Mystery shopper

A mystery shopper is a freelance, professional shopper hired by large retail, restaurant, and movie theater chains to check up on their local stores, in order to make sure that customer service is good, stores are clean, etc. Mystery shopping services are also used by banks, hotels, casinos, and other service providers.

Most mystery shoppers are independent contractors who do the job part-time to make extra money. Pay is typically per assignment, not per hour, and varies based on the requirements of the "shop." Compensation may include reimbursement of required purchases, such as the purchase of meals at a restaurant being mystery shopped. Mystery shopping assignments can often be fitted around a job, school, or family schedules.

Typically, a mystery shopper will check on a store by actually going in and purchasing an item. They will have a report sheet in which they are asked a variety of questions about their experience. After a mystery shopper has checked a store, this person then turns in the report, which is given a score and sent to management. These reports are also often shared with the employees so that they have a better idea of their own strengths and weaknesses.

Mystery shoppers are asked to be objective. They measure performance against the established standards of the business being evaluated, not according to the mystery shopper's personal preferences.

In the United States, there are various scams involving mystery shoppers. Advertisements offer very lucrative pay for mystery-shopper positions. Interested people are instructed to send money as an "application fee" or similar. In exchange, they are given information about companies that may employ mystery shoppers. Legitimate mystery shopping companies do not charge a fee to apply.

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