Mystery shopping or mystery consumer is a tool used by market research companies to measure quality of retail service or gather specific information about products and services. Mystery shoppers posing as normal customers perform specific tasks—such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way – and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiences.
As a mystery shopper, you will play a very important role by helping businesses establish and maintain the high customer service standards they need to remain competitive. You will help the businesses by providing valuable information from a customer's perspective.
Was the store attractive and well kept?
Were the sales people friendly?
Were all items in stock?
If the business was a restaurant, was the food good?
What about the service?
Department stores, restaurants, specialty shops, clothing stores: the list is unending. However, they all need the same thing: to know what customers really think about their shopping experiences.
The businesses will gladly pay for this information because it is so valuable to them. This is where YOU come in. Imagine getting paid to go shopping! Using the store's own money to shop with! You even get to keep the merchandise you buy at times! You can, as a mystery shopper.
Here are a few mystery shopping websites that will get notify you of companies needing mystery shoppers in your area:
