Contact UsSite MapJob Opportuninities
Michelson & Associates, Inc.
Home
About Us
Services
Focus Groups
Survey Research
Mystery Shopping
Michelson's Mystery Shoppers
How Mystery Shopping Works
Mystery Shopper Benifits
Apply Now
Request A Quote
Downloads
Clients
Links



Mystery Shopping Information For Shoppers
Get paid for shopping!

We are looking for honest, observant, responsible women and men across North America to evaluate customer service, courtesy, sales effort, store cleanliness, etc. We hire consumers all over the country as independent contractors to act as mystery shoppers for our clients.

Join our force of over 80,000 mystery shoppers
nationwide. No experience is necessary.

Qualified mystery shoppers are detail-oriented, thorough, observant and committed to deadlines. Our mystery shoppers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, be fair and honest in their evaluations and keep all information regarding assignments confidential.

There is no fee to be listed as a shopper
with Michelson & Associates, Inc.

To be listed as a Michelson & Associates, Inc.
mystery shopper - click here.


These are questions people frequently ask us about Mystery Shopping:
What is mystery shopping?
Why should I become a mystery shopper?
How long does it take and what does it pay?
Do I have to buy anything?
How do I get assignments?
Does Mystery Shopping have to be done at a specific time?
What happens if I can't complete a job after accepting it?
Could Mystery Shopping become a full-time or part-time job?
Who sees the shopper reports?
How do clients use shopper reports?
Where does Michelson & Associates, Inc. do mystery shopping?
How do I become a Mystery Shopper?


What is mystery shopping?
A mystery shopper is someone who visits a store for the purpose of evaluating a store's customer service, product quality and the way the store looks. Shoppers follow specific instructions during their visit and complete written reports after leaving the store.

Mystery shoppers go to designated stores, restaurants, banks and apartments and pose as typical customers. When they leave, they fill out a questionnaire that we've custom-designed for each of our clients. Shopper's serve as the eyes and ears for our clients in their community.

We are on our clients' side - we are not out to catch employees doing something wrong. The input from our mystery shopper programs helps our clients improve their training programs as well as their customer service.

For more general information on our Mystery Shopping Services - click here.

Top


Why Should I become a mystery shopper?
Mystery shopping is your opportunity to give helpful suggestions and constructive criticism to retailers, restaurants, property management companies, etc. It is also a very interesting and easy way to make some extra money.

Top


How long does it take and what does it pay?
It usually takes less than an hour and pays $15 per report. (In many cases you can also get free things such as eye exams, meals, and savings on merchandise such as glasses, if you choose to keep it.) A verbal quote of the fee will always be given to you by the recruiter before you accept an assignment.

We pay all shopper invoices within 30 days from the date of your shop. However, if you are required to make a purchase, we pay reimbursements within 3 days of receipt of your report. Fees are paid only for shops that are acceptable to our clients.

For more information on the benefits and pay offered to shoppers, click here.

Top


Do I have to buy anything?
Not always. However, we do have occasional projects that may require you to make a purchase. Whenever an assignment requires a purchase, we negotiate with our clients to provide excellent benefits for our shoppers. In many cases, we pay for new shoes, offer free eye exams, and save you 50% on eyewear purchases. All reimbursement details will be explained by the recruiter before you accept an assignment requiring a purchase.

Top


How do I get assignments?
Once we receive your application, we enter your name in our database - this data entry process may take up to 4-6 weeks, depending on the volume of applications we receive.

Scheduled shops vary in frequency and number. Clients typically have their stores shopped monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or on an "as-needed" basis. We attempt to rotate our shoppers, so shoppers don't repetitively shop the same stores.

Individual assignments depend on where you live and the number of client locations we have in your area. If you do not hear from us for a while, it means we do not have any projects in your area or we have other shoppers ahead of you who are waiting for assignments.

