Mystery Shopper Starter Toolkit: What You Really Need to Get Started
A mystery shopper starter toolkit doesn't require thousands of dollars in equipment. That's one of the nice things about getting into mystery shopping.
Think about what it takes to start many other small businesses. You might need inventory, equipment, office space, specialized tools, or a substantial amount of money before earning your first dollar.
Mystery shopping is different.
Many of you probably own the three most important tools: a computer, high-speed internet, and a cell phone. Add reliable transportation and a few inexpensive supplies, and you may have almost everything you need.
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.
Building Your Mystery Shopper Starter Toolkit
Start with a computer. While you can do quite a bit on a smartphone, I prefer a computer when I'm completing a long mystery shopping report.
Some reports contain multiple narrative sections, and typing several hundred words on a phone isn't my idea of fun. A laptop also works well if you're traveling and completing several assignments away from home.
You'll also need a dependable high-speed internet connection. Mystery shopping companies operate online. You'll use their websites to search for assignments, read instructions, submit applications, communicate with schedulers, and turn in reports.
For video mystery shoppers, internet speed becomes even more important because video files can be large and may need to be uploaded.
Then there's your cell phone.
Your phone may be the most versatile item in your mystery shopper starter toolkit. You'll use it for directions, communication, photographs, email, and possibly telephone mystery shops. It can also help you keep track of appointment times and deadlines.
The camera on your phone is especially useful.
Years ago, shoppers frequently needed access to a scanner or printer to handle receipts and paperwork. Today, I simply take a picture of a receipt and upload the image when the report requires it.
Just make sure the picture is readable before leaving the location. Discovering later that your receipt photograph is blurry can create an unnecessary headache.
Transportation Opens More Opportunities
Having a dependable vehicle makes mystery shopping much easier because so many assignments require visiting a physical location.
I've completed shops at apartments, restaurants, new home developments, automobile dealerships, retail stores, and many other businesses. Some assignments have also required considerable driving.
A vehicle gives you the freedom to accept assignments farther from home, especially when schedulers add bonuses or travel expenses to hard-to-fill shops.
But not owning a car doesn't automatically eliminate mystery shopping.
You can look for assignments within walking distance or use public transportation where practical. You can also concentrate on telephone and online shops.
I've completed telephone assignments without ever leaving home. Depending on the project, you might call a business, ask specific questions, evaluate the employee's responses, and submit a report afterward.
Have a Good Way to Keep Notes
You'll quickly discover that details matter.
You may need to remember an employee's name, the time you entered a business, how long you waited, what questions were asked, or exactly how someone responded.
Find a note-taking method that works for you.
I wouldn't recommend standing in the middle of a showroom writing obvious notes about the salesperson you're secretly evaluating. Instead, record the important information as soon as you can do so discreetly.
For an in-person assignment, I often recommend getting somewhere private immediately afterward and writing down the details while they're fresh.
Your phone can handle this too. You can type notes or use another organizational method that helps you reconstruct the visit accurately when you're ready to complete the report.
A Calendar Can Keep You Out of Trouble
Once you begin accepting multiple assignments, organization becomes more important.
Keep track of the date, location, required shopping window, report deadline, and any appointment you must make.
Some shops have very specific requirements. You might have to visit on a particular day or arrive within a two-hour window. Missing that requirement could invalidate the assignment.
Use the calendar on your phone or computer. Set reminders when necessary.
You'll also want a system for tracking your assignments and payments. A simple spreadsheet can record the mystery shopping company, assignment, date completed, amount earned, reimbursement, mileage, and payment received.
That information can become particularly useful at tax time.
Don't Forget a Reliable Email Address
Mystery shopping companies and schedulers rely heavily on email.
Create a professional email address and check it regularly. Schedulers may contact you when an assignment becomes available, when a report needs clarification, or when they desperately need someone to complete a shop before a deadline.
Responding promptly can also help you develop a good relationship with schedulers. Once they know you're dependable, you may start hearing from them about additional assignments.
You Can Upgrade Later
Your first mystery shopper starter toolkit can be surprisingly simple.
You need a computer, internet access, a cell phone, an email address, a way to stay organized, and preferably reliable transportation.
If you eventually move into specialized work such as video mystery shopping, you'll need additional equipment and training. There's no reason to buy all of that on your first day.
Start with what you already have.
Unlike many businesses, mystery shopping doesn't require a large financial investment before you can begin. Your biggest investment is something you can't buy at an electronics store: learning to observe carefully, follow instructions, meet deadlines, and write an accurate report.
Those skills will be more valuable than anything you can put in your toolkit.
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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