Mystery Shopping Mistakes
Beginners Can Avoid
I made mistakes when I started mystery shopping.
You're probably going to make a few, too.
Fortunately, most mystery shopping mistakes beginners can avoid aren't difficult to prevent. A little preparation can keep you from losing money, having a report rejected, missing a deadline, or spending far more time on an assignment than you expected.
After completing many different types of mystery shops, I've learned that some of the most expensive mistakes happen before you even arrive at the business.
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.
Accepting an Assignment Before Reading the Instructions
Don't accept an assignment based only on the fee and location.
Find out what you're agreeing to do.
You might have to visit during a specific time period, ask particular questions, interact with several employees, make a purchase, take photographs, obtain a business card, or remember specific timing information.
I've done enough mystery shops to know that you don't want to be standing inside the business thinking:
“Was I supposed to ask about that?”
Read the instructions before the assignment. Then review them again before you walk through the door.
The client is paying for specific information.
Starting With an Assignment That's Too Complicated
There's no prize for making your first mystery shop difficult.
A relatively straightforward retail, grocery, convenience-store, or fast-food assignment may give you an opportunity to learn the process without becoming overwhelmed.
Once you're comfortable following instructions, observing employees, remembering details, and completing reports, you can move into more complicated assignments.
I've completed video mystery shops that required much more preparation and attention. I wouldn't recommend starting there.
Build your confidence first.
Looking Only at the Shopper Fee
A $30 mystery shop isn't automatically better than a $15 shop.
How far will you drive?
How long will you spend at the location?
How complicated is the report?
Do you have to make a purchase?
How much will be reimbursed?
A lower-paying assignment five minutes from home could be more worthwhile than a higher-paying shop requiring an hour of driving and a lengthy report.
I've learned to look at the entire assignment rather than just the number next to the dollar sign.
Your time and expenses matter.
Accepting Too Many Assignments
Getting several assignments can be exciting when you're beginning.
Be careful.
Three easy mystery shops can suddenly become three sets of instructions, three receipts, three sets of names and timings, and three reports that all have deadlines.
It's better to complete a few assignments correctly than accept more than you can comfortably handle.
As you gain experience, you'll learn how many shops you can reasonably complete in a day.
Forgetting That the Report Is Part of the Job
A 15-minute assignment doesn't necessarily mean 15 minutes of work.
Some reports are quick. Others contain numerous questions and lengthy narratives.
Whenever possible, look at the reporting requirements before accepting the assignment.
Afterward, complete the report while the experience is still fresh. Don't invent an answer because you've forgotten what happened.
If reporting is giving you trouble, my articles How Mystery Shopping Reports Work and How to Write a Better Mystery Shopping Report can help you with that part of the process.
Losing the Receipt
That little piece of paper can become extremely important.
Some assignments require you to submit a receipt to prove you visited the location or made the required purchase.
Develop a routine.
I keep receipts associated with my assignments rather than stuffing them randomly into a pocket or leaving them somewhere in the car. You may also want to photograph a receipt as a backup when appropriate.
Don't discover at report time that the receipt you need is gone.
Accidentally Revealing That You're the Mystery Shopper
Your behavior should look natural.
Don't walk around obviously reading instructions. Don't stare at an employee's name tag for ten seconds because you're trying to memorize the name. Don't openly take notes when doing so would reveal why you're there.
Know the assignment before you enter.
If you need to remember details, develop discreet methods and record more complete notes as soon as you're safely away from the location.
The goal is to experience the business as a regular customer would.
Missing a Deadline
Mystery shopping companies depend on shoppers to complete assignments and submit reports when promised.
If you accept a shop, you're making a commitment.
Emergencies happen. If a legitimate problem prevents you from completing an assignment, contact the scheduler as soon as possible.
What you don't want is a pattern of late reports, last-minute cancellations, or assignments you simply don't complete.
Reliability can affect whether a company wants to give you more work.
Failing to Track Your Assignments and Payments
Don't assume you'll remember everything.
Keep a basic record of the assignments you've completed, the company you're working for, the shopper fee, reimbursements, mileage, report status, and whether you've been paid.
I've used a spreadsheet to keep track of my mystery shopping business.
Your system doesn't have to be complicated.
It just needs to tell you where your money is and what still needs to be completed.
Falling for a Mystery Shopping Scam
This mistake can cost far more than a rejected report.
Scammers sometimes impersonate legitimate companies or use mystery shopping as the excuse for sending fake checks, requesting gift-card purchases, or asking victims to send money elsewhere.
An unexpected offer involving a large check and instructions to send money or provide gift-card numbers should immediately raise concerns.
Learn how legitimate mystery shopping companies operate before responding to unusual offers.
I've written a separate guide to Mystery Shopping Scams because this subject deserves more than a paragraph.
Don't Expect Every Assignment to Be Worth Repeating
You will occasionally accept a shop and later decide:
I'm not doing that one again.
I've done it.
Maybe the report required too much work. Maybe the driving wasn't worth the fee. Maybe the assignment simply wasn't something I enjoyed.
That's useful information.
You aren't required to like every type of mystery shop.
As you gain experience, you'll discover which assignments fit your schedule, skills, and financial expectations.
Learn From Your Mystery Shopping Mistakes
Some mistakes are part of learning the business.
The important thing is not repeating them.
Read the instructions. Start with manageable assignments. Consider the total time and expense. Protect your receipts. Submit accurate reports on time. Keep track of your money. And use common sense when an opportunity sounds too good to be true.
Those habits will prevent many of the mystery shopping mistakes beginners can avoid.
Experience will take care of the rest.
After you've completed enough assignments, you'll know which opportunities are worth accepting—and which ones are better left for somebody else.
About the Author
I'm Mystery Don (Donald J. Servais, Jr.), and I've completed mystery shopping assignments for restaurants, hotels, apartment communities, automobile dealerships, new-home builders, and other businesses.
I created MystShopper.com to share what I've learned from my own experiences, help new shoppers avoid common mistakes, and explain how legitimate mystery shopping really works.
I'm also the author of Take That Job And Mystery Shop It!, which includes beginner-friendly advice, real-world mystery shopping experiences, and a directory of more than 150 mystery shopping companies.
Drawing on my 45-year career in television, I've also written 7 Keys to Success in a Changing Television Industry, a guide for people interested in building a career in television and video.
My goal is simple: honest guidance without the hype.
We're always looking for new faces to visit different places.
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