Secret Shopping

Magick1 · #1 03-28-2008, 05:01 PM

Does anyone participate in secret shopping?

I wonder if the MSPA certification does you any good if you are a secret shopper.

Thanks!

**mtomm**[$] · #2 03-28-2008, 05:15 PM

I secret shop Albertsons. I actually found out about it through Job Service. It is with Sinclair Associates. I don't know what MSPA is.

mtbat · #3 03-28-2008, 09:56 PM

I used to secret shop Appelbees and Atlanta Bread Company-I can't remember the company-it was thru an online thing but it's been a couple of years

phoenixx · #4 03-29-2008, 12:58 AM

I used to Secret Shop but it costs more than it pays these days.

frazzledspice · #5 03-29-2008, 02:01 AM

I've done some in the past--K-Mart, Waffle House, Finish Line, Vitamin World, Fed-Ex.

Got burned on the Fed Ex job. I was supposed to send it a certain way (print out the label via computer at home and bring it to the Kinko/Fed=Ex, hand it to them, and get a receipt--to be sent in to the company.) Well, I practically stood on my head begging them to give me a receipt, and they kept steadfastly refusing because the label was pre-printed. Consequently, I had no receipt to show, and, even though I explained this to the Mystery Shop company, I never got my money--which should have been pretty generous, about $20.

Haven't mystery shopped since, and I would never mystery shop for that outfit (Mintel.)

**jgibson2**[$] · #6 03-29-2008, 02:31 AM

I've done a fair amount of secret shopping. Some companies want you to write a book for no money. Others are fairly generous. Some of the better operations only give their best jobs to MSPA certified silver (cheap) or gold (pricey) shoppers. I'm silver certified. Won't bother with the gold as I haven't seen a benefit to it. Lately I just don't have the time, but if you like going out to nice restaurants and don't mind spending a half hour writing up the report in exchange for reimbursement (very rarely more than that), it's not a bad gig. Some of the fast food placed pay better than reimbursement, but you don't usually clear enough to make it worth the hassle - especially for the shops where they want you to go to the inside counter AND the drive-through and order something I wouldn't put in my mouth on a bet. Might as well wear a sign that says 'secret shopper'

Magick1 · #7 03-29-2008, 11:46 PM

The last few secret shops I have done were pretty decent. $5 was the compensation, but you shopped a movie, had a $25 gift card that you were to use for the ticket and concession & the rest was yourse to keep. I did not mind that one.

I just went to see the movie Run Fat Boy Run. I had never heard about it, but it was a doggone cute movie. Hubby and I have had 3 secret movie shops in the past month. We finally have had a few "dates" which we really haven't done for about 4 years.

**jgibson2**[$] · #8 03-30-2008, 12:16 PM

I've seen the movie shops, but can't do them since they've always been Friday or Saturday. I'm glad you've been able to take advantage!

magenta321 · #9 03-30-2008, 12:25 PM

Where do you find out what "shops" are available in your area? This sounds kind of fun, but, I am leary if I have to spend money to "make" money.

frazzledspice · #10 03-30-2008, 12:36 PM

I haven't done that many recently, but when you filled in your report you always attached a receipt for your purchase and were reimbursed in addition to the compensation.

Sometimes you had to fax the receipt; sometimes if you wrote in the store #, date # and receipt # they accessed it.

BTW, when one of my sons worked at a restaurant he occasionally got bonuses if a secret shopper put in a good report and and he had been the server.. I believe that the bonuses were about $50.....

I can't remember which restaurant--it was a chain...Houlihan's or Pasta House and Company, probably.

So the person who waits on you might make more than you do for doing an exceptional job.

Magick1 · #11 04-07-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

frazzledspice said

BTW, when one of my sons worked at a restaurant he occasionally got bonuses if a secret shopper put in a good report and and he had been the server.. I believe that the bonuses were about $50.....

I can't remember which restaurant--it was a chain...Houlihan's or Pasta House and Company, probably.

So the person who waits on you might make more than you do for doing an exceptional job.

You know, that doesn't bother me. With this industry being one of the highest turnover rate, hard work, etc....I am happy to hear that they do that.

I know on recent shops that I have been doing, they are revealed shops and if the people were successful, I handed them a $20 Target gift card on the spot.

Technically, I was only actually getting $5 for the shop. But, I had a $25 gift card for the movie admission and the required concession purchases. Whatever was left over was still mine. So, I was paid pretty well (I think).