Earning Money As a Mystery Shopper in the UK

 Mystery shopping has become a popular way for people to earn extra income in the UK. As a mystery shopper, you are paid to visit stores or restaurants and evaluate the quality of service, cleanliness, and other aspects of the experience. In this blog, we will discuss how to become a mystery shopper in the UK and the potential earnings.

How to Become a Mystery Shopper in the UK

To become a mystery shopper in the UK, you can sign up with one of many mystery shopping companies. These companies work with businesses to evaluate their customer service and experience, and they rely on mystery shoppers to provide feedback.

Some popular mystery shopping companies in the UK include Market Force, Tern, and Retail Maxim. To sign up, you will need to provide basic information about yourself and your shopping preferences. You may also need to complete a test assignment to prove your attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.

Once you are accepted as a mystery shopper, you will be offered assignments based on your location and availability. Assignments may include visiting a store, making a purchase, and reporting back on your experience. You may be paid a fee for the assignment, reimbursed for your purchase, or both.

Potential Earnings as a Mystery Shopper in the UK

The amount you can earn as a mystery shopper in the UK varies depending on the company and the assignment. Some companies offer flat fees for assignments, while others pay based on the time and effort required.

According to a report by Which?, the average pay for mystery shopping assignments in the UK is around £5-£7 per assignment, with some paying as much as £30. However, it's important to note that this is just an average, and the pay can vary widely depending on the company and the assignment.

Mystery shopping can be a great way to earn extra income in the UK, but it's important to approach it as a part-time job rather than a full-time income. Most mystery shopping companies do not offer enough assignments to support a full-time income, and the pay is generally low compared to other part-time jobs.

In conclusion, mystery shopping can be a fun and flexible way to earn extra income in the UK. By signing up with a reputable mystery shopping company and completing assignments with care, you can earn extra income while improving customer service and experience for businesses. However, it's important to manage your expectations and approach mystery shopping as a part-time job rather than a full-time income.

The 5 reasons why stay at home mums are perfect for mystery shopping

Mystery shopping is a great way to bring in some extra money or to pick up some freebies. Because many of the mystery shop assignments have to be carried out in the daytime it needs someone who is available during that time. Step forward the stay at home mum. Here is my guide to the five reasons stay at home mums are perfect for mystery shopping.

5 - You probably have the free time
If the kids are at school then you may well have enough free time to go out and carry out the odd mystery shop or two. If you are going to a local town or shopping centre then you will often find a mystery shop available there. Whether it's to get a bite to eat or to pick up something free, it can help.

Mystery shopping can take up very little time at all. You can select as few or as many assignments as you like, even making yourself unavailable during the school holidays if needed. This makes it the ultimate job for a stay at home mum.

4 - It can help with the bills
Getting something for free can really help. I use a lot of my mystery shops to get a few groceries, lighten the financial burden at Christmas or for little treats. This means that you can make your weekly budget stretch that little bit further.

You won't get rich from mystery shopping but it can help out here and there. Those little extras mean that you can keep your weekly spending to the essentials. All the extras you get from mystery shopping can make life a little more luxurious.

3 - A free cup of coffee or lunch - with a friend
It can be good to hook up with other people every now and again. If you can get this paid for by the mystery shopping company then all the better. There are loads of opportunities to mystery shop cafes or restaurants so you can invite a friend and get a free meal.

It is good to spend time with others on a regular basis. The fact that a short mystery shopping report is all it needs to make it free should have you making a regular thing of it. This works whether you are grabbing a coffee on a shopping trip or meeting someone for lunch.

2 - Clothes (for you or your kids)
There's no two ways about it. Clothes are expensive. This is the same whether you are buying for yourself or your kids. Sometimes you have to put all thoughts of a new top to one side as you have other expenses with a family.

But mystery shopping can provide the answer. Many fashion retailers need their stores mystery shipped so you can pick up a bargain or two along the way. The fact that you can supplement your wardrobe with a new item every now and again is helpful.

