Don't.
Okay, I'll provide a little more detail. Don't discuss the details of your shops with others. "I was at Juicy Queen the other day, and I was supposed to ask the manager about catering a birthday, and he said he only caters birthdays for children under age 10, and I said..."
No. Don't. Specific details like this violate the Independent Contractor Agreement you signed with the mystery shopping company. They all have confidentiality clauses, and you need to read them to know what you may and may not say. It's best to just not say anything. The results of your shop are for your employer only. Not your sister in Maine, not your best friend in Omaha, nobody.
The mystery shopping world is very competitive and by nature, secretive. Yeah, it would be great if there was a site where you could look up which mystery shopping company evaluates that favorite boutique of yours, but there isn't. If you ask a shopper, and they are serious about their business, about honoring their confidentiality and contractor's agreements, they will say, "Sorry, I can't tell you that."
So, how did established shoppers find those shops they love? I am currently a shopper with over 100 companies, and I check with each of them at least weekly. I do a wide range of assignments to find out what I like and don't like, what pays well for the time investment and what surveys are a nightmare to complete.
Think of yourself as a shopping superhero. You must keep your identity secret to protect Aunt May!
Go ahead and ask me, " What company shops the Golden Arches?" I know, but I won't tell you. Don't take it personally, I wouldn't tell the President of the United States, unless I have it in writing from my mystery shopping company that I may!
Showing posts with label the basics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the basics. Show all posts
Friday, December 5, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Finding Companies
You'll want to be very, very careful when signing up with a mystery shopping company. There are scams galore that pass themselves off as mystery shopping companies or opportunities. Providing your name, address, phone number and Social Security number online is a recipe for identity theft. But those are the very pieces of information required by shopping companies. What to do?
Do your homework There are sites that warn shoppers of scams and questionable companies. The Mystery Shopping Provider's Association can be trusted, and on their website is a forum for shoppers to discuss scams and questionable companies as well as a listing of their member companies. The MSPA checks out their member companies very thoroughly.
Ask fellow shoppers There are a number of forums for mystery shoppers to connect with each other, including the Mystery Shopping Forum, the forums at Volition.com, the WAHM forum, the Yahoo group Lila's Lounge and Mystery Shop Resources, to name just a few. As you read posts, you'll find a group that meets your needs and likely fall in with a great group of people.
Use common sense I don't want to insult anyone's intelligence, but I need to say it: If you are completing an online form and you are asked for personal information, you need to be on a page that begins https:// and not just http:// The "s" stands for secure. It's not foolproof, but it's a layer of security beyond nothing. Remember, do not put any details on a non-secured website that you don't want published in a newspaper with world-wide readership.
Let's be careful out there.
Do your homework There are sites that warn shoppers of scams and questionable companies. The Mystery Shopping Provider's Association can be trusted, and on their website is a forum for shoppers to discuss scams and questionable companies as well as a listing of their member companies. The MSPA checks out their member companies very thoroughly.
Ask fellow shoppers There are a number of forums for mystery shoppers to connect with each other, including the Mystery Shopping Forum, the forums at Volition.com, the WAHM forum, the Yahoo group Lila's Lounge and Mystery Shop Resources, to name just a few. As you read posts, you'll find a group that meets your needs and likely fall in with a great group of people.
Use common sense I don't want to insult anyone's intelligence, but I need to say it: If you are completing an online form and you are asked for personal information, you need to be on a page that begins https:// and not just http:// The "s" stands for secure. It's not foolproof, but it's a layer of security beyond nothing. Remember, do not put any details on a non-secured website that you don't want published in a newspaper with world-wide readership.
Let's be careful out there.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Payment Problems
At some point in your mystery shopping career, you will experience a problem with the way a shop was paid. The wrong way to handle payment problems is to get your scheduler on the phone and start yelling and accusing.
The Right Way Good thing you've been keeping excellent records! You have been keeping excellent records, right? Look up the issuing company's IC Agreement you signed with them and read up on their payment policies. It will outline the dates they pay, the method of payment and what to do in case of a problem.
Now go to your assignment form, shop form and receipt. Double check everything to make sure you completed the assignment exactly as you were instructed. It is common for a mystery shopping company to deduct from your pay or not pay you at all if you started a shop even one minute too early, ended it too late, did not spend the right amount or forgot to upload a receipt. Take it one step at a time and check everything on your end first.
When you have all your information in order, contact the company using their preferred method. Be calm, have your facts ready and be willing to work with them instead of insisting on your way.
I have experienced payment issues in less than 3% of my shops, and about half of those were my fault. I don't push to get paid for a job I do if I did not complete the assignment as it was explained to me. There have been times when the paperwork indicated a certain purchase was optional, but the payment was denied me because the purchase wasn't made. Because I have the original paperwork, exactly what was agreed upon can be read to (or scanned and a copy sent to) the person helping me. If a scheduler offers me a bonus but it doesn't appear in the paperwork, I don't insist upon being paid the bonus. Part of my job includes making sure my paperwork is in order before I do the shop. If I fail to do that, any payment issues must be abandoned as "Contractor Error," in other words, my fault.
