This does seem like an odd post. Maybe the OP was hired as an editor or administrative assistant and is a direct employee rather than a mystery shopper? Or this may be a scam using the Ardent name, like JASFLALMT posted. It's very odd for a mystery shopper to think he was "hired" by Ardent, especially because of the way Ardent works. When someone signs up with Ardent, there is no response until they have shops and training scheduled in the area. Once Ardent contacts a person who signed up, they contact them with training, not with an assignment. No assignments are made until the person has gone through Ardent's training.
That said, OP, Ardent (as long as it is the REAL Ardent, not a scammer using their name) is a great company to work with as an independent contractor. I can't say enough nice things about them. They are my favorite company. My only complaint is that they don't have enough clients.