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Step 1
If you go to google and search "how to become a secret shopper" you will get 323,000 results. Half of which will be useless the other half will ask you to pay money for a book or company list. DON'T BUY ANYTHING, NO MATTER WHAT THEY PROMISE. you should NEVER have to pay an upfront cost to get jobs except in a few cases which I'll tell you about below. Anything you will get from a paid service I will tell you right here.
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Step 2
Let me first explain briefly how secret shopping works. Large companies like Burger King, or Sunglass Hut hire independent companies to conduct evaluations. Secret shopper jobs can come in many different forms; audits, service and/or quality evaluations, ID checks, Cruise line shops and demos. I'll explain what each one is....
Audits: You make sure some is doing what they should be doing. For explain, I did audits on people hired to give out free samples. I was assigned to go to a specific store between specific hours and make sure the hired were there, dressed appropriately, and the sample tables were set up correctly.
Service and / or quality evaluations: These are the classic mystery shops we've all heard about. You are assigned a specific location and asked to purchase something. Sometimes you keep these items, sometimes you can return them. You are sometimes asked to take a picture, or scan an item or your receipt. Furthermore, you maybe asked to time how long you wait in line, or another part of the service. You are also asked to fill out an survey or evaluation.
ID Checks: Probably self explanatory. You buy an item and see if a clerk ID's you. Then fill out a survey or evaluation.
Cruise Line shops: Cruise line shops are great, however, don't be fooled into thinking that it's a 100% free vacation. Furthermore, if anyone promises you that then they are lying and it's a scam! Most of the time for Cruise line shops you simply get the cost of the cruise for free. However, any extras like food, drinks, or on harbor trips you have to pay for. Also, you are responsible for travel to the ship and some cruise line shops require you to bring a guest. The guest would be responsible to pay his or her own way. It is a great deal, and a great opportunity! If you are interested in looking more into these opportunities I do suggest signing up at SHADOW SHOPPER. You can do so by clicking HERE. While this is a paid shopper sight I only recommend it because I know it offers LEGIT Cruise Line shops.
Demos: This is probably another one that is self explanatory. The shops will be ask you to put on demonstrations or to give out free samples. Its very flexible work, and generally pays $10.00 to $20.00 a hour. -
Step 3
Now that we understand the different type of jobs that are out there you need to understand how to get the jobs! To get the most jobs there is power in numbers! This is because each secret
shopper company usually only represents 1 to 3 clients at a time. The more companies you sign up for will directly correlate with the amount of jobs you get.
How do you find these companies?
#1. Use the links under "Resources" on this page at the bottom of this article. Together there will be a list of about 300 mystery shopping companies!!!
#2. Second is you sign up to be a member at Shadow Shopper. You will be successful without getting a membership at shadow shopper. However, a Shadow Shopper membership will give you an added advantage. Why will ShadowShopper.com help you? Because they have a VERY large data base of jobs available in your area. They then send you an email when jobs are available near you. If you use shadows shopper correctly you should only need to be a member a month or two to get everything you need out of it. This will also be in the link under the section in resources. -
Step 4
Should I become "certified"??? Now that we know what kind of shops there are & how to get jobs there is one last thing I need to tell you about, certification.
While filling applications you will run into the following question "MSPA certification". This is a certification receives through Mystery Shopping Providers Association and it is highly regarded within the mystery shopping industry. The certification comes in either a silver level, or a gold level. With each level you must take a question and answer multiple choice test. After passing the test you will receive a code in which you can place into your applications. The certification is valid for a year. In all honesty I have no idea how influential having a certification has been in the jobs I have gotten. I personally re-apply for the silver level certification each year, but I do not know if that has helped me get more jobs or not. My hunch is that having the certification indicates to mystery Shopping companies that you are serious about being a mystery shopper because you were willing to put forth effort, time and money toward a certification. The silver certification does not cost much money, $15 dollars a year. With your certification you will also have access to forums, conferences and other benefits. It is up to your discretions to apply for the certification or not. I will advice that regardless of your decision to join or not join MSPA there is NO NEED to apply for, or pay for, any other mystery shopping certification out there, and trust me there are a ton of them out there! The only certification I have ever seen asked about on applications is MSPA.
Comments
Kathymcbain said
on 12/27/2008 Good tips on becoming a mystery shopper. I've thought about doing this before, but living in Hawaii now, I don't think there are enough places to warrant it.