The Right Way Good thing you've been keeping excellent records! You have been keeping excellent records, right? Look up the issuing company's IC Agreement you signed with them and read up on their payment policies. It will outline the dates they pay, the method of payment and what to do in case of a problem.
Now go to your assignment form, shop form and receipt. Double check everything to make sure you completed the assignment exactly as you were instructed. It is common for a mystery shopping company to deduct from your pay or not pay you at all if you started a shop even one minute too early, ended it too late, did not spend the right amount or forgot to upload a receipt. Take it one step at a time and check everything on your end first.
When you have all your information in order, contact the company using their preferred method. Be calm, have your facts ready and be willing to work with them instead of insisting on your way.
I have experienced payment issues in less than 3% of my shops, and about half of those were my fault. I don't push to get paid for a job I do if I did not complete the assignment as it was explained to me. There have been times when the paperwork indicated a certain purchase was optional, but the payment was denied me because the purchase wasn't made. Because I have the original paperwork, exactly what was agreed upon can be read to (or scanned and a copy sent to) the person helping me. If a scheduler offers me a bonus but it doesn't appear in the paperwork, I don't insist upon being paid the bonus. Part of my job includes making sure my paperwork is in order before I do the shop. If I fail to do that, any payment issues must be abandoned as "Contractor Error," in other words, my fault.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Helpful Tech
One of the mystery shopping companies I work for has offered a cell phone package at a discount. They will eventually make it possible for shoppers to enter their information online from their cell phones right to the company site while the shop is being done. It's a very cool idea, and if you need a cell phone and plan on the high end, it could be worth the asking price. But, chances are you already have a cell phone on a good enough plan for now.
Because the payment process for mystery shopping is not an immediate process, (remember it took almost three months for me to show a profit?) you probably won't want to invest in a lot of tools right off. Most shops can be completed without most of these tools anyway. In no particular order, here are some of the tools I use most regularly.
Cell Phone I like having a separate phone just for business calls. I can keep track of minutes on that phone to report as a business expense and I can be sure that phone is always answered in a business-like fashion, which is important having teens in the house who like to answer the phone, "Moon Pizza, your pie-in-the-sky." My cell phone has built in tools like a calendar and stopwatch. I use the calendar, and set an audible alarm for shops so if I get distracted I have time to get back on track and be punctual for my assignments. I use the stopwatch function on almost every shop. Most assignments will require at least one timing, and a cell phone is a much more natural item to be seen holding than a stopwatch. You will want to be careful though, it is very bad form to use a cell phone during a shop as it might keep the employees from interacting with you.
Stopwatch There is one batch of shops I perform that require a stopwatch and specify that a cell phone stopwatch is not an acceptable form of capturing timings. The mystery shopping company provided an inexpensive stopwatch for me for this batch of shops. I like that a stopwatch can be easily concealed in my hand during a shop. But be sure the "beep" is turned off, though, or you'll give yourself away!
Scales and Thermometers The shop that requires a stopwatch also requires two thermometers and a scale. The instructions for calibrating them are on the company's website, and it is very important you calibrate your equipment faithfully. The company requiring the use of these tools provided them to me at a lower cost than I could have purchased them, thank you!
Digital Voice Recorder I've touched on the use of a DVR in previous posts. I love my recorder for leaving myself notes about shops. Recording conversations is legal in most states, but you need to check carefully before investing. There are also some venues at which recordings are absolutely forbidden, like movie theaters. Be careful who can hear you when you use it, too. If you need to hold the recorder, consider purchasing the model that looks like a cell phone. Much more valuable to me, though, is a lapel mike and clip. I can conceal the recorder, lapel mike and cord under my clothing and get very accurate recordings without being discovered. I don't like to rely on technology 100%, so I use my recorder as a way to back up my memory instead of providing all the data for my shops.
Assignment Spreadsheet I was well on my way to writing an Excel spreadsheet that would hold all the necessary information I would need to keep track of my business when I stumbled upon The Mystery Shopping Bible. It has an amazing assortment of worksheets, all tied together with macros that move information around and create all the forms and data you need for your business. It is a valuable tool, very reasonably priced. It is automatic and easy to use, even for beginners. If you're an old pro at Excel and can modify macros, the bits and pieces that are outdated and in need of a bit of sharpening up will be an easy fix for you. The author of the spreadsheet is a shopper herself and very familiar with all the bits and pieces that need tracking. The company list with clickable links to their websites is worth the purchase price alone.
Computer and its friends Of course, you'll need a computer. All the companies I deal with except one require the end-of-assignment surveys to be answered online. A fast, reliable internet connection will save you headaches and frustration. An email program is essential as this is the most favored method of communication between company and shopper. You'll need access to a printer for printing out tip sheets—the page of required information you'll need to gather on a shop. A scanner is a huge plus, as most shops require your receipt to be scanned or photographed and sent digitally to the mystery shopping company. A digital camera is needed for some jobs, but not a great quantity of jobs. Photographing a receipt to send with your report can produce varied results, scanning produces a much more readable file. If you keep financial information on your computer, please back it up at least monthly. One computer crash could require days of reconstruction work at tax-time. And know where the closest business is where you can send and receive a fax, unless you own a fax machine. If your computer connection goes down and you are under deadline, some companies will ask you to fax your report rather than miss the deadline entirely.
