Dear OZbargain
I'll try my best to keep up but please feel free to ask me anything.
I'm a mystery shopper and completed over 5,000 visits during the course of my career.
Covered all sorts of visits… I'll try to keep the thread live for 72 hrs.
Nothing of a personal nature thanks!
I usually worked full time and this was a side hussle for me - started off with weekends.
However, when I was made redundant from a full time role it helped keep my bills paid. There are others that do it exclusively full time but this can cause issues with cash flow.
Started local within 20kms in Western Sydney - Furthest job was flying Sydney to Cairns (Virgin Blue)
How could I make businesses think I'm a mystery shopper so that I receive decent service in my daily life?
Make it obvious to look at the staff member's name badge
@mousie: I wouldn't bother. I've been to KFC a few times and each time, I've used the survey to get free chips and drink. Yet, I still have to ask the staff for my receipt, for a straw, for serviettes/ towelettes … They just don't care.
Wear go pro on shirt.
Look at floor and ceiling.
Look at watch.
Hold a clipboard.
Read questions off an email it looks like were sent haha
At fast food places, always ask for a receipt, no matter how small the purchase. If they're out of receipt paper, make sure to get the manager to write out a receipt on register tape for your $5.25 small cheeseburger meal.
At nicer restaurants, "accidentally" leave your phone with the lap timer running and set a lap every time something is delivered to your table.
@eyeballz2770: I wouldn't push for a receipt from the manager unless over $5. If the agency bitched about it they would get my geocoded photo of the food.
Are you employed by an agency and then told to go to a retailer/restaurant when you're required?
How does it work?
The end client contracts to a Mystery shopping agency which then subcontract to you. If you have an ABN it helps, otherwise you go as a 'money making hobby' under the ATO provided you are under the income threshold.
Have you ever heard of a subcontractor colluding with clients to provide better reports in exchange for kickbacks?
I've been offered plenty of free pies and sausage rolls / cans of coke in summer during servo audits.
What was your "best" sales assistant you mystery shopped from? And your "worst"?
Huge variance here - I'll stick to one category for my answer.
Believe it or not, the best car sales reps were in KIA, and some really rude sales reps for luxury car brands.
Is it satisfying to wield impactful recourse to poor service?
I've seen franchisees lose their franchise because of a mystery shop. Satisfying? No
@mousie: Personally, I won't be able to sleep at night knowing that for all this time I could've had the power to put all those crappy businesses out of commission. Where do I sign!?
@Scrooge McDuck: Some good ones
Market Pulse payme4shopping.com
The realise group www.therealisegroup.com.au
Capeesh! http://www.capeesh.com.au/ (their site is crap but they have some interesting gigs)
Enjoy Scrooge!
@Scrooge McDuck: As a mystery shopper - Remember you're not the judge.. you're the witness to the crime
How did you get the job? what was the interview process like?
Apply online - most Agencies will have a sign up form where you enter your demographic details. There will be a short answer survey to explain a recent service experience. Be as objective as possible here to not introduce bias.
Interview process is more like a registration -expect to get a phone call from a real person to qualify you.
No, you don't need to provide credit card details to become one. EFT details are necessary for remittance purposes - set up a free one seperate to your primary bank if concerned about this.
Do you have an agency which you recommend?
It really depends on what you're looking to mystery shop - if you give me a category I can help guide you.
Automotive? anything else that's lucrative which you can recommend would be welcomed too.
Service Integrity had a lot of the automotive jobs of late. https://www.serviceintegrity.com.au/
I drove some cool cars with SI - Audi's Jag's BMW and Mercs
Their competitor was Hoed Mystery shopping
https://shopper.hoedresearch.com.au/
RMSA does Hyundai and nissan
@mousie: Me too. Not one of the friendliest companies around unfortunately and hate paying travel. They expect shoppers to drive large distances at the drop of a hat without any extra payment.
@Hithere: My gribble was having to provide a screed for each job. I only did holden jobs for them back in the day as fillers.
I found a new one called Prime. They offer good money for car deal ship jobs. I have yet to complete a job through them. Sorry can't comment on promptness of payments or reporting process.
https://www.primemysteryshopping.com.au/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp…
Which agency do you recommend for food/going out/lifestyle?
Hoed Research at the time had some good assignments with Ribs & Rumps and Bondi Pizza.
KPI Retail services had an engagement with HMAA for some hotels and self managed apartments.
Thanks, I hadn't heard of them. I'll check it out
Enjoy!