1 - Get out of the house and meet people
Although you are not making lifelong friends through mystery shopping, there is ample opportunity to get away from looking at the same 4 walls. Mystery shopping can get you out and about as well as earning a bit of extra money.

I use it to go back to places I haven't been for a while or to explore new ones. Mystery shopping can open a lot of doors and getting you out and talking to other grown ups after days of dealing with nothing but kids can be quite therapeutic.

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book is a great place to learn what it is all about. Check it out on the Kindle store now


 

The top 4 ways to help you remember your mystery shop feedback

Mystery shopping can be a great way to earn a little extra money and get your hands on free meals, clothes, drinks and more. The companies that carry out mystery shopping are paying you to do the mystery shop in return for feedback on how their teams are performing. There can be a lot to remember and you can't stand in the middle of the shop and take notes - that would be a real giveaway! But thankfully there are different ways to remember the information needed and deliver a quality report for the mystery shopping company without being rumbled. Here is our guide to the top 4 ways to help you remember your mystery shop feedback.

4 - Remember the tricky bits
You will be required to gather a lot of information when it comes to a mystery shopping assignment. The fact is that some bits will stick and others just won't. When you come to filling out the report you will remember the answers to question such as -

"Was the shop clean and tidy?"

But might not remember things like-

"How long did you have to wait in the queue?"

So it can help to jot down the details that will require a bit more of your memory so you are sure you son't miss them. The more mystery shops you so in a day then the more of these tricky little details you will have to remember. You can use this tip in conjunction with the ones below to make sure you get the most from your mystery shopping experience.

3 - Changing rooms are perfect
When you need a little time out to make some notes then retiring to a changing room really works. It gives you the chance to take a look at your notes, consider of you have missed anything and write down the important parts. It allows you to step out for a minute or two and get everything down. Using the toilet is another way of giving yourself a chance to check if you have got all the details you need to be able to file a complete report for your client. Mystery shopping is an important part of how they measure and reward their staff so you need to be accurate and objective.

2 - Send a text!
Texting has become a natural part of modern life so you can send information by text to someone else while mystery shopping and not arouse suspicion. If you need to remember a full description of the person who served you then you can easily send these details in a small text so you can pick them up later and fill them out in the report.It is an easy way to collect a few bits of information but can give you away if you spend your whole time on the phone. Also check out the rules as some mystery shopping companies won' allow you to use your phone while shopping for them.

1 - Write your report as soon as you leave
As you walk out of the door from a mystery shop the information will be really fresh in your mind and this is the ideal time to get it all down. Find a comfortable place out of sight of the location and fill out the report on your paper copy there and then so you son't miss any information. This also gives you the chance to pop back in discreetly and check any information you are missing such as whether the waitress wore glasses or whether they were displaying a certain sign at the till. You need to deliver accurate information to the mystery shopping company so they can get an accurate picture of what is going on. These tips will help you to do that.

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper or want to get better at mystery shopping then my book on the secrets of mystery shopping is available now. Check it out on the Amazon Kindle Store today-

The 5 reasons mystery shopping is great for students

Mystery shopping can be carried out by just about anyone over the age of 18 with access to the internet. There are certain groups that are perfectly suited to mystery shopping. Students are ideal candidates to mystery shop because they have some free time, are often located in big cities and have a need for many of the goods and services being shopped for. Here are the 5 reasons mystery shopping is great for students-

5 - It adds to your CV

It can be difficult enough when you leave university to get your name in front of the right employers. Every company wants to know that you will know how to deal with their customers, so experience in mystery shopping lets them know you what it's all about. It also lets prospective employers know that you didn't spend ALL your spare time drinking.

4 - It helps with your skills

Although towards the end of your university course you will want to focus completely on your degree, at the start you will have time to hone your skills. The reports you file for some mystery shopping companies will stand you in good stead when it comes to putting together your uni reports too.

3 - It is flexible

University work can have peaks and troughs so you might be available to work a lot of hours this week but none the next. The flexibility of mystery shopping is perfect for student life. You can pick up assignments all over the country so you can work when at home or at university. You can pick and choose the assignments you want to do so it fits in around your schedule. Just remember to plan in advance or all the best jobs might have disappeared!

