Tag: mystery shopping

Is Mystery Shopping Worth It?

  August 21, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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mystery-shopping-worth-itWell of course it is. Mystery shopping, sometimes referred to as secret shopping, is where an individual is hired to “act” like a customer, and evaluate services at a business. Wouldn’t you love to be undercover and nobody knows? Sounds exciting, right? Well let’s walk you through a scenario so that afterwards you will get signed up.

Here is how easy it is: You register with us. You get access to all the mystery shops to perform. You accept certain mystery shops. You read over all of the information and go perform the task that is required. You report your findings and facts back to the company via computer, fax or scan. Now the best part of it all, you get paid!

Where on earth have you made money that quick? No where, right? Mystery shopping is the easiest job that I have ever had. Listen the time is now and it doesn’t get any better. Secure your area and be the first one to mystery shop in your community. The faster you sign on with us, the faster you can be making money and keeping busy.

I used to be the one looking at these ads and wonder was this all real? Well I will tell you this…for the last few months I have been very happy that I made the choice to do mystery shopping. There is no fee of any sort. This my friends is the real deal! Try it out today!

Is Mystery Shopping A Mystery?

  August 14, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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mystery-shopper-mysteryNo but some seem to think so. Mystery shopping is the wave of the future. It is allowing all types and walks of people from all around to make money that is making a difference in their life.

Why don’t you try it and make a difference in your life as well. What would an extra $6000 a year do for you? Do you think you would have money for extra gifts, vacationing, eating out more with your friends and family? That’s exactly what it has done for me. Mystery shopping has allowed me to have fun and make money and fill in those gaps of time that I often have during the day to be productive.
The great benefit is that it does not take all day to do. Just go to a shop, perform your task, go home and type up the report. It’s that easy so why doesn’t everyone do it? I don’t know but you definitely do not want to miss out on this.
Make some extra cash and visit places that you would have not ordinarily visited. Like for example: some restaurants, some stores, some car lots and so many more things. This is a great side profession. Let’s just think and take a moment. When is the last time someone came knocking at your door to give you the opportunity to make some extra income? Folks the time is now and you are the person that we are looking for. Register today for mystery shopping and enjoy a life that gives you freedom and money. Take a cruise on us.

Insider Tips For Mystery Shops

  August 7, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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insider-tips-mystery-shoppingThere are several insider tips on how to get your mystery shops done quickly and accurately. The most important tip is organize and stay organized!

When you get your assignment assigned, ensure you either print out or write down the information that includes the contact person if any, telephone number, and if there are any days not allowed to shop or specific dates and times you are supposed to conduct the shop.

If you are conducting an apartment mystery shop, pay attention to if the assignment states whether this company keeps computer telephone records of previous calls since you may have to change your name, telephone number, and email address if you performed a previous shop for that apartment management company.

Using these tips can save you endless hours of work since you can have a shop denied for not meeting all the contract specifications.

Always remember to review the questions on the form before you begin your shop. I usually take the form with me in my car to review right before I conduct the shop, which helps me to remember what I need to do.

Lastly, do not forget that once you leave the mystery shop location, it is important to write down as many items as you can remember from your visit.

Being organized with the proper information and reviewing the questions necessary to perform the mystery shop will prove invaluable in accurately and quickly completing your mystery shops.

Mystery Shoppers Dress For Success

  July 31, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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dress-for-successYou always hear, “Dress for success.” When you perform apartment mystery shops, you should always check to see the criteria for the rental income level for that community which is listed on the shop specifications. Some communities are high-end apartment buildings while others are moderately priced, and still others may be a lower income property that is subsidized by the government.

Checking the company website always helps to establish what type of community you are visiting so that you are prepared to provide an income amount or budget for rent that fits what the apartment community offers. This also helps ensure you wear appropriate attire when you mystery shop the community.

If you are not prepared and state an inadequate income for a high-end community, you could run the risk that the leasing professional would say that you do not qualify. However, if, you say you make too much money and the community is a moderate to lower income building, then you can risk being overqualified and denied for that community as well. If either of these things happen you would not be able to complete the shop assignment and would not be paid for your work up to that point.

On high-end communities, you do not want to draw attention to the leasing professional that you really do not qualify by wearing old or wrinkled clothing, or worse, still have curlers in your hair! If you have an older car and need to visit a higher-priced community, you can park down the street.

On all occasions, wearing clean and neat attire is a must. Dressing appropriately could create a positive relationship between you and the leasing professional. Studies show that people respond more favorably to well-groomed individuals and what we want is for the leasing professional to feel comfortable so they have the best opportunity to be successful on their mystery shop.

So even in mystery shopping you must dress for success.

Make Extra Money With Mystery Shopping

  July 24, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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mystery-shopping-moneyMystery shopping offers extra money with only a couple of hours of work and has the advantage where you can set your own hours and be your own boss.

Stay at home moms, students who go to school, or those you are in between finding a full-time employment can make hundreds of dollars in mystery shopping in several hours. Mystery shopping can also be done as a on a part-time basis or as many hours as you wish to work.

Most mystery shopping companies provide an easy online registration process and daily lists of numerous jobs in various locations. You just find a suitable job assignment and assign it to yourself. The process is fairly simply.

You just review your shop requirements, conduct the shop, submit a report, and backup documentation or receipts if needed.

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn extra money. Some mystery shopping companies also have contests or sweepstakes for their mystery shoppers, which allows them an opportunity to win extra cash or prizes.

So, what is keeping you from applying? Apply now, and earn extra cash and prizes each month mystery shopping.

