A secret shopper job is a great way to earn extra money. A mystery shopper visits retail stores posing as a regular shopper while preparing a report of his experience for a market research firm that has been hired by the observed business.
If you’re considering becoming a secret shopper, here are three important questions to ask yourself before applying for your first job:
1) Is Mystery Shopping as easy as it seems? Signing up for secret shopping programs that pay decent compensation isn’t always easy. The competition is huge and there may not be a sufficient number of jobs available in the zip code areas you are willing to work in.
2) Do you have a tendency to make mistakes? Payment in secret shopping programs is strictly dependent on performance. Shoppers who inadvertently reveal their shopper status, forget the names of staff they interacted with, or leave exorbitant tips are at risk of not being funded. As a mystery shopper, it’s your job to keep track of each and every detail; Secret shopping isn’t just about having fun, it’s serious work.
3) Are you sure you’re not falling for a scam? We recommend that you make sure of the authenticity of a mystery shopping company before applying for a job. One thing to remember is that no purchasing company requires a fee to enroll you in their programs. Such requests are only made by fake companies which should be avoided.
As you can see, getting a secret shopper job takes a lot of planning, but once you get it, it can really pay off and make a lot of money in the long run.