Mystery shopping, also known as secret shopping is a brand evaluation method and at the same time, a great means of making extra money on a part-time or full-time basis. Mystery shopping assignments are simple and they do not require individuals to possess any technical skills, special equipments or any prior experience. Anyone who likes to shop, has an unbiased outlook, and can pass the correct verdict on various products and services, can become a mystery shopper. Big companies, in tandem with mystery shopping companies conduct specifically designed mystery shopping assignments and hire individuals as mystery shoppers in order to gather appropriate information on the effectiveness of a wide array of products and service offerings in different outlets or stores. Some companies conduct secret shopping assignments in theme parks, amusement parks, restaurants or movie theatres and allow mystery shoppers to take their family and friends to get accurate feedbacks on the ambience and customer service offered by the frontline staff. Therefore, mystery shopping is not only a money-making job but also a fun-filled profession that can never let a mystery shopper get bored of it.
A typical mystery shopping jobs profile involves mystery shoppers to visit the assigned commercial spots disguised as regular customers, evaluate product conditions and services, and create an unbiased report on the entire shopping experience – all of these without letting the employees or the other customers get a whiff of the ongoing shopping assignment.
Apart from mystery shopping, companies also employ other brand analysis methods like, paid online surveys and focus groups where individuals, instead of visiting stores or outlets, need to fill online questionnaires honestly or take part in group discussions on various products or services, before or after they are released publicly. These paid jobs too, can fetch decent amount of money to part-time income seekers and offer ample scope to enhance their side income. The only difference between mystery shopping and these paid surveys is that the latter can be done online if the participants have a PC with broadband connection at home.
The motive behind conducting mystery shopping assignments and other online surveys is to help companies receive unbiased opinions on their overall brand competence in the current market. In other words, these paid jobs enable companies spot the flaws in their products or service offerings and thereby rectify them.
Mystery shoppers get paid to shop, dine at expensive restaurants, watch the latest movies in the most popular movie theatres, get skin or hair therapies done, go on small tours or vacations, participate in focus groups, and so on. Prior to each mystery shopping assignment, mystery shopping companies provide detailed guidelines to the mystery shoppers as per the assignment requirements so that they can perform the tasks flawlessly.
In case of certain assignments, mystery shoppers might have to purchase products paying from their pockets. Nonetheless, companies ensure that the amount is reimbursed later along with the basic payment after the submission of the reports.
The best way to create an unbiased report is to be impartial while giving the correct verdict, and provide to-the-point details with the correct usage of grammar.
In case of unsuccessful completion of the report, it is essential to notify the mystery shopping companies along with the mention of the cause accountable for it.
One can start off with one or two assignments and with time, can sign up with multiple mystery shopping companies to boost the income. However, one should keep in mind how many assignments he is capable of taking up in a day. Once into the habit of taking many assignments and being able to complete the assignments flawlessly and on time, a mystery shopper can get enlisted in the good books of the mystery shopping companies and in turn, they would send him some of the highest paying assignments. And since there is no way that a mystery shopper can get bored of this paid job, he can easily stick to this field and earn a consistent income provided that he doesn’t get stressed due to overwork.
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