For those of you with minor children

What are your favorite types of shops? My daughter is a shopper in training and now notes the names and descriptions of any employee she interacts with-MS or not. I have to laugh sometimes because she's always giving me notes on things she observed and I remind her were "off duty." I have no doubt as soon as she can do then herself she will be the most detailed, thorough, and experienced newbie around!

She enjoys the dining shops, mall jewelry and bath supply shops, and of course any amusement experience! She's been tagging along for years and loves being a part of it. I will be sad when we no longer qualify for the "must take a child under 16" shops. MSing with a kid is not for everyone but it's definitely fun and has given us so many memories.

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.

I'll sometimes take my niece to shopping malls, and we'll do retail and food court type shops. Some others we've done are movies and dining. Every once in a while, breakfast and cafe shops in farther areas or near other attractions.

Oh yeah, now that I think about it, the stuffed animal and indoor skydiving shops last year were the most memorable. I haven't seen those again though.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2024 10:04PM by Okie.

We did bowling shops when those were still around. She loved five guys so I’d get a burger and reg fries and we’d split it. We did a two night resort stay once when she was four, and it was amazing. She was perfect (although I could see eyebrows raise initially when we went to the on-site restaurant - but by the end everyone was complimenting her on her manners and behaviour). There also used to be an ice cream chain that was shopped here, and we did a major league ballgame once.

@Okie wrote:

I'll sometimes take my niece to shopping malls, and we'll do retail and food court type shops. Some others we've done are movies and dining. Every once in a while, breakfast and cafe shops in farther areas or near other attractions.

Oh yeah, now that I think about it, the stuffed animal and indoor skydiving shops last year were the most memorable. I haven't seen those again though.

We did a local donut shop while on vacation and it was DELICIOUS. It ended up being a block from our hotel and we went back the next day because we loved it so much. She still talks about it. We've also done trampoline parks. Indoor skydiving would be amazing. I haven't seen that one yet.

We went to a holiday themed event at a Building Block-land last year and it was by far her favorite MS.

We had to make multiple purchases from various gift shops and she thought she had won the lotto. They are a lot of work but so worth the joy and memories.

MLB? that's incredible. We go to multiple stadiums a year -hoping to hit them all eventually!

Hopefully, the indoor skydiving shop will make its away around again! It was through the MSC that has shops with 98 age requirement. In my area, there are also some shops with arts and crafts classes. For sporting events, the last one I saw was for soccer.

@Momtreal wrote:

MLB? that's incredible. We go to multiple stadiums a year -hoping to hit them all eventually!

I actually did two MLB games. This would have been about 14 years ago. The MSC is now defunct, I believe. I really liked working with them. (They were also the company for whom I did the resort shop).

My daughter is 20 and I started mystery shopping when she was 1. She loves any shop where she is the recipient of the required purchase! Im currently working on a collection of Christmas mugs from Altr’d State and Arula! She also loves our Texas Roadhouse dining adventures.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2024 01:19AM by gigishopper.

My sister does Have Your Picture Done with Santa/Easter Bunny during the seasons

Then you can get the kids into age verification shops once they turn 21.

I've shopped with my kids for years, everything from movies, to MLB games (NOT worth it in my opinion, but we go to a ton of games and can get cheap tix on Stubhub etc), to trampoline parks, video game stores (age verification), fast food, etc. Kids are older now and my oldest has started doing shops for Curinos.

Anything kid related, we do the activity type shops - we've gone to the Shedd Aquarium, a children's museum and some other things over the years, like Build a Bear. I don't do too many activities as shops anymore - I'd rather enjoy the time and we buy memberships for some of our local activities since they're more affordable.

My kids like anything where they get to eat pizza and/or ice cream.

I wish I had known about mystery shopping when my kids were younger because there are so many options I see for younger kids. I see the medium sized amusement park here, I see the urban air and zoos. My kids are older, 19 and 23 but they do shops with me. They fight over Texas Roadhouse. I will only take one with me so they have to rotate. They are helpful when it comes to getting names of people at restaurants and stores. They like the free stuff that comes along with some of the shops.

Neither are interested in doing it though. My daughter thinks I am crazy because I work full time and do this and just the record keeping alone scares her away.

My 4 year old tags along to some of my assignments. The other day we were just going out to eat aka not on a shop. I went to eat my food and she stopped me and said “mom you forgot to take the pictures” haha

I remember when my son was between 4-6 years, I used to do Little Caesars shops all the time. I would pick up pizza and breadsticks all the time after work and I would bring it home.

After I took the require pictures and everything, I would have him taste a couple of slices of pizza and breadsticks and I would ask him to give me his thoughts. I would also eat a couple of slices of pizza.. Then I would input the information into the report.

I think he enjoyed helping me doing theses shops.

Build a Bear, MLB, mini golf, famous chocolate restaurant, tourist attractions, museums, dessert shops, etc. Now fine dining, retail, cosmetic, (snagged some great ones lately); the chosen/available child loves it.

My kids sometimes play restaurant at their play kitchen. They started asking questions to "customers" like, "Is this your first time here? Are you celebrating a special occasion? Here are the specials." And then after they serve me, they expect me to take a picture.

@Swimgirl123 wrote:

My 4 year old tags along to some of my assignments. The other day we were just going out to eat aka not on a shop. I went to eat my food and she stopped me and said “mom you forgot to take the pictures” haha

Haha! Mine does the same thing! She assumes everything is a shop unless I tell her otherwise.

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

I remember when my son was between 4-6 years, I used to do Little Caesars shops all the time. I would pick up pizza and breadsticks all the time after work and I would bring it home.

After I took the require pictures and everything, I would have him taste a couple of slices of pizza and breadsticks and I would ask him to give me his thoughts. I would also eat a couple of slices of pizza.. Then I would input the information into the report.

I think he enjoyed helping me doing theses shops.

I used to do these once a month. We moved out of the area and now there's not an LC close to us, but if we see one when we are out and about, my kids always want to get the breadsticks. I personally got sick of the pizza since it was the same ordering requirement for so long.

My kids are 20 and 21 and any kind of take out they'll always ask if I need a picture of it before they dig in - LOL! They definitely appreciate being in the mystery shop splash zone though!

@Swimgirl123 wrote:

My 4 year old tags along to some of my assignments. The other day we were just going out to eat aka not on a shop. I went to eat my food and she stopped me and said “mom you forgot to take the pictures” haha

These all sound so fun! I think I must not be signed up with the right mystery shop companies? I’ve found two shops so far that I could take my kids to. What companies am I missing that have fun experiences like this that you can take your kids to? Or restaurants? I’m in northeast Ohio. Idk if it’s my area that’s lacking but I’m willing to drive a bit, I’ve driven an hour and a half away for a restaurant that was upscale

@Jnbent35 wrote:

These all sound so fun! I think I must not be signed up with the right mystery shop companies? I’ve found two shops so far that I could take my kids to. What companies am I missing that have fun experiences like this that you can take your kids to? Or restaurants? I’m in northeast Ohio. Idk if it’s my area that’s lacking but I’m willing to drive a bit, I’ve driven an hour and a half away for a restaurant that was upscale

Some of the ones I've seen are with the big companies - Bare International used to do some stadiums and other facilities like aquariums, etc. Intellishop sometimes has children's places. A Closer Look had some of the toy shops in the past. Amusement Advantage also emails about some but I haven't done one of their shops.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

For those of you with minor children

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine