Scheduling Your First Secret Shop

Although scheduling differs from company to company, it typically occurs on a first come, first serve basis. Your application to a secret shopping organization places information about you, your credentials and your availability within a database and preference is given to reliable and experienced shoppers.

The flaking rate of 25% guarantees that there is always a need to enlist the services of new shoppers. Flaking equates into a direct need to find a replacement shopper immediately – possibly you, meaning it could take a new shopper a matter of days to several months to get an assignment.

Some companies use online bulletin boards. Some use self-scheduling boards. Checking these frequently, and responding when work is available, will demonstrate reliability. Finding someone who can complete the shops and finding someone capable of completing the shops in the shortest amount of time possible are important factors for the company. This is, after all, what their customers pay them for.

Secret shops are also scheduled by area. Firms will either post the stores in the area or send out an email to everyone in Indiana available for the assignment. Email notifications generally go out for up to 48 hours in order to get respondents. The scheduler will then select who out of the respondents is best for the mystery shop.

Once again, the more available and flexible you can be, the better your chance to stay busy with assignments.

Ways To Sabotage Your New Career As A Mystery Shopper

Being a valued mystery shopper means that you will get more and better assignments. Doing things that make life more difficult for schedulers, editors and others will mean that you get fewer assignments. (Avoid these behaviors if you want to be a valued and successful shopper.)

Dozens of schedulers, mystery shopping company owners and managers agree, these are their biggest pet peeves:

• Not reading and following shop guidelines.

• Accepting assignments, then disappearing and not completing them.

• Not communicating questions or problems.

• Inconsistency in report answers and comments.

• Rushing through shops and reports.

• Poor grammar and spelling.

• Not telling the truth. NEVER falsify a shop report.

• Speaking badly of any of the companies you work for.

• Failing to admit mistakes.

• Submitting late reports.

• Revealing how much you are paid for an assignment.

Mystery shopping, while much more difficult than it might seem at first, is not rocket science. After you learn how to properly observe and complete reports, the rest of your assignment is mostly common sense, a love of people and a flexible schedule. Don’t be intimidated by all the do’s and don’t’s. Many people never reach their goals because they spend their whole lives “getting ready to get ready.” If you think mystery shopping is for you, jump in with both feet and give it a try. You’ll soon know for sure if this is the type of work you’re suited for.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! An Exploding Demand For Mystery Shoppers!!

Demand for mystery shoppers has exploded. It’s simply the net result of the industry’s unique ability to help clients troubleshoot their product, sales and presentation to create the ultimate customer experience.

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) offers the following information:

• MSPA databases have rapidly grown from several thousand mystery shoppers to over 20,000.

• Approximately 1 million mystery shoppers operate in the United States and roughly 500,000 assist clients internationally.

• The MSPA is the largest trade organizations in its industry. It has more than 225 affiliate organizations, around 150 of which are in the US.

• There are 600 mystery shopping organizations in the US and 400+ more around the world.

• Mystery shopping was a $600 million industry in 2005, and it grew more than 11% from the previous year. Projections from these years make the estimated value of the industry at over $800 million today.

• Part time incomes from mystery shopping can range from $10 – $40 per hour.

How Do I Get Paid?

An important issue for mystery shoppers is getting paid. Generally speaking, each mystery shopping company will explain their pay structure to you when you are accepted as an independent contractor. Some pay right away after you submit your report. Others require an invoice. In an event, if the information you submit does not follow the company’s guidelines exactly, you won’t get paid, so be sure to do exactly as they ask. Mystery shopping companies cannot invoice their clients for mystery shopping reports that are not exactly what the client has asked for. Something as innocent as showing up for the shop on the wrong day could mean you are not paid or paid a partial fee. Follow the guidelines and submit a complete report, and you should have no problems.

Pay cycles vary from one company to another. The average pay cycle is three to six weeks after you’ve completed the shop. This is another good reason why you’ll want to have access to many assignments to earn steady income and why you want to stay organized with your spreadsheet and folders. With many weeks between submitting your report and being paid, it could become very confusing.

Payment may be by check, direct deposit or even Paypal. If you are not familiar with it, Paypal is an online payment system. Paypal can even accept credit and debit card payments. Visit www.PayPal.com to learn more.

Some use a program called PeachTree, accounting software that can be customized around any business. It calculates everything from basic expenses, invoices, taxes and even does equipment depreciation. Many similar programs, such as Quicken, can generate and print the invoices for you for easy mailing.

As you apply with various companies to perform mystery shopping, be sure to ask what payment method you can expect.

Let's Talk About Taxes

Generally, the companies for whom you work will provide you with a 1099 at the end of each year. The 1099 form is for income earned by independent contractors and will state how much income was earned from each company. Do not make the mistake of assuming that, because you are not an employee of a company, the IRS will not be aware if this income. Companies report 1099 income just as they do their own employees’ income, so the IRS is aware of the money you made. Generally, if you did not make a minimum of $600 with the company, they are not required to send you a 1099 form.

You should also save receipts of expenses you incurred during the course of your business. These can generally be deducted from your earnings. These expenses may include, but are not limited to the following in most cases –

• Mileage
• Meal expenses
• Mortgage interest
• Phone and utility bills
• Internet service
• Car repair
• Equipment expenses
• Child care expenses
• College tuition
• Property/ local taxes
• Rent