Do remember to keep on file every dollar you spend on tools for your business and review them with your tax preparer.
Because the payment process for mystery shopping is not an immediate process, (remember it took almost three months for me to show a profit?) you probably won't want to invest in a lot of tools right off. Most shops can be completed without most of these tools anyway. In no particular order, here are some of the tools I use most regularly.
Cell Phone I like having a separate phone just for business calls. I can keep track of minutes on that phone to report as a business expense and I can be sure that phone is always answered in a business-like fashion, which is important having teens in the house who like to answer the phone, "Moon Pizza, your pie-in-the-sky." My cell phone has built in tools like a calendar and stopwatch. I use the calendar, and set an audible alarm for shops so if I get distracted I have time to get back on track and be punctual for my assignments. I use the stopwatch function on almost every shop. Most assignments will require at least one timing, and a cell phone is a much more natural item to be seen holding than a stopwatch. You will want to be careful though, it is very bad form to use a cell phone during a shop as it might keep the employees from interacting with you.
Stopwatch There is one batch of shops I perform that require a stopwatch and specify that a cell phone stopwatch is not an acceptable form of capturing timings. The mystery shopping company provided an inexpensive stopwatch for me for this batch of shops. I like that a stopwatch can be easily concealed in my hand during a shop. But be sure the "beep" is turned off, though, or you'll give yourself away!
Scales and Thermometers The shop that requires a stopwatch also requires two thermometers and a scale. The instructions for calibrating them are on the company's website, and it is very important you calibrate your equipment faithfully. The company requiring the use of these tools provided them to me at a lower cost than I could have purchased them, thank you!
Digital Voice Recorder I've touched on the use of a DVR in previous posts. I love my recorder for leaving myself notes about shops. Recording conversations is legal in most states, but you need to check carefully before investing. There are also some venues at which recordings are absolutely forbidden, like movie theaters. Be careful who can hear you when you use it, too. If you need to hold the recorder, consider purchasing the model that looks like a cell phone. Much more valuable to me, though, is a lapel mike and clip. I can conceal the recorder, lapel mike and cord under my clothing and get very accurate recordings without being discovered. I don't like to rely on technology 100%, so I use my recorder as a way to back up my memory instead of providing all the data for my shops.
Assignment Spreadsheet I was well on my way to writing an Excel spreadsheet that would hold all the necessary information I would need to keep track of my business when I stumbled upon The Mystery Shopping Bible. It has an amazing assortment of worksheets, all tied together with macros that move information around and create all the forms and data you need for your business. It is a valuable tool, very reasonably priced. It is automatic and easy to use, even for beginners. If you're an old pro at Excel and can modify macros, the bits and pieces that are outdated and in need of a bit of sharpening up will be an easy fix for you. The author of the spreadsheet is a shopper herself and very familiar with all the bits and pieces that need tracking. The company list with clickable links to their websites is worth the purchase price alone.
Computer and its friends Of course, you'll need a computer. All the companies I deal with except one require the end-of-assignment surveys to be answered online. A fast, reliable internet connection will save you headaches and frustration. An email program is essential as this is the most favored method of communication between company and shopper. You'll need access to a printer for printing out tip sheets—the page of required information you'll need to gather on a shop. A scanner is a huge plus, as most shops require your receipt to be scanned or photographed and sent digitally to the mystery shopping company. A digital camera is needed for some jobs, but not a great quantity of jobs. Photographing a receipt to send with your report can produce varied results, scanning produces a much more readable file. If you keep financial information on your computer, please back it up at least monthly. One computer crash could require days of reconstruction work at tax-time. And know where the closest business is where you can send and receive a fax, unless you own a fax machine. If your computer connection goes down and you are under deadline, some companies will ask you to fax your report rather than miss the deadline entirely.
Do remember to keep on file every dollar you spend on tools for your business and review them with your tax preparer.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Other Things to Do
Many mystery shopping companies offer other types of assignments besides mystery shopping. Here's a brief menu of some alternative shopping options.
Reveal shops: Sometimes called reward shops, these assignments start out like mystery shops, but end differently. If, for example, the parent company is pushing a certain promotion in their stores, you might be asked to go and make sure the proper signs are up, the correct buttons are worn on the aprons of the employees and the right catch phrases are being used. If the store meets the company's requirements, you will reveal yourself to the manager as the shopper and give them a certificate or other reward. If the store doesn't meet the requirements, you'll be asked to reveal yourself to the manager and point out what was deficient in your assessment. The upside to this kind of shop is a very exciting moment when you present gifts for a job well done. The downsides include revealing yourself—which means no more mystery shopping at that location; possible angry or belligerent reaction by a not-rewarded manager and his staff; and an additional step to the paperwork as you must return rewards and certificates to the mystery shopping company if not used.
