Four reasons why you shouldn't mystery shop

Mystery shopping isn't for everyone. Some people will get a lot from it, while others will just not see what all the fuss is about. If you want an excuse not to try it then this is the right blog for you. Mystery shopping isn't a full-time job and you can't make the £40,000 a year plus that some websites tell you is possible. I have worked in mystery shopping for long enough to know what difference it can make - it is a lifestyle thing that will bring you free food, shopping and experiences. here are the top 4 reasons NOT to mystery shop -

Nobody really wants free stuff

It's true. The kind of things that they give away free when you mystery shop are really not worth having. The free meals out at quality restaurants are just a chore. The free gifts such as designer label perfume and clothing would just gather dust in your cupboard. You don't want to look great or smell great anyway - it's so overrated. The fact that you can grab a free coffee or spot of lunch when you are out somewhere doesn't really help lighten the load. the fact that it only takes a few minutes to complete a mystery shop and fill in the online form when you've done a few and know what it entails isn't that appealing either.

It doesn't take much time

The fact that mystery shopping doesn't take up mic of your time doesn't really appeal either. In fact for many people, the mystery shops they carry out are in their own town or somewhere they were going to anyway. So you can get your hands on free gifts, extra stocking fillers for the kids at Christmas and be fed and watered at the same time with someone else picking up the bill. But why would that appeal to anyone?

It is easy to select assignments online

I'm sure we all want a return to the old days where everything was difficult. the fact that mystery shopping companies operate online just make things far too simple. You don't want to be able to select a mystery shopping assignment at the click or a button or complete the report online in a few minutes - that would be far too easy. There are also mystery shops that you can do online from the comfort of your own sofa - far too easy!

There is no such thing as a free lunch

I'm told this all the time - there is no such thing as a free lunch. I suppose that they are correct. In return for the lunch you have to travel to the destination, pay for the food and eat it. But you would have done that anyway for lunch. Nobody wants something for nothing anymore. They want to jump through a load of hoops and have life as difficult as possible. Take this 'free lunch' thing away from me. It's far too simple.

I hope that I have put you off sufficiently so that those of us that want to mystery shop have all the best assignments to ourselves. But if you still want to mystery shop then the best place to get ready is my book, available now -

How to get into mystery shopping

Mystery shopping can be a great way to make extra money, pick up some free stuff or get a meal out paid by someone else. I love mystery shopping and all that it brings me. I use it for extra presents for the kids at birthday and Christmas and going out for something to eat once or twice a week. You can also make a little extra cash from it, if you do the right shops in the right places. But for many people, the idea of being a mystery shopper is great - they just don't know where to begin. Here is a quick guide on how to get into it.

Do your research

You need to know where to start. Online resources will give you an idea of what opportunities are out there. If you Google 'mystery shopping YOUR COUNTRY' then you will get a good idea about who is hiring. The first piece of advice here is never sign up with a company that wants you to pay yo become a part of their panel. Mystery shopping companies are paid by the retailers and hospitality venues they service, so legitimate companies don't ask for a fee.

When you have looked at some of the companies that are hiring, you should do some research on how they are viewed by the mystery shopping community. Online reviews will let you know if there have been payment problems, reports rejected or other reasons to think twice about working for a particular company. And there are also great online reviews that will let you see who could be a great company to work with. Don't forget that you are self-employed so you would not be working for them - but with them.

Learn about what makes a good mystery shopper

It may be tempting at this stage to get your application filled out online and go straight ahead with the process of becoming a mystery shopper. I suggest a little caution before you do this. Many mystery shopping companies have an application process (not too onerous) where you have to fill out some questions and tell them a bit about yourself. They want to know certain things, so it is always good to understand what they are looking for. My book The Secrets of Mystery Shopping: How To Become a Mystery Shopper is a great guide to the skills and behaviours that a mystery shopping company requires. Check it out today.

Use your knowledge to apply

The next step is to get that application in. Mystery shopping companies that are hiring will want people to join them as soon as possible. Once you know what they are looking for then get that application in and you can start to see the jobs available.

Start with one job and see where it takes you

You may look at scores of jobs available and think that you can jump in right away. Although at this point it is tempting to get on with it, I suggest that you select one mystery shopping assignment and complete it fully before moving on to the next. If you get a detail wring then there is  chance that the mystery shop company withholds payment and you are out of pocket. So to make sure you know what you are doing, read my book and complete the first assignment. From there you will have the feedback from the shop you have carried out and can build your confidence that you are doing all the right things.

Mystery shopping will give you access to anything from a free cup of tea to a meal out and many things in between. It is an interesting and fun way to pick up some extra items such as groceries or toiletries. Once you get started, you will see the potential every day.

