Secret Shopper Review

The secret shopping industry has grown radically within the past decade, thanks in part to the exposure it has received via the internet. Current estimates (as of January 2008) place the US mystery shopping industry at $800 Million, and this figure is growing at about 11 to 12 percent a year.

This growth is even more significant when you consider the fact that growth in the retail industry is down 50% from two years ago. The decline in the retail sector may have actually contributed to the growth in mystery shopping as many stores are realizing that customer service could help keep some customers and potentially attract new ones.

Another contributing factor to the growth of the secret shopping sector is the increase in the industries that have begun to use secret shopping services. Secret shoppers are now being employed in a wide range of venues, from spas and ski resorts to airports and even zoos.

With the growth of the secret shopping industry has come an increase in the need for secret shoppers. This means good news for current secret shoppers or anyone looking to become a secret shopper!

Become a secret shopper today…

You might be wondering “why would someone pay me to shop at their store”? The truth is that the corporate executives of retail stores, restaurants, hotels, fast food franchises, and many other businesses around the world rely on secret shoppers to tell them how their business is operating and how customers are being treated when they aren’t around. They get impartial opinions on what is really happening, and they can use this input to make changes to better their business.

These executives know that when they are on site, the employees are tripping over their own feet to ensure everything is as it should be. They also know that when they leave and no one is around to keep an eye on things, things can get pretty slack. This is the reason why they need secret shoppers.

Believe it or not, the information provided to the CEO’s by mystery shoppers is much more valuable to them then the some $40 that they dish out to get that information. The information collected by secret shoppers is so significant that employees have actually been terminated as a result of the reports. If you do become a mystery shopper, it is important to remember to be honest and fair, and not to give a bad review simply because you can.

Finally, although mystery shopping is a legitimate job, you must be cautious of who you accept jobs from. People have been scammed in the past by companies that hire mystery shoppers, have them go to their stores and buy products, and never reimburse them for the purchase or pay them for their time. The best way to avoid being scammed is to register with a reputable mystery shopping network, who will then connect you to their established and trusted partners.

Become a secret shopper today…