Secret Shopper

Customers today simply will not tolerate bad service like they did in the past. People are too busy to tolerate slow or poor service. Nowadays, people want it right, and they want it now! If the service and products are not perfect, the customers will go to another store instantly.

For retail outlets, opinions of their business are formed by consumer experience with the store staff. When the workers are courteous, helpful and knowledgeable salespeople they will make a lasting impression and draw loyal, satisfied customers. In fact, it can help to measure the quality of the services offered as well as evaluate staff sales skills and knowledge of product.

Secret Shoppers often visit designated retail stores as an average customer and complete confidential reports relative to customer service skills, knowledge of the product, and sales skills. A Secret Shopper report assists an owner in pinpointing specific strengths and weaknesses in daily operational practices at the retail level. The objective of Secret Shopping is to provide management the opportunity to evaluate training and operational programs. Professional Secret Shoppers get to test new products, monitor register transactions, check operations, observe a stores security procedures, evaluate the effectiveness of advertising and other marketing efforts.

As a "Secret Shopper" you will pose as an anonymous customer. You carefully follow the avenue...

HomeWorkingMom: Exactly what do Secret Shoppers do?

Angela: Secret Shoppers are paid to visit specific stores and businesses to observe and secretly evaluate the quality of a company’s products and customer service.

HomeWorkingMom: What skills/qualifications are needed to be a Secret Shopper?

Angela: Previous experience is not required. Almost anyone can be a secret shopper. If you are honest and dependable, able to read, speak and write the English language along with the ability to visit various store locations, you may be just the person secret shopping companies are looking for!

HomeWorkingMom: Where do Secret Shoppers shop?

Angela: The possibilities are endless because most companies value evaluations of their customer service and products. Some common industries include: major department stores, restaurants, grocery stores, amusement parks, health clubs, airlines, and theaters.

HomeWorkingMom: Is Secret Shopping legal?

Angela: Absolutely! It is a multi-million dollar industry that has been around for years. Companies such as The Gap, Stuart Anderson Cattle Company, KMart, Chili’s and Fortune 500 companies all use Secret shoppers.

HomeWorkingMom: How much money can a Secret Shopper earn?

Angela: How much you make depends on the number and types of shops you agree to do. Secret shoppers are independent contractors. A general overview shows that most shoppers are paid an hourly wage of $10 - $40 per hour and are usually reimbursed for any purchases they are required to make. Therefore, payment may take the form of a cash payment for shops performed, reimbursement for out-of-pocket dollars spent, or a combination of the two.

HomeWorkingMom: Can you give me tell us what a Secret Shopping assignment is like?

Angela: Each assignment has a specific set of guidelines and deadlines. An assignment could be evaluating a restaurant, shopping for an apartment or new car, purchasing linen at a department store or inquiring about opening a bank account… to name just a few.

An online report of your experience would need to be completed, usually within a 24 hour period. A report offers accurate and pertinent information. It should reflect details of the shop as well as impressions of the experience. It is always completed in full and submitted within the given time limit.

HomeWorkingMom: We caution our readers to never pay for a job. By joining Money and Shopping, isn’t that what they are doing?

Angela: Money and Shopping is not a secret shopping company. We do not hire, nor do we pay shoppers for completing secret shopping assignments.

When you join Money and Shopping, you are not paying for a job. Instead, for your membership fee we will teach you how to get assignments, how to do the best job possible and even how to complete your paperwork. And, we will show you how to keep getting assignments over and over again.

I have been a secret shopper myself for almost seven years and have made contacts with many companies. When I started Money and Shopping, I contacted the best companies and asked if they would provide leads, advance notice or exclusive job offers to members. We received a positive response and began a working relationship with many of the top schedulers who realize that our shoppers are professional and well-trained.

Because I am also a secret shopping scheduler I have many contacts in that part of the industry and we offer other schedulers access to send job leads directly to our members.

We have a database of over 600 of the best companies that mystery shoppers can work for on the site and it’s searchable. The database provides insight into how long these companies have been in business, what kind of shoppers they are looking for, how much they pay, what kinds of shops they offer and personal notes from me and other members if we’ve worked for the company.

We give e-mail training on all aspects of secret shopping and provide teleconferences to introduce you to the best people in the industry. You’ll find Secret Shopping company reviews by very experienced shoppers so you will know if you want to work for a company or not. And there are additional resources that any good mystery shopper should use as well.

I am personally available via e-mail to answer any questions members have about the industry and even about a specific assignment.

HomeWorkingMom: Reader Julie Thomas wrote about her experience with Money and Shopping and why she knows she was not paying for a job. She wrote:

“I get very frustrated when people say that they would never pay to find out about secret shopping opportunities. I LOVE Money and Shopping and the work I’ve gotten has more than paid the fee. I get as many assignments as I can handle right now.

“I appreciate what Angela is doing and how hard she works for us.  In my opinion, Money and Shopping is worth way more than I paid for it.  I have received more training, more help, gotten more work, and understand secret shopping work so much better and it’s all because of Money and Shopping.

“I just had to write and encourage others to join Money and Shopping. I have never seen anything like it and will remain a loyal member.”

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