SECRET SHOPPERS | So, You Want to Be a Mystery Shopper? PART III
December 21, 2009
Several years ago, there were a number of scams involving the secret world or mystery shopping. Ads blared over the ratio to “Make Thousands as a Mystery Shopper!” Or, perhaps, “Earn thousands from home – just send us $40″
These were clearly scams. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of people became victims of these criminals. In some cases you received a publication of mystery shopping companies. In the worst case, you were scammed for $100 to become a mystery shopper.
“The old adage, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” rings true here. NEVER pay anyone to become a mystery shopper. Period. End of story.
Now, there are a number of reputable firms, including ServiceQuality.US and The Service Quality Department, who offer premium levels for serious mystery shoppers. Some organizations offer training, which ends in a certification. I can’t speak for others, but I can speak for us. Some of our full-time shoppers are looking for added pay, and expedited payments. In the case of Service Quality.US and The Service Quality Department, a small percentage (1%) of our shoppers qualify to advance to our premium level. Each week, we turn down secret shoppers who wish to apply for our Gold or Platinum Premium Level Mystery Shopping Programs.
Why would we turn away money? It’s simple. If everyone is a premium level secret shopper, then it’s no so special. In many cases, shoppers haven’t completed enough assignments to qualify, or the quality of their reports aren’t up to our standards. In other cases, we simply don’t have enough business to justify taking a service evaluator’s money.
The basic premise we operate our business on is based on Rotary International’s Four-Way Test:
- First; Is it the truth?
- Second; Is it fair to all concerned?
- Third; Will it build good will and better friendships?
- Fourth; Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
If any thing we consider doing doesn’t meet all of these four criteria, we don’t do it. No question. No negotiation.
SECRET SHOPPERS | So, You Want To Be a Secret Shopper, PART 2
December 19, 2009
Show me the money!
Hey, I would like to think our mystery shoppers are altruistic and interested in bettering the levels of service that all customers receive, but the fact is: they all do it for the money, too!
A general rule of thumb that we use is that we pay our secret shoppers at a rate of $40 to $60 per hour, depending on the complexity of the assignment. (Just as with any other job, you don’t generally start out at the highest level of pay…) That being said, it’s important to understand that we go on the presumption that the jobs are next to each other. For instance, a job that takes 10 minutes, may pay $10.
Another consideration is what you, the secret shopper, gets out of the shop. For instance, if you receive a full meal for four people, there most likely won’t be any additional compensation in addition to the reimbursement of the purchase.
Mystery shopping is best considered a part-time job. While there are a few secret shoppers that make a full-time effort, it is a lot of work and travel to do so. On the other hand, taking a few moments out of an already scheduled trip to the mall or enjoying a dinner for free is a great way to enjoy the perks of mystery shopping.
SECRET SHOPPERS | So, You Want To Be A Mystery Shopper: Part I
December 18, 2009
Around the holidays, we always see an influx of new mystery shoppers. Some are great, others not so great, and I wanted to give ou and idea of what we look for in our secret shoppers, or service evaluators.
First and foremost, you need to be honest and reliable. If you don’t show up for a assignment, or don’t follow the directions, you’ve cost us both money. In most instances, if you blow off an assignment, you won’t get the chance to do another for us.
Secondly, you need to possess good common sense. This will take care of a number of problems we’ve seen shoppers experience.
Thirdly, you need to pay attention to the details. Every interaction has thousands of points of potential satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Your job is to see them.
Finally, you need to enter each shop with a clear mind and no preconceived notions of the outcome. Your job is to observe, not judge. If you go into an assignment looking for trouble, trouble is what you will find.
In future posts, I’ll talk about the process and give you some additional helpful hints.
For more information, you can always visit our web sites; www.ServiceQuality.US or www.Service-Quality.com
