Having just finished a route longer than expected and being taken by surprise on a pet shop I thought I would jot down my own personal tips and hard rules to make mystery shopping more easy on myself and less frustrating.


1. If its an out pocket shop check online in advance what the items cost and compare it to the reimbursement.

Twice this year I've shopped with egg on my face when one semi fast food shop only covered reimbursement by 75%. The restarauant prices increased from the previous year. Then recently a pet shop with strict rules of buying pet food or litter of 12lbs or more only had over priced food of $65 or more starting at 12lbs. When I compared the same exact branded food all other pet stores the products were $15 or more cheaper!

2. When recording with my phone have the phone in my hand, never in my purse or in pants pocket.

Thankfully when I had a recording issue recently it was for personal use to backup my narrative with quotes. Most of the recording unfortunately only picked up th esound of my boots on the floor. Face palm moment!

3. Always if possible use google maps to check out the area beforehand.

Some areas a few blocks over are very unsafe and I've found myself in a few sticky situations especially for gas station shops. Since then, I've made notes of what shops are located in unsafe areas day vs night to either stay away from or ask for a bonus if its a shop during the day.

4. Similar to tip #3 I make sure to check out parking before going to a shop.

A few store companies have very irregular parking spots that it very difficult to snap a curbside photograph. Especially if the storage is not located next to another place with decent parking or across the street there is no parking possible! I also want to make sure if there is no available free parking that the msc will reimburse. Please make sure to ask, I've had two companies do so!

5. Make note of when bonuses are posted by email, web board or even on the forum. I keep track in my excel book since some msc have a pattern to them.

6. It never hurts to request a bonus.

I make it a habit to request bonuses sometimes for some shops if I am applying for more than two or three shops for a msc. Now this depends on the shop and MSC, as I do not do this every time. I usually do so if I will make a route of the shops or the shop pay looks low for the requirements. I will also make note on my excel book if the shop was bonused and who the scheduler was.

7. Always take a photo of the business card, receipt, brochure etc before leaving for home or the next shop.

I felt silly looking for a business card for an entire day thinking I left it in my car. As it turns out, the card was in the back pocket of my purse, that I always put away immeidately out of habit when I come home.

8. Keep a virtual and physical folder of all MSC items.

I actually did not start making an online album on my phone for my msc photos until very recently. Usually I uploaded it to my drive or sent an email. Its so much easier to keep it seperate from my own personal photos and makes searching a breeze!

If I recall anymore I will add on the list.
Do you guys have any tips or hard and fast rules?

Good tips. I definitely scope out the location and prices if it's a business I don't already know.

I've made my calendar app a regular part of my workflow. Naturally it's a handy thing for scheduling. And since I copy/paste from assignment into the address field I know the map won't lead me astray. (That is to say, if the address is formatted badly or confusing, Google Calendar will fail to recognize it immediately when I paste. If the address is right, it will often confirm the name of the business.)

And the notes field is particularly handy. It's the best place to put times and observations for the report later. Previously I had tried note apps but they made for extra work sorting or syncing. With the calendar both are taken care of, and it makes for easy looking back at a later date.

My biggest complaint is that Google Maps won't sort stops for an efficient route. (It's a famous computer optimization problem, but they can surely spare the computation for up to 5 locations.) But I can just swap them manually if my best guess looks like an inefficient route.

I 100% agree with #7! Good list.

Backup your files! You never know when your phone, tablet or computer will die. I've had my phone charging port crap out and spilled soda on my laptop.

This is business. Don't get your feelings involved.

Never, ever accept a shop which is not profit-making to the shopper. Consider travel time, shopping time, writing time, and opportunity cost.

Never trust any scheduler claiming that a shop is "fun" or "easy." Shopping is work, not fun. "Easy" is frequently scheduler code for "I really need to find a sucker to complete this crappy shop."

Never accept a counter-offer to a bonus request.

Always remember that shopping is business, treat it and those one encounters (in scheduling, in the field, and in editing) professionally.

Never be afraid to escalate a matter to a more senior person at the MSC, but never do so frivolously; choose one's battles.

Don't ask questions on this forum without first attempting to find the answer without assistance and when asking for assistance don't do so before checking threads to see if they have already been answered already.

I definitely follow this one; "Never accept a counter-offer to a bonus request."

@Rousseau wrote:

Never, ever accept a shop which is not profit-making to the shopper. Consider travel time, shopping time, writing time, and opportunity cost.