I have performed a handful of reveal shops and will probably not do many more. The ones I have chosen are about 30 miles from my standard shopping area, so I don't expect to be recognized locally. But that 60 mile round-trip was very expensive at the gas pump, and my shop fee barely covered it. Most of the managers didn't seem to care one way or the other that they didn't meet the requirements, but one gentleman was heartbroken. He didn't get angry, he got very sad, realizing that his employees would not receive $10 gift cards because he hadn't put up the correct posters. I felt so bad for him.
Audits: Audits are an interesting group of shops. You print out your paperwork, call to make an appointment with the store manager, and present him a letter of authorization from the corporate office that authorizes you to audit the merchandise at his store. It's usually a small part of a larger store, prepaid cell phones in a discount store, for instance. You'll get specific instructions about what signs need to be up, what brochures need to be where, and what merchandise to count. You can take your instruction sheet with you and make notes while you work. Some audits require photographs, and the instructions will give you specific directions on what to photograph, file size and how to upload your photos. When your audit is complete, the manager signs off on your form and you enter your results online like a regular mystery shop. Blind (manager-unaware) and open (manager-aware) checking of movie theaters falls into the auditing category, as does checking to be sure the proper film trailers (those "coming soon" ads) are attached to movies.
I don't mind doing audits, and they generally pay better than a mystery shop. Because I am at a store "officially," I don't try to blend in with the customer base, but dress in business casual attire with hair and makeup done.
Merchandising: This type of assignment varies widely and can include refilling gift cards on a rack, setting up a floor display, changing the prices on a certain item, and many more possibilities. There are merchandising divisions in larger mystery shopping companies, and other companies specialize in merchandising jobs. Some jobs require heavy lifting or mechanical ability, you'll need to be sure you are capable of meeting the requirements before accepting a merchandising job. Many merchandising assignments are ongoing and provide a reliable, if small, income. You might, for example, spend two hours setting up a jewelry display at a department store, then visit your display once a week to refill sold out merchandise or do other maintenance tasks taking only 15-20 minutes of your time.
As of this writing I have only performed two merchandising assignments. I wanted to give it a shot, but it's really not my kind of work. But, that's the great thing about mystery shopping, there's something for every taste and talent!
Reveal shops: Sometimes called reward shops, these assignments start out like mystery shops, but end differently. If, for example, the parent company is pushing a certain promotion in their stores, you might be asked to go and make sure the proper signs are up, the correct buttons are worn on the aprons of the employees and the right catch phrases are being used. If the store meets the company's requirements, you will reveal yourself to the manager as the shopper and give them a certificate or other reward. If the store doesn't meet the requirements, you'll be asked to reveal yourself to the manager and point out what was deficient in your assessment. The upside to this kind of shop is a very exciting moment when you present gifts for a job well done. The downsides include revealing yourself—which means no more mystery shopping at that location; possible angry or belligerent reaction by a not-rewarded manager and his staff; and an additional step to the paperwork as you must return rewards and certificates to the mystery shopping company if not used.
I have performed a handful of reveal shops and will probably not do many more. The ones I have chosen are about 30 miles from my standard shopping area, so I don't expect to be recognized locally. But that 60 mile round-trip was very expensive at the gas pump, and my shop fee barely covered it. Most of the managers didn't seem to care one way or the other that they didn't meet the requirements, but one gentleman was heartbroken. He didn't get angry, he got very sad, realizing that his employees would not receive $10 gift cards because he hadn't put up the correct posters. I felt so bad for him.
Audits: Audits are an interesting group of shops. You print out your paperwork, call to make an appointment with the store manager, and present him a letter of authorization from the corporate office that authorizes you to audit the merchandise at his store. It's usually a small part of a larger store, prepaid cell phones in a discount store, for instance. You'll get specific instructions about what signs need to be up, what brochures need to be where, and what merchandise to count. You can take your instruction sheet with you and make notes while you work. Some audits require photographs, and the instructions will give you specific directions on what to photograph, file size and how to upload your photos. When your audit is complete, the manager signs off on your form and you enter your results online like a regular mystery shop. Blind (manager-unaware) and open (manager-aware) checking of movie theaters falls into the auditing category, as does checking to be sure the proper film trailers (those "coming soon" ads) are attached to movies.
I don't mind doing audits, and they generally pay better than a mystery shop. Because I am at a store "officially," I don't try to blend in with the customer base, but dress in business casual attire with hair and makeup done.
Merchandising: This type of assignment varies widely and can include refilling gift cards on a rack, setting up a floor display, changing the prices on a certain item, and many more possibilities. There are merchandising divisions in larger mystery shopping companies, and other companies specialize in merchandising jobs. Some jobs require heavy lifting or mechanical ability, you'll need to be sure you are capable of meeting the requirements before accepting a merchandising job. Many merchandising assignments are ongoing and provide a reliable, if small, income. You might, for example, spend two hours setting up a jewelry display at a department store, then visit your display once a week to refill sold out merchandise or do other maintenance tasks taking only 15-20 minutes of your time.
As of this writing I have only performed two merchandising assignments. I wanted to give it a shot, but it's really not my kind of work. But, that's the great thing about mystery shopping, there's something for every taste and talent!
