Career Questions and Answers
Has anyone ever been a secret shopper. If so, did you like it?
Asked by sunshine
A:
Best Answer:
I'd like to know too!
Update 5/7/06
After reading through the first 6 pages of responses:
From the responses below I'd say that the information I have found on other web sites agrees with the folks who reported having been Secret Shoppers. The majority of those said that their experience was anything but positive, however many people seemed to enjoy the experience. Others did indeed report making some income but also stated that it was a lot more work than it was worth.
The basics: 1. Do not pay to join a mystery shopping company. 2. Any prospect should be investigated thoroughly with BBB and/or Internet research. 3. If you are the type of person who does not like face to face questioning of store employees - stay away. 4. If you are the type of person who does not like dealing with store returns - this is not for you.
This is my humble opinion based on knowledge summarized from the respondents to this question and from my own research into this subject.
Thanks for your input. Let's keep the Internet honest.
Answered by GlassEye
A:
no, but I was thinking of it, if you find out let me know! I have heard from other people that it was really cool.
Answered by Eden Silk
A:
I did do it many years ago, I was actually thinking of doing it again . It was alot of fun. I also did what they call bar shops, and that is the owner of a bar pays to have you go there and watch the bartenders, making sure that they don't double pour liquor, put the money in the register, and so on then you write a report at the end of the night. It was fun.
Answered by rqtpie19
A:
I am a secret shopper. I have done a few shops but for some reason there arent a lot offered in the area I am in with the company I am signed up with.
I really like it because you get to be totally reimbursed for what it is that you are doing. If we go out to eat, we get a flat payment back. I went to a car wash once and just got reimbursed for the cost of that.
It's a lot of pressure because the company wants such specific information and you cant let the place you are shopping know that you are shopping them. So, you have to be extremely discreet if you write something down or dont write stuff down at all. A lot of times you have to write stuff down so you just have to do it without anyone noticing. It's definitely nervewracking but worth it in the end.
I have to tell you that there are secret shopper companies that DO NOT CHARGE you a fee to be signed up with them. If they ask for money for anything at all, DONT DO IT! Legitimate secret shopper companies have corporations who pay them to have you do the shop, so there is no expense on the secret shopper company's end to do this. They make plenty of money. So, dont join a company if they ask for money for any reason.
Answered by jenniferaboston
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no but i was a secret shop lifter
Answered by scottfamilytribe
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i think it would be helpful if someone could post several websites for the companies that do offer mystery shopping jobs. i know they are mostly part time jobs, so you dont earn a whole lot, but it is fun.
Answered by chocolate_cat
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no, but that seems like a cool job to have!
Answered by Pretty n Pink
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Im a mystery shopper... I do like it somewhat, but like when I have to do the shops that I have to buy alcohol and make sure the person checks my i.d... I really hate those. I dont want anyone getting in trouble.. and I know I would hate if I found out it was a secret shopper trying to test me..
Answered by SeXi_MaNdi
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I have a friend who has been doing it for years - full-time. Don't pay any cash up front - that job offer is bogus ! She claims it pays her over $ 30.000 per year , ( that's not great ) but, it is a reputable company and not so easy to get into for. there is a waiting list 4 years long !
Answered by Jo Jo Gunn
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NO but it sounds cool and I'd like to someday
Answered by uloveme192
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What is that?
Answered by Jen
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No.....but after all interesting job that is! more fun than fbi and cia...free food free everything...that is my dream job..i didnt know such job even exist or i would have taken a degree 4 that
Answered by yooooha_mastenger
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I was a secret shopper for several months. I actually found it was a bit more of hassle than it was worth. You don't actually "make" money. You basically get back what you spent for the activity. I mainly did haircuts at Great Clips for my kids. The questionaire is 5- 8 pages long and you spend about 20-30 minutes typing in the info on the computer.
Depends on how much you value your time, and in my case, just what was a free haircut worth?
Answered by Margie F
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no but I have thought of it!!!
Answered by MADAM_BUTTERFLY_206
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I was a secret shopper for a restaurant chain. They give you a checklist of information to obtain and a deadline. They also give you gift certificates as a reimbursement.