Never trust any scheduler claiming that a shop is "fun" or "easy." Shopping is work, not fun. "Easy" is frequently scheduler code for "I really need to find a sucker to complete this crappy shop."

Never accept a counter-offer to a bonus request.

Always remember that shopping is business, treat it and those one encounters (in scheduling, in the field, and in editing) professionally.

Never be afraid to escalate a matter to a more senior person at the MSC, but never do so frivolously; choose one's battles.

Don't ask questions on this forum without first attempting to find the answer without assistance and when asking for assistance don't do so before checking threads to see if they have already been answered already.

My very first rule of thumb is when accepting any new to you shop, ensure that is a shop near your base (home). IOW, do not accept a shop so many miles away that it becomes a cost to you rather than a profit.

IF this is not the most relevant thread to a shopper's business I have ever read, it is definitely near the top. My only addition to the list is to never hesitate to terminate any company with whom the relationship has become unacceptable. Not only will you have rid yourself of a bad situation, but such an action will improve both one's personal and business attitude.

One of my rules is to not schedule a route of shops I have never done before. I will always try one first and make sure it gets successfully accepted before I build out a route. Some shops are way more than work than they appear at the surface.

@Rousseau wrote:

Never trust any scheduler claiming that a shop is "fun" or "easy." Shopping is work, not fun. "Easy" is frequently scheduler code for "I really need to find a sucker to complete this crappy shop."

That is absolutely 10,000% true!!!!

One rule I had when I did more upscale food shops is to keep a recent receipt handy and consult it as a guide when looking at online menus to see if I can fit the reimbursement. The issue is that many restaurants do not list desserts or non alcoholic drinks on their online menus. In my experience the non alcoholic drinks can range from $3.00 or so to $8.00 each and desserts can range from an inexpensive one scoop of ice cream or a single cookie to a fabuloso dessert for $15 or more. These items can really bust your budget on a shop.

Sandyf, I have always done this without fail. It should be on everyone's automatically to do list.

These are all good, and most should be SOP, but I do not have a need for #2. I always put my smartphone in my shirt pocket when recording. That is where it works best, and I have never had an issue. I try to remember #7, even though I scan the receipts when I get home and use the scanned receipts for a neater and more professional look to my report. Receipts can get lost, but another reason to take a photo as soon as soon as your return to your car is that receipts turn black when the sun gets to them for a few minutes. I have a habit of always putting my receipts in a folder and covering them with something.

@sandyf wrote:

One rule I had when I did more upscale food shops is to keep a recent receipt handy and consult it as a guide when looking at online menus to see if I can fit the reimbursement. The issue is that many restaurants do not list desserts or non alcoholic drinks on their online menus. In my experience the non alcoholic drinks can range from $3.00 or so to $8.00 each and desserts can range from an inexpensive one scoop of ice cream or a single cookie to a fabuloso dessert for $15 or more. These items can really bust your budget on a shop.

And do what you can to determine when those online menues were posted. Sometimes they're 5 years old.

Remember that this is business, and building relationships is a corner stone to your businesses success. In many a business world clients are taken to dinner, sporting events, sent gifts. I'm NOT saying to go this far, but I am saying that remembering the MSC is OUR client goes a long way. Helping out with a hard to fill shop, being reliable, getting the $$ you need but not gouging will go a long way.

Example: I have spent years building a relationship with several schedulers at one company. I was asked to complete several shops, with 3 being out of the way and not really 'worth it' to me. I ended up taking those 3. It won't be a 'loss' but they aren't really profitable. I was given several other shops at the price I named even though that was no where near the price listed on the job board.
My husband, who has worked with these same schedulers for about a year emailed this scheduler about a shop he wanted and was given that shop along with 3 more before they even hit the job board, and a bonus(small) on them. The shops(locations)he requested typically get snatched up within minutes of being posted.

Cover your ass. Take extra photos even if not needed its best to have just in case. Any closed location always take photo.

@marnette wrote:

I 100% agree with #7! Good list.

I should do this, but I almost always forget. I lost a receipt once between the store and home and a business card, too. I'm pretty I had it in my hand as I walked out and it must have fallen on the ground. Luckily, both shops were accepted, and I was paid.

@Rousseau wrote:

Never, ever accept a shop which is not profit-making to the shopper. Consider travel time, shopping time, writing time, and opportunity cost.