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Basics of Mystery Shopping: Big Bucks?
I've touched on this in previous installments of this series, but it bears repeating: Unless you are prepared to spend five solid 8-hour days a week and have a good sized nest egg with which to begin, you will most likely not be able to start off making a solid second income with mystery shopping. I'm sure someone out there supports themselves with a mystery shopping income, but most of the shoppers I have contacted say it's just not enough to live on.
There are dovetailing occupations which can net a part or full time income. For instance, if Mystery Shopping Company is impressed with your reporting and writing skills, they might offer you a job as an editor, compiling and correcting the reports sent in by other shoppers. Some shoppers have created lines of supplementary income by inventing reporting databases (like the one I use) and selling them to other shoppers. Some are on the "lecture circuit" and hold seminars to teach mystery shopping skills. A very few open their own mystery shopping companies, and a good percentage of those charge a fee to the shopper.
There are dovetailing occupations which can net a part or full time income. For instance, if Mystery Shopping Company is impressed with your reporting and writing skills, they might offer you a job as an editor, compiling and correcting the reports sent in by other shoppers. Some shoppers have created lines of supplementary income by inventing reporting databases (like the one I use) and selling them to other shoppers. Some are on the "lecture circuit" and hold seminars to teach mystery shopping skills. A very few open their own mystery shopping companies, and a good percentage of those charge a fee to the shopper.
Never, ever pay a fee to become a shopper. Ever. Did I stress that enough? There are hundreds of mystery shopping companies with open opportunities. There are even websites that have links where you can just click to check job listings easily. Paying to become a mystery shopper does not get you better or more job listings, it just lines the pockets of disreputable companies.
Shopper fees and reimbursable expenses are arranged between (going back to my part one labels) Superstore, Inc and Mystery Shopping Company long before the assignment is available for Sally Shopper to choose. Some companies are willing to consider negotiating shopper fees, but for the most part they are pretty solidly set. Don't even ask about reimbursement for mileage because even in these $4 a gallon days, it is one more level of work for Mystery Shopping Company, and one more chunk of billable hours that cut down on overall shopper pay. The minority of companies that offer travel expenses will request proof of auto insurance during your application process.
There are occasional bonuses available for shops that are nearing their deadline. These occur most frequently near the end of the month and are well worth keeping an eye open for.
Just how much can be made? Think of a pyramid. At the bottom are lots and lots of $5 jobs and at the very top are a few $200 jobs. Of course, Mystery Shopping Company has a large chunk of trust built up with Superstore, Inc if they are offering $200, and will want their most experienced, trustworthy shoppers taking those jobs. They most likely won't even be offered to newer shoppers. Build your reputation and skills by performing lots of $5 and $10 jobs, reporting accurately, meeting your deadlines and not "flaking," and higher paying opportunities will be offered to you.
Shopper fees and reimbursable expenses are arranged between (going back to my part one labels) Superstore, Inc and Mystery Shopping Company long before the assignment is available for Sally Shopper to choose. Some companies are willing to consider negotiating shopper fees, but for the most part they are pretty solidly set. Don't even ask about reimbursement for mileage because even in these $4 a gallon days, it is one more level of work for Mystery Shopping Company, and one more chunk of billable hours that cut down on overall shopper pay. The minority of companies that offer travel expenses will request proof of auto insurance during your application process.
There are occasional bonuses available for shops that are nearing their deadline. These occur most frequently near the end of the month and are well worth keeping an eye open for.
Just how much can be made? Think of a pyramid. At the bottom are lots and lots of $5 jobs and at the very top are a few $200 jobs. Of course, Mystery Shopping Company has a large chunk of trust built up with Superstore, Inc if they are offering $200, and will want their most experienced, trustworthy shoppers taking those jobs. They most likely won't even be offered to newer shoppers. Build your reputation and skills by performing lots of $5 and $10 jobs, reporting accurately, meeting your deadlines and not "flaking," and higher paying opportunities will be offered to you.
Friday, June 6, 2008
The Basics of Mystery Shopping: It's just shopping, right?
The more I perform mystery shops, learn about them, talk to others and compare the business model of the shopper against other industries, the more I discover it is a lot like being a private investigator. There is a lot of legwork, a lot of waiting, an intense but brief episode of investigating, then a whole lot of paperwork. As a matter of fact, mystery shoppers in some states are required to hold private investigator's licenses!
From the ground up, here's what the process looks like to a shopper.
Legwork Mystery shopping companies don't know who I am until I apply with them, so I get a list (many listings are available for free, do not pay for one!) of companies and begin the application process. Most are done online, a handful require applications and copies of certain documents to be mailed or faxed to their office. Each application takes about a half hour,
but I only need to apply with each company once.
About 30% of the companies with which I am on file send me emails when an assignment in my area becomes available. But, it is a very competitive field, and the early shopper gets the shop, so I rarely wait to be contacted. Every morning, I browse the job boards of my top 25 companies—the ones I work for most often. That takes at least an hour each morning, sometimes more, depending on the speed of my internet connection and number of job listings that day. I will apply for assignments that meet my available times, and wait to hear back from the schedulers.
