What to Do After a
Mystery Shopping Assignment
Knowing what to do after a mystery shopping assignment is just as important as preparing for the visit itself. You've completed the evaluation, spoken with the employees, and gathered the information required by the client. However, your work isn't finished when you walk out the door.
Now comes the important task of remembering what happened, organizing your documentation, and completing an accurate report.
I've completed thousands of mystery shopping assignments, and one habit I've developed is recording important observations as soon as possible after leaving the business.
Waiting until I get home isn't always the best approach.
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.
Find a Safe Place to Record Your Notes
One of the first things I like to do after completing an assignment is find a safe parking lot where I can stop and write down my observations.
Names are especially important. If I've spoken with several employees, I want to record their names before I forget who said what.
I'll also write down important times, conversations, employee descriptions, and anything unusual that happened during the visit.
However, there's something mystery shoppers need to remember.
Never sacrifice your safety just to record a few notes.
Finding a suitable place to stop can be challenging, especially in rural areas.
You might see a narrow shoulder along a country road and think it's a convenient place to pull over.
Don't take that chance.
Parking along a narrow roadway can be dangerous, particularly when other drivers have limited visibility or little room to pass.
Instead, continue driving until you find a safe, legal parking area.
A few extra minutes of driving are worth it.
What to Do After a Mystery Shopping Assignment: Review Your Observations
Once you're safely parked, review the important details from your visit.
Ask yourself:
- What were the employees' names?
- What time did I arrive and leave?
- How long did I wait for assistance?
- What questions did I ask?
- How did the employee respond?
- Were any required products or services mentioned?
- Did anything unusual happen?
I prefer recording these observations while they're still fresh.
After completing several assignments in one day, it's surprisingly easy to confuse details from different locations.
Keeping separate notes for each assignment helps prevent those mistakes.
Organize Your Receipts and Photographs
Many mystery shopping assignments require receipts, photographs, or other documentation.
Before leaving the area, check that you have everything required.
Make sure receipts are readable, and photographs clearly show the requested information.
If an image is blurry, you may be able to retake it when doing so is permitted and doesn't require an unauthorized return to the business.
Keep your original receipts until the assignment has been accepted and paid.
I also recommend organizing photographs and documents by assignment so they don't become mixed up with materials from another visit.
A Special Note About Video Mystery Shopping
Video assignments require additional steps after the customer interaction ends.
When completing video mystery shops, I've sometimes mentioned a few important details while the equipment was still recording.
However, mystery shopping companies generally prefer that shoppers keep these remarks brief and follow their specific instructions.
The information they may request includes the client, date, time, location, and person evaluated.
Avoid adding unnecessary commentary to the recording.
Also, make sure the video has been saved properly before leaving the area, following the company's equipment and recording procedures.
Video assignments have their own technical requirements, so I recommend reviewing my separate article, What to Do After a Video Mystery Shop, for additional guidance.
Start Your Report as Soon as Possible
Once you've organized your notes and documentation, begin completing the report.
I prefer not to wait until the following day.
You may remember the general conversation, but small details can disappear from your memory surprisingly quickly.
Some assignments require detailed narratives describing exactly what happened during the interaction.
Use your notes to reconstruct the visit accurately.
If you can't remember something, don't invent an answer.
Contact your scheduler or editor when clarification is necessary.
Review Everything Before Submitting
Before submitting your report, take a few minutes to review it carefully.
Check that you've answered every required question and that your written comments support your responses.
Make sure names, times, photographs, receipts, and other documentation are correct.
Watch for contradictory answers.
For example, don't indicate that an employee failed to offer assistance in one section and then describe that employee offering assistance in another.
A careful review can prevent unnecessary questions from editors and reduce the possibility of a rejected report.
Confirm Submission and Keep Your Records
After submitting your report, verify that the mystery shopping company's system shows it was received.
Some companies send confirmation emails, while others display the assignment status on their websites.
Keep your notes, receipts, and relevant correspondence until the assignment has been approved and paid.
If an editor requests additional information, respond promptly.
Good communication and accurate reports help establish your reputation as a dependable mystery shopper.
Develop a Routine That Works
Learning what to do after a mystery shopping assignment becomes easier with experience.
My routine begins with finding a safe place to stop and recording important observations before they fade from memory.
From there, I organize my documentation, complete the report, review it carefully, and confirm submission.
Your routine may be slightly different, but the goal should be the same.
A mystery shopping assignment isn't finished when you leave the business. It's finished when you've submitted an accurate report and completed your responsibilities to the mystery shopping company.
Taking a few extra minutes after every visit can save you hours of frustration later.
Your Next Best Step
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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