Mystery Shopping in the UK - Secrets Revealed

What is Mystery Shopping?

Many companies contract market research companies to evaluate the quality of service within their business; these mystery shopping companies use mystery shoppers to obtain the information anonymously. They brief a mystery shopper to use the services or facilities in a shop or restaurant, for example, and then report back on the experience. Usually the mystery shopper is then reimbursed, and often can keep the product or service.

If you love to shop or eat out you may have been tempted by websites and unsolicited emails claiming that you can earn money as a mystery shopper. Sometimes unscrupulous mystery shopping promoters try to tempt people by offering meals at prestigious restaurants, shopping at luxury shops or staying at five star hotels. Unfortunately the reality is that most marketing companies fail to live up to the hype and do not deliver great mystery shopper opportunities.

According to Retail Active (a leading Mystery Shopping Company) mystery shopping is best considered as a part-time activity. Retail Active offer mystery shopping opportunities online at www.retailactive.com this enables their carefully selected and registered mystery shoppers to select the assignments they want to participate in.

On the flipside there are fraudulent mystery shopping organisations that promote the impression that they can offer lucrative mystery shopper jobs with reputable companies. These jobs are often fake and require unsuspecting potential mystery shoppers to register and then pay a fee for information about a job or list of mystery shopping companies. Retail Active warns that you should NEVER pay money to anyone to become a mystery shopper. Remember lists of reputable Mystery Shopping companies are available for free with legitimate mystery shopper jobs widely published on the Internet. Reputable mystery shopping companies such as Retail Active offer jobs via the internet in a secure and professional environment. Remember legitimate companies don’t charge an application fee!

Mystery Shopping Facts

1. Search the Internet for mystery shopping companies that are accepting applications.

2. Only submit applications online.

3. Becoming a legitimate mystery shopper for a legitimate company doesn’t cost a penny

4. Do some homework about mystery shopping and be sceptical of mystery shopping organisations promoters who advertise by unsolicited email.

5. Never buy mystery shopping directories online from companies that provide mystery shoppers

6. If you think you have encountered a mystery shopping scam contact the police.

For information on how to register to be a mystery shopper with Retail Active visit www.retailactive.com