Ten Tips for New Shoppers
Are you new to mystery shopping? Your first shop can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you're not prepared. Try some of these simple tips to make your first shop a success, so that you can find out if mystery shopping is a way of earning income that you'll enjoy.
1.) Start slow. Don't get carried away and sign up for fifteen shops; try signing up for just one and see how it goes. You'll have a much better idea of what shops to apply for in the future just from having first-hand shopper experience.
2.) Don't shop someplace new. If at all possible, schedule a shop at a business that you frequent. A familiar atmosphere will put you at ease, and when you're reviewing the guidelines for the shop ahead of time, you'll easily be able to use your knowledge of the business to plan out your shop.
3.) Fully prepare. Plan some time to read through briefing notes, client guidelines, and the audit form, and to take any qualifying tests. Write a short checklist of what you'll need to take note of from your shop, such as which employees you will need names and descriptions of, signage, or anything else you need to look for.
4.) Take a simple shop. Don't start right away with ten employee interactions! Try a short fast food shop, or an audit with a single employee interaction. You should be able to get a good idea of the complexity of the assignment before signing up if you're working with a good mystery shopping provider.
5.) Work with a reputable company. Check the MSPA website for a list of available openings in your area, or join a mystery shopping forum to get feedback from other shoppers. This will ensure you'll join a company that is legitimate and treats its shoppers appropriately -- and, most importantly, that has a commitment to paying as promised.
6.) Review the guidelines just before the shop. Don't do this in the store parking lot, it may give you away! Print out the guidelines and review them at home if at all possible.
7.) Always have a Plan B. When you get to the shop, don't be caught not remembering what to do. Write a small checklist to yourself and hide it in your purse or pocket. That way, if you end up in a pinch, you can retire to the bathroom or a fitting room to review your guidelines in private or take short notes. Alternately, if you have a cell phone, you might consider leaving yourself a voice mail or recording a voice memo with important information.
8.) Record information as soon as possible. You definitely can't write notes in the car or, heaven forbid, in the store itself (at least not publicly), but your memory can fade fast if you're trying to retain a lot of information. If you struggle with memory, or you won't be at your computer shortly, you may want to stop someplace outside of view of the business and record some notes -- particularly all important times, names, and descriptions.
9.) Take your time when recording your audit. Spelling and grammar count! If you struggle with spelling, try copying and pasting narratives into a document and using a spell checker. Be as detailed as possible, and remember -- be objective.
10.) Write as if you were the employer receiving the feedback. Remember that your words might be used in an employee review. Write about your experience in a professional way that will clearly describe your experience in a way that will be clear to someone who wasn't there, and be especially specific about any negative feedback. Negative responses are far more likely to be challenged by the business. For example, don't write "The employees were unfriendly and rude, and this upset me." Try: "The cashier, Peter, did not greet me when entering. When I approached him and asked for assistance, he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, and said, 'I suppose I can help you,' in a sarcastic tone of voice."
Many companies will provide you feedback on your completed shops. Watch your e-mail and visit the site often within the following few days after a shop to make sure that further clarification isn't needed. Good luck, and remember -- it takes time to learn everything, but you can do it!
1.) Start slow. Don't get carried away and sign up for fifteen shops; try signing up for just one and see how it goes. You'll have a much better idea of what shops to apply for in the future just from having first-hand shopper experience.
2.) Don't shop someplace new. If at all possible, schedule a shop at a business that you frequent. A familiar atmosphere will put you at ease, and when you're reviewing the guidelines for the shop ahead of time, you'll easily be able to use your knowledge of the business to plan out your shop.
3.) Fully prepare. Plan some time to read through briefing notes, client guidelines, and the audit form, and to take any qualifying tests. Write a short checklist of what you'll need to take note of from your shop, such as which employees you will need names and descriptions of, signage, or anything else you need to look for.
4.) Take a simple shop. Don't start right away with ten employee interactions! Try a short fast food shop, or an audit with a single employee interaction. You should be able to get a good idea of the complexity of the assignment before signing up if you're working with a good mystery shopping provider.
5.) Work with a reputable company. Check the MSPA website for a list of available openings in your area, or join a mystery shopping forum to get feedback from other shoppers. This will ensure you'll join a company that is legitimate and treats its shoppers appropriately -- and, most importantly, that has a commitment to paying as promised.
6.) Review the guidelines just before the shop. Don't do this in the store parking lot, it may give you away! Print out the guidelines and review them at home if at all possible.
7.) Always have a Plan B. When you get to the shop, don't be caught not remembering what to do. Write a small checklist to yourself and hide it in your purse or pocket. That way, if you end up in a pinch, you can retire to the bathroom or a fitting room to review your guidelines in private or take short notes. Alternately, if you have a cell phone, you might consider leaving yourself a voice mail or recording a voice memo with important information.
8.) Record information as soon as possible. You definitely can't write notes in the car or, heaven forbid, in the store itself (at least not publicly), but your memory can fade fast if you're trying to retain a lot of information. If you struggle with memory, or you won't be at your computer shortly, you may want to stop someplace outside of view of the business and record some notes -- particularly all important times, names, and descriptions.
9.) Take your time when recording your audit. Spelling and grammar count! If you struggle with spelling, try copying and pasting narratives into a document and using a spell checker. Be as detailed as possible, and remember -- be objective.
10.) Write as if you were the employer receiving the feedback. Remember that your words might be used in an employee review. Write about your experience in a professional way that will clearly describe your experience in a way that will be clear to someone who wasn't there, and be especially specific about any negative feedback. Negative responses are far more likely to be challenged by the business. For example, don't write "The employees were unfriendly and rude, and this upset me." Try: "The cashier, Peter, did not greet me when entering. When I approached him and asked for assistance, he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, and said, 'I suppose I can help you,' in a sarcastic tone of voice."
Many companies will provide you feedback on your completed shops. Watch your e-mail and visit the site often within the following few days after a shop to make sure that further clarification isn't needed. Good luck, and remember -- it takes time to learn everything, but you can do it!
posted by The Reviewer at 9:59 PM
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