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What does a Mystery Shopper do?

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Talent.com talent.com
Answered July 09 2021
Career Expert at Talent.com
Mystery Shopping is a part-time job that provides a supplementary income for many people as they are paid only after completing it. The job in question can function similarly to a contracted lost prevention agent, visiting different establishments on rotation and often receiving payment from an agency. However, some positions are offered directly by companies who are continuously seeking to improve their customer service experience, hence why some Mystery Shoppers may find themselves part of the regular staff and payroll.  
 
While on the job, Mystery Shoppers will need to take all necessary steps not to draw any unwanted attention. A recognizable Mystery Shopper will be unable to complete their duties as assigned by their employers, such as making specific purchases and "quizzing" sales staff about their approach and product knowledge. Plus, to glean the information they need to report back to employers, they must prepare the right questions and resources to navigate the encounter to produce as much valuable information as possible.  

Roles and Responsibilities of a Mystery Shopper 
Visiting retailers and other similar establishments to evaluate the overall shopping experience while remaining discreet and pretending to be a regular customer is the one overarching role that Mystery Shoppers are responsible for achieving. Here's a non-exhaustive list of other everyday tasks Mystery Shoppers are required to complete.   
   
  • Visiting retailers and other similar establishments regularly to evaluate the overall shopping experience.   
  • Traveling to different store locations as required.   
  • Locating specific products as instructed or purchasing random products during store visits, per the company's instructions.
  • Taking detailed notes during the visit, used later when writing reports on their in-store experiences.   
  • Making purchases with reimbursement from the hiring company once all the required duties are completed.   
  • Using caution and restraint when making purchases to not go over the budget established by the employer.   
  • Handling records and receipts for later use.  
  • Closely following any specific shopping instructions detailed by the hiring company.   
  • Interacting with employees (e.g., Waiters, Salespersons, Cashiers, Bank Tellers, and Managers) of the establishment they're assigned to visit.  
  • Asking questions about a product or service as any regular customer would.    
  • Evaluating the level of customer service provided by the employee, as well as their selling abilities.   
  • Making observations about the employees' behavior and answers, in some cases, even learning their names and describing them.
  • Filling out questionnaires and writing reports detailing the in-store visit and the service received, including all the details about their shopping experience.
  • Filing or sending their finished reports via email or fax when required, along with the receipt of the purchase, if any.
  • Waiting for the employer's final confirmation upon completing the assignment before being paid for their services. 
Easteregg!