a recommendation. It is a test of customer interaction and product knowledge.

You need to remember names, descriptions and what was said here. It is important to focus.

Fitting rooms
You are then to approach the fitting room with an item of clothing to try on. This purely a customer service measure as you are looking to how the assistant interacts with you and whether they offer you any service above and beyond what is usually experienced.

Inside the fitting room is a great opportunity to recap what you have done and perhaps make a quick note or two.

Till transaction
You are then required to make a purchase at a certain till. This is to again measure the customer service at that till, as the member of staff interacts with you whilst processing your payment. As with many shops it is a last chance to make sure the customer has got everything they came in for.

This is all about how you were made to feel, so it is easier to remember this information.

This shop performed well on this occasion and I think that the report I completed will show very positively on the team members I encountered.

If you are thinking of becoming a mystery shopper then it is a good idea to get some tips on the process before you start. My book is available now to give you the lowdown on becoming a mystery shopper.

I've not prepared for my mystery shop. What should I do?

I've got a mystery shop set up for today but I'm not really ready for it. It's at a national clothing and footwear retailer and I've not done the research, read the brief or made my notes. In short, I'm pretty much 100% unprepared.

So what can I do?

There are a few options and I'll take a look at them now. It is helpful to know what to so if you are ever in this situation.

Wing it

This is an option that I know some other shoppers have tried in the past. That's the only reason that I've included it here. I could probably give it a go as I've shopped this retailer many times before. The job notes do sometimes change for this but the theme is always the same.

Verdict: not a great idea.

Quickly check the notes and give it a go

Obviously in the day of mobile internet and wi-fi hotspots you can check out and pick up the notes at any stage. I haven't got my smartphone linked up to any printers so I couldn't have access to the physical questionnaire. I could however get on the phone and have a look at what is needed. I could make some basic notes and go from there.

Verdict: doable but not ideal.

Rearrange

Most of the mystery shop companies allow you to make a change to the date. It's often done online and most will allow you one change.

It gives me the time to check out the notes and prepare properly.

Verdict: the best plan!

If you are thinking of becoming a mystery shopper then it pays to read up first. Check out my guide to becoming a mystery shopper - it's less then the price of a takeaway coffee and gives you the lowdown on how to apply, be accepted and start making good money by going out to shop.

Two mystery shops in the same location produce very different results

I'll use this post to do two things. The first is to wish you all a Happy New Year. I hope that 2016 brings you everything you want. The second reason is to use two mystery shops to highlight what we do mystery shoppers.

I visited the same location as a mystery shopper two Sundays in a row, the second occasion being yesterday. The visits were very different and I'll use this to illustrate what we should be measuring. It's two visits to a national food pub chain.

Level of trade

The difference in level of trade on these two dates was staggering. On 27th December the venue was packed. I struggled to find a table and waited a long time at the bar to be served. Whilst ordering at the bar I was told that the wait for food would be around 40 minutes, which was a fairly accurate prediction. It took longer to use the toilets, longer to have the table cleared and longer to pay but all of this is expected when it is this busy. And it's here that I want to look at customer measures.

What could have been done?

The only potential change would have been to have more staff present. Now I know that at this time of the year people need their time off and there's more likelihood of someone calling in sick, so this isn't always an option.

As a measure of the actual service the team gave me on that day, they could not have affected the delays. It was purely down to the heavy trade. The service was friendly and as efficient as possible and the delays were explained. The visit yesterday was to a virtually empty place. There were no queues, speedy service and the food arrived quickly. The team worked as well as they did the week before, but with vastly fewer customers.

It's here that you need to consider what you are measuring. Service times in busier times can be extended and this is acceptable. If you're unsure then speak to your mystery shop company, they will help you along the way.

If you want more information about mystery shopping then take a look at my book, available now.

The last few mystery shops before Christmas - free meals!

Its very quiet now in the mystery shop front, and the only jobs I'm picking up to carry out now are those in restaurants and pubs.

I've carried out a few over the last week or so, and I've for two more set before the end of the year.

I went to a chain pub last week for a standard assignment. It was about ordering a meal and a couple of drinks and them assessing the customer service and quality of the food and drinks. Its a repeat assignment, so it's something I can do in my sleep but sometimes this brings it's own problems. It really pays to read through the notes thoroughly, as these assignments can change over time. On this occasion I read through but it was very similar to the way it always has been - in fact this same assignment was my very first ever mystery shop!

Fee = £3.50

Reimbursement = £5.00

Spend = £11.00

Profit/Loss = -£2.50

I also visited the catering outlet of a local government establishment last week. It was to test the quality of food and service age in, but with a slightly different agenda. The measures that the client wanted was to establish whether the outlet was closer in standards to a catering facility or a restaurant chain. The offering was decidedly catering outlet fayre and this will no doubt disappoint the client. They are hoping to be viewed as a food destination in their own right but on the basis of this visit, that is unlikely to be happening any time soon.

Fee = £3.25

Reimbursement = £9.75

Spend = £19.00

Profit/Loss = +£6.00

If you are looking to mystery shop, and this really take soff in January then take a look at my book. It's a guide on how to become a successful mystery shopper.

