Mystery Shopping Companies (Part 1)
Mystery shoppers, secret shoppers, performance evaluators, service checkers, frontline evaluators – all names for what has become one of the most coveted jobs available. These people literally get paid to shop.
The concept of companies paying customers for their opinion on their shopping experience has been around for decades. But recently, more and more "mystery shopping companies" are sprouting up on the Internet, providing shoppers a gateway to the hundreds of retailers and restaurants that are paying for the opinions of average shoppers.
Getting paid to shop may sound too good to be true, but it makes a lot of sense for companies that are battling for customers in an increasingly competitive market. In any store, service is crucial. Better service means more customers. Facilities need to be clean. Checkout should be speedy. Employees should be friendly and helpful. To make sure that their stores are up to standards, large chain retailers pay everyday customers (you) to shop at their store and fill out a questionnaire on their shopping experience.
The online mystery shopping companies provide access to hundreds of mystery shopper application pages for various retailers, restaurants, gas stations, car dealerships, amusement parks, banks, casinos, and other companies. They may charge a one-time fee for the information, or they may take a commission of every job. Shoppers don't have to go through a mystery shopping company to get paid to shop, but it's faster and more convenient.
Continued on Part 2...
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