We have a full-time, in-house staff to call field representatives and schedule assignments. They provide information on the assignment and ask if you want the job. Acceptance of the assignment will be considered your verbal guarantee to Michelson & Associates, Inc. that the job will be completed as agreed.

Not accepting an assignment during the initial phone call will not jeopardize
your eligibility for future assignments.

Once you've made the commitment to complete an assignment, we will process and mail your written work order including detailed instructions, a report, questionnaire and your invoice. You should receive your work order within 7-10 days following your initial phone call. Once you receive your work order, you will call our toll-free number to let us know when you are going to complete your assignment.

Top


Does Mystery Shopping have to be done at a specific time?
Occasionally we have requests for shops to be completed on a particular day and time. Typically, shops do not have to be completed on a specified day. Once you accept a job, we expect that you complete it before the deadline date - usually within 7-14 days. Completing your assignment on time is very important. We have made a commitment to our clients to finish all their shops on time and we must keep that commitment.

Top


What happens if I can't complete a job after accepting it?
If you cannot complete your assignment by the deadline, we expect you to call our toll free number BEFORE your scheduled shopping date, so that we may schedule someone else. If you accept an assignment and do not complete it -- and do not inform our office -- then your name will be removed from our database. We work to keep cancellations to a minimum because they are costly and delay our projects.

Top


Could Mystery Shopping become a full-time or part-time job?
Not really. Mystery shopping is only occasional work. People often do mystery shopping after work or on weekends. Mystery shopping is not a get-rich-quick scheme or a way to make a living. As a shopper with Michelson & Associates, Inc. you can expect 1 to 4 assignments per year.

We work with many large chains, but we may not always have an immediate assignment in your area . We currently have over 80,000 shoppers in our database, and in some areas, we have more shoppers than clients - so it may take a while for us to contact you.

If you'd like to be listed as a qualified shopper with over 400 national and regional mystery shopping companies - please click here.

We are adding new clients every week and constantly seeking people to be mystery shoppers. Our clients prefer that we don't send the same shopper to the same location twice -- so we always need new shoppers. Currently, we complete around 1,000 shops per month.

The shoppers who do the best work will get the most assignments.

Top


Who sees the shopper reports?
First, the reports are processed, reviewed and scored by the project director in our office. The project director makes sure all questions are answered and that your statements are factual. We then input the scores on our computer and prepare summary reports. The individual store reports and summaries are sent to our client's corporate headquarters. From there, they are forwarded to the regional, district and store managers. Ultimately, the store associates that have been evaluated do see your shopper report, so it is very important to be fair, objective and honest when completing your evaluation forms.

Top


How do clients use shopper reports?
Shopper reports are used for training personnel and reviewing store conditions. They are also used for incentive and bonus programs, for store personnel and management.

We guarantee the quality of our shopper reports, so if the client suspects that a shopper's report is untrue, or that the shopper was unqualified, we schedule a re-shop at our own expense. That's why it is critical that our shoppers are complete and factual in their evaluations and that they act in a professional manner while on assignment for Michelson & Associates, Inc.

Top


Where does Michelson & Associates, Inc. do mystery shopping?
We have clients all across North America -- from Alaska to Puerto Rico. So, we need people everywhere, even in many rural areas.

Click here to see a US map of where we currently have shoppers.

Top


How do I become a Mystery Shopper?
If you would like to become a Michelson & Associates, Inc. Mystery Shopper and provide objective, unbiased and important information from "the customer's point of view" – Please click here

To be listed with over 400 national and regional mystery shopping companies - click here.

Top



Home | About Us | Services | Focus Groups | Survey Research
Mystery Shopping | Request A Quote | Downloads | Clients | Links


Michelson & Associates, Inc.
C/O Service Evaluation Concepts, 210 Crossways Park Drive
Woodbury, NY 11797
V: 516-576-1188
F: 516-450-3466
solutions@serviceevaluation.com


Copyright © Michelson & Associates, Inc. - All rights reserved.