Required Experience To Be A Mystery Shopper (Ask The Coach)

Question:

What kind of experience do I need to be a mystery shopper? Does previous work experience or education help me in any way?

Answer From Coach Melanie:

You don't need any specific experience to be a mystery shopper. Since so much of it is on-line based, it is important to be good with e-mail and working with attachments, and have basic word processing and spreadsheet skills (data entry, not spreadsheet creation). You should also have good communication skills--both writing (although you don't have to be at the level of winning a Pulitzer), and the ability to carry on a conversation with employees of businesses you will be interacting with in doing your assignments. Personal qualities like being observant, reliable and having a good imagination are also very important to being a top mystery shopper.

That said, an initial plus (until you get actual mystery shopping experience) would be any prior work experience or education in retail, financial services or apartment leasing (since many shops fall into these industries), customer service or the field of market research. But if you don't have any prior "credits" in these areas, don't worry. It won't keep you from being a mystery shopper if you present yourself the right way.

Have a great day and happy shopping!

Taking the mystery out of professional mystery shopping--Melanie Jordan http://www.mysteryshoppercoach.com

Copyright 2005 Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing

The Advantages Of Being A Mystery Shopper (Ask The Coach)

Question:

What are some of the advantages of being a mystery shopper?

Answer From Coach Melanie:

Flexibility--make money when you want to on your terms, and don't when you have other things to do! The ability to be home-based (except when you are out in the field actually doing your research) is another great benefit.

Plus, while you can earn nice money on a regular basis, you can also get lots of things for free that you might otherwise have to pay for out of your own pocket. By doing mystery shopping, you can actually make your household budget go further, and possibly get to do things (like go out to a fancy restaurant), you would not otherwise get to do as often, with someone else footing the bill.

Finally, since mystery shoppers are typically independent contractors, this can have substantial tax advantages over being a W-2 employee--check with your tax advisor.

Have a great day and happy shopping!

Taking the mystery out of professional mystery shopping--Melanie Jordan http://www.mysteryshoppercoach.com

Copyright 2005 Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing

What Do Mystery Shopping Assignments Pay? (Ask The Coach)

Question:

How much can I make for each mystery shopping job assignment?

Answer From Coach Melanie:

If you do higher-paying service category shops (such as apartments, home builders, car dealers, testing centers, gyms, oil changes, banks), you can typically make between $20 and $40 per assignment, or a dinner restaurant shop can pay $35-$100 in free food/drinks. Some of the newer technology-based shops that involve the use of hidden video equipment during the job can pay as much as $100!

Retail assignments typically pay less ($7 to $15), although a "purchase and return shop" can get you up to $25. Fast food shops pay the least--often just free food and possibly a $5 report fee. Shop fees earned vary depending upon where you live, market demand and how urgent the job is.

An assignment can take as little as a half hour of your time including filling out a report, to two hours. The more you are asked to do, the more the assignment pays. If you focus on the highest-paying assignments, make the right connections and create a system where you get the jobs coming to you, you'll become a top-earning mystery shopper.

Have a great day and happy shopping!

Taking the mystery out of professional mystery shopping--Melanie Jordan http://www.mysteryshoppercoach.com

Copyright 2005 Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing