Tag Archives: mystery shopping

Dove-Tailing Jobs Together: Research and Mystery Shopping

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This is a mini-series on becoming a courthouse researcher that I started quite some time ago and through different random happenings, was not able to finish until now. If you haven’t heard of courthouse research before, or if you missed the first part of this series, make sure to start reading here. Otherwise, read on! In this blog, I talked about how courthouse research is not a full-time job, except in rare cases. In this blog, I talked about it may still be worth your time to do it anyway. There are some ways to make each trip more profitable; … Continue reading →

All About Me- a New Blogger in Town

I started blogging here at families.com less than a week ago, and am just now getting around to introducing myself. I am blogging about home business topics, using my experience to generate advice that other families can use. I started out very small, selling inexpensive items on eBay. I worked up to larger items, then expanded into having 100 or more listings at a time. My record was about 175 simultaneous listings on the site one year at Christmas time. I evolved from eBay into three other sites and sold on all four simultaneously for a couple of years. Needless … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: The Tax-Man Cometh!

Disclaimer: Julie is not a tax professional. As a matter of fact, she did so poorly in Accounting that it didn’t even count toward her college degree. Please check with your tax professional about your finance. This blog is for informational purposes only. I’m doing my taxes using TurboTax and crying in my… well, green tea, but you get the point. Mystery shopping can be good money. But you’re an independent contractor. That means that you pay your own taxes. Generally, when you’re an employee, a company is matching what you’re putting into Social Security and Medicare taxes. That terrible … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: The Ten-Foot Pole List

Pay has steadily declined in mystery shopping. The good shops are still out there. But so are the bad ones! Some companies apparently don’t have a clue about what it takes to do a shop. Or they do, but shoppers are selling themselves short so they continue to underbid and underpay. In an effort to help you dodge these shops (especially when you’re first starting), here’s my personal “Top Ten Wouldn’t Touch it with a Ten-Foot Pole” list. Please note that if you do accept one of these shops, you need to complete it no matter how much it isn’t … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: Cruises and Resorts

So, you want to shop a cruise or a resort. You’re thinking it would be a great vacation for you and/or your family. Wrong. Cruises and resorts are two of the most detailed shops there are. They do pay very well in many cases, but they require a lot. You won’t be relaxing, you’ll be working. Like the amusement park shops, some of them may allow you to bring your family, so you’ll essentially be working so that they can enjoy themselves. Do not ever schedule a shop like this on a vacation. It’s simply not doable. Mystery shopping is … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: What to Bring with You on a Shop

You’re all ready to go! You’ve checked the instructions, taken the needed exam, made sure there’s gas in the car, and your cell phone is charged. What else? I carry a Mystery Shopping Kit in my car. It’s full of stuff that isn’t really necessary for a shop, but sure makes it easier! Here’s what’s in mine (you’ll need to tailor yours to whatever kind of shops you do): A box of pens. Not just one or two. A box. Otherwise, it’ll be the time when I have two dozen details in my head that are about to be lost … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: Sassie, a Scheduling Software System

SASSIE stands for Scheduler And Shopper Survey Internet Engine. Okay, so it’s not the easiest thing to roll off the tongue. Nobody refers to it that way, though. It’s Sassie. Sassie is quickly becoming the software of choice for many mystery shopping companies. It’s very easy for the end user (us!) to use, and automatically keeps records of your shops. Many companies have gone to self-assign on the Sassie boards. That means they simply post a shop there and it’s first come-first serve. Others require that you express interest and a scheduler gets back to you. I like Sassie because … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: What to Expect on a Restaurant Shop

Food and I have a long-standing love affair! It’s why I decided against that million dollar modeling contract. Well, that and the fact that nobody offered me one. Seriously, though, I’m really appreciative when someone goes the extra mile to make a meal hearty, tasty, and beautifully presented. So restaurant shops are a natural fit for me. We’re doing two today. Oops. I scheduled both for the same day. And both for the lunch hour. There goes the diet! Or maybe not. One of the reasons I love restaurant shops is because it gives me a chance for some one-on-one … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: What to Expect on an Amusement Park Shop

Amusement parks are one of the lowest paying shops when you consider them on an hourly basis. Often, you’ll be paying to shop them. That said, they’re also probably the most fun! Yes, you’re working. Yes, you’re making observations. But you’re not doing that every minute of the time you’re there. We have visited over a dozen different amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, sporting events, and other amusement venues as mystery shops. It’s a chance to do things we would normally have difficulty fitting into our budget. Every company and every client is different, but here are some basics that are … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: When Your Report Gets Challenged

You’ve done your job, and you’ve done it well. So why are you getting a call three weeks later asking you to clarify things you’ve written, and challenging whether you are completely accurate? Don’t panic! It happens. For many companies, a manager’s bonus is in part tied to his mystery shopping scores. So even though you’ve completed your shop with 100% accuracy, if you turn in a very negative report, it will often be challenged. In more than ten years, I’ve never had a positive report challenged. What this means for you is that if a shop goes bad, all … Continue reading →