Avoiding Burnout from Shop Overload
Mystery shopping can become addictive.
You check a job board and see three assignments close to home. Then another company sends an email offering a bonus. Before long, you've accepted eight shops and convinced yourself you'll have no problem getting them all done.
Then reality sets in.
You have receipts everywhere, reports waiting to be completed, photos that need to be uploaded, and three shops due tomorrow. What started as an enjoyable way to make extra money suddenly feels like a full-time job.
Avoiding burnout from shop overload is something every active mystery shopper should think about. Accepting more assignments doesn't necessarily mean you're making more money.
Want more help getting started? My book, Take That Job And Mystery Shop It!, walks you through finding assignments, completing shops, writing reports, and avoiding many of the mistakes new shoppers make.
Avoiding Burnout from Shop Overload Begins Before You Accept
The easiest shop to manage is the one you didn't accept when your schedule was already full.
Before clicking the button, look beyond the payment. How far do you have to drive? How long will the visit take? How complicated is the report? Are photographs required? Do you have to remember names, times, descriptions, or a complicated scenario?
A $25 assignment might require 15 minutes at the location but another hour to complete the report.
That's not a 15-minute shop.
Written mystery shops can be particularly deceptive. A restaurant visit might be enjoyable, but the questionnaire could require detailed narratives about the host, server, food, cleanliness, timing, and payment process.
Read the instructions before accepting whenever possible.
Don't Schedule Every Minute
Leave some breathing room between assignments.
If one shop should take 30 minutes, don't assume you'll be driving to the next location exactly 30 minutes later. The employee might be busy. A restaurant could have a long wait. A salesperson might keep talking.
Traffic doesn't care about your mystery shopping schedule either.
I prefer having some extra time rather than constantly looking at the clock. When you're rushing, you're also more likely to miss something required by the assignment.
Listen to this interview I did with Mystery Phil, who works the mystery shopping business full-time.
Consider the Report Before Taking Another Shop
A common mistake is scheduling several shops during the day and forgetting that every one of them will require a report.
Five shops may mean five reports waiting for you that evening.
Whenever possible, complete reports while the experience is still fresh. If you can't submit the entire report immediately, take detailed notes after leaving the location.
Don't rely on remembering everything six hours later.
Names, exact statements, timing points, and employee descriptions can become surprisingly fuzzy after you've completed several similar assignments.
Video Shops Can Create a Different Kind of Overload
I like video mystery shopping assignments because they help eliminate some of the pressure of remembering every word. I usually review the video anyway to make sure the sound is good and the responses are attributed correctly in the final report. However, video assignments bring other responsibilities.
You have equipment to prepare, batteries to charge, files to manage, and sometimes video to upload. You also need enough time before the assignment to make sure everything is working correctly.
Doing several video shops in one day can be profitable, particularly when they're located close together. Just don't underestimate the additional preparation.
One equipment problem can throw off your entire route.
Learn Which Shops Wear You Out
Not every shopper feels the same way about every assignment.
One person may love automobile dealership shops but hate restaurants. Another shopper might enjoy apartment shops but dislike assignments requiring dozens of photographs.
Pay attention to the shops you enjoy.
You should also know which assignments leave you staring at your computer thinking, "I'm never doing this one again."
There's nothing wrong with deciding a certain type of shop isn't worth the money.
Don't Let a Bonus Make the Decision
Schedulers sometimes increase the payment when they're having difficulty filling an assignment.
Bonuses can turn an average shop into a very good one. They can also tempt you into accepting an assignment you don't have time to complete.
Ask yourself whether you would take the shop at that price if your schedule weren't already crowded.
Missing a deadline or submitting a rushed report isn't worth an extra $10 or $20.
Give Yourself a Day Off
If mystery shopping is a side hustle, don't let it consume every free day you have.
Taking an occasional day away from assignments can make the work more enjoyable when you return. You don't have to grab every shop that appears on a job board.
There will be other assignments.
Avoiding burnout from shop overload ultimately comes down to knowing your limits. Take the assignments that make sense financially, give yourself enough time to perform them correctly, and remember to include reporting time when planning your day.
A shopper who completes four assignments accurately and on time is more valuable than one who accepts ten and struggles to finish them.
Mystery shopping should put extra money in your pocket.
It shouldn't make you dread opening your computer.
About the Author
I'm Mystery Don, and I've completed mystery shopping assignments for restaurants, hotels, apartment communities, automobile dealerships, and new home builders.
I created this website to help people avoid the mistakes I've seen—and to show new shoppers how legitimate mystery shopping really works.
My book Take That Job And Mystery Shop It! lists over 150 mystery shopping companies to contact. I offer beginner-friendly tips and honest guidance without hype.
We're always looking for new faces to visit different places.
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