Waiting It can take a scheduler a week to get back to me about shops for which I've applied, but within my "top 25," I have chosen to work with schedulers who are prompt in answering their emails. When I receive confirmation of an assignment, I enter the information into a database I
keep of all my assignments. It holds information on all my assignments upcoming and completed for a variety of uses. I also enter the assignment details into my cell phone (and set a reminder) and write it on my family's calendar.
Investigating Time to do the shop itself!
Paperwork I go back to my database and enter the specifics about each shop I've completed, then file my paperwork with the mystery shopping company who assigned me while the details are fresh in my mind. More and more companies are requiring completed surveys within 12 hours of an assignment's completion, and I've seen a couple companies requiring a two-hour turnaround! I am very wary of choosing those faster turnaround jobs. One ill-timed traffic jam and I have sullied my reputation. Receipts get scanned and faxed or emailed, the completed surveys are filed and kept (some companies request completed surveys and receipts be kept for up to six months) and equipment recalibrated. I like to calibrate my scales and thermometers and replace batteries after a job rather than waiting until just before a job to discover a problem.
When my paychecks roll in, I celebrate each with a tiny "YAY!" then do the necessary paperwork to meet the IRS' rigorous standards for self-employment. All mystery shopping income is taxable, whether you receive a statement of earnings from a mystery shopping company or keep your own records. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that only income above a certain level is taxable. That's one expensive audit!
So you see, being a mystery shopper is much more than just shopping. The assignment itself is just one small but important part of the process.
From the ground up, here's what the process looks like to a shopper.
Legwork Mystery shopping companies don't know who I am until I apply with them, so I get a list (many listings are available for free, do not pay for one!) of companies and begin the application process. Most are done online, a handful require applications and copies of certain documents to be mailed or faxed to their office. Each application takes about a half hour,
but I only need to apply with each company once.
About 30% of the companies with which I am on file send me emails when an assignment in my area becomes available. But, it is a very competitive field, and the early shopper gets the shop, so I rarely wait to be contacted. Every morning, I browse the job boards of my top 25 companies—the ones I work for most often. That takes at least an hour each morning, sometimes more, depending on the speed of my internet connection and number of job listings that day. I will apply for assignments that meet my available times, and wait to hear back from the schedulers.
Waiting It can take a scheduler a week to get back to me about shops for which I've applied, but within my "top 25," I have chosen to work with schedulers who are prompt in answering their emails. When I receive confirmation of an assignment, I enter the information into a database I
keep of all my assignments. It holds information on all my assignments upcoming and completed for a variety of uses. I also enter the assignment details into my cell phone (and set a reminder) and write it on my family's calendar.
Investigating Time to do the shop itself!
Paperwork I go back to my database and enter the specifics about each shop I've completed, then file my paperwork with the mystery shopping company who assigned me while the details are fresh in my mind. More and more companies are requiring completed surveys within 12 hours of an assignment's completion, and I've seen a couple companies requiring a two-hour turnaround! I am very wary of choosing those faster turnaround jobs. One ill-timed traffic jam and I have sullied my reputation. Receipts get scanned and faxed or emailed, the completed surveys are filed and kept (some companies request completed surveys and receipts be kept for up to six months) and equipment recalibrated. I like to calibrate my scales and thermometers and replace batteries after a job rather than waiting until just before a job to discover a problem.
When my paychecks roll in, I celebrate each with a tiny "YAY!" then do the necessary paperwork to meet the IRS' rigorous standards for self-employment. All mystery shopping income is taxable, whether you receive a statement of earnings from a mystery shopping company or keep your own records. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that only income above a certain level is taxable. That's one expensive audit!
So you see, being a mystery shopper is much more than just shopping. The assignment itself is just one small but important part of the process.
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Basics of Mystery Shopping: Fast cash?
I have several friends who have turned to mystery shopping as a way to bridge the gap between expenses and the next regularly scheduled paycheck. Most have learned through research rather than experience, thankfully, that mystery shopping can worsen your short-term financial situation. In my case, it was a solid four months before my books showed my business in the black.
Most often, a mystery shopping company will require a purchase to be made, either as part of the shopping scenario or just as a method to obtain a receipt as proof of your shop. The purchases made are money out of the shopper's pocket until they receive their paycheck and reimbursement.
How much out of pocket? My most common out-of-pocket reimbursable is $7.50 per shop. I've had lows of $1.39 and a high of $53, but the largest majority of my shops fall into that $7-8 range. (Friends of Math, you'll understand when I say $7.50 is the mode of my shops: the out-of-pocket amount that occurs most frequently.) If I do ten shops a month with that $7.50 out of pocket each—it adds up quickly, doesn't it?
How long out of pocket? Of the 22 mystery shopping companies I work for most frequently, one pays every two weeks; one pays 60 days after the last day of the month in which the shop was performed (you shop June 4th, you get paid August 30.) The majority of the companies for which I work process payments somewhere between those two extremes. The average time it takes for me to receive payment and reimbursement for shops I've performed is 47 days.
