The steps to becoming a mystery shopper

Mystery shopping can be a great way to earn some extra money and hat your hands on free goods. Once you've been accepted by a mystery shopping company then you can start earning. But you need to know where to start.

If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then you'll need to know how to go about it. This is my quick guide to becoming a mystery shopper-

Find a mystery shopping company

You will need to do a little research to find a mystery shopping company that's right for you. I've already blogged on my tips for the best UK mystery shopping companies but you will want to make up your own mind. Each company has a slightly different set of customers for you to go out and visit. Start with one mystery shopping company and take it from there.

Fill out the application

All mystery shopping companies want to know about you. They will ask for all the basic details at first but also want to know your experience and your work history. You can't mystery shop somewhere that you work now or have worked before so let the mystery ship company know so they can keep a record. Once you've filled out this information then they can start to assess your application.

Send information and documentation

Most mystery shopping companies will need to see some form of identification from you, although this is now usually done electronically. They will also need to know your bank account or Paypal details so they can pay you when you've completed an assignment for them. Getting all the right info through to the mystery shopping company is going to speed up your application.

The questionnaire

The next step will usually be a questionnaire to assess whether you'd be a good fit as a mystery shopper. They want to know what you would be like and they are looking for certain skills and behaviours. The questionnaire can take one of three forms-

Yes/No

This is as you would expect. They will ask questions and you need to answer yes or no. It is to see how you would respond in a mystery shopping situation.

Sample question - Are you able to be objective when mystery shopping?

Multiple Choice

This is a little different and will give a scenario and three or four options for you to choose. They are testing your response to a given situation. Would you be able to act in the way they require? Your answers will give them an idea of how you would perform.

Sample question - If your food order was brought to your table and was wrong would you-

A - Say nothing

B - Tell them you are a mystery shopper they had better put it right

C - Politely let then know and give them a chance to put it right

Q&A

Some mystery shopping companies want to hear what you have to say. They will ask a question and then let you type away your response. It gives you more scope to give great answers (but also more scope to give bad ones) in your application. You need to think carefully about your answers here.

Sample question - Tell me what qualities you can bring to us as a mystery shopper.

If you are considering becoming a mystery shopper then I can wholeheartedly recommend it. My book is filled with advice like this on how to become a mystery shopper. Get it now!

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-

The 5 areas of The Daily Mail mystery shopping article that I disagree with

There has been an article written in the Daily Mail today about mystery shopping -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-3772158/Drink-free-beer-buy-sausage-roll-bet-Leicester-City-really-make-thousands-secret-shopper.html

It is supposed to be an expose about mystery shopping and really ends on quite a negative tone. Although there are some facts contained in the article I really do take issue with some parts of it. Here are the 5 main parts of the article that I disagree with-

You earn £1.57 per hour

This does kind of depend on a few things. Firstly (and lastly as we shall see later) I don't think you could ever become rich being a mystery shopper. There are good weeks where you can maybe do 30 to 40 mystery shopping jobs and make good money but the Summer holidays, Easter and Christmas are when mystery shopping pretty much switches off and you will have long periods of time when you son't make much if anything at all. The best way to make good money in mystery shopping is to find a location and set up several mystery shops there. It minimses the travel costs and maximises your earnings. To do this you have to be a more established mystery shopper and sign up with more than one mystery shopping company but the potential is there. My best day was with 12 mystery shops in one large town and nearly £200 of goods and pay.

Once you are more familiar with mystery shopping and get better at filling out the reports then this becomes easier too.

That it is tedious

Let's be honest, not every job out there in the country is going to stimulate your brain for the full 8 hours per day. Factory work, many retail jobs and working in food outlets can be monotonous and do destroy the soul a little. Mystery shopping to me is a contrast to this. Yes, there may be elements of it that are boring such as checking where certain items are but the better mystery shop assignments are much more varied and interesting than this.

