In the 90s and 2000s, being a secret shopper was a job that many young and eager hopefuls would seek as a form of work that was supposed to easy, fun, and full of fast money. Similar to a teen gamer who dreams of becoming a video game tester or creator, the reality requires more than simple or basic work. Times have evolved the job and its necessity, but in today’s world, it’s still invaluable to understand the secret shopper & 5 helpful tips to get work.
What is a Secret Shopper?
Also known as a mystery shopper, secret shoppers are assigned to shop at a particular physical store, and then are asked to evaluate and document their experience noting various criteria and specifics during their visit. For example, secret shoppers might be asked to rate how clean the store was, how friendly and knowledgeable staff was, whether the product they were shopping for was easy to find, and so forth.
Most secret shopper assignments take you to retail stores, groceries, food markets, and similar shops, but you can also be assigned to restaurants, theme parks, auto centers, fitness centers, and more.
You might be wandering if being a mystery shopper means you just walk around a store aimlessly without arousing suspicion. For the most part, you are encouraged to take your time in order to examine as much of the store as possible, but you’ll be given a small allowance you can spend on products that you’ll be reimbursed for later. This is to ensure you go through an entire shopping experience from locating an item and checking out.
Once you complete your visit, you’ll need to submit your report to the company that hired you so that you can get paid and reimbursed.
How to Get a Job as a Mystery Shopper
The best way to get a mystery shopper gig is to apply directly to the company through their website. In the section down below, we have a list of the 5 best secret shopper companies you should check out first. There are others out there, so you’ll need to do some research and apply to as many of them as you want.
You’ll also need to be at least 18 years of age unless an assignment requires the presence of alcoholic beverages, at which you’ll need to be at least 21 years old. Interestingly, some assignments have specific age ranges in order to gather information on a specific demographic.
Finally, having your own form of reliable transportation is a must.
Expect to be an independent contractor who will need to handle their taxes, as opposed to being a W-2 employee. If you are looking for a full-time position with insurance benefits, this might not be for you, as it makes a better side gig.
Lastly, be aware of possible mystery shopper scammers. To avoid being scammed, look out for these red flags:
- You should never pay a company to become a secret shopper.
- Never pay to see what jobs they have for you. If they are legit, they will freely show you gigs.
- Make sure to be clear about any job expectations, since they should not force you to take certain jobs or a certain amount of jobs.
How Much Money Do Secret Shoppers Make?
The amount you get paid will vary by company, state, and assignment. On average, you can expect to make anywhere between $20 to $30 per shopping assignment, while some might pay up to $100 depending on the location and company.
This might not seem like a lot, but on the fun side of things, being a secret shopper is a lot like being a spy or secret agent operating in subterfuge. In addition to getting paid, mystery shoppers also get several perks depending on the company they work for and the store they shop at. This can include free food, bonus pay, discounts, and more.
To try and maximize your pay from these assignments, you’ll want to stick within a reasonable range from your home to avoid excessive gas prices and wear and tear to your car. You can try and work for multiple secret shopper companies to try and schedule nearby stores back-to-back on the same day.
With hard work, good planning, and a supportive company, mystery shoppers can average up to $700 a week, ranging from pay on the low end of $12 an assignment to a free meal, and higher rates.
How to Be a Good Mystery Shopper
Just like any job, there are ways to excel at this job and skills you can focus on developing.
- The first thing to do is make sure you read all details of the company you’re working for and the store shipping assignment carefully and thoroughly. You’ll need to make sure you thoroughly understand what you’re getting into, and what you will need to do to be successful.
- Building upon the first quality, you’ll need to be as detail-oriented as possible. From understanding your assignment, all the way to paying extra attention to your shopping experience. You’ll need to shift your mental state from simply getting in and out of a store, or glossing over hundreds of items. A new sense of awareness is needed as you frame the experience as a job first and foremost.
- Finally, be organized so you can maximize your efficiency and pay. This skill will allow you to plan your shopping assignments around your schedule, take proper notes while doing your job, and submit any receipts to your employer.
This job will be fun if you like shopping, but you’ll need to go above and beyond because you’re a professional shopper now.
5 Best Companies to Work For as a Shopper
Good retailers who are concerned with their store’s performance regularly work with mystery shopper companies to keep a regular stream of mystery shoppers coming through their doors.
- Secret Shopper: With over 25 years of experience in the industry, this is a solid company to work for. You are required to submit your reports online by noon CT of the day after your assignment and pay ranges between $15-$25 per gig.
- Intellishop: Applying to this company is easy. All you need to do is sign up on their website, and once you’re approved, you’re good to go. Jobs are available via email, their mobile app, and job postings. To get the best-paying gigs, you’ll need to adhere to their criteria since they will score you after every job. They will note if you were on time, how well you followed instructions, and the depth of your report.
- Best Mark: This company has been in the industry since 1986 and also has an easy online application system. They offer a variety of different assignments ranging from standard in-store gigs to online and phone experiences. Best Mark also has a generous reimbursement system as an added perk.
- Elite CXS: Is both a mystery shopping and compliance auditing company that has well-known clients such as T-Mobile, Porsche, Burger King, and more. Most contractors with Elite CXS can make an average of $22 an hour and report mostly on the cleanliness and expediency of their shopping experience, along with the quality of the food or item they purchase. Because some of the assignments can be completed in 20 minutes, you’ll be asked to take photos while you work, and sometimes complete certain interactions at a specific time.
- Market Force: One of the newer and more recent mystery shopping companies, Market Force does have an A+ rating with the BBB. After signing up on their website, you’re basically guaranteed to get accepted right away. After that, you’ll start as a level one shopper, and have access to a limited amount of starting jobs. As you complete more jobs, and add more info to your profile, you’ll slowly increase your shopper level and have more shops to choose from, and additional perks.
Evolving into the Online World of Shopping
Secret shopping has been a professional industry since the 1940s and has evolved with the times. One of these advancements is the reality of digital secret shopping.
The main difference is that you’ll be at home and will be required to evaluate a shopping experience when purchasing an item on a company’s website. It might sound easier, but you’ll still need to be detail-oriented while searching for items, navigating a retailer’s site, using the shopping cart, and checking out.
Because the entire shopping experience is done online, you might be requested to provide a more thorough report that includes your suggestions to make the experience smoother and better.
Conclusion
With the future of retail trends taking shape around the premise of unique in-store experiences, mystery shopping might begin to gain even more traction. Online e-commerce platforms haven’t slowed down the business and instead have become part of a mystery shopper’s job.
As you can see, there are multiple options for you to choose from, and you might be able to combine your work with a few companies. Secret shopping can be a flexible part-time or full-time gig depending on your needs. At any rate, it might be worth a try, especially if you enjoy shopping regularly. And who knows– you might even be able to get some errands done in the process.
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