This is probably the best advice ever, particularly for new shoppers. I'd add to it to take into account the time you spend prepping for the shop: downloading and reading the guidelines, then reviewing them again before you head out (if it's a new shop). Plus, if the shop requires something you're not adept at (capturing screen shots or creating PDFs, etc.), count the time that it takes to learn. Although if you plan on doing more shops that require that, it's a skill that will serve you well in the future, so I'd "amortize" that time over the first and subsequent similar shops. And if you print the materials out, consider the long-term costs of ink and paper. Although deductible, you still have to pay for them....



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2023 01:41PM by BirdyC.

A lot of good tips and rules.

I would add:

Once you apply for a shop or offer to do it, put it on your schedule just like assigned shops until your offer is refused or rescinded. In other words, don't schedule other shops that conflict with an applied for shop. It helps to put expiration dates on email offers to schedulers so as not to tie your hands too much.

Always meet the requirements one hundred percent even if it means giving yourself away as a shopper, especially if your own money is on the line. (I learned this here on the forum.)

Don't argue with editors, as long as you get paid.

@joanna81 wrote:

One of my rules is to not schedule a route of shops I have never done before. I will always try one first and make sure it gets successfully accepted before I build out a route. Some shops are way more than work than they appear at the surface.

Best advice ever!!!!!

If you're doing a route--at least for me--that means travel outside of my local area. Always make sure the shops are ones you've done before or, if you're going to take a flyer on a shop you've never done, make sure there is just one of them. Also, make sure it's a NOOPIE (No Out Of Pocket Expense) shop if you can. So if you get paid, you're not out any money.

Some advice I'd add in. I'm sure the response for many will be "duh".

* Don't leave the house for a single digit job fee. Phone calls and web shops. Fine.
* Switch your notification e-mail to GMAIL. GMAIL will let you make appointments on Google Calendar. When you schedule (repeat--schedule), make an entry on google calendar and assign it a color--yellow. When confirmed, change it to green. Always book a solid hour for every shop. This keeps you from scheduling too many for the same period.
* I'd rather do seven shops in one day than one shop every day for seven days. Same pay...just leaves you with more free time.
* Push for every dollar. Return your purchases. I'm always tickled by the MSCs that tell you that you cannot return items.
* If you don't ask...the answer is "no".
* You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Same as above but more expansive. I did a shop for Mintel the other day. I haven't shopped for them in literally years. I inquired and the shop ended up being over $100 just for some screen shots. Another MSC sent a mass e-mail out concerning two shops that just happened to be near two other shops I was doing. I often ignore these because they are ridiculous--you get reimbursed $3 for gas???? WTF? Anyway, the fee had more than doubled so I was okay with doing the whole three dollar thing and asking the clerk to print out my receipt. My pay day went from $50 (plus reimbursement) to $140 just because I looked at the e-mails I normally ignore.
* Last thing. I am to the point to where it is unusual for me not to have my I-phone recording when I do a shop now. You get the interaction and the timing. If you do this, make sure you darken your screen.

Another piece of advice I have is for new shoppers that are city dwellers. In many big cities that are in even larger metropolitan areas the chance to get big or even many times small bonuses is non existent. So when you read threads about people doing jobs where the fee has risen from $8 to $50 or more just by waiting a few weeks that will ;likely not be happening where you live. And chances are if you live in a mega city you would have to drive really really far away to find these large bonuses as all along the drive there are other cities with shoppers in them. Don't get jealous of those big bonuses just realize your city probably provides you with many more options for shopping than the rural bonus people get and you do not have to drive far away to take them. So you can earn less per shop but can find much more variety in a big city.

@Amarsir wrote:

My biggest complaint is that Google Maps won't sort stops for an efficient route. (It's a famous computer optimization problem, but they can surely spare the computation for up to 5 locations.) But I can just swap them manually if my best guess looks like an inefficient route.

I tried the Circuit app recently, and it worked well. Apparently a lot of delivery drivers use it. The free version allows 10 stops per route.

*************IF IT DOESN'T MAKE DOLLARS....IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE*************

Oh, and I'd add one other thing regarding the cost of being self-employed. Don't forget that you have to cover the extra 7.5% Social Security tax that an employer would normally pay. So you're paying 15% instead of 7.5%.

Especially for new shoppers....

Run your business in a way that's beneficial for YOU! Do not allow anyone on this forum (or in real life) to dictate how you do business.

