Various Mystery Shopping Jobs

When mystery shopping first came on the scene many years ago, you went and did the shop, and then filled out a survey type questionnaire and sent it back in to your employer, who then paid you for your work. You were given a long form, with questions on both sides, and you simply checked a box as you went down, was your food hot, yes or no, did the employees seem friendly and focused, yes or no, and so on down the line. While some mystery shopping jobs will still use this type of form, there are many others now available, so you should take the time to learn about all of them if you are serious about your mystery shopping job.

Thanks to the advances that have been made in modern technology over the years, many of your mystery shopper reports can be filled out and sent in electronically, via email or website. This cuts down on the time it takes for your employer to receive your feedback, and your wait for payment.

In some ways, however, this same technology has helped limit the demand for mystery shoppers somewhat. Thanks to so many people now being able to shop online for their needs, companies who do business in this manner don�t really have to be concerned with what you think, as you don�t ever see the inside of their store, or have any one on one contact with any of their employees. So, in the world of mystery shopping, technology has been both a blessing and a curse.

Many businesses operate call centers, where customers can call in for product service, questions, or complaints as needed. The company who provides this service has to be certain that their employees are taking care of the needs of their customers in a polite, friendly manner, and that wait times are at a minimum, etc. That being said, you may be assigned a mystery shopping job that you can do right from the privacy of your own home, calling in to one of these customer service centers, and rating your service. You will likely be asked to report on your wait time, employee friendliness, and the support you received, as well as many other details as the employer sees fit.

Another way that some companies are erasing the need of hiring mystery shoppers is by installing video surveillance cameras in the workplace. These cameras are usually linked into the corporate office, where anyone at any time can link up and see what is going on in any given store. If a customer has a complaint about a specific day, a supervisor can even go back to the day in question and view the scenario, visualizing the problems and then taking action to correct them as needed. Not every store does this, as it can be quite expensive, and some still prefer the anonymity of the mystery shopper. Employees know that cameras are installed, and they adjust their actions accordingly, where if you, as a mystery shopper, do a good job, they will be none the wiser that you are there.

Just remember, no matter what type of mystery shopping assignment you receive, you are the voice of the customer. If you see something that needs to be changed or done differently, you should speak up, that is your job, after all.

'Mystery shopper' scam draws police warning (Windsor Star)

A company purportedly seeking to employ members of the public as "mystery shoppers" is actually trying to defraud them, say Windsor police.

BBB warns: Secret Shopper Scam boasts Louisville address (The Danville Advocate-Messenger)

Consumers across the country receive letters every day stating they can earn a living as a secret shopper. Letters tempt consumers to dine in elegant restaurants, shop at pricey stores or check into a luxurious hotel. It may sound enticing, but beware - it could be a scam.

Secret shopping scheme hits Hampton Roads (13 News, WVEC Hampton Roads)

CHESAPEAKE – In these tough economic times, many people are looking to make a few extra bucks and some people are preying on that need. Authorities are warning about a possible scheme that uses a "secret shopper" job as bait.

Business briefs November 11, 2008 (Santa Fe New Mexican)

A Santa Fe company is partnering with a nonprofit support group for organic and sustainable farming in the Southeast to expand the market for local organic wheat in the Carolinas.

Don't be a victim of home-based business scams (The Buffalo News)

You scroll past them in your e-mail inbox, with subject lines shouting, “Earn hundreds in your spare time!” Job postings clog career search engines and classified ads. You drive past cardboard signs stapled to telephone poles: “Start today with no training or experience! Easy Work, Great Pay!”