The Learning Curve

  July 10, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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learning-curveMystery Apartment Shopping for EPMS in the last four years has been an exceptional experience for me. I learned early in my sales and customer service career that in order to be successful you must have a positive attitude and perform the task as promised. I began to notice that each and everything I learned along the way could be put to use again, whether it was learning Microsoft Excel and creating spreadsheets or being persistent when faced with voice mail.

If you are just beginning to mystery apartment shop or have been struggling and becoming discouraged, keep in mind that you must be organized, pay close attention to your instructions as each job is different and ask questions of your scheduler if you find the need to do so. EPMS has been around since 1984 and although they have perfected mystery apartment shopping where other companies have failed, management continues to review and improve all phases of operations. Successful organizations know that evolving is the only way to get to being #1 and staying on top.

I have put to use many of my acquired skills and carefully scrutinize all instructions for every shop. You can do this too by putting forth that extra effort each time you speak to a leasing representative on the phone or onsite at an apartment community. It’s amazing what you can accomplish by reading your provided shopper data thoroughly and paying attention to the smallest detail. And you will continue to learn, sometimes from previous errors, every time you are accepted by EPMS to perform a shop. Be the best at what you do and the recognition will follow!

3 Memorization Techniques That Can Save Hours of Work

  

  Posted by: lford

  

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memory-techniquesHave you ever performed a mystery shopping visit and forgot one aspect of the kitchen or color of the walls? Here are three quick memorization techniques that professionals use to help activate and recall our memory. The techniques used are called Association, Visualization and Sing it.

To use the Association technique, you need to associate the item to something you enjoy. For example, if the colors of the apartment walls are white, but have an accent brown colored wall you can associate this coloring combination to something you enjoy, like a vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup.

Another technique that is used is called Visualization: Since some people are more visual, this tip allows the individual to visualize an item like a picture or image in your mind. The leasing office may be decorated in a contemporary style décor and you can visualize this room in your mind as a picture of a contemporary art picture with similar colors or any mental image. The visual image created in your mind helps you recall the details later when you type your report.

Lastly, another popular memorizing technique is Sing it! If you are an auditory person, think about which area of a mystery visit you tend to usually forget when you write your report. For me, I tend to forget the color of the kitchen appliances. However, when I create a short memorable singing jingle and replace a word with the color of the appliances. I use, “I’m having a White Christmas”, and insert “I’m having a White Appliances”, and I immediately recall if the appliances were white or another color.

Using any combination of these memory techniques can save hours of work on remembering your visit. However, don’t forget to write down anything as soon as you can after a visit on a notepad and not in view of any employees.

How I Handle Requests For Information About Mystery Shopping

  July 3, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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information-mystery-shoppingMy friends and family know I am a secret shopper and occasionally they relay requests from other’s looking for information on how to get started in this business. I am always discrete about the why’s, where’s and who’s of my Mystery Shopping but happy to pass on some general information.

The first thing I tell them is I NEVER, EVER pay for a contract. Reputable agencies do not use middle men who charge for the information they post on their job boards for free. I mostly advise them to Google secret shoppers or mystery shopping and study the companies listed there.

I relate that I was able to find my first few shops that way but then ran into a wall. I will tell them I found Shadow Shopper online and broke my own rule when I paid a small fee to use their list to contact agencies looking for shoppers.

I felt I had only bent my rule, not broken it, and they became an excellent source of information for my new business. I also admit I still subscribe to JobSlinger Plus. The multiple emails I receive daily save me from spending my time searching for jobs instead of shopping them.

I advise that mystery shopping, like any other line of work, has a learning curve. Entry level assignments don’t pay much, or quickly. If the $10 from that first job is needed today this is not for them. It can take up to 90 days to get the first check. However, if they like the challenge of something new every day these jobs will hone their skills. They will soon be ready for the fun stuff with larger fees. The small paydays will be larger and contribute to a steady stream of extra spending money. Patient is necessary.

And last, but not least, a mystery shopper has to have a bit of larceny in the heart. After all, any employee will tell you what their boss wants to hear if you walk in with a clipboard and come right out and ask them. We call it role playing but you can’t be afraid to tell a lie. That little deception, if done right, discovers what their boss really needs to know.

Mystery shopping and Etiquette

  June 3, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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Respond quickly and personallyI opened my email message from Scheduler Jane Doe at ABC Market Research expecting to see an offer of a new mystery shop. Instead I was hit in the face with words about an old one. The words were not critical, just cold, but my defenses still came to full alert and my day was off to a rocky start.

I cannot fault Jane for the stance of her prose. She is of the age of the text message. Neither can I accept blame for my reaction to it. I am of the age of the hand written thank you note. I, for one, would like to find the middle ground between the two.

As mystery shoppers we are alert to the niceties of proper etiquette. Shops require it. We are asked for comments about how we are greeted and if we are thanked and offered a pleasant parting remark.

If I were to meet Jane in person, or speak with her on the phone, I’m sure she would have a bright smile and friendly demeanor. However, we are not often granted that privilege.

In the mystery shopping business, the relationships we have with our partners are only colored by our words. There are a couple of those words I find especially useful; Hello and Thanks. They are small, just a few key strokes, but oh so powerful. I know I feel more inclined to go above and beyond when that ‘personal’ relationship is established.

Our clients expect their employees to conduct themselves with decorum. Wouldn’t it be great if we could learn to treat each other with the same degree of kindness?

Thanks for your time.

The Solution Is Mystery Shopping

  May 27, 2014

  Posted by: lford

  

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Low on money, high on bills? The solution is mystery shopping! Are you out of work or living paycheck to paycheck? Are you looking for a guaranteed way to make money from home? Are you tired of going to work every day? Do you want more free time to do what you enjoy doing?

Continue reading “The Solution Is Mystery Shopping”