So, plug all that into your calculator, hit the total button and you get: negative numbers for several consecutive weeks! When I began shopping in earnest, my business showed up to a $200 negative balance for the first six weeks. The second six weeks was not much better, although I did manage to hit a zero balance on the books for several days. It was difficult to see income during that time and to reinvest it into more shops rather than spend it. It wasn't until the third six weeks that I was in the black consistently.
The shopper's pay I have seen ranges from $5 to $200. I know there are shops that pay more, usually from companies that require a great deal more time and expertise than I have to offer. Evaluating a timeshare or resort would pay more, for example, but would also require a multiple-day commitment and very extensive reporting.
In all, I'd say there is some money to be made in mystery shopping. But if you are looking to pay yourself out of debt, buy a new car or finance a college education, mystery shopping will meet only a fraction of your needs.
Most often, a mystery shopping company will require a purchase to be made, either as part of the shopping scenario or just as a method to obtain a receipt as proof of your shop. The purchases made are money out of the shopper's pocket until they receive their paycheck and reimbursement.
How much out of pocket? My most common out-of-pocket reimbursable is $7.50 per shop. I've had lows of $1.39 and a high of $53, but the largest majority of my shops fall into that $7-8 range. (Friends of Math, you'll understand when I say $7.50 is the mode of my shops: the out-of-pocket amount that occurs most frequently.) If I do ten shops a month with that $7.50 out of pocket each—it adds up quickly, doesn't it?
How long out of pocket? Of the 22 mystery shopping companies I work for most frequently, one pays every two weeks; one pays 60 days after the last day of the month in which the shop was performed (you shop June 4th, you get paid August 30.) The majority of the companies for which I work process payments somewhere between those two extremes. The average time it takes for me to receive payment and reimbursement for shops I've performed is 47 days.
So, plug all that into your calculator, hit the total button and you get: negative numbers for several consecutive weeks! When I began shopping in earnest, my business showed up to a $200 negative balance for the first six weeks. The second six weeks was not much better, although I did manage to hit a zero balance on the books for several days. It was difficult to see income during that time and to reinvest it into more shops rather than spend it. It wasn't until the third six weeks that I was in the black consistently.
The shopper's pay I have seen ranges from $5 to $200. I know there are shops that pay more, usually from companies that require a great deal more time and expertise than I have to offer. Evaluating a timeshare or resort would pay more, for example, but would also require a multiple-day commitment and very extensive reporting.
In all, I'd say there is some money to be made in mystery shopping. But if you are looking to pay yourself out of debt, buy a new car or finance a college education, mystery shopping will meet only a fraction of your needs.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Basics of Mystery Shopping: FREE stuff!
If you've ever seen an ad for mystery shopping, it probably reads something like this:
The reality is slightly different.
Being a mystery shopper is only one-third shopping. In my shopping business, I spend about three hours a day researching assignments, filling out applications with new companies, completing online survey forms for shops I've done and managing the recordkeeping associated with my business. So, love to shop? Good! Love paperwork? Better!
At my current count, there are just over 400 mystery shopping companies. Each company has their own corral of clients and the client list is just as proprietary and closely guarded as any private detective or law firm. (In some states, a private investigator's license is a legal requirement for mystery shoppers.) A reputable company (and a trustworthy shopper) will never, ever reveal what company provides shops for which retailer. As a matter of fact, part of the contract we sign with mystery shopping companies is that we will not divulge where we shop for whom. So, if you want to "shop at your favorite stores," your best bet is to sign up with all 400+ companies, check their websites daily for new job listings and be the first to sign up for them! In reality, however, you will probably end up shopping locations you don't mind shopping more often than at your favorite stores.
"Keep what you buy for free" is misleading as well. Remember my part one example? Superstore, Inc. has already set their prices and shop requirements with Mystery Shopping Company long before the job is available to accept by Sally Shopper. Superstore, Inc. is paying for the services of Mystery Shopping Company and might want to limit their additional expenses, so they might say a purchase is required but only $5 of whatever you choose to buy will be reimbursed. So, they might have you shop for an iPod, but all they will reimburse is a can of soda or pack of gum. Sure, you can buy the iPod, but you'll be paying for all but $5 of it yourself. Never once have I been sent to a dress shop that sells $300 dresses and been reimbursed for the cost of such a delectable frock. In this case, they would reimburse me for a pair of socks, say $10 or so. Often, Superstore will dictate what must be purchased: a cherry vanilla yogurt freeze at their snack bar, for example. Wow, I'd rather have chocolate, but cherry vanilla is the assignment. Yes, I got to keep what I bought for FREE!
So, if you have dreams of buying multiple pairs of Manolos until your closet resembles Imelda Marcos', play the lottery. If you don't mind taking what is offered or getting a discount on pricier merchandise, read on!
Love to shop? Shop at your favorite stores and keep what you buy for FREE!
The reality is slightly different.
Being a mystery shopper is only one-third shopping. In my shopping business, I spend about three hours a day researching assignments, filling out applications with new companies, completing online survey forms for shops I've done and managing the recordkeeping associated with my business. So, love to shop? Good! Love paperwork? Better!