2 - A little extra money always helps

It always helps to bring in some cash when you are at university. Although you can't make enough from mystery shopping to earn a living it does add a little extra cash. It is always welcome to being in a few pounds here and there to help you with the essentials such as food and drink. Mystery shopping is great for students because you can do a few shops and earn some extra income.

1 - Free meals!

Money can be quite tight when you are a student. Thinking back to my university days I would have loved the chance to get some free meals to lighten the burden a little. I currently get between one and four free meals per week. This is the ideal reason for a student to get into mystery shopping.

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is a great place to start. Pick it up now at the Amazon Kindle Store.

The five ways that mystery shopping can supplement your income

Mystery shopping is a great way to spend some of your free time. It is difficult to make a full time living from mystery shopping but don't let that put you off. The little extra bits that you pick up when mystery shopping come in really useful. There is a small income to be had from mystery shopping but it's the other bits you get that I find supplement my income and improve my lifestyle. Let's take a look at the five ways that mystery shopping can supplement your income.

Gifts

I use a lot of the mystery shopping I do to pick up gifts. You can get quite lucrative mystery shops at places such as clothing retailers, department stores and fragrance shops. These are great for birthdays or to save up for Christmas. This saves me a lot of money over the course of a year. It also adds to the kids Christmas stockings - and that's never a bad thing!

Meals out

I love the fact that mystery shopping gives me the chance to have a free meal or two a week. There are loads of restaurants and cafes available on the mystery shopping websites so look out for them. You can get lunch when you are out shopping, a meal for two on date night or to take the family out. I pick these up regularly and it allows me and my family to dine out where we might not be able to afford it otherwise.

Days out

You can often find mystery shopping opportunities to have a day out. Theme parks and tourist attractions have mystery shopping programs. You can take the family and have a day out while being paid for the privilege. You can get shops where you get your entrance and meals reimbursed and sometimes even more. These are the ideal way to fund a day out.

Groceries

Supermarkets have quite extensive mystery shopping programs. So this means you can get extra groceries. This allows me to buy some extra bits that I don't usually buy or to save on my normal weekly shop. You can buy a few treats with someone else's money! The extra bits that I pick up during the year help to keep the grocery bill down. I would say that on average I find at least one supermarket shop per week at an average fee of £10, so you can see how it might help.

Free bets

I like the odd flutter. But I never do it with my own money any more. Mystery shopping companies always have loads of betting shop assignments available. You get the chance to make big money - any winnings you make are yours to keep. You can bet on the horses, the football, the dogs or whatever else takes your fancy. I love it during the football season!

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book on how to become a mystery shopper is available on the Amazon Kindle Store. It gives you all the information you need to become a mystery shopper. Check it out today!

A Closer Look is a great opportunity for the budding mystery shopper

As my regular readers know I am a serial mystery shopper, and I like to look for new opportunities all the time. I am constantly looking for mystery shopping companies that can help you to go out there and earn some extra money in a fun way while getting your hands on free clothes, food and drinks. I was clicking through the internet the other night while the TV was on, and I found a great site called A Closer Look. I just loved the name to begin with, so I decided to read on.

Being an established mystery shopper, I actively search for features and strong reputations that will set a mystery shopping company apart from its competitors, making it most appealing to my readers. A Closer Look has just won the 2016 Shoppers’ Choice Award through the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), so you know that they will be offering you some great opportunities to get paid to shop and experience fun nights out! It is the flexibility in scheduling and variety of shops A Closer Look offers that really wins over their shoppers.

