What is mystery shopping?
Mystery Shopping is an evaluation process that is used by market research companies to measure the quality of customer experience. The main objective of Mystery Shopping is to improve organisational performance.
A Mystery Shopper works as a representative, visiting stores and acting as a normal customer.
Companies then use the data supplied by Mystery Shopping in order to improve and maintain their customer experience.
People from all walks of life become Mystery Shoppers. The biggest appeals of Mystery Shopping are:
Flexibility - As a Mystery Shopper you get to select your own shops, meaning you get to decide your own hours and the type of work you complete. New shops are posted every month stretching across a number of industries.
Improving Customer Experience - Mystery Shopping is an opportunity to provide vital feedback about real customer experience directly back to companies.
Hobby Job - Mystery Shopping is the dream hobby job and supplementary form of income, you get paid to shop!
As a Mystery Shopper, you work as a contractor and complete Mystery Shops.
To complete a Mystery Shop you select a location to visit and are given a scenario to follow. However, Mystery Shopping is not just about the shopping. It’s about the journey you take from your first interaction with a business or brand, through to the final purchasing stage. Tasks may include purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints, and providing detailed feedback about your experiences.
Assignments vary by the client so you may spend as little as ten minutes in-store, or as long as thirty minutes. After you complete the in-store shop you then complete a survey at home, the time to complete the survey again depends on the client and the complexity of the shop.
All Mystery Shopping assignments are posted to the job board, where you can apply for any that interest you. We have Mystery Shops available all over Australia and New Zealand. New shops are released every month and range across a variety of industries including retail, banking, fitness, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jewellery, telecommunications, homewares, and more. Due to the wide range of industries, we provide Mystery Shopping too, a Mystery Shop can vary from going and getting your hair done to checking out new homewares or even completing a phone survey!
A good Mystery Shopper is someone who is reliable, self-motivated, has an eye for detail, a good memory, and has excellent written and communication skills.
To be a Mystery Shopper you also need to have the following:
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A current drivers license
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A computer with internet access
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A smartphone
why do people become mystery shoppers?
what is involved in mystery shopping?
what do you need to become a mystery shopper?
important things to know
Q: Will I be an employee?
A: As a mystery shopper you will work for Personally Recommended as an independent contractor. This means that you are not an employee and will not be paid holiday pay, sick leave, superannuation, workers compensation or other employee entitlements.
Q: How will I know what shopping assignments are in my area?
A: All mystery shopping assignments are posted to the Job Board. You will have access to the Job Board 24/7 and can search for a job in and around your area. You are then able to 'Apply' for any assignments that are of interest to you. All applications are reviewed by our scheduling team and assigned to suitable shoppers. You will receive an email confirmation that when your application has been accepted.
Q: Can I do mystery shopping assignments outside my area?
A: If you are happy to travel, you can apply for any assignment. This gives you ultimate flexibility even if you are on holiday. As long as you have internet access, can complete and upload the assignment on time, you can apply for any shop.
Q: How many mystery shopping assignments will I receive?
A: This will vary from month to month dependent on client needs, your location, and the number of assignments that are of interest to you. The self-select system allows you to control your workload.
Q. How long does a mystery shopping assignment take to complete?
A. Assignments vary by the client so you may spend as little as ten minutes in a store, or as long as thirty minutes. You will also need to factor in time to read the guidelines prior to completing the assignment, and time taken to submit your report. Typically a report upload will take you twenty to thirty minutes,
Q: What will I be paid?
A: Payment for each assignment varies depending on the requirements of the client. You will be advised the rate of pay for each assignment before you agree to complete it. The shop fee for the assignment is the full payment that you will receive. If you are required to make a purchase then the cost of the purchase will also be reimbursed. You are expected to cover all costs associated with completing the mystery shopping assignment, including travel expenses, stationery etc.
Q. When will I be paid?
A. We are very mindful that you need to be paid efficiently for your work. We do a payroll run fortnightly. You will be paid when your survey has been reviewed and finalised by our Quality Assurance team which is generally within one to two weeks.
Q: What skills do I need?
A: Above all we want Mystery Shoppers who love to shop! Beyond that - flexibility, reliability, attention to detail, great communication skills, strong spelling and grammar, effective time management, and the ability to meet deadlines are a must.
Q: What tools do I need?
A: A current drivers licence, a computer with internet access, a printer/scanner, and a smart phone.
Q. I want to become a mystery shopper. What should I do next?
A. Click on the link below to sign up now!