The 4 best mystery shopping experiences for the newbie mystery shopper

I help people to understand mystery shopping and go through the steps to become a mystery shopper. It is an interesting thing to do and many of the mystery shops end up with a free meal, some new clothes or an income at the end of it. Mystery shopping is a great addition to any lifestyle and is ideal for stay at home mums, the retired or students. It supplements your lifestyle and maybe gives you the chance to do some things that you wouldn't have been able to otherwise. For me it gives the family a free meal out at least once a week and helps around Christmas and birthdays with extra gifts for the kids. Starting out as a mystery shopper can feel daunting. Many of the assignments require you to visit on your own and you may feel like you don't quite know what you are doing. But don't worry. There are some easy mystery shops for the newbie that will help you to get into your stride. Here is my guide to the best experiences that will get you up and running -

4- Restaurant mystery shop

There are many restaurant visits available for the new mystery shopper. When you first look at the assignment notes these may feel like they give you a lot to look at but when you scratch the surface you can see that many of the questions are things that you would have noticed anyway -

"Were the toilets clean?"

 "Did your food look appetising?"

"Did the team member wear a uniform?"

These are a good way to get into mystery shopping and are something that I started out with years ago when I was a fledgling mystery shopper. I still do them today. If you read the notes and take out all that is important, then you can make a success of this and build to future mystery shops that may be more complicated.

3- Mystery shop in a clothing store

The reason I like these is there is always the opportunity to check your notes. The fittings room of a clothing store is paradise for the mystery shopper. It allows you to take a few moments, check your notes and make sure you are on track. I also use this time to write down anything I have observed. Taking a time-out isn't usually something you can do with a mystery shopping assignment but with a clothing store you get to step away for a few seconds.

Clothing retailers always need to be mystery shopped because so much of what they do depends on the service they give. You get to browse, try on some clothes and earn yourself a free item of clothing. What could be better? Combine it with your normal shopping trip to your local town or shopping centre and save on travel too.

2 - Online mystery shop

Another way to get started without the pressure of a face to face interaction is the inline mystery shop. There are many of these available where you ask a question on social media, send an email or spend time on a website. Your report comes back in terms of your online experience.

This can be a great way to get used to mystery shopping. When you start there can be a lot of things to remember all at once. Online mystery shopping gives you the chance to practice from the comfort of your own PC, tablet or smartphone. Check them out, as they may be the ideal way for you to start on this path.

1 - Enquiry mystery shop

These ate where you go to a shop, travel agent or concession stand and ask a few questions without buying. They are a great way to learn how to mystery shop because you commit nothing but your time. There is no expenditure, so if you do get a few things wrong, you won't lose out if the mystery shopping company can't use the report and choose not to pay you. This can happen although it is very rare) so using an enquiry mystery shop gives you the chance to try it out and see if you like it.

Mystery shopping is something that supplements my lifestyle and gives me access to free goods, meals out and cash on a regular basis. If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is the perfect place to start. It gives you all the information you might need to start mystery shopping -

The 5 reasons mystery shopping is great for retired people (and why retired people are perfect for mystery shopping)

Mystery shopping is perfect for people that have retired and may want either a hobby or something to supplement their income. Mystery shopping is a great way to get your hands on some free things, such as a meal out, some clothing or a coffee. Mystery shopping is ideal for retired people for a number of reasons. Here is our guide to the 5 reasons why mystery shopping is great for retired people (and why retired people are perfect for mystery shopping) -

5 - Time
You need to be flexible with our time to mystery shop. Some of the assignments require people to shop at certain times (restaurants want people to be there at meal times, pubs want people to be there in the evening) and the fact that retired people have fewer commitments than those that work makes it perfect for them. Mystery shopping can start to add up if you can conduct a few shops in the same day. Not having to rush back to work or to pick up the kids from school means that you can really make it worthwhile. The best days mystery shopping for me are when I can carry out 8 to 10 shops and stack up some decent payments.

4 - Experience
Retired people have a lot of experience in dealing with situations that mystery shopping companies are trying to assess. Buying a meal out or having a quality shopping experience are the most common types of mystery shops. The companies want to know what is going on with the service with their team. Retired people have a greater resource to draw on with these experiences.

3 - Pick up some income
Mystery shopping allows people to pick up some extra money or free stuff here and there. It helps if you want an occasional meal out, need to pick up some groceries or have to get a gift for someone in your life. Mystery shops often have reimbursements of £10 to £25 so you can easily get something of value. The reimbursements for meals out are generous and can easily sustain a meal for two. I find this most helpful!

