Video Shop Equipment Basics:
What You Need to Get Started
Video shop equipment basics are worth learning before you accept your first video mystery shopping assignment. Written mystery shops can usually be completed with little more than a smartphone and a computer. Video shopping requires specialized equipment and a little practice.
You don't have to assemble anything complicated. Many video mystery shoppers use equipment designed specifically for discreet recording, and complete kits are available with most of what you'll need.
The PV500 portable video recorder has long been one of the most commonly used recorders among video mystery shoppers. Once you understand how the equipment works and get comfortable wearing it, video shopping can open the door to assignments that often pay considerably more than their written counterparts.
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.
Video Shop Equipment Basics: The PV500
As you can see from this picture, the PV500 is a small portable digital video recorder. It's designed to work with an external camera that replaces one of the buttons on your shirt.
There have been different versions of the PV500 over the years, so features vary by model. The basic idea, however, remains the same: a small camera captures what the shopper sees while a portable recorder saves the video.
The recorder can be concealed under your clothing or carried where it won't attract attention. A cable connects the camera to the recording unit.
For mystery shopping, the camera is often disguised as something ordinary. Button-style cameras are particularly useful because the lens can be positioned to look like part of your clothing.
The result is a first-person recording of the customer experience.
Buying a Complete Video Shopping Kit
If you're new to video shopping, buying a complete kit may be easier than purchasing individual pieces and hoping everything works together.
A typical kit may include a PV500 recorder, compatible camera, cables, batteries or charging accessories, storage media, and other items needed to operate the system. Exactly what's included will depend on the seller and the particular model.
Before buying anything, check with the mystery shopping companies you plan to work for. Ask what equipment and video specifications they currently accept. There's little reason to spend money on equipment only to discover that a company's assignments require something different.
Unlike ordinary written mystery shopping, video shopping does have an upfront equipment cost. That's one reason I wouldn't recommend buying a system until you know video assignments are available to you.
Once you have the equipment, practice with it before accepting your first assignment.
The Camera Is Just as Important as the Recorder
A PV500 won't do much good if your camera is pointing at the ceiling.
Camera placement is one of the first skills a new video shopper needs to learn. The camera should capture the person you're speaking with without forcing you to stand or move unnaturally.
That's harder than it sounds.
You may think you're facing someone perfectly, only to discover afterward that half the conversation consists of a beautiful recording of the salesperson's shoes.
Practice around the house. Record yourself having a conversation with someone. Walk around, sit down, stand up, and turn naturally. Then review the video.
You'll quickly learn how your body position affects the shot.
Audio matters too. If the client can't clearly hear the conversation, a perfectly framed picture won't save the assignment.
Other Types of Video Mystery Shopping Equipment
The PV500 isn't the only option.
Some equipment incorporates a small camera into a baseball cap or similar piece of clothing. A cap camera can provide a natural point of view because the camera moves with your head. The disadvantage is your head may move around too much that it becomes distracting.
Other concealed cameras can be incorporated into purses, bags, eyeglasses, or other everyday items.
Each setup has advantages and disadvantages. A purse camera, for example, may work well in certain situations, but you have to pay attention to where you place the purse. Set it on the floor or turn it the wrong direction and your camera may spend the next 20 minutes recording nothing useful.
Whatever equipment you use should fit naturally into the assignment and comply with the mystery shopping company's requirements and applicable recording laws.
Why Video Shops Can Pay More
One reason shoppers invest in video equipment is the additional earning potential.
In my experience, a video version of an assignment can sometimes pay around twice what a comparable written shop pays. Pay varies considerably by company, client, location, difficulty, and demand, so don't assume every video assignment will pay double.
There's another advantage that I particularly like: some video assignments require less narrative.
The recording provides the client with something a written report never can—the actual conversation.
Instead of relying entirely on the shopper's recollection of what a salesperson said, the client can see and hear the interaction. That can make the video extremely valuable for training and evaluating customer service.
Practice Before Someone Pays You to Do It
Knowing the video shop equipment basics doesn't mean you're ready to walk into a dealership or apartment complex five minutes after opening the box.
Do several practice recordings first.
Check the camera angle. Listen to the audio. Learn how long your battery lasts. Make sure you understand the recorder controls. Learn how to verify that you're actually recording without making it obvious.
Most importantly, become comfortable enough with the equipment that you can forget about it during the assignment.
Your attention should be on the person you're shopping—not on the PV500 hidden underneath your clothing.
That's when video mystery shopping becomes much easier. Once operating the equipment becomes second nature, you can concentrate on doing what good mystery shoppers do best: act like an ordinary customer, pay attention, and let the experience unfold naturally.
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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