How do you become a secret shopper??

[ltgmumof3]

Hi I have heard loads on secret choppers over the years- but is anyone actually a shopper and if so how do you become one. As there are lots of sites- but probably loads are dodgy....

Any advice from fellow parents?

[defineme]

I am with grassroots but there are plenty of others. Just google mystery shopping. Don't expect to get rich, but if you think asking odd questions in supermarkets or banks is fun then go for it.

[ltgmumof3]

Thanks- don't expect to get rich just wanted to add to income a touch- treats add up
Thank you will try grassroots

[CountingThePennies]

How much do mystery shoppers get paid?

[Annbag]

I use market force, you usually get reimbursed for your meal or whatever plus a couple of quid. You won't get rich but it is fun.

Oh and if you want good service anywhere just ask odd mystery shopper type questions e.g. what soft drink would you recommend. Works every time

[chocoshopoholic]

I worked for grassroots and one I can't remember the name of as a student. I think I got paid £2 plus the cost of the pizza, McDonald's or occasionally top that I was sent to purchase.

[Uzma01]

I'm with TNS, Viewsbank, Grassroots, Retail Active and a few others but with these four I have consistently had a variety of jobs over the last 2-3 years. Some pay a fee, others reimburse a purchase and some jobs are a combination of the two. It's quite straightforward work and enables you to help improve services.

[Uzma01]

Pay varies according to the company. But most of the jobs are on average paying around a tenner.

[ColdCottage]

Retail Active reimburse you (usually item is under a tenner) plus a fee of around £4

[mynameissecret]

I used to do it for Retail Eyes. Was years ago though so not sure it they are still going.

[pinkrocker]

I was with Grassroots for ages. Local Waitrose so knew I was the local mystery shopper.
I had an incident with GR and Barclays Bank mind. I was chatting about opening an account and had DS (about a year old) asleep for the whole 45 mins in his pushchair. I noticed the bank safe door was wide open behind the salesperson! I mentioned it later on the survey, the salesperson went mental and accused me of having post natal depression and imagining it !!

[fuzzpig]

This sounds great.

Can I ask, do you get to pick and choose what you do? Say if you get asked to go to a restaurant you didn't like, would you just say no thanks?

[pinkrocker]

They email you (and all the others in your area) with jobs available. You reply "when" you could do it, if you don't want to do that job, you just don't reply.
They will ring and ask people if they've had no takers by email though.

[fuzzpig]

That sounds good, thank you. I've been trying to find some ways of scrabbling together a bit of extra money (I know this won't really do that - but if you get reimbursed for a meal or something that is great too!) and this sounds like it could fit in really well without a big commitment!

[Ragwort]

Can you tell us what is the best way to 'spot' the mystery shoppers. .

I work in retail and we are constantly being 'threatened' with mystery shoppers and one of the points we get marked down on is not engaging in conversation (and I mean a lot more than a pleasant 'good morning, can I help you'). So many customers seem to hate getting into conversation with shop staff that it seems so false to endlessly have to make artificial conversation. Are the mystery shoppers told to chat back? .

[Annbag]

They often ask how you were greeted, if the salesperson was friendly,had correct uniform and what they said e.g. they might be supposed to be offering some kind of up sell or loyalty card.

You can't usually spot a mystery shopper although sometimes the questions we have to ask are a bit unnatural e.g. in a pub, "what types of beer do you have" when it's on the pumps

[pinkrocker]

Waitrose especially, you have to ask for something and you must be taken to it on the aisle.

[pinkrocker]

Oh and asking for wine recommendations. You have to buy it (you get reimbursed and you get to drink it )

[AngelieMumsnet]

Hi everyone, we sometimes do activities like this on the Mumsnet Insight panel, so if you're interested please sign up here. These aren't paid but usually offer prize draw incentives worth up to £300.

[BertieBotts]

Oh I signed up for this way back but never did one, I was too chicken I did loads of surveys, though.