So excited - mystery shopping!!!

[sarak]

Oooh, I'm really excited! I've just applied for a job as a mystery shopper, and have been sent a brief today and have a chance to do a "mystery shop" on trial!

I saw an ad for this years ago and never got round to applying, and so when it came up again the other week I sent off an email and forgot all about it. Had a reply today.

What fun! Being paid to be a picky customer! Cool!!! ;D

[varkie]

Yup, I do this from time to time. Mystery shopping can be quite good fun!

[sarak]

I'm really glad the work is irregular as I already job-share and don't want to be overloaded. I just hope I can be good at it - the brief is one side of A4 and quite complicated! They could have given me a simple one to start off with!!!

[gizmo]

What do you have to do exactly?

[pip]

I've done this. It was quite good fun, although I didn't really get enough work, so when I got a proper part-time job I gave it up.

[sarak]

Can't say exactly what you have to do because I haven't really done it yet! The brief they sent me was to visit an electrical store and ask about sound systems, and how a particular make compares to cheaper brands, and why they recommend them. You are actually testing out the skills of the sales people it seems.

[Lorraine L]

Oh Sara, can you not ask if you can Mystery shop in a Tack shop instead ??
Then tip them the wink that you are a mystery shopper and ask what bargains they have

Have fun
;D

[nix]

Mystery shopping is great fun and easy ... as you can tell I do it too. It's a bit nerve-wracking the first time but after that it's a doddle.

Handy hint: I take notes in the car afterwards, related to the questions the shopping survey has asked. That way when you get back home and fill it in, you haven't forgotten anything .

[bassethound]

i do it, it pays great for what you do and i make enough to go on holiday and cover xmas shopping every year

[rebeccapollo]

I used to work in a shoe shop we had sooo many mystery shoppers come in to see us! After a while we used to be able to guess who were mystery shoppers as they asked so many more questions than normal customers, had to make sure we were especially nice to them it seems like a great job to have though!

[misspriss]

I did a bit of this some years ago and had the great pleasure of getting the worst service I have ever received in a shop, whilst undercover.

two girls busily chatting about their weekend and who they had shagged and BTW one of them had vomited. I stood and waited for ages and would have normally walked out.

When I was finally served and asked about the particular product I was told they didn't know anything about it. Then one bright spark recalled that this what the product they had received training for recently but they had both 'skived off'' ha ha ha. But they had sold a few of a similar product so they could tell me about that one.

My comment of what a shame as I really wanted to know about this particular product was met with eye rolling, sighing and a rude muttered comment by these service professionals.

So I finally surrendered and quickly went through the rest of my observation list

I couldn't help but on leaving pleasantly advise one of the girls that she had traces of food on her shirt. I was hoping that she would connect me to the Mystery Shopper Report when it came in about her. She looked me steadily in the eye and told me to F*** off and called me a stuck up b****.

I would have been furious except for the questionnaire laying sweetly on the seat of my car. I got a bunch of flowers and a really good letter via the MS from the company after my detailed report. I had been doing this for quite a while with no problem so I think my accurate record spoke for me.

I enjoyed doing it but I found it a bit time consuming too as the questions could be quite involved. Definitely have the questionnaire in the car and start filling it in as soon as you can so you don't forget anything. I never got an easy one.

I usually got really good service and it was fun, I often wish I was still doing it when I come up against a bit of sloppy service.

[LouiseB]

I'd love to have a go at this. Hope you enjoy it Sara

[ms]

My friend used to do this regularly and often asked us to help when she was often asked to 'do' family diners, although she was single and had no kids !. We'd go along and have a great free meal and she would be buzzing about about,checking how clean the cutlery and the loos were , and how long the service took etc !. It was all great fun ( for us) and our family highspot was when my seven year old son found a pound coin in the condom machine...don't think this went in her report but we;ve been smirking about it ever since, and if anyone suggests going to ************ fior a meal, the kids always bring it up !!!!!

[marigold]

Oooh where do you find these jobs? I need some part time work and have alwaysd fancied doing mystery shopping!

[sarak]

Thanks for that everyone - really useful advice. Would LOVE to get the shop assistants from hell, but imagine it will be far less interesting than that!

Lorraine - the "scenario" they sent me was in an electrical store ... but I can live in hope of a tack shop! ;D

Marigold - I was just scrolling through local jobs on the Fish4Jobs website. As you may guess, I am not 100% happy with my "proper" job and therefore always on the lookout for something new!