I basically started doing it as favor to a friend, and I really didn't like it. I felt like a snitch. Plus, it takes up your time on a deadline basis.
Answered by eddygordo19
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I was a secret shopper and sent to shops to see if the shop owners were playing by the rules.
It was quite interesting.
Answered by bunnysays1
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I didn't but I know someone that was, occantionally they let me go on shops with them to remember things. What you have to remember is very easy, how clean was the place, how was your service, where they fully stocked in each item? very easy.
Answered by sunny12rms
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I use to be one years ago and at times it was fun but sometimes it was hard work and there was also the times that the companies would try tog et out of paying so that sucked!
Answered by Susan
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I used to be one for Johnson and Johnson products. And It sucked.
Answered by gsi
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Once for Sonic while I lived in Texas. Was okay got free food, but had to be what they told ya to order.
Answered by kjkemptx
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I secret shopped a restaurant before. It wasn't beneficial because I had to pay for the meal upfront. I took my family, so I spent double the reimbursement price. Also, the time frame wasn't convenient for me, so it ended up being a hassle.
Afterward, I had to answer an extremely long questionaire. It was very time consuming.
In the end--not really worth it at all.
Answered by emmie_keeferton
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why in the heck did they put u on the featured questiions? who cares!
Answered by blueless232
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I was a secret shopper, and I have to admit, that the first few times I was a nervous wreck. I have no idea why, I just thought they could see right thru me, and knew why I was there. LOL
But once I stopped worrying one way or another if they knew or not, It was a blast....
Answered by netti2nite
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No. But, I bet it would really be fun.
Answered by wlc87
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i hated it. i hated the sneaky part. most of all the detail was too much it took me 3 hrs for the report plus travewl TIME and the assignment was about 2 nd 1/2 hrs and they only paid me $15 and i had to wait 6 weeks to get it . i quit
Answered by nora7142@verizon.net
A:
I am currently a secret shopper. I like it pretty well, it makes me go to stores and places I wouldn't normally go to unless I was getting paid to go. Because of that reason, I've found a lot of cool little stores and restaurants.
The part I hate is when the store I go to is a mess and the sales people aren't doing their jobs. I hate "tattling"! I know people working retail don't get paid a lot, but it's not hard to keep the store picked up and at least smile at a customer at some point during their shopping trip.
Answered by Julie6962
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Yes and believe me it's not worth what they give you...
Answered by Lady Death
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yes I am
Answered by louloubell_94
A:
Yes I am a secret shopper. I really didn't care for it because the amount you get paid is not worth it. Unless you have all the time in the world and can travel to different cities you only make about 20 max per place. The most I was paid for a shop was 6.50 and I got to keep the socks (big whoop). I did restaurants (limit on what to buy or they tell you what to order), Wal-mart, and Jockey clothing (there is where I got the socks). It isn't a thing of you go in and look around. The people that send you out give you a set of guidlines to follow, a time schedule, and strict instructions. There may be a shop where you have to inspect BOTH bathrooms and take picturs :-P. For me it isn't worth it. It is also voluntary you can refuse a shop but then you don't get paid either. If you want to do it then check out mysteryshopper.com it is free. Do not go to a place that charges you to be a mystery shopper.
Answered by ldyrhiannon
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i'v got no idea, so if you find out email me and let me now thanks
Answered by klk_989
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yes, but we dont have lots of money and after i get done, we are in the whole, i have grounded myself from all stores that are tempting to me.......
Answered by Me.Myself.I
A:
I personally have never been one but its sounds like a job for retired people.Good for someone who has lots of time,wants their money back,and in the end is satisfied that someone somewhere will have to deal with the consequences.Don't get me wrong,maybe good if you are available but the payout isn't gonna make you lots of money.On the other hand you may never go hungry but will have a weight problem from all that eating out.
Answered by dawn71077
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no
Answered by l a
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i hate snithces
Answered by GNOSIS
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no, i've never been because i thought the claims were bogus
Answered by yofatcat1
A:
Yes!! I'm a secret shopper, but it took a looonnnggg time to find a valid one. Here's some info, followed by a link that I think you'll be happy with!