There' still time to pick up the last few mystery shopping presents before Christmas

It really is just the odd mystery shop between now and the New Year, so make the most of the shops that are available. I had a mystery shop last Thursday in a clothing store in a local town. There were several enquiries to make in the same department, and as it happens there was only one team member present in that department.

I had to-

• ask about an item of clothing
• ask about an item of footwear
• ask to use the fitting room
• ask a question while in the fitting room
• ask about an online exclusive item
• make a purchase at the till

When you are asking this many questions of the same team member it can be easy to become spotted as a mystery shopper. It is important to keep the conversation as natural as you possibly can and to ensure that you are not spotted as a mystery shopper.

If someone ever asks you if you are a mystery shopper it's best to have a set answer in your mind. My stock answer if I was ever called out on it would be-

"Oh, what's a mystery shopper? That sounds interesting."

And I'd take it from there. Make sure you have an idea of what you would say if you were ever asked. It could save your fee for that assignment!

As for this assignment, I wasn't spotted and got a nice jumper as a Christmas present for someone.

Fee = £2.25

Reimbursement = £15.00

Spend = £15.00

Profit/Loss = +£2.25

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper then my book is a good place to start. It gives the lowdown on becoming a mystery shopper and gives hints and tips on how to be a success. Check it out.

See why you should consider becoming a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping is becoming more and more prevalent as retailers, financial services organisations and hospitality providers want to know what their teams are doing when they're not around to supervise or assess. The use of mystery shopping in many economies grows as multi-site operations take over High Streets, shopping malls and out of town shopping centres. Multi-site operators will want each site to offer a similarly high standard of service, so every customer knows what to expect on every visit. The operations want to be able to provide the same level of customer experience in their outlets whether they be in London or Birmingham, Portsmouth or Glasgow, and for multinational companies from Madrid to New York. And there are several different steps that one of these companies can take to facilitate this similarity of customer experience. Staff training is the same throughout the company to ensure that everyone gets the same resources to be inducted, initially trained and improve themselves. And this is where a level of communication comes in. The companies need to communicate their requirements to the team. And some of these requirements come through really well in the way they are mystery shopped.

The management teams are also trained to deliver training. By this, I mean that they can communicate the ideals of the company and ensure that all their teams understand what is expected of them. From this base level of understanding, the idea is that the distinct standards of service I mentioned above are carried out to the best of people's ability.

But people are human, ideals can sometimes get lost in the everyday buzz of work and not everybody has the same training, personal standards, motivation or understanding, and this is where mystery shopping can help out. It gives a framework for managers and their teams to set out their work day. A good mystery shopping programme should work hand-in-hand with the training and supervision that a company offers to reinforce the standards that they have - it leaves those on the customer-facing front line in no doubt about what is expected of them. In turn, it should leave the customers in no doubt about what the company stands for and what they can expect - no matter where in the country (or indeed where in the world) they visit and spend their money.

So, as large organisations develop a mystery shopping programme, they need mystery shoppers to help to fulfill this. And this is where you can come in, help and earn money. Mystery shopping is fun, exciting, rewarding and is valuable. This blog will help to make it all of these things and more for you. I will add background to the process, as above, and give you knowledge, practical advice, hints and tips to make your time as a mystery shopper as interesting and rewarding as possible. With the benefit of the background knowledge, you can alter your responses to the situation and be comfortable that you understand the impact and importance of the mystery shop work that you carry out.

I will help you to make a success of it and any successful mystery shopper will add value for the company, the mystery shop provider and for themselves. It is probable that you will make reasonable money for yourself by mystery shopping. It is possible that you can make yourself a living from mystery shopping, if you are dedicated and when you get yourself up to speed and established. You will need to register with a number of mystery shopping companies. It is a self-employed position, where you carry out assignments on behalf of mystery shopping company and then deal with your own tax assessments, and we will look at that in one of the chapters. All in all, I want you to share the passion I have for doing this. It's a passion for improvement and a passion for making money. Just about all of us shop for things that you could just as easily mystery shop for, even if it's for groceries, days out or for a meal. Mystery shoppers are needed for supermarkets, for attractions or days out and for restaurants or cafés.

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See how regular mystery shop clients can help you hone your skills

I went on to one of the mystery shop companies websites a few days ago and there were hundreds of shops available in my local patch. This usually means only one thing - that a major retailer with thousands of outlets across the country wants all of their shops assessed.

And this was the case. As usual I won't name the company involved but it's a food outlet that's on just about every High Street. I managed to carry out three of these tasks and repetition makes things easier.

Of course you'll want to read and understand each set of job notes individually to make sure that there are no differences. But once you understand what is required from you then carrying out the same shop repeatedly makes getting it right easier. You can almost carry out these shops on auto-pilot.

It's a piece of advice that I can give you for your own mystery shopping - carrying out jobs for the same client over and over again does make the completion of the assignment and the reports much, much easier.

If you're looking for advice on mystery shopping, how to become a mystery shopper or how to make things easier then my book is a great place to start.