So, What is A Mystery Shopper, Anyway?

So, you have probably spend some time surfing the internet, looking for a great work at home opportunity, or at least a way to make some extra cash in your spare time, and in that searching, you have probably came across many sites talking about becoming a mystery shopper, but what is a mystery shopper anyway? Why would someone hire me to shop at their store? Well, keep reading, we will give you the skinny on mystery shopping in this article.

Corporate executives of retail stores, fast food franchises, and many other businesses around the world depend on mystery shoppers to tell them how their business is operating and treating it�s customers when they aren�t around. They get an unbiased opinion on what is really going on, and if things are bad, they can hopefully make changes before it severely impacts their business. They know that when they are on site, everyone is on their toes to make certain that every single thing is just the way they want it to be, but what happens when they aren�t there? Many of these executives have worked their way up, and they know that oftentimes, some pretty bad things go on in these places, especially when no one is really around to keep an eye on things, which is where you, the mystery shopper, can make a big difference.

If you are hired to be a mystery shopper, you will earn money to visit one of these places, buy an item, and then fill out some paperwork regarding the service you received, and things that you observed while you were there. Were you treated with the utmost respect and courtesy as you should be, or were you ignored by employees who were too busy talking about their weekend to serve you? Were the staff in clean, proper uniforms, or were they running around in dirty, stained clothing? Were the facilities clean and in order? Were you satisfied with your shopping experience? These are all questions that you will be required to answer in some form or fashion if you are a mystery shopper.

In some instances, you may not be able to immediately find a job as a mystery shopper. If this happens to you, there are many legitimate websites devoted to helping you find that perfect mystery shopper position, and even if you are required to pay an initial fee, it will be an investment, if you plan on working for a while as a mystery shopper. Different types of positions pay different amount of money, so you want to look into that as well. In some instances, if you are hired to critique a restaurant or movie theatre, you will be reimbursed for the cost of your meal or your ticket, and that is all the compensation you receive, while other opportunities pay more.

You will be told what date and time you are supposed to conduct your �shop�, as well as the date the corresponding paperwork is due. You will be supplied with a form to use as a guide when on your shop, but you shouldn�t take the actual form with you, as smart employees will be able to pickup on what you are doing, and adjust their actions accordingly. You should take the time to familiarize yourself with the form before you go, and then fill it out as soon as you leave the establishment or return home.

You should know that you won�t make an insane amount of money working as a mystery shopper, and chances are, you won�t be able to give up your full-time job. You should also know that some companies will take your report so seriously that they will actually sometimes terminate employees based on your information, so you should be truthful and give as much detail as possible. Don�t give someone a bad review just because you can.

You don�t want to talk to your family and friends about your new career, at least not in detail. It is okay to tell them that you are a mystery shopper, but you shouldn�t tell them where you go, or the details of your visits. No one should be able to spot you out somewhere and know that you are a mystery shopper, because as word spreads, people will start to spot you the minute you pull into their lot!

Scams: If it sounds too good to be true, it is (Fond du Lac Reporter)

Law enforcement officials warn that scam letters claiming that local residents won an unclaimed prize have entered Fond du Lac mailboxes.

Beware of secret shopper scam (The Greenwood Commonwealth)

The Greenwood Police Department is advising residents to beware of a “secret shopper” scam involving counterfeit checks. In such a scam, people are recruited to be secret shoppers, also known as “mystery shoppers,” with a large check.

HAPPINESS IS A CONCEALED GUN (Orlando Weekly)

A recent Florida transplant, a pistol, a love story. Bang bang, shoot shoot!

Rite Aid bears cryptic message (The New Britain Herald)

PLAINVILLE - As symbols of obscurity, they have been affixed to the side of a building along Route 10 for nearly four decades, but in all that time the number of people who know their origin, meaning and history remained limited to a handful of people.

Scams target local residents (Sheboygan Press)

Mary Traas got the good news by phone Sept. 18 she was the proud owner of a new Mercedes-Benz.