Mystery Shopping: What to Bring with You on a Shop

by Julie Gentry | More from this Blogger

21 Jan 2007 08:35 AM

You're all ready to go! You've checked the instructions, taken the needed exam, made sure there's gas in the car, and your cell phone is charged. What else? I carry a Mystery Shopping Kit in my car. It's full of stuff that isn't really necessary for a shop, but sure makes it easier! Here's what's in mine (you'll need to tailor yours to whatever kind of shops you do):

• A box of pens. Not just one or two. A box. Otherwise, it'll be the time when I have two dozen details in my head that are about to be lost that the pens run out of ink, slip under the seat where I can't reach them, or simply disappear.
• Notepad. For quick notes.
• A transparent receipt holder. I got a nice one at Staples that closes like a Ziploc, except it's a lot heavier. I got mine in bright pink so it's easy to see. Otherwise, receipts tend to get lost in a wallet or purse. In most case, no receipt = no pay.
• A clean shirt. Okay, maybe you're not as messy as I am. Often enough, though, I have spilled on my shirt at a lunch shop when I still have several others to complete. The extra shirt can be a lifesaver. You don't want to be memorable - and certainly not for the spilled spaghetti sauce on your shirt. Hint: roll your shirt to keep it from getting wrinkled.
• A bottle of water. Because a shopping day can get long. Ditto with an energy bar.
• The shop instructions. Yeah, this should go without saying, but it never fails that the time I forget to bring the instructions is the time I need to refer to them. My daughter says she's going to start charging me for calling up and asking her to read them to me.
• A CD with both pictures and text. I do a lot of office supply shops that require me to print out three-page documents or five-page documents. The CD has all the Boy Scout merit badge requirements. I print them out and leave them in our Scout library for the others to use. It's better than printing something useless and throwing it away! Also, some shops require using a photo machine, and having a disk ready means that I don't have to spend the time the night before.
• A list of scheduler's phone numbers for the companies I shop most frequently. Things happen. Being able to call a scheduler can mean the difference between a shop getting rejected or salvaged.

That's what's in my kit, in a file box that goes with me. It's saved me more than once!

Learn more about Julie Gentry

Julie is affectionately known as GoGo Mama to her friends since she seems to always be out and about.

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Libby Pelham (12876) 21 Jan 2007 10:52 AM

Thanks for the mystery shopper blogs Julie. Makes me want to try it (although it is probably impossible with a 2 year old!).

Julie Gentry (5915) 21 Jan 2007 03:28 PM

Libby, you'd be surprised! I've taken mine on them since they were small. There ARE a few shops that specify "no children", but most want an average customer's experience -- and average people have children :-). You might start out with Amusement Advantage. They shop zoos, aquariums, go-kart places, and other fun places!