Welcome to the Mystery Shopping Learning Center Blog

A Unique Mystery Shopping Program Targets The Homeless

Ann Michaels & Associates — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:41:54 +0000

I came across an interesting article this morning out of London, which examines the way in which people needing assistance due to difficult financial times are treated. You can read the entire article to see how they are handling this population and ensuring that they are receiving the help they need in an empathetic manner.

It is interesting and comforting to know that organizations similar to this one want to be sure they are helping people the way they need it, and treating them with the respect and dignity they deserve.

It brings home an interesting point too – businesses may have procedures in place that they deem to be important to the success of the company, or have procedures that are important to consumers. However, if you are not asking your target audience what they perceive the procedures to be, you may be missing the boat when it comes to customer satisfaction.

In this instance, the organization is using those who are in need of services or who have experienced them in the past. By utilizing the people who actually use their services, they are well on their way to ensuring that they are doing everything they can to provide in the best manner possible.

An added benefit of this specific program is that they are using the mystery shopping experiences as pre-employment screening tools, bringing these people in need potentially one step closer to finding employment and getting back on track.

Mystery shopping has evolved significantly over the last several years, and this is yet another example of the versatility of mystery shopping programs.

Until next time…happy shopping!

Using Twitter to Find More Work

Ann Michaels & Associates — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:06:57 +0000

If you’re not using social media to find new companies to work for (or find mystery shop postings), you may be missing out!

You can see a few mentions of mystery shopping on Twitter, including a list of legitimate companies here. You can also follow some of the mystery shopping providers directly at the following Twitter handles:

@Ann_Michaels (that’s us!)

@MarketForce

@CustomerImpact

@KSSInc – Kern Scheduling

@AthPower

@BestMark

@AboutFaceShops

Do you know of any? If so, feel free to share with the group!

Until next time….happy shopping!

Upcoming MSPA Gold Certification – Dallas, TX

Ann Michaels & Associates — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:06:29 +0000

Want to become Gold Certified? Live in Texas? If you’re saying “yes” to both, you won’t want to miss out on the next MSPA Gold Certification conference.

The next upcoming session will be held on September 12th at the Embassy Suites in Love Field and will be held from 9am to 4pm. This is your chance to learn more about the industry, meet fellow shopper and mystery shopping companies, and have a great time while doing it!

The cost is $125.00 and you can register at this link.

Until next time…happy shopping!

Franklin Allen Scam – We Need Your Help!

Ann Michaels & Associates — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:32:44 +0000

Thank you to those who have been sending us emails in response to the Franklin Allen scam. If you’re not familiar with this, please read this past posting.

Here’s where we need your help. Their website has been taken down (the one we posted in the original article), but it seems they may still be out there somewhere taking “shopper applications.” If you have come across their site or a link that refers to them, please comment and let us know where you’re seeing it.

Unfortunately, technology has made it VERY easy for these people to continue to run scams, and since not everyone reads this blog, we may not be able to reach everyone who is affected by it.

Thank you SO much for your help!

Until next time…happy shopping!

Another One Busted!

Ann Michaels & Associates — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 22:27:25 +0000

I love reading news reports of scammers in this industry being caught!

Wayne J. Verderber ran a work from home scam for almost ten years, offering victims work from home offers that included mystery shopping. He promised wages upwards of $25.00/hour, but as we all know from other scams, people often made nothing from this.

The article talks about how he has to liquidate his assets, including condos, a BMW, and other items that were obtained during this period of time. The author explains:

“The government alleges Verderber, who also uses the names Wayne Verd and Brian West, used his company, Independent Marketing Exchange, Inc., to defraud people who bought into work-at-home and mystery shopping schemes.”

He also did business under the following company names:

National Data Management; N.D.M.

Global Mailing Services; G.M.S.

Independent Mailing Services

Independent Mailing Services Inc.

I.M.S.; Independent Shoppers Network

Independent Shoppers

Success At Home

Success-At-Home Mailing

IMEX; IMEX Inc.

Continental Publishing Company

It’s always a good idea to be aware of potential scam artists, especially as they relate to our industry. I’m always happy to hear when someone is caught and share the news!

Until next time…happy shopping!

Making Money on Vacation

Ann Michaels & Associates — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:29:00 +0000

Everyone needs a vacation to get away from the daily humdrum….however, being a mystery shopper has its advantages in this regard. Many shoppers will try to make some money during their vacation to offset the cost of their trip.

Below are some tips to try to make this happen:

1. Check company job boards: If you rely solely on email notifications from mystery shopping providers to apply for shops, you may want to spend some time logging in to your accounts with the MSP’s you’re registered with to check the job boards. Often times you are able to search for shops outside of your immediate area. Take a look and see what shops are available at your destination or on your way there and apply for them if they can fit into your schedule.