They have a great client list, so you can get your hands on drinks, food and your favourite items from retail stores and be reimbursed (and sometimes even paid)for doing it. You’ll need an eye for detail, access to the internet and be able to post your reports within 12 hours of carrying out the shop, but these are all easily achieved. In return, there are plenty of assignments available all over the United States and Canada in locations such as:

•          Bars
•          Restaurants
•          VIP lounges
•          Shops
•          Movie Theaters
•          Hotels
•          Gyms
•          And more

A Closer Look has an easy-to-use website that shows you all the available mystery shopping opportunities near you. Pop out on your lunch break and get a bite to eat, go to the mall on your day offor enjoy a weekend away. Once you have signed up with A Closer Look and carried out a few assignments, the number of shops available to you will grow. You can sign up at https://insight.a-closer-look.com/ShopperApplication-Start.aspx; please quote reference STT001 when you apply for a chance to win $50 in a quarterly drawing!

The beauty of A Closer Look is the wide range of clients you can shop for. The details of each assignment can be found on the website, and it outlines all the things that are expected of you:

•          What times and dates you can shop
•          Whether you have to shop alone or bring a friend (great for a girlie meal out)
•          If you have to buy anything specific
•          The amount of money you will be paid and/or reimbursed

This last part is important when it comes to your taxes. The money you are reimbursed just repays what you had to spend on the mystery shop. This is not taxable. The fees that you may be paid need to be reported as income if you make over $600.

The amount of money you will earn depends on the type and number of mystery shops you carry out each month. The pay is on the 4^th Monday of the following month, so you never have to wait long to be reimbursed for your shops! Reimbursement is sent in the form of a check. A Closer Look doesn’t need you to carry out a minimum number of shops per month, so they offer the ultimate in mystery shopping flexibility. The focus on fashion (retail shops) and eating out (restaurants/bars) means that 21 to 29 year-old shoppers will see more jobs available for them to conduct. Some bars and restaurants want to ensure their bartenders and servers are asking for ID, so those in the 21-29 age group are ideal candidates to check out age compliance shops in their area. There are plenty of mystery shopping opportunities for all ages, so don’t let the age compliance shops deter you from applying!

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about A Closer Look.

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-

The 8 most common questions mystery shop companies ask

When  it comes to mystery shopping the forewarned is forearmed. You want to know what is expected of you when you walk through the door and start role playing the scenario you have been asked to carry out. Wherever it is that you need to carry out your mystery shop, the same questions come up time and time again. Here are the 8 most common questions mystery shop companies ask. Think about these whenever you go out shopping or mystery shopping and you will train yourself to be a top mystery shopper and earn good money-

Give the name and description of the person who served you
They want to know who they are measuring, who to reward and who perhaps needs a little extra training and support. It is vital that you know who it is you are reporting on when it comes to a mystery shop.

How many staff present?
How many customers present?
These to work together and gives the company a great idea of how busy the shop was and if they had the right staffing profile to match. It can explain delays in service if they were understaffed. This helps build the initial picture for the mystery shop.

As you browsed, were you approached?
This is a great measure of how proactive the team were on that day. The customer that is approached will have their inquiry answered and will be more likely to buy. That means more sales for the business - a key measure.

How long did you have to wait to be served?
The key service measure is waiting time at the tills. Customers leave behind their purchases, walk out and may not come back again if this time is too long. Every company wants to know that this is not happening from their mystery shops.

Could anything have been done to improve your visit?
I really like this question on a mystery shop because it goes above and beyond the simple yes/no or information collecting of other questions. It gives you a chance to add some detail and make the shop come alive.

Was the location clean?
This is another essential element to attracting and retaining customers so they really want to know what is going on here. Different mystery shopping companies have different standards here so some might just want a yes/no while others will want detail of why you feel that way.

Were you up-sold anything else?
The up-sell has become a major force in retail and hospitality over the years. By just getting each customer to buy one more thing companies can make millions of extra income. This is big business and it is much easier to sell more to your existing customers than it is to generate new ones. Mystery shop companies love to know how people have performed here.

Once you know the regular questions that mystery shop companies will ask then you can start to practice in your head whenever you go out shopping. The better you become at remembering these questions and gathering this information then the easier and more enjoyable you will find mystery shopping.

If you are interested in mystery shopping and want to find out more then my book is a great place to start. It will help you go through the process of becoming a mystery shopper step by step.

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.

