What Is Mystery Shopping
ystery shopping (also alleys, brokerage houses, car
known as secret shopping, rental agencies, carpet cleaners,
service evaluations, casinos, cell phone stores,
service checks, telephone checks, coffee shops, convenience stores,
performance audits, mystery copy and print shops, credit
customers, spotters, virtual unions, day care centers,
customers, and anonymous audits) department stores, discount
is the practice of using stores, doughnut shops, dry
anonymous shoppers to provide cleaners, fast food chains,
customer service feedback. financial services, florists,
funeral homes, gas stations, gift
Many people think mystery shops, grocery stores, hair
shopping is too good to be true salons, health care providers,
or that mystery shopping is a health clubs, home builders, home
scam. And although there are improvement stores, hospitals,
some suspect web sites on the hotels and resorts, Internet
internet claiming to get you retailers, marinas, movie
started in mystery shopping, theaters, museums, online
there are over 100 legitimate merchants, outlet malls,
companies that provide restaurants, RV parks, saving and
mystery-shopping services to over loan companies, self-storage
1000 business. facilities, shoe stores,
specialty retail stores, tourist
Mystery shopping is a fun and attractions, travel companies,
rewarding way to make extra money truck and trailer rental, truck
by visiting amusement parks, stops, video rental stores,
apartment complexes, automobile vision care providers and other
dealers, auto repair shops, establishments.
banks, bars and clubs,
bookstores, boutiques, bowling Mystery shoppers visit these
businesses acting as normal shops.
customers to evaluate the
business and the employees who Customer service by businesses
work at these businesses. Once that use mystery shopping is
the visit is complete, the often improved when employees
mystery shopper completes a know that they will be mystery
report or questionnaire about the shopped. This sentinel effect
visit and details what happened. occurs because employees don’t
know when or by whom they will be
Businesses hire mystery shoppers mystery shopped, so they give
to learn about the type of every customer excellent service.
service its customers are
receiving. These businesses want Because the business environment
an impartial view of the business today is very competitive, there
and its operations. The is a great need for mystery
businesses want to discover what shoppers. Companies face loss of
is good and bad about the business when they provide poor
products and services their service or their employees’
customers are receiving from the actions cause them to be sued or
point of view of a customer. fined by the government.
Therefore, more and more
The information that mystery companies are turning to mystery
shoppers provide to business is shopping as a way to reduce these
used to reward good employees, liabilities.
identify training deficiencies,
and make stores safer for Almost any adult can become a
employees and customers, and much mystery shopper. Companies need
more. Often, companies may base mystery shoppers that look and
performance evaluations and bonus act like typical customers. So
pay on the results of mystery people old and young, married or
single, with child or without real resources for people
children, male or female can be interested in getting starting.
mystery shoppers. And mystery Many companies who are not
shopping companies need people mystery shopping companies take
from all of these. advantage of would-be mystery
shoppers by proving inaccurate
People become mystery shoppers information or by selling lists
for a variety reasons. Many of mystery shopping companies to
enjoy doing it because it is fun. them. Mystery shoppers should
Mystery shoppers often get free never have to pay to become a
food and merchandise while making mystery shopper.
extra money. Others enjoy the
flexible hours and the ability to If you are interested in becoming
work part-time. All know they a mystery shopper, look for free
are providing an important lists of mystery shopping
service to companies by helping companies. Also, look for free
them evaluate their customer mystery shopping job boards and
service. e-mail lists.
Getting started in mystery Then you are on your way to a fun
shopping is easy but can be and interesting career in mystery
confusing because there are few shopping!
About the Author:
Susan Smith is a mystery shopper who has done hundreds of mystery shops. She keeps a list of free mystery shopping jobs and a mystery shopping company list at http://www.LearnAboutMysteryShopping.com
Read more articles by: Susan J Smith
Article Source: www.iSnare.com |
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