2. Airport shops: Are you flying? Now’s the time to find out which companies have airport shops. Shoppers can pick up one or multiple shops at airports they are flying through to make some extra money. These shops are usually quick or simpler in nature, allowing you to make a couple of stops while waiting for your flight.

3. Find shops with companies you don’t normally shop with: You may only be registered with companies who have shops in your area, and may not be aware of companies who may have shops along your travels. Now is the time to check out Facebook for mystery shopping opportunities, and register for a free account with Jobslinger. This will allow you to see what’s out there. With Jobslinger, you can search by state or zip code and register with companies directly through their site.

From a scheduler’s perspective, I’d like to share a few tips to help you if you are applying for shops that are outside of your typical area:

1. Contact the scheduler or quantify your application when applying: If you are applying for shops that are in another state or quite a distance from your home, you will want to let the scheduler know this when you apply or shortly thereafter. Many companies have a section for additional comments when you apply. This is a great place to add that “I will be traveling to X during this time and can conduct the shop.” If this is not available, I suggest contacting the scheduler via email to let them know that you are traveling. Many times we can see how far you are from a particular shop, and if we see you’re 100 miles away or in another state and there is no explanation, your chances of getting the shop assigned to you are pretty slim.

2. Airport shopping – be realistic: Airport shops can be tempting to complete while you’re waiting for a flight or have a layover. When deciding to take a shop, and how many you can/should pick up, be aware of the timings of your flights and allow for delays in your schedule. Don’t overbook yourself and cause stress when you’re supposed to be relaxing!

If any readers have tips or advice on picking up shops while on vacation, we’d love to hear them! Vacations are great, and can be even better when you’re making money!

Until next time…happy shopping!

End of Life – Would you Do Shops in the Deathcare Industry?

Ann Michaels & Associates — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:11:59 +0000

Years ago, mystery shopping was traditionally tied to retail and restaurants, but has expanded to almost every industry imaginable, and the deathcare industry is no different. We’ve seen shops ranging from calling the Social Security Administration to inquire about benefits for a parent or family member that is dying, to funeral home shops. I recently came across this article that describes a mystery shopping project geared toward evaluating will-writing services. This article discusses the findings of the project, namely that they uncovered one of every five wills written by unregulated will-writing companies was not prepared correctly.

As important as this industry is to evaluate to ensure appropriate procedures are in place, especially in such an emotionally driven situation, it leads me to wonder how willing shoppers are to conduct shops in this industry. It’s a morbid topic for sure, and discussing the imminent demise of a loved one is not someone’s first choice. I’d be curious to see which of our readers have conducted similar shops, and what people think in general terms about shopping the deathcare industry.

Until next time…happy shopping!

How Do You Find Mystery Shops?

Ann Michaels & Associates — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:46:06 +0000

With all of the different ways shoppers can be notified of upcoming shops, I thought it would be interesting to conduct a quick, informal poll for our readers. Do you tend to use one method of finding and applying for shops over another? In talking with shoppers over the years, I’ve learned that some base their search on the email notifications sent by mystery shopping providers, while others prefer to not receive emails but login and check job boards instead.

In recent years, sites such as Jobslinger and social media sites have attempted to consolidate mystery shop postings, offering another avenue for shoppers to be more efficient.

Let us know what you do – comments are welcome!

View This Poll

Until next time…happy shopping!

Jobslinger’s Facebook App is Here!

Ann Michaels & Associates — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:24:40 +0000

Searching for mystery shopping jobs can be time consuming, and our friends at Jobslinger continually try to make it as easy as possible! If you’re not signed up with Jobslinger, it’s a good idea to put that on your to do list – it’s free and gives you a place to search for legitimate mystery shopping opportunities.

They’ve also just released their Facebook app, which lets you search for mystery shops within Facebook. Take a look at their demo to see how it works:

You can check out Jobslinger’s Facebook page and like them so you can keep up to date on the latest technology related to the mystery shopping industry.

Until next time…happy shopping!

Do You Shop with Sassie Companies? You May Want to Check Your Shop Log…

Ann Michaels & Associates — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:56:13 +0000

Sassie has been having some trouble with the email servers over the last day or so, so you may not be receiving shop invitations and/or acceptance emails when shops are assigned to you. If you have recently applied for shops, or are looking for shops to fill your schedule, we are recommending that you log in to your shop log to see if you’ve been assigned shops in the last 24 hours. It’s also a good time to check the job board to apply for new shops that may have been posted recently.

This issue should be resolved shortly, but we wanted to bring it to your attention so you’re not missing out on communication from mystery shopping companies!

Until next time…happy shopping!