Member Introductions

Hi! Please help...I'm afraid. The digital watch might be a big help. I ran away once before. I wasn't sure I could keep track of all the details. Thanks to all of you for this great forum!

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Initially, mystery shopping can be intimidating. While there's no reason to be afraid, being conscientious is a positive. Choose a shop that's interesting to you, and then read the guidelines and shop report. Then, only accept the assignment if you feel that you can meet and report all requirements.

Maybe a drive-thru at a fast food location... some grocery stores have minimal timings...office supply stores can be short and straightforward. After choosing one, before applying and being assigned, perhaps go for a 'practice run' at a similar shop. As an example, if you're considering McDonald's, go to Burger King and do a trial run following the shop requirements for McDonald's. (Burger King may think you're acting strangely, but so what! Then, if you actually accept a McDonald's in the future, you won't feel recognizeable.) When you get home, look at the McDonald's report, see if you met all requirements. It's kind of like testing yourself.

Welcome to mystery shopping and the forum. Make sure to read the forum section here for New Mystery Shoppers. You'll find helpful advice, including information on timing devices and other gadgets which may be useful.

Thanks for the reply.
I am conscientious so I think it will be ok. I read about the DVR but
I think I will wait and see. Right now, do you know of a company on the East Coast. I'm getting "no assignments available" from these CA based companies.
I am in the North Country of NY on the edge of the Adirondack Mountains.

There is not necessarily a correlation between where a company is located and where their clients are. Let me encourage you to sign up at Jobslinger.com (it is free) and note the companies that have had work recently posted within a reasonable radius of your zip code. Those are the companies that may make sense for you to sign up with first. While Jobslinger's purpose is more as a job board, as soon as jobs post there they are usually taken very quickly unless there is something intrinsically wrong with them (very low pay for what you are expected to do or a company that is less than reasonable to deal with) or there are just no shoppers in your area at all.

Thanks again, Flash.

I have already been to jobslinger.com. I found Gapbuster, Kern and NSS. I need a contact person and phone number for Gapbuster and Kern. I will speak with NSS on Monday.

The forum is wonderful but it makes no sense to leave people without a contact person or phone number for each individual company. Many are not happy to live in cyberspace, especially with a job opportunity in question.

Btw, you suggest that there is a way to learn about shops in one's area without completing the application. Maybe I overlooked this. I'll try to look at jobslinger again when I have time. The time seems to fly by when you begin to get into this. Too much research without a contact person for assistance to verify you're on the right path. Gotta go..for now!

Since all of our jobs are as independent contractors that we pick up off of their job sites or email announcements, you are not going to find a "contact person" to walk you through applying for work through their company. A whole lot of independence and self sufficiency is expected of independent contractors. You to to their website, you read through their material, you apply to work for them, you watch their job board, you accept a job, you read through the guidelines and the questionnaire, you go do it in the time frame, you report it, you respond to the editor if they have questions and you wait for payment. Their guidelines and reports tell you what they need for you to observe, measure, purchase and report. They will respond to email questions (usually) if you are finding conflicts in the instructions. They will not hold your hand and take you through some orientation (though they may offer an orientation or certifications on their website).

Don't be afraid, PrincessShop, it's really not that hard. I started with fastfoods and grocery store shops. Marketforce is a really good starter company because their report forms are so easy. You'll get more confident very fast.

AustinMom,
You are super. I will visit Marketforce when I have a chance. I need shops in the North Country of NY.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Member Introductions

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine