Secret Shopper?

I see the ads for secret shoppers all the time, but I don't want to sign up without someone's recommendation. Has anyone either done that or know someone personally who has? I did sign up for a restaurant secret "shopper" eater(?) and its on the legit, but its only for the same restaurant now over and over.

Yes. I did know someone who tried it for about a day.
Basically, you only get paid for doing what is asked of you. They were sending her all over and she was only working for like 10 mins at one store, 1/2 hr. at another and driving all over to get there at her own expense! She said she spent more in gas than she got paid!!!


GGG

Carmen, there was a thread on here a couple of years ago, but doing a search on "secret shopper" didn't turn it up.

Thanks, y'all. I was thinking it wasn't on the up and up, but I had to ask. Maybe someone can come up with the thread that you, darius, are thinking about. I've never seen it, but I do appreciate your input.

This one is a real one and an honest one. shopper@mysteryguestinc.com

I think GW and some others have done stuff for them. The biggest hang up with many of them is that you might pay to go out to dinner at the restaurant of THEIR choice then they reimburse you after you send your review or whatever info they want. I never had the time to do any of the assignments but am registered.

What kind of things would you like to do? I belong to a few other groups that do pay okay. They are retail jobs where you might set up a video, greeting card or jewelry display. They usually want you to have retail experience and be able to read and set up a planogram.

Badseed, the other day I saw you in the chat room. Question -- how did I get there? (Duh) Is it just open at certain times?

BDunn, in case Badseed doesn't get back to you, the chatroom is only open on Tues nights and Thurs mornings. If you go to the Home page, on the right hand side of the screen there is a box right now that says "The chatroom opens in 5 hours and 57 minutes". When it counts down to no minutes it will change to "The chatroom is now open" in bigger yellow letters. If you click on it it acts as a link to the chatroom.

I hope to see you there!

mg

Mystery Guest is on the up and up, definitely. The only restaurant they send us to around here is Smokey Bones BBQ. Others are sent to Cheesecake Factory. They get the reimbursement checks out quickly and the criteria is not difficult to follow. They pay us $17 ($12 entree + $5 tip allowance) for a lunch visit, and $27 ($22 entree + $5 tip allowance) for a dinner visit. Since Howie and I typically split restaurant entrees nowdays, anyway, we find our lunch or dinner completely paid for by the allowance.

I also do secret shopper assignments for IntelliShop: http://www.intelli-shop.com/shopper.html They don't have many assignments in my town, and the ones in Columbus are too far to drive unless I'm going to be in there for something else already. But they are prompt about getting payments out. They are very picky about the reports - you have to be sure to read the shop guidelines and follow them closely, or your shopper score will suffer.

This message was edited Nov 8, 2005 10:09 PM

Smokey Bones! That's the one they keep sending us to. The only problem is that it is over 20 miles away, so we don't go. I will visit the other web site to see if they are in our area.

Thanks so much!

Our Smokey Bones are about the same distance from us; we make a day of it when we get an assignment and spend the afternoon in Columbus.

I find it pretty funny that these so-called "Mystery Shopper" companies only send you to the same places over & over & over. Makes one think that the corporate office(s) of these restaurant franchises thinks there's something funny going on.

I am so sorry BDunn! I have been without internet a couple of times or the computer itself in the past week. LOL We just moved and still run to the other house to take care of things. I have not been on much. MG told ya right. :)

I figure they are doing a quality and consistency test or hoping you like it so much that you will keep going back and spending your own money. LOL

Breezy, I think some companies have a high standard of customer service. I know each time we've gone there, they have had very clean restrooms, friendly staff, quick service and great food. Their knowing quality control is in place definitely reflects on the experience there.