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

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

Sign-up process with Gap Buster mystery shopping

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

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

The type of assignments that GBW have

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

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

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

Sending reports to GapBuster

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

Payment schedules for GBW

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

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

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

The 5 top mystery shopping companies to sign up for if you want to free meals out

There are many benefits to mystery shopping. You can earn money, get your hands on free good or you can go out for something to eat and drink. These free meals (I thought there was no such thing?!) are my favourite things about mystery shopping. It allows me to grab something as I am passing through, for me and my wife to get a meal out or to take the kids out for something to eat. Free meals out can be had if you apply for the right assignments, follow all the right instructions and have a little time to give when completing your report. There are some great opportunities out there for the mystery shopper. Here is my guide to the 5 top mystery shopping companies to sign up for if you want to free meals out-

5 - ABA-i

Although they don't have a massive amount of places to eat as part of their mystery shopping programme, the ones that ABA-i have are real quality. You get the chance to test shop the restaurants of top High Street department stores to see the quality that they have to offer. All the meals are freshly cooked and the service is very good too in my experience. Try them out for a great free meal when you go out shopping.

4 - GBW

These are also known as GapBuster Worldwide and have cornered the market on fast food offerings when it comes to mystery shopping. Once you are established with these guys then you can regularly get free meals at fast food places to feed you on the go or to take the kids to every now and again. GapBuster and their clients are sticklers for detail so make sure that you have your timings and description spot on.

3 - Retail Active

Another that does not have masses of assignment for a free meal but have some that come in really handy. You can often get meals in themes parks or museums with Retail Active so check it out before you plan a day out. It can help to make the day out go smoothly and take a little financial strain away.

2 - Marketforce

These are the kings of mystery shopping in the UK in my eyes but are just pipped to the post when it comes to finding free meals -  you will understand why when you see number one. Marketforce have a great selection of places to get a free meal from breakfast to lunch and then on to dinner. They have great national pub chains and organisations on their books so there is almost always a free meal just around the corner if you sign up with them.

1 - The Mystery Dining Company

My number one on the list of the 5 top mystery shopping companies to sign up for if you want to free meals out is The Mystery Dining Company. This is all they do. You can only find free meals on their website so this is the pace to go if that is your main aim when starting out to be a mystery shopper. They have a superb range of different restaurants, bars and other catering facilities. This is the place to go for the best choice of UK food mystery shops.

If you want to become a mystery shopper then my book is available now to help you become a mystery shopper and then be successful at it. Check it out now-