2 - Reliability
Mystery shopping companies need someone that they can rely on to turn up, carry out the assignment properly and file a report. Retired people are reliable and diligent on the whole. They take their responsibilities seriously and this is a boon for mystery shopping companies. This is a problem and some mystery shopping companies even strike people off for repeat offences. Retired people can really help with this.

1 - Get out of the house

Mystery shopping is a good reason to get out there and meet other people. You can meet a friend for a coffee, all expenses paid, or go out for a meal. You can spend some time talking to someone in a shop, while being paid for the privilege. Whatever the mystery shop, it gets you active and gets the brain going. Now that can't be a bad thing!

If you are interested in mystery shopping then my book is a great place to start. Check it out here -

Why wouldn't you mystery shop?

The vast majority of us shop at one time or another. If we don't shop then we go out for a meal or a coffee or a pint. The fact is that we spend money in various places during the course of a normal week. All mystery shopping does is put some money in your pocket for these occasions.

Stay with me for a few minutes as I let you know the places I have mystery shopped recently to get an idea of how it could help you. At the end of this short article I want you to ask yourself the question -

Why wouldn't I mystery shop?

The family meal

At a popular location restaurant I got to treat my family of four (including me) to a meal which was covered by the reimbursement and the fee. Although I didn't walk away with any money in my pocket (or my bank account to be more precise) I did get to feed the four of us. In return I had to -

• Spend around 5 minutes reading the notes so I was ready
• Time certain points in the restaurant such as how long top be served, how long for the label to be cleared
• Remember the name and description of all who served me (notes on the iPhone works perfectly here)
• Take a photo of my meal and of the venue
• Spend around 10 minutes filling out the report online afterwards

I think that's a price worth paying.

A coffee and cake

A multinational coffee chain also needs to be mystery shopped too. I got two free coffees, two treats and still made a little extra money on the side. I found this even easier than the family meal as there were no distractions from the kids. It is an easy way to get a free coffee, especially if you were going for one anyway.

Some free groceries

This was in my town, right next to the supermarket I usually visit. I popped into his other, smaller supermarket on the way there. I had to make an enquiry on the shop floor and then buy some items at the till. I was looking for cleanliness, clear aisles and great customer service, including queue management. It took a couple of minutes each for the preparation, the shop and the online feedback. Easy money!

And these are not the only places you can mystery shop...

If you don't spend your time like this then there are other opportunities that you might like to gain from. The use of social media by companies is under the spotlight and they are always looking for mystery shoppers to send a tweet or fill in a contact form to see the response times and quality.

Bookmakers are a popular UK mystery shopping destination and I've even seen mystery shops to hotels or for holidays in my time after you have worked up to the required level. I'm sure that there are opportunities out there for you.

If you are thinking about becoming a mystery shopper but don't know which way ti turn then my book is the ideal place to start. It is available on the Amazon Kindle store now -

There are loads of mystery shopping opportunities out there again

It's that time of year for mystery shoppers. Christmas is over and done with and the sales are a thing of distant memory for most of us. And it is this time of year that mystery shopping comes back with a vengeance. Things really start to pick up now for mystery shoppers. Over the Christmas period the retailers and hospitality businesses want to concentrate on their busiest period so mystery shopping pretty much stops. They are too busy to think about their mystery shopping programmes.

Then as the new year arrives it all starts again. Business as usual means that companies want to know what service their teams are giving their customers. So it's over to the growing army of mystery shoppers to go out there and complete assignments. The mystery shoppers will work to assess the value, service and other aspects of the way they find retail outlets and hospitality places such as coffee shops, restaurants and pubs.

And they are looking for new mystery shoppers all the time. You can join this growing army. If you sign up today then you can find mystery shopping assignments like the following-

* A meal in a local pub for two. Here you have to assess the service and food available and report back on things like how quickly you were served in exchange for having your meal paid for.

* A clothing purchase at a national retailer known for service and quality. You get to keep whatever you buy and are paid a small fee too!

* Grab a quick lunch on the go and get someone else to pick up the tab. There are always mystery shops that need you to assess how quickly you are served at lunchtime.

* Betting shops want to know that their teams are engaging their customers in more than taking their money. You can get a free bet and keep any winnings if you pick up one of these.

* National coffee shop chains also want to know if their team ms are following procedures. If you choose one of these mystery shops then you can get a free coffee for you and a friend - and often a cake to go with it too!

Mystery shopping can bring you in some extra money, help with the groceries or provide the occasional treat. If you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper then my book is the best place to learn all the skills you need. Check it out today-

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-