The rewards are non-existent

This can really depend on your lifestyle and income. For many people, a free meal or some extra groceries can make a difference to their life. I personally use it to take the kids out for something to eat or for extras for their Christmas stockings.I can't live off the money from mystery shopping but it does make a difference to my life. The kids get free trainers or clothes every now and again, I get to have a bet with someone else's money and we all get to have a free coffee or meal every few weeks. It allows me to live a life that I probably couldn't afford any other way.

I can only carry out one mystery shop per day

With some mystery shopping companies this is true to begin with, They want to know what you are like as a mystery shopper before they set you loose with a lot of their customers all at once. But this restriction doesn't last long and soon enough you can carry out a lot of assignments on the same day. As pointed out earlier, this means that you can go from earning the odd free meal to being able to plan a full day out and getting the most from mystery shopping.

A full-time mystery shopper can earn £40,000 per year

This simply is not true. I think that someone who lives in or near a big city with lots of shops and restaurants to visit might be able to get their hands on about half of this amount but I have never seen any mystery shopping company make claims of this amount. It is a lifestyle job and can be used to get extra items when you are already visiting or passing somewhere but for me it doesn't seem like it could ever be a full-time job.

If you are thinking of becoming a mystery shopper then you will want to do it right. My book is full of great ideas and advice on how to become a mystery shopper. Find it now on the Amazon Kindle Store.

The top 5 unusual mystery shops available right now

Mystery shopping can bring in a lot of rewards for you and the people around you. There probably isn't enough income there to make a full-time living out of it but there are some really great benefits to becoming a mystery shopper. Most people associate mystery shopping with going into a store and buying some goods or a restaurant and buying a meal. And a lot of the mystery shopping opportunities out there are along these lines. But there are other mystery shopping assignments available that are a little different and can be a lot of fun. Here is our guide to the top 5 unusual mystery shops available right now.

5 - Social media
Large companies encourage their customers to contact them via Facebook or Twitter to keep own costs. But social media can be a bit of a Wild West so it is advisable to keep an eye on the interactions. You will be paid a fee to ask a question and judge the response that you get. These are quick mystery shops with a low fee but the reports are usually only a couple of questions long so they supplement your income nicely.

4 - Promotional stands
You know the scene. You are walking through a shopping centre and there is someone there at a stand trying to catch the eye of those passing by. Most people try to avoid making eye contact but what if you were paid to have a chat with them? There are many mystery shops available that are designed to measure the service these promoters are giving. You can be paid to have a 10 minute chat about whatever it is they are selling and then be on your way without making any commitment.

3 - Travel agents
Although you won't get a free holiday at the end of it, there are mystery shopping opportunities available at your local branch of a national travel agency chain. You will usually have to act out a scenario and assess the service you were given. These are fun to do because you get to talk about holiday destinations and act all excited about it! The fees are usually at a high level because you will be in there for quite a while and will have to remember a lot of detail. These are great mystery shops to get your hands on.

2 - Bookmakers
As gambling becomes more and more competitive then the bookmakers want to know how well their customers are being treated. For me the real benefit of this is that you get to keep any winnings. To have a little flutter with someone else's money is the ideal way to have a bet every now and again without the potential of losing money. The reimbursements are always somewhere between £1 and £6 so there is potential to make a bit of money as you go along. There are assignment for over the counter bets and for using the gaming machines so there is enough variety for all.

1 - A day out
There are mystery shopping opportunities to go to a theme park or am historic place to see what the experience is like for a visitor. Because you get to have great fun on a day out for one, two or even the family this is the number one on our list of unusual mystery shops available right now. You get your entry paid, the chance to get something to eat and drink and often other parts of the experience too. So you can enjoy a local attraction with someone else footing the bill. Don't forget to fill out your report when  you get home!

If you are interested in these mystery shopping opportunities or any others then the first step is to become a mystery shopper. My book is available now and will help you to understand what it is to become a mystery shopper and all the advantages there are to mystery shopping. Check it out in the Amazon 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!