Can I just tell you how tired I am of people saying that Mystery Shopping is a scam?

It's NOT.

I started Mystery Shopping in 1999, and it's been around a hellofa lot longer than that. Actually, Mystery Shopping got started in the 1940's...(that's as far back as I could find it, anyway) people were hired to try and steal things from stores. The owners wanted to see if the employees were on their toes. People were hired to make purchases to make sure that the employee gave back correct change, closed the cash drawer, etc. Well, nowadays, we have check-point stands, we have security cameras, so we don't really need that type of service. So, Mystery Shopping evolved into a more customer-service oriented program.

I'm sure you've heard of "Focus Groups" where people sit around in a circle to talk about the kind of kitty litter that they buy so the company can make it "New and Improved?" well, Mystery Shopping is just another way to get a customer's opinion.

Every business that has customers has the ability to be shopped. Apartments, Banks, Retail Stores, Restaurants, Movie Theatres, Batting Cages, Amusement Parks, Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Cruise Lines, Self-Storage Facilities, Hospitals, Cell Phone Providers...these are just a few industries that have shops performed.

As a "shopper" you will be asked to report back on how employees, products, and services are viewed by the average person. The companies can use this information to:

· Evaluate customer service
· Observe loss prevention methods
· Maintain compliance issues, (alcohol and tobacco purchases)
· Observe fair housing practices
· Train employees, on proper and improper methods of interacting with a     customer
· Improve the cleanliness, surroundings, products, and services
· Motivate employees with bonuses, rewards, and incentives
· Observe potential employees
· Observe the competition within their industry

Yes...this is a REAL way to make money. Now, how much money is completely up to you. You can only get offers for assignments if you sign on with mystery shopping companies. There are about 500 that service the US and Canada. If you only sign on with 3, you won't get that many assignments. And, you only take the assigments that you want...the more assignments you take, the more money you make. So, basically, you can only get out of this what you put into it.

You've probably seen the ads about making $40 an hour with mystery shopping (especially that ad on Yahoo with the lady with the big lips...she amuses me.) Keep in mind, these people are trying to sell you something, so there's a bit of hype...ok, lets be honest, there's a LOT of hype.

Mystery Shoppers are paid PER ASSIGNMENT, with the average fee around $10-$20. One shop, including travel time, time on the location, and writing up the form, will take about 60 minutes. If you're doing restaurant shops, generally you'll be spending more time, and you only get reimbursement for the meal, not an added fee. This is not to say that you can't make money at mystery shopping. When I was an active shopper, I was regularly pulling in over $1500 a month. But, keep in mind, I've been doing this a LONG time, and I'm really good at what I do.

Legitimate Mystery Shopping companies will NEVER charge you a fee to work for them. Ever. Seriously, it's a big no-no. There are tons of companies out there who will charge a yearly fee to send you assignments as they come available in your area. Some are legit, some aren't. There are also companies who will charge you for lists of mystery shopping company names. Don't do this. Companies merge, they go in and out of business all the time, chances are the information you're getting isn't up-to-date. You don't need to spend any money to become a shopper for a company...it's free. If you want to pay for training, or information to help you navigate the scams, that's another thing entirely, but again, NO LEGITIMATE MYSTERY SHOPPING COMPANY WILL CHARGE YOU TO WORK FOR THEM. Got it?

So, how do you get started in Mystery Shopping? Well, if you absolutely do not want to spend any money whatsoever in learning the tricks of the trade, you can always look up the "market research" section of your phone book. Call the companies and ask them if they do Mystery Shopping, and get on their list. It's that simple. Keep in mind though, most Mystery Shopping companies will not be in your local area. Think about it: Target is everywhere. Sears is everywhere. Bennigan's is well, almost everywhere. So it really doesn't matter if the Mystery Shopping Company is in Maine or California...it matters where their clients are.

To be a successful Mystery Shopper, you'll need familiarity with the Internet, and email. You'll need to be observant and have the ability to express yourself well in writing. And, you MUST be truthful and timely in your reports. Schedulers, (those are the folks who get you assignments) want, need, and desire people who they can count on, and you'd be surprised how many shoppers lie on forms, or "flake" completely neglecting to do the assignment. It can be frustrating.

If you want to learn from someone who's been there, you can always use me, I'm a pretty good resource. Like I mentioned, I started shopping in 1999. Not only have I been a shopper, I've done scheduling and editing for companies, I've been teaching training classes through various community education centers, and from there I went on to start this business, Shop Incognito, a Mystery Shopping training company, so I've actually set up programs for businesses, as well as consulted with other Mystery Shopping companies on how to improve their services. I know way too much about this industry.

Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to answer each individual email...I don't. I wish that my days could be spent just hanging out online or on the message boards, but unfortunately, I just don't have the time to answer the hundreds of emails I get daily about Mystery Shopping. If you're looking for a free quick-start, again, just look up the local market research section of your phone book, you'll be able to get started that way.

If, however, you require more assistance, information, and legitimate companies to work for, I suggest that you get my CD Rom and training manual. It goes over EVERYTHING you need to know to get started and answers questions you didn't even know to ask. The CD Rom is nearly 2 hours long, and comes with a 117 page book with legitimate company information. In addition, when you purchase the training program you'll receive newletters and ongoing support that will help keep you updated in the world of shopping. (I'm currently offering the training program at 25% off!)

If you're interested, you can check out previews on this site by following the CD ROM link. Regardless on how you get started, I hope you do try out Mystery Shopping.
It really is a fun way to earn some extra cash!

Good Luck, and Happy Shopping!

-Bethany Mooradian
www.ShopIncognito.com
www.QueenoftheRandomJob.com
www.BethanyMooradian.com
www.AvoidMysteryShoppingScams.com