"Secret Shopper"...Anyonr ever worked as one?

[Enquiringkitty]

What do you really do and are there legitimate jobs out there doing this type of work? I have looked at all of the offers and some sound good and some sound like scams. How do I know which is which? If you know of someone working a job like this, Please let me know which company they work for so I know who to contact and save me time and money and save me from being ripped off.

Thank you for any info.

Email me if you don't want to publish on this thread.

[Nikepallas]

1. Was wondering the same thing myself.

[beyurslf]

2. The summer I was 17 I worked for our nieghbor who was with the KBI.

We went to stores and I bought cigarettes and they stores got cited for selling to an underage person.

Now, I don't think what we did was too fair. The week before, I would not shave so I had a moustahce and little goatee. Since I was about 14 people had guessed my age at 18 or 19 or older. I got into bars at 16. I know they should have carded, but I really did look at least 21 or so.

[bobthedrummer]

3. There are corporate secret shoppers that go into their stores and report

to upper management, there are secret shoppers from competitors, there are consumer advocates that are secret shoppers-it's not an easy thing to define in retail because there are different types.

[all.of.me]

4. i have done some mystery shopping

there was an ad in our paper for a shopper for a local bank (which happened to be my bank). i go in once in a while and ask questions, then send a report to the home office.

there are lots of companies out there, though. do NOT pay for shopping assignments, or to look at a list of them!

i live in a rural area, so there is not much call for it here. i'd have to travel 90 minutes for decent 'shops,' but it's hardly worth it that way.

an online friend of mine wrote a book about mystery shopping. here's the link to it:

http://www.dreamjobstogo.com/titles/djtg0051.html?10362

good luck!

[Enquiringkitty]

5. I live near Little Rock and it wouldn't be that hard for me to drive in

when they wanted me to. I have gone into places before and was treated badly, maybe because the clerk was in a bad mood or was just having an off day. I have had those days too but it isn't good for business and not everybody is like me. I try to understand that people have bad days but other people might take it personally and get their feeling hurt. I can see why the companies would want to know if the customers are happy or not.

[all.of.me]

10. that's why i enjoy it

i think customer service is a huge part of owning a business, and mystery shopping is a way to check on it and improve it.

google mystery shopping, and see what comes up. i did a lot of research to find companies to work for, and i applied for them. if you're in an urban area, you'll fare better than i did.

[Wapsie B]

6. I worked as a mystery shopper for awhile

for a comapany contracting with Golden Corral. I'd go in and order a meal, check out the facilities, then go home and answer a prepared questionnaire. I was paid for my meal + $10. Kinda interesting, but you'd need a lot of better paying assignments to make it worth your time.

[Enquiringkitty]

7. I have heard that you must have a lot of assignments to make a

good income.

[NJCher]

8. I used to hire mystery shoppers

For various marketing jobs I held. Their reports were very helpful. Yes, there are legitimate companies but it's been so long ago that I couldn't tell you who the best organizations are.


Cher

[fleabert]

9. I've done it, but it was for one company and only for them.

I secret shopped the employees and also did work as undercover shopper watching for shoplifters. I was employed by the Loss Prevention Dept, so my focus on employees was for behavior that indicated theft, but Operations also got a report on cust. service, uniform, behavior, etc...

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. A friend of mine is a mystery shopper for Starbucks. It's basically pin

money and free coffee. :hi:

[LynzM]

12. My ILs do it

I don't remember the name of the company, but mostly they end up doing restaurant stuff, which is pretty easy. Doesn't pay great, but does provide snack/meal out, things like that, and some extra money. I know you can sign up online, I'm still getting emails occasionally about openings, sadly, they are 900 miles away! Next time I get an email, want me to let you know about the company name?

[asthmaticeog]

13. Summer of '93 I was a secret shopper for McDonalds.

Shades of "Super-Size Me," I gained a bit of weight that summer. No liver failure, though.

I got the gig through a friend whose dad held about six McDs franchises in the area. I suspect a lot of those ads you see for "Become A Secret Shopper!!!" are scams. I have no idea how to help you find legit gigs, sorry.