Some might tell you that you should not even pick up your car keys for a reimbursement only shop. Remember that is THEIR rule, and the way THEY decide to run their business. If you would have gone to that location and spent your own money purchasing their product, and want to exchange that for your time/ effort/ skill then so be it.

No one but you is responsible for your bank account/ bills.
Some shoppers might tell you DO NOT touch a shop at base price, but in your area you could be left with no work if you follow that rule.

We are all mystery shoppers, independent contractors, business owners but our business model is not going to be the same.

@Luna126 wrote:

Having just finished a route longer than expected and being taken by surprise on a pet shop I thought I would jot down my own personal tips and hard rules to make mystery shopping more easy on myself and less frustrating.


1. If its an out pocket shop check online in advance what the items cost and compare it to the reimbursement.

Twice this year I've shopped with egg on my face when one semi fast food shop only covered reimbursement by 75%. The restarauant prices increased from the previous year. Then recently a pet shop with strict rules of buying pet food or litter of 12lbs or more only had over priced food of $65 or more starting at 12lbs. When I compared the same exact branded food all other pet stores the products were $15 or more cheaper!

2. When recording with my phone have the phone in my hand, never in my purse or in pants pocket.

Thankfully when I had a recording issue recently it was for personal use to backup my narrative with quotes. Most of the recording unfortunately only picked up th esound of my boots on the floor. Face palm moment!

3. Always if possible use google maps to check out the area beforehand.

Some areas a few blocks over are very unsafe and I've found myself in a few sticky situations especially for gas station shops. Since then, I've made notes of what shops are located in unsafe areas day vs night to either stay away from or ask for a bonus if its a shop during the day.

4. Similar to tip #3 I make sure to check out parking before going to a shop.

A few store companies have very irregular parking spots that it very difficult to snap a curbside photograph. Especially if the storage is not located next to another place with decent parking or across the street there is no parking possible! I also want to make sure if there is no available free parking that the msc will reimburse. Please make sure to ask, I've had two companies do so!

5. Make note of when bonuses are posted by email, web board or even on the forum. I keep track in my excel book since some msc have a pattern to them.

6. It never hurts to request a bonus.

I make it a habit to request bonuses sometimes for some shops if I am applying for more than two or three shops for a msc. Now this depends on the shop and MSC, as I do not do this every time. I usually do so if I will make a route of the shops or the shop pay looks low for the requirements. I will also make note on my excel book if the shop was bonused and who the scheduler was.

7. Always take a photo of the business card, receipt, brochure etc before leaving for home or the next shop.

I felt silly looking for a business card for an entire day thinking I left it in my car. As it turns out, the card was in the back pocket of my purse, that I always put away immeidately out of habit when I come home.

8. Keep a virtual and physical folder of all MSC items.

I actually did not start making an online album on my phone for my msc photos until very recently. Usually I uploaded it to my drive or sent an email. Its so much easier to keep it seperate from my own personal photos and makes searching a breeze!

If I recall anymore I will add on the list.
Do you guys have any tips or hard and fast rules?

About #6....

Sentry offered a bonus on some of their shops. That isn't a big deal...a lot of MSCs do. The difference is that when you go to the Sentry website, the shop doesn't say that it is bonused. So I guess the scheduler has to sign off on the bonus? Anyway, the bonus for this one shop I'm doing is almost an 80% increase or so (from $12 to $22). If you were to look at it from just perusing the website, you'd think the pay was only $12. So it DOES help to ask.

My tip: be careful not to overbook yourself.

It can be very tempting to apply for or self-assign a lot of shops to do on the same day, especially when the pay adds up to a very nice number for the day. However, one must think about the time in between each one. Can you really prepare for, travel around to, and submit reports on time for all the shops you want? Factor in time for unexpected problems, like traffic jams, sudden changes in the weather, or other things beyond your control. You never know what can happen!

This also applies to your week. You may need to give yourself a break in between very full days more often than you think. This is not only to avoid burn-out. Alternating light days with very full ones can alleviate stress and help you meet the responsibilities of the shops you signed up for. There are few things that make you feel worse than flaking or cancelling because you planned poorly and ran out of time - and no one wants to be considered unreliable by schedulers.
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Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/2023 09:28PM by shopnyc.

When I complete a shop for a new-to-me company I will never apply for a 2nd shop until payment is received from the first one.