Category: About Mystery Shopping

Of the three types of shops, video shops can be one of the easier shops to complete for some. However, these are one of the more difficult types of shop to obtain as they go quickly. Once you are assigned a video shop, you will be asked for your mailing address and EPMS will send you the shirt and camera to complete the shop. While you are waiting for the equipment to arrive, you will want to read through the details of the shop as you would any other shop.

You will likely have to complete the recorded phone call portion. You will also have to upload a test video, basically to show that you know how to adjust the shirt and camera to the right angle for the shop.Video shops are fun because they are easy.  The hardest part about shops is remembering the details, but video shops record all of the details needed to complete the report. With that said, it is still important to pay close attention during the shop, as you do not want to rely solely on the camera. The camera could run out of battery, stop recording or malfunction during the middle of the shop. The likelihood of this happening is small, yet you want to make sure you are prepared.

Once you have completed the shop, you will simply mail everything back to EPMS in the pre-paid postage envelope included in the original box; that’s it! Remember, do a great first shop and you will be assigned more video shops as they are available.

There are three main apartment shops existing on the EPMS platform; audio, video, and regular shops. Regular apartment shops are completed without recording or taking video of the actual visit, along with submitting your online report based solely on generous and objective feedback. These shops typically require you to take quick notes once you return to your car to ensure you remember key details or facts. Audio Shops can be recorded with your cell phone, pocket recorder or a recorder mailed to you by EPMS. A bonus is usually added to the base apartment shop pay for using your own device.

Video shops require less of your brain capacity for remembering key details, yet you will need to ensure you have several things in place to complete a successful video shop.You will need a shirt with the camera attached, which is usually supplied by EPMS. The shirt, along with required equipment, is usually mailed to your preferred address. From there, you will complete the shop. The video shops typically have a quick turnaround time for returning the video equipment as others will need to use it.

Now, you can choose the shop that will be best for you to complete within the time frames you have available throughout the week. The easiest shops to secure are the regular shops that do not require audio or video. Overall, whichever shops you choose to complete will give you the opportunity to share objective feedback on how the staff and company can improve and celebrate where they are doing well.

Mystery shopping allows for a company to understand how their training and support is benefiting their staff members. The life blood of any company is their customers.  The fact that a company would hire mystery shoppers to determine if the system they set up is working, for the customers and the staff, is a noble effort.

There are just as many companies who do not care about customer service or whether their staff has the proper training to keep the company in good standing with who matters.

Not to mention, I am sure the company has the employee sign legal paperwork that shares that they may be subject to review or a mystery shop.

What you have to remember here is why the company is contracting to have mystery shops completed.

Many companies understand that their customers are the life blood of their business.   They know that in order to stay in business, they must make sure their customers are being taken care of, as they designed and their product is being represented properly.

We all work very hard for our money and I admire companies who understand this and only want the best for us, as consumers.  The mystery shopping companies, the legit ones, will make sure that the mystery shopping is handled in an ethical way.  After all, they are the experts in the field.

As mystery shoppers, it is our job to treat the agents or staff that we are shopping as if we were in their shoes. Allow them to do their best job possible based on how they were trained with minimal interruptions.  Of course, you are open to your opinion about this, yet mystery shopping has been around for a long time and I am sure it will continue to be a valuable component of the customer service model.

Mystery shopping is not simply a side job or a hobby. It is making an impact within companies around the world.

You, as a valued mystery shopper is providing invaluable feedback, from a customer’s perspective to the head of company departments that can do something about and with your feedback. This is golden. Why?

We have all been customers and purchased products from companies that we wish would create a better customer experience.

Mystery shopping gives you an opportunity give your insights to those very people. Because, face it, sharing your concerns with customer service may only go so far.

From a company’s perspective, your feedback and input is invaluable. It helps them to develop plans to make their product and service better. They could sit in meetings and guess about what you need, what the problems are and how to fix them yet getting information from the ground floor helps to speed this process along.

With this said, as you are completing your mystery shops, you have a grave responsibility to offer the most unbiased feedback based on your experience with the staff. You should always assume the best versus the worst.

Another key is giving the person you are shopping the best opportunity to follow their company’s protocols and how they have been trained to sell or offer the service or product.

Overall, decide to be the observer of a perfectly trained agent or employee at work. Remember to give them room to do what they are trained to do. You just stay calm and natural. You’ve got this!

Mystery shopping is a great thing to do at the start of the year. Here’s why:

• You are refreshed and excited for the New Year.
• Many companies are looking to improve their customer service, thus there may be more shops available.
• The support staff at the mystery companies are just as excited as you are – to complete shops

Take some time to log onto the online portal and choose your ideal shops. As I mentioned, everyone is excited to get started or continue to mystery shop. You want to make sure you get the best shops. In order to do this, you must check the online site early and often.  Once January passes by, the demand will likely go back to normal for the amount of shops released each month. Wouldn’t that make your life easier?

If you are excited to put some extra cash in your pocket while giving invaluable feedback to companies who are looking to make improvements in their businesses, from the consumer’s perspective, mystery shopping is the way to go.

Remember to choose reputable companies. Ideally, a mystery shopping company would not charge you a fee to join their site. If a company is charging you a fee, you should find another mystery shopping company. There are many companies to choose from and you are more than ready to get started!