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-

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 6 qualities needed to be a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn some extra money, pick up some great items and fill in your spare time. For anyone that is looking for a little extra then mystery shopping can really help. It is ideal for-

• University students
• Stay-at-home mums
• Parents with a family
• Those wanting to put something extra in their Christmas stockings

And mystery shopping companies are looking to recruit new shoppers near you right now. A mystery shopper has to be able to fulfill certain criteria and this guide will help you to see whether you have the necessary skills to be come a mystery shopper. Here is my guide to the top 6 qualities needed to be a mystery shopper.

6 - Be a good timekeeper

Mystery shopping companies are sticklers for time. You will have a certain date and time range outlined on any mystery shopping assignment and you need to tun up on that date within those times for your visit and report to be accepted. In some mystery shops you will also need to time how long it took you to be served or how long it took your food to arrive. Being able to keep and record accurate times is a key skill.

5 - Have good written skills

The report you have to file after any mystery shopping assignment will be typed into a website for the mystery shopping company and the client to read. This means that you need to be able to type in good written English for your reports to be accepted and used. Use a spellcheck program and then copy and paste this into the website if it will help you.

4 - Be a good planner

Most of the hard work for a mystery shop comes before you even leave your home. You will need to be prepared for what the mystery shop might entail. On most assignments you will receive a set of notes outlining what you need to do and the questionnaire that you must complete. Read both several times as well as checking the location of the assignment so you are able to get this just right.

3 - Be impartial

The people you are mystery shopping want to know exactly what went on during a visit, and you can;'t let your past experiences with them cloud what you report back. If you have had a previous encounter with the same brand (good or bad) then block this out of your mind and report only what happened on the visit. Mystery shopping companies want to know that you can be objective and give them a report that truly reflects the experience you had.

2 - Have a good eye for detail

A lot of the interesting part of mystery shopping involves looking for the small details that make a difference. As a mystery shopper you need to have a good eye for detail do you can pick these up and report back. The mystery shopping company will ask things like-

"Did all team member wear a name badge?"

"Were there 6 different sandwiches available?"

"How long did you have to wait to be served in minutes and seconds?"

Being able to see the little details that matter will set you up to be a great mystery shopper.

1 - Be accurate

The number one quality needed to become a mystery shopper is to be accurate. The mystery shopping company hire you to be their eyes in the outlets of their customers. They want you to be able to walk around like a normal customer and then accurately feed back what happened. Accuracy in terms of timings, descriptions of the people who served you, what was aid and other elements is a vital part of any mystery shopping report so make sure this is a skill that you have if you want to become a mystery shopper.

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper then my book will really help you to get to grips with the process of applying and starting to be a mystery shopper. It also contains a list and contact details of all the current UK mystery shopping companies. 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-