At my current count, there are just over 400 mystery shopping companies. Each company has their own corral of clients and the client list is just as proprietary and closely guarded as any private detective or law firm. (In some states, a private investigator's license is a legal requirement for mystery shoppers.) A reputable company (and a trustworthy shopper) will never, ever reveal what company provides shops for which retailer. As a matter of fact, part of the contract we sign with mystery shopping companies is that we will not divulge where we shop for whom. So, if you want to "shop at your favorite stores," your best bet is to sign up with all 400+ companies, check their websites daily for new job listings and be the first to sign up for them! In reality, however, you will probably end up shopping locations you don't mind shopping more often than at your favorite stores.
"Keep what you buy for free" is misleading as well. Remember my part one example? Superstore, Inc. has already set their prices and shop requirements with Mystery Shopping Company long before the job is available to accept by Sally Shopper. Superstore, Inc. is paying for the services of Mystery Shopping Company and might want to limit their additional expenses, so they might say a purchase is required but only $5 of whatever you choose to buy will be reimbursed. So, they might have you shop for an iPod, but all they will reimburse is a can of soda or pack of gum. Sure, you can buy the iPod, but you'll be paying for all but $5 of it yourself. Never once have I been sent to a dress shop that sells $300 dresses and been reimbursed for the cost of such a delectable frock. In this case, they would reimburse me for a pair of socks, say $10 or so. Often, Superstore will dictate what must be purchased: a cherry vanilla yogurt freeze at their snack bar, for example. Wow, I'd rather have chocolate, but cherry vanilla is the assignment. Yes, I got to keep what I bought for FREE!
So, if you have dreams of buying multiple pairs of Manolos until your closet resembles Imelda Marcos', play the lottery. If you don't mind taking what is offered or getting a discount on pricier merchandise, read on!
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Basics of Mystery Shopping: What is it?
I'll tell you a secret. I'm a mystery shopper. I've been working at it off and on for four years, more on since January than off, and have had a lot of questions from friends about how the process works.
For those who don't know, mystery shoppers are hired to shop in a certain way to gather certain information and report it to the hiring entity.
Superstore President Paul wants to know if his checkout clerks across the country are encouraging customers to sign up for their shiny, new Supercard like they have been trained to do. Superstore, Inc. calls Mystery Shopping Company and they arrange the details: which stores to shop, what hours of the day, what dollar amount must be spent, what items may and may not be purchased, what criteria for speediness and friendliness must be met by Superstore employees, the deadline for reports to be filed, how much they are willing to pay for this service to be executed, etc.
Mystery Shopping Company posts the job opening on their website and waits for their shoppers to email in and request the job. Sally Shopper reads the requirements, takes a qualifying test if it's required, downloads the questionnaire to fill out and reserves the date on her calendar. Sally goes to the assigned Superstore, makes the required purchase, observes carefully and completes the form. Sally takes the form home, enters the data on Mystery Shopping Company's website, files away her notes and waits for payment.
Mystery Shopping Company's Ellie Editor reads Sally's report and makes sure it contains the correct information in the correct form, adds it to the wealth of information gathered from all the other shoppers performing the same assignment at other Superstores and provides it to the client. Mystery Shopping Company may or may not be asked by Superstore to provide suggestions as to how to improve service or compliance with any number of issues. Superstore pays Mystery Shopping Company, Mystery Shopping Company pays Ellie and Sally, and a good time is had by all.
That's it in very broad strokes. in upcoming posts, I'll deal with the finer points.
For those who don't know, mystery shoppers are hired to shop in a certain way to gather certain information and report it to the hiring entity.
Superstore President Paul wants to know if his checkout clerks across the country are encouraging customers to sign up for their shiny, new Supercard like they have been trained to do. Superstore, Inc. calls Mystery Shopping Company and they arrange the details: which stores to shop, what hours of the day, what dollar amount must be spent, what items may and may not be purchased, what criteria for speediness and friendliness must be met by Superstore employees, the deadline for reports to be filed, how much they are willing to pay for this service to be executed, etc.
Mystery Shopping Company posts the job opening on their website and waits for their shoppers to email in and request the job. Sally Shopper reads the requirements, takes a qualifying test if it's required, downloads the questionnaire to fill out and reserves the date on her calendar. Sally goes to the assigned Superstore, makes the required purchase, observes carefully and completes the form. Sally takes the form home, enters the data on Mystery Shopping Company's website, files away her notes and waits for payment.
Mystery Shopping Company's Ellie Editor reads Sally's report and makes sure it contains the correct information in the correct form, adds it to the wealth of information gathered from all the other shoppers performing the same assignment at other Superstores and provides it to the client. Mystery Shopping Company may or may not be asked by Superstore to provide suggestions as to how to improve service or compliance with any number of issues. Superstore pays Mystery Shopping Company, Mystery Shopping Company pays Ellie and Sally, and a good time is had by all.
That's it in very broad strokes. in upcoming posts, I'll deal with the finer points.
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