First off, do NOT sign up with a company to which you have a single red cent....reputable companies NEVER charge for a membership or list-that is first and foremost the rule of thumb! Next, you will read about the company and their strategies and policies and then asked to take a test-simply laid out right there online on their website. Don't worry about getting questions wrong, they give you PLENTY of chances to correct your answeres, over and over!! They will ask why you think you'd be a good shopper and if you had previous experience. Don't worry, no experience is ok. They will however read your answers for clarity and check your spelling, so be mindful of what you're writing.They will send you a response, and if you show you are moderately intelligent...you can be one of their shoppers. You will be assigned a user id and password. you can check every day for new assignments. I'd love to find a shopping site that offers upscale restaurants, but haven't been successful, so if any of you can send me a valid link that would be awesome! For you newbies, you can click on the link below and in an hour you'll be an official mystery shopper! You can do as many shops as you like, and your membership is never dropped. I've done only two in the last six months. If you take a shop, make sure you can do it...there will be plenty more later. With ShopnCheck, most are fast foods. You buy food, you do a report, you get reimbursed for the food PLUS paid for the work, which is usually 8-10 dollars. Sometimes you get free memberships into places like Sam's Club. Have fun!
http://www.shopnchek.com/
Answered by hersheykyssss
A:
What is a secret shopper?
Answered by petapalmtree13
A:
Yes & it was fun at first, then it got boring! I'd consider it one of my "THANKLESS JOBS"!
Answered by sherryn
A:
my mom is a secret shopper and gets paid about 7 to 12 bucks a store. she's called a mystery shopper.
Answered by scigeek
A:
Yes, I was a secret shopper and I liked it. It was free reign to be sneaky. Monitoring customer service is fun. Especially at places you know they are already lacking. Procedures are kind of crappy, because you need to remember what to look for and make sure you you remember them all. You can't be too negative or too nice, but still be honest. Which is sometimes, tough if they all suck. However, the biggest downside is it isn't very lucrative. Assignments are not always coming in. So, there are long periods where you are not working. Being a secret shopper for different places, gets you different discounts and perks as well. From small, like free meals at fast food or regular restaurants to bigger and more useful gift certificates for the mall.
Answered by The Woman That You Dream About
A:
Yes and it is not all that great!
1st of all, there aren't a lot of good shops out there - I can contacted for a lot of apartment shops, oil change or shops that pay very little ($5). At least I haven't found any really fun shops like they also advertise for - no one has sent me a Gap gift card to buy clothes while I'm secret shopping!
2ndly, the pay is minimal and usually if there is a purchase involved, you have to pay for it and then get reimbursed weeks later.
Other than that I guess it's an okay hobby if you can get signed up with the right agencies that have the really cool shops.
Answered by arjaii
A:
no but i would like to
Answered by ashley_rocks2468
A:
no because you're going to meet someone that you know while shopping & the other person will say what you're doing here
and there's nothing secret about this anymore..Talking loud
for the whole world to know...Now I can understand haven't
seen you in years but it's the same results.
Answered by woody06510
A:
Id like to know myself because i hear they get paid big money to shop at their customer's stores
Answered by jlowes12345
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Be careful with those. There was a court case on Judge Mathis where the man worked as a secret shopper and never got paid. He also paid them some money out of his own pocket. I would check the company out first. The BBB (Better Business Bureau)can help out with this.
Answered by black_beauty
A:
Yes, been there done that. Did not like getting people fired for not saying, "have a nice day" Since they only make $6 a hour I felt everyone has a bad day sometimes. Women with kids to support work hard.. Of course there will always be those who get off on the power of the job to end someones job.
memyself, your soooo funny.
Answered by jl_jack09
A:
Yes, I did this for several years. It was enjoyable as you got to go shopping and often got to purchase something for free. Plus which, you rewarded good service and helped improve bad sales staff :)
Answered by covertwalrus
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I'm not sure what you mean by a secret shopper...
Answered by *9teen*
A:
I did it for a time. It was a nice job, but it isn't all shopping fun, fun, fun. You do have paperwork and reports to write, so don't think it's like running out to the mall with daddy's charge card and coming home with arm loads of clothes. Would I do it again? Yes, for a limited time.
Answered by Oldlady
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My friend tried and was scammed, lost her money!! Don't do it!
Answered by blondie_princess_ladybug
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