The six things you need to know when applying to be a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn some extra money. It feels really satisfying to go out and spend someone else's money knowing that you are being paid a fee as well got the privilege. But mystery shopping is a serious business. It helps companies to train and monitor their teams and gives vital feedback to help the customer experience. Because of this mystery shopping companies want to know that you can fit their criteria before trey sign you up and let you ship for them. Here are the six things you need to know when applying to be a mystery shopper-

6- You need good written English

The reports that go back to the clients are used for staff training so they need to be ably to understand what it is you are saying. Most mystery shop companies have a spellcheck facility so don't worry too much about it. Just let them know that you can write a great report.

5- You must be consistent

The mystery shop company want your reports to be as fair on one visit as the next. It isn't the fault of the company you are assessing if you are having a bad day, so don't take it out in them! Consistency is really important so let the mystery shopping company know that you can do this for them.

4- You must be reliable

Mystery shops are designed to measure certain things at certain times in certain days. If you commit to doing a mystery shop then make sure you turn up and that you turn up on time. Every mystery shop company wants to know on your application that you will be a reliable shopper for them.

3- You must be accurate

Mystery shopping is all about reporting back exactly what happened. A mystery shop company wants to know when you apply that you are accurate in what you do. Inaccurate reporting means questions may need to be asked and your payment may be delayed. Nobody wants that!

2- You need to be objective

You need to put any other thoughts about the brand you are assessing to one side. The mystery shop company wants to know that you can assess the situation in front of you in an objective way. You are there to measure specific things so don't lose focus and think about times when you may have shopped there in the past.

1- You need a good attention to detail

Mystery shopping is all about seeing what is going on in a given sotuation and reporting this back. You may need to remember details such as the name and description of the person who served you or the cleanliness levels where you have shopped. This is why this is the most important thing that the mystery shop company wants to know you have in your skill set.

If you want to know more about mystery shopping then you can find my book on the Amazon Kindle store-

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'm still here -hoping February is better than January

A very short blog entry this week just to confirm I'm still breathing.

January, for me, has been quite a disappointment on the mystery shop front. There have been so few, and that's a real surprise as last January was a bumper month.

I will still keep on mystery shopping and still keep in reporting my findings back here.

In the meantime it's a good idea to take a look at my book on mystery shopping. It will guide you step by step through the process of 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.

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.

Read why you should be preparing for January mystery shops right now

It may seem like madness at this time of year but it's really time for mystery shoppers to start preparations for January. With Christmas and the New Year festivities in the offing, you may have your mind elsewhere at the moment but there is very good money to be made in January and the effect of your purchases can be multiplied by the sale prices.

Last January my partner and I carried out 150 mystery shops - almost an average of 5 per day! There are mystery shops available for-

• Clothing stores
• Bars
• Restaurants
• Fast food outlets
• Bookmakers
• Supermarkets
• Takeaways
• Pubs
• Gift retailers
• Sports stores
• And more

There are so many options as mystery shopping customers are looking to start off the quarter by getting their assessments done.

If you're currently a mystery shopper then it's time to get prepared and start looking on the mystery shop we sites for the early releases.

If you're not currently a mystery shopper then now is a great time to find out all about it. Get my book to find out how to become a mystery shopper - it's available now.

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.

Check out my book for more information-

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.

Could you, would you have your Christmas Day dinner paid for on the house?

This is the time of year that mystery shop companies and retailers cut back on assignments to concentrate on customer service. The number of mystery shops available has started to drop quite a lot. But for the willing there are certain kind of jobs that start to appear about now.

If you want to have a few days away at Christmas or want your meal out on Christmas Day then there's possibly a mystery shop coming up for you!

There are often mystery shops at national restaurant chains to assess the service for Christmas Day dinner.

I've seen currently some mystery shopping assignments for a few days away for Christmas at national family resorts.

Both will give the willing participants a hassle-free Christmas experience. If you're interested then get applying for mystery shopping jobs.

My guide to becoming a mystery shopper is available now. Read it to get the lowdown on mystery shopping.