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Copyright 2002 Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing
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Welcome! In this issue you'll find:
1. Feature Article: "The Dark Side Of Video Mystery Shopping:
A Shopper's Story"
2. "Ask The Coach"--my answers to your mystery shopping questions
3. Shopper Round-up: Your Feedback On The Mystery Shopping Scam Issue
+ How To Tell Who's Likely Legit And Who's Not
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1. Feature Article: "The Dark Side Of Video Mystery Shopping"
Many of you wrote in to tell me about your video mystery shopping experiences and to ask more questions about this new specialty. One subscriber, Stan from Chicago, (thanks, Stan),
was kind enough to give me permission to share his experience with video mystery shopping--one that revealed a dark side--with all of you.
Before I do share his story, let me say that most mystery shopping companies are extremely ethical, but just like with anything else, either the pressure to gain new business in a very competitive field can cause someone to look the other way, or a client can be less than honest, unknown to that company. I'm not sure what happened here, but I know many of you are concerned about violating the rights of employees being video or audio-taped. This one experience, while likely an exception, showed that while I believe video mystery shopping