Mystery shopping, or Secret Shopping as it is sometimes known, is well established and a very large part of the Market Research Industry. It is a service used by the top retail outlets, leading entertainment / leisure organizations and banks.

Whenever you visit a major fast food restaurant or well known retail chain, have you ever wondered how they manage to maintain a consistent high level of service no matter how many branches they have and regardless of where they are in the world?

It is not left to chance. They all use mystery shoppers to pose as diners or buyers to evaluate the service at ground level. Thousands of ordinary people get paid to go shopping, eat out in a restaurant or just pop out for a drink. Fees per visit vary between companies, but are usually between about $12.00 and $35.00. And of course expenses are paid - yes that really does mean that your food and drink is paid for as well.

You would choose which assignments are most suitable for you and work for one or more mystery shopping companies on a casual basis. They would pay you a set amount per visit plus travel, parking and phone expenses. Travel expenses usually consist of an allowance of around 35 cents per mile. You would visit bars, supermarkets, steak houses and fast food restaurants to check out the service and fill in a simple questionnaire. This information is used to improve standards.

Examples of some Restaurant / Bar questions for Secret Shoppers:

Was the exterior clean and tidy?

Was the interior clean and tidy?

Did the staff member who served you make eye contact?

Were you greeted?

Were you served in a friendly manner?

Were you served within two minutes of entry?

Were you offered ice with your drink, if appropriate?

Were you offered starters, side items, desserts or coffee?

Was your food served within 15 minutes?

Was your table cleared within five minutes of completion?

Was the music appropriate for the type of venue?

Were the rest rooms clean?

  Free e-mail support. For your first two months as a mystery shopper, free e-mail support will be available to you . However, in practice very little help is needed as applications to mystery shopping companies are usually very simple and full instructions concerning each project will automatically be sent to you.

For an administration charge of $20.00 we can provide you with the contact details of dozens of U.S. mystery shopping companies. Thousands of visits take place across the country daily.

Just jot your name and home address on a piece of paper marked "Mystery Shopping", enclose a check (payable to High Street Central) and send to:

HIGH STREET CENTRAL,
GREEN VIEW,
BROOK END ROAD NORTH,
CHELMSFORD,
ESSEX
CM2 6NW
UNITED KINGDOM

and we will post you full details.

If you supply us with an e-mail address we can get the information to you quicker on receipt of your check. Don't forget to bookmark us for future reference.

Journalists please click here.

Please click here to read what Choices Magazine had to say after a visit to Mystery Shopping Recruitment ^©

If you need further information before you purchase, we are always happy to help.  

Please click here to e-mail your inquiry or telephone 44 1245 465473 (UK) Please phone between 9am and 9pm GMT. Thank you.

Please click here to go to The Mystery Shopping Club UK ^©

Please click here to go to The Mystery Shopping Club Canada ^©