Mystery shopper

Posted by eaurhb (23 days ago)

Anybody works or worked as mystery shopper. if so, like to know your experience.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by happychick (23 days ago)

I used to work for a company in the US who needed mystery shoppers in HK. You need an ok memory to remember everything because you need to report back your findings and the questionaires you fill out are quite detailed.
The pay wasn't very good for me but that could depend on the type of job you are send to do. The jobs I had required me to have a good memory.
Although I don't do it anymore, it was a good experience.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sk76 (22 days ago)

How do you get to be a mystery shopper - just curious as I spend almost everyday doing shopping of some sort and would love to get paid for it!!

Have an excellent memory as mentione in above thread, so that wouldn't be a prob.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by happychick (22 days ago)

Initially it was my friend who did mystery shopping, but she was leaving HK and asked if I wanted to do it instead and that's how it started. The companies will send you information about where you need to shop or eat and give you one month to complete the assignment and ask whether you can do it, if you can't, they just give it to someone else.

It's actually quite good as you get to eat free in good restaurants and if you are required to buy something from a shop, you get to keep it!

If you search google, you will find that there are a few companies in HK that you can register to be a mystery shopper, but I haven't worked for any HK company so not sure what they are like.
If you would like to know the US company I worked for, please send me a PM and I will give you their details. Please note that it's been a few years since I worked for them.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by eaurhb (22 days ago)

I just started a few jobs for 2 mystery shoppers in Hong Kong. One of them asked me to take a photo outside the shop as an evidence that I have visited the shop or I would not get paid. But they did not check that mall in fact does not allow people to take pictures. I was then told off by the guard. I was embrassed and very angry.

The mystery shopping company should have checked before asking us to do so. They can also arrange other method for us to show that we have been there. I then complained to the project manager, she said nobody complained about it before and I should have taken a picture without them notice. I said you can steal people stuff without them notice too, but an offense is an offense.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by happychick (22 days ago)

eaurhb, that sounds really bad, you have the right to be angry as the mystery shopper company should know the rules.

If you were visiting a shop, it means you would have had to test the staffs knowledge of their products and how they handle complaints etc. Which means you should have been able to produce staff and managers names. If you bought a product, you would have to reproduce the receipt (displaying company name and address) to the shopper company. This should be enough proof.

When I was testing a particular restaurant in HK, I have to remember all the names of staff that I came into contact with and produce the receipt (amongst other things) but never had to take a photo of the restaurant.

I hope this hasn't put you off as some jobs can be quite fun.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by eaurhb (18 days ago)

happychick, the company I worked for is European based and they slowly, 2 months after we did the job. I will PM you to get the name of the company you worked for.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by janetw (18 days ago)

Hi I did this in the UK and would love to do it here. Can either of you PM me the details please. I used to work in retail mgment so was really good at being critical....

Thanks

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by MissyViv (18 days ago)

Hi, i have heard many people trying the job as a mystery shopper but i can never get a hold of an opportunity like that. Can the eaurhb or happychick kindly email the details? (i've searched on the net and have second thoughts filling in my bank account number over the net...)

Thanks a lot,

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Cammie (2 days ago)

Hi! Could you pls PM me the contacts too? Would really appreciate it, thanks!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by eaurhb (2 days ago)

I would not PM you the contacts because the companies I am working for are not very good. Not only did they ask you to take photos where there are not allowed to do so as I mentioned above. One of them pay very low fee and slow (takes 2 months to pay to your paypal account).

One of them asked mystery shoppers to make out of pocket purchases (that means their fee will not cover the purchases) to do the job. If you did not meet the minimum purchase requirement, they will not pay you even though you have done everything and wrote a report etc. It was a complete waste of time. Well, unless you are a big fan of the shops they asked you to check and will buy something anyway.

(I am based in Hong Kong)