Asset Protection Associates- Mystery Shop

What is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery shopping is the practice of using everyday real consumers to evaluate and collect data regarding business practices related to customer service, quality control, and business efficiency. Mystery Shoppers simply visit assigned locations, and complete an online evaluation report regarding their experience. Mystery shoppers are either allowed to keep items purchased or paid a shopper fee for their time.

Why is Mystery Shopping important?
Mystery shoppers are very important because they provide valuable information to the clients about the success or improvements needed in their customer service, sales, and service departments. Often times employees or stores may receive feedback which can lead to promotions or disciplinary action based upon the results of mystery shopper surveys.

Mystery shopping is to be taken very seriously. It is vital to record the information as it happened without any opinions added, unless requested. Keep in mind that falsification of reports can lead to legal action against you.

How do I get an assignment?
After registering in our scheduling systems, shoppers will receive email notifications when we post jobs in their area. Shoppers can also search our open job board by zip code or state to see what shops are available to them. TIP: We schedule 75% of our shops the first week of every month. Check email and the job board frequently during that time.

Whenever a mystery shop is posted, read through the entire shop posting before submitting your name. When a shop is assigned, read through the entire shop guidelines and questions as soon as you receive the shop assignment. Any questions you have should be addressed as soon as the shop is scheduled.

Do I get penalized for turning down a Shop?
Absolutely not! Each shop will have very different guidelines, due dates, purchase requirements and shop scenarios. We understand that timelines and other shop requirements are not well suited for all shoppers.

However, keep in mind that accepting a shop and then canceling without sufficient notice will put us in a bad position with our client. We ask all shoppers to carefully consider their calendar before accepting or applying for a shop assignment. Most shop assignments are very time sensitive with tight deadlines. Shoppers that habitually cancel after accepting an assignment are deactivated from our database.

What does my shopper grade mean and how can I keep a higher grade?
Each shop assignment is graded on the criteria below. Shopper that maintain higher grades are rewarded by being offered many more shop opportunities with us.

GRADING SCALE

Submit reports on time by the due date.
Writing Skills and Spellcheck
Uses Correct Shop Scenario
Gathers ALL Pertinent Details
Detailed Narratives
Responds quickly to any requests for additional information.

We also use a private comment area to note things about each shopper in our database. Want to keep a clean record with us? Follow the tips below that are the most common issues found in our “Negative” shopper comment files.

Mystery Shoppers Do’s and Don’ts List

Do(s)	Don’t (s)
Complete your shop assignment on time!	Procrastinate completing your assignment.
Read your guidelines as soon as you receive the assignment.	Wait until the day your shop is due to read the guidelines.
E-mail the scheduler as soon as possible with any questions you have about the guidelines or the shop as soon as you read the guidelines.	Wait until the due date to contact the scheduler with questions.
Use spell check and grammar check.	Perform the shop without verifying possible spelling or grammar mistakes.
Proofread your report! Make sure that all answers are consistent and documented properly. Ensure your answers do not contradict any of your narratives.	Complete the report without reading it for accuracy and completeness.
Check your e-mail after you’ve submitted your report and answer any editors’ questions about your report promptly.	Discard notes you took regarding your shop results until your shop has been approved and paid.

How do I get paid?
Our shopper fees range from $18 to $50 on average for a completed shop. Occasionally special shops will come along that pay much higher shopper fees.

We encourage our shoppers to sign up as a Paypal member to receive payments for shops. While it is not required, it is strongly encouraged and shoppers will be compensated much sooner for completed shops. Paypal is a secure way to receive funds and transfer them to your bank account.

Payroll is processed on the 10th of each month. If the 10th falls on a weekend, shops will be paid on the following business day.

If you fail to complete your shop on time and with the proper information, your shop may not be eligible for payment. Details on the pay schedule will be listed in the shop guidelines.

What is MSPA Certification and should I get it?
We do not require that all of our shoppers have certification from the MSPA, however, investing in yourself and becoming an MSPA certified shopper will sharpen your mystery shopping skills and also benefit you as a mystery shopper. Many companies place a great deal of emphasis on certified shoppers. When you are Gold or Silver certified, it shows mystery shopping companies that you are serious about your mystery shopping assignments and that you have been trained on the key aspects of mystery shopping.

For more information on becoming a certified mystery shopper, please visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association web site: http://www.mysteryshop.org .