- For the mystery shopper, there are many potential employers to choose from and it is possible to work for just one company or for several at once. The shopper registers with these agencies through their websites and will then have access to either an online database or regular emails containing lists of available assignments in her area. She might also receive direct calls from schedulers looking to fill assignments that have not been claimed in a timely manner. Either way, the shopper has her choice of what assignments to claim and how many, but when she does, she is obligated to complete them in the time frame specified--usually a space of a one to three days.
- The assignments a mystery shopper can claim are as varied as the businesses who buy mystery shopping services. Shoppers are given highly specific lists of tasks to perform and things to check for, evaluating general customer service, employee compliance with instructions, and conditions of the building, such as general cleanliness.
- One of the most challenging aspects of a mystery shopper's job is secrecy. She is required to find the answers to her questions and fulfill her tasks without letting employees know that she is a consultant. This is because her job is to gain accurate knowledge of the average customer's experience, and if employees know they are being assessed, they may behave differently. A secret shopper must therefore be creative. For example, if she needs to include the name of the manager on duty in her report, she'll need to think of a reason to ask to speak to the manager.
Some assignments may require the shopper to bring along a guest. She may need a dining partner during restaurant assignments in order to appear natural, or may need to bring along a person in a certain demographic (such as teenage boy needed for an assignment at a video game store). A shopper will be informed of such requirements before she chooses to take an assignment. - Once a shopper has finished the field portion of her assignment, she must complete and submit a detailed report within a short amount of time--sometimes as little as three or four hours after completing an assignment. This report may be completed online, through paper mail, or both. Each assignment's report is different and is drafted based on the information the client wants to find out about his business, but in order to complete good reports, a shopper must have thorough observation skills, good attention to detail and above average writing skills.
previous post