Become a mystery shopper... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

mcrfan

Just been reading the mystery shoppers page, just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this?
What is it like? Is it worth doing, do you get decent money for it?

Thanks

Becles

It's like any other job - has it's good bits and bad bits!

You need to have a good eye for detail and an excellent memory. As well as remembering the brief, you need to remember to observe things in the shops, the names and descriptions of staff, and the answers to questions you may ask.

You need to be able to communicate well and have a high standard of written English. Text speak, no punctuation, incorrect use of capitals and things like that are frowned upon. You also need to be able to write in a factual way and explain everything. You can't just say customer service was good or bad. You need to say what made it good or bad.

Being able to think on your feet and act out the scenario effectively are good skills to have. Sometimes the scenario doesn't go to plan and you need to keep your cover and get as much of the scenario in as you can. Sometimes you might have to pretend you love an item you hate, or you might have to invent children to enquire about a family holiday because you don't really have any!

Some companies ask for a full written report of everything that happened - eg: She showed me the item, and I asked "does it come in green?". The staff member said "yes, but we don't have that colour in stock. Would you like me to order it in for you?". Other companies just have quick questions - "Was the staff member able to answer your question on stock availability?" yes/no. Some have a combination of questions and detailed written answers.

Pay varies depending on the company and the requirements of the job. Some don't even pay a fee and you just get to keep the item or meal you have to buy. Other lucrative jobs pay three figure sums, but these are very few and far between and only offered to people who have been with companies for a while and have an excellent reputation.

red_devil

ive done it in the past be prepared for asking lots of questions and putting yourself in false situations and maybe buying things and taking things back. its a bit of extra money but you wont get rich.

NigeWick

mcrfan wrote: »

Just been reading the mystery shoppers page, just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this?
What is it like? Is it worth doing, do you get decent money for it?

I've been doing it for about three years now and can say that I am winding it down. The fees are getting smaller and smaller for the amount of work required. I have shopped everything from supermarkets, through pubs to hotels and financial institutions. One can get money towards a meal & drink plus a small (very) fee for writing the report. Nowadays, the goods/service providers are trying to get the job done for free. Superdrug is a case in point. Write a report on your shopping experience and get 10% off your next purchase in their store.

The "job" is on a self employed basis, so no guarantees of work, minimal pay, no holidays and work out your own tax. OTOH, one can refuse jobs when offered.

My personal view is that mystery shopping is now not worthwhile. Have a look at http://mysteryshoppersuk.com for more information. It is a forum for people who are involved.

Nigel.

dipsy

I used to do it, when I worked nearer to town centre and whilst not a vast amount of money if put in seperate account could soon add up to a worthwhile sum.

Best ones for me though were going out for meals, paid say £10 for the report and then £50 for a meal for two, which was nice, go out for a meal with your partner and get paid for it, bit tricky measuring temp of beer without them noticing and guess you have to have a willing partner.

Not a trick for first dates :-)

robokoder

I work for a couple of the bigger (and badly paid!) MS companies, but I've never come across any coffee shop assignments, which I crave (since I spend a godawful amount of money there due to lack of self control )

I know we have to be shady about specifics, but I glean that Starbucks for one do use one of the companies I work with, and yet I don't see any of them when I look online. Can I just ask if anyone has MS'ed Starbucks, and if they noticed perhaps a wait from joining before they were able to, like some of the fast food places do?

Failing that, perhaps I'm too young (18) and hence excluded

Also, can any of the other major chains (Costa, Caffe Nero etc) be MS'ed?

Many thanks!

Hapless_2

Mystery shoppers are not allowed by their terms and conditions to say who they have as mystery shop assignments.
You should know this by the t&C of the companies you MS for and so should not ask.

robokoder

Loosen up a little I didn't asked WHO used them just whether they can be used... there's no (real) reason why you can't say that Costa (for example) use MS

minxtress

can i ask how you got into mystery shopping? Any companys you could reccomend I apply to? Is it your full time job?
Thanks:beer:

Chas

robokoder - yes, the coffee shop chain you mentioned is mystery shopped by one of the companies which is regularly mentioned in the mystery shopping thread on MSE.

The reason you can't see the assignments is because the mystery shopper has to use special equipment. When the mystery shopping company first got the contract they emailed their database asking for shoppers to apply for the jobs. The successful shoppers were then sent the necessary equipment.

As it sounds as though you are already registered with the company concerned you could try emailing them via their website asking if you can be added to list of shoppers who do this particular chain.

I didn't apply to do the coffee shops because the fee & reimbursement don't warrant a special trip and it's not a chain I use regularly. When the mystery shopping chain emailed the database looking for shoppers they specifically mentioned that the jobs would be perfect for regular users so you could be exactly who they are looking for!

Hope this helps.