I thought these gigs were poorly paid? How much did you get for it?
Depends on the length of time of the survey and the complexity of the assessment. Most jobs will pay a min $12 + reimbursement- and you can go all the way up to $300 for others.
I've been reimbursed for things such as petrol, cigarettes, phone vouchers and all groceries.
You won't be a millionaire being a mystery shopper
Cigarettes? We’re you mystery shopping for peter Jackson?
No 7 eleven to make sure the attendant wasn't stealing the cash.
@mousie: They were stealing the cash becauae they were having their below minimum wage withheld from them
@mousie: I havent thought of that, was just stating somewhat of a fact.
But the answer is definitely at least maybe. If someone is shafting you, and you cant do anything about it except shaft them back, then maybe thats ok if you subscribe to an eye for an eye type of mentality.
@mousie: I dunno man; seeing if they pocketed cash seems outside the scope of mystery shopper and more like being a fed.
So all the stuff you pretend to buy, you get to keep?
No pretending on the transaction side you buy it and get reimbursed.
I've seen 'Mystery Shoppers' advertisement around the place (posters and gumtree) are they the same as what you're doing, are they typically less reputable companies or the same, and is that a way to get into it?
Conceptually yes - but there are a few sharks in the shark tank. If they can't afford to advertise without it being for free- I would personally avoid.
Look for an Australian Address and a local contact number - ABN etc.
Plus some are legit, technically, but they take their sweet time to pay you or don’t pay you the bonuses. Some are renowned for that
Frontline focus were terrible
How long does it take to complete the $12 job? If you are chosen to work, are you typically rostered on for a minimum number of hours in one day and around the same area +/- 10km?
I can knock over a $12 survey in about 5 mins. Maybe 5 mins for the job itself, but speed comes with experience and a heightened level of observation skills.
A weekend Saturday / Sunday I could do about 30 jobs in a day at the peak. But Sydney sucks.
Too much traffic in between jobs in Sydney?
yep I missed out on a word. Sydney traffic sucks
I know when I worked at McDonalds in my younger days, if the customer asked for a receipt that was a flag that the person could be a mystery shopper.
One of the checks at most QSR (quick service restaurants) is if the attendant actually provides you with a receipt without having to ask for one.
The trick I used to do would be to dress as a tradie / corporate type and have a folio so it looked like a legit work expense.
I was the forgetful mum who needed a receipt to figure out where I spent my money for the day. :)
Must always think I’m a mystery shopper then. I always ask/get a receipt.
Same here, not mystery shopper but like to have receipts in case of refunds etc!
I joined some of the Mystery shopping site but they only pay like $25 in bunnings or $50 a test drive for 2 hours effort of work.
Can you not go on site and complete the task and how much you got pay for them?
Can you suggest a better pay Mystery shopping company?
That's the rate mate!
I have been paid a lot more in the auto jobs because I can pull off the buyer of a luxury car, and they need the work done..
Jobs towards the end of the month typically attract incentives to complete on short notice because someone else has stuffed up.
how can you secure 30 job for the weekend and how do you remember each experience?
Can you just twist your previously experience and check on you on the CCTV which they say they would?
Google Voice typing and a well designed spreadsheet
It's something you build up to. I started small - 3-4 jobs each day .
Re CCTV - Privacy legislation stops Audio recording as far as I know.
@mousie: But you still need to be present in the shop and buy and return stuff right and show receipt?
@mousie: I mean each bunnings job you need to buy stuff, return stuff and inteact with staff. HOw can you in and out in sort period of time and if you are taking many jobs would you remeber all experience
@SnoozeAndLose: Go back on the next day if it's a purchase and return assignment. If there's a few in the same area - cluster them together.
You need a system - I used a spreadsheet and google voice typing and made notes that would make sense to me.
@mousie: oh i think the GVT is the key just keep speaking and it will et the report to you when you are done.
I will keep in mind, thank you for your fast response on all on questions.
I have been paid a lot more in the auto jobs because I can pull off the buyer
You’d want a lot more for this!
I though he was supposed to be the buyer?!
Can you pick and choose your assignments? Is this something I can fit around other weekend commitments?
100%
I did this whilst working full time for years. avg 2.5k per month net extra
2.5K per month is alot for only workin gon the weekend
Yep. I'm sure there are better paid side gigs but this is what I did.
Is this something that someone could quit their day job and do full time? Was it always local or did you have to travel? How far away was the furthest job?