How to Prepare for a Mystery Shopping
Assignment Before Leaving Home
Knowing how to prepare for a mystery shopping assignment can make the difference between a successful evaluation and a rejected report. Whether you're visiting a restaurant, retail store, apartment community, or automobile dealership, preparation is one of the most important parts of mystery shopping.
Over the years, I've learned that many mistakes can be prevented before you ever leave home.
Forgetting an assignment requirement, visiting at the wrong time, or failing to understand your customer scenario can create problems that are difficult to correct afterward.
Here are some steps I recommend taking before heading out on your next mystery shopping assignment.
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.
Read the Assignment Instructions Carefully
Before accepting an assignment, review the requirements to make sure you understand what's expected.
After accepting it, read the instructions again.
Pay particular attention to the location, date, permitted visiting hours, required purchases, employee interactions, and reporting deadline.
Some restaurant assignments require ordering specific menu items. Apartment evaluations may require asking about particular floor plans. Automotive assignments might involve discussing financing or taking a test drive.
Missing one required step could invalidate the assignment.
If something isn't clear, contact your scheduler before making the visit.
How to Prepare for a Mystery Shopping Assignment With a Believable Scenario
Some mystery shopping assignments require you to act as a potential customer with a particular background or reason for visiting.
Make sure your story makes sense.
I once completed a new home builder assignment where I told the sales consultant that I wanted to purchase a house as a surprise for my wife.
I thought it was a reasonable explanation.
Unfortunately, the salesperson didn't believe my story and reported to a supervisor that they suspected a mystery shopper.
That experience taught me an important lesson.
When an assignment requires a customer scenario, understand it thoroughly and make sure your responses are believable.
Don't unnecessarily complicate your story. If the salesperson asks questions, your answers should remain consistent.
Some assignments also require you to use an alternate name or telephone number. Review those details before entering the business.
Forgetting your assigned identity during the conversation can quickly raise suspicion.
Research the Business Before Leaving
Confirm the business address and make sure you're visiting the correct location.
Some companies operate multiple stores or offices within the same community.
Check the business hours and determine how long it will take to reach your destination.
If the assignment requires an appointment, confirm the details according to the company's instructions.
Don't assume that every location follows the same schedule.
Also, avoid contacting the business beforehand unless the assignment permits or requires it.
Prepare Your Assignment Materials
Before leaving home, gather everything you'll need as you prepare for a mystery shopping assignment.
Depending on the assignment, this might include:
- Assignment instructions and confirmation information
- Required identification or permitted payment methods
- A charged smartphone
- A shopping list or required purchase information
- Any authorized photographs or documentation requirements
- A method for recording notes after the visit
Make sure your phone has enough battery power for photographs, directions, and any other permitted uses.
If the assignment requires a purchase, verify the reimbursement limit before spending money.
Remember that reimbursement and shopper compensation are not necessarily the same thing.
Know What You Need to Observe
Mystery shopping requires paying attention to details that ordinary customers might overlook.
Before the visit, review the important observations you'll need for your report.
These might include employee greetings, names, product knowledge, cleanliness, customer service, and whether the employee follows required procedures.
Some assignments require recording the time you entered the business, how long you waited, or when an employee approached you.
Understanding these requirements beforehand makes it easier to remember important details.
However, don't become so focused on memorizing questions that you stop acting like a natural customer.
Plan Your Report Before the Visit
One of my favorite preparation habits is reviewing the report questionnaire before completing an assignment.
When you know what questions you'll be answering afterward, you'll have a better understanding of what to observe.
Some reports require only a few answers. Others involve detailed narratives, photographs, and specific timing information.
Make sure you understand how much work is involved.
After completing the visit, find an appropriate place to record your observations while they're still fresh.
Don't wait until the following day to reconstruct an entire conversation from memory.
Give Yourself Enough Time
Rushing can lead to mistakes.
Allow sufficient travel time, especially when visiting unfamiliar locations or completing assignments during busy periods.
Make sure your schedule allows you to complete the entire interaction without leaving early.
If you're completing several mystery shops in one day, leave enough time between assignments to organize your notes and avoid confusing details from different visits.
A Final Checklist Before Leaving Home
Before walking out the door, ask yourself:
- Am I going to the correct location at the correct time?
- Do I understand the assignment instructions?
- Do I know my required customer scenario?
- Do I have everything needed to complete the evaluation?
- Do I understand what information the report requires?
- Have I allowed enough time for the visit and reporting?
If you can answer these questions confidently, you're better prepared for the assignment.
Preparation Builds Confidence
Learning how to prepare for a mystery shopping assignment becomes easier with experience.
You develop routines, recognize common requirements, and become more comfortable interacting with employees.
However, even experienced shoppers should never skip the preparation process.
Every mystery shopping assignment is different, and requirements can change from one client to another.
The time you spend preparing before leaving home can save you hours of frustration afterward.
A little preparation can help you complete better reports, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and build a stronger reputation with mystery shopping companies.
Video assignments require additional preparation. If you're planning to record an evaluation, read our guide on How to Prepare for a Video Mystery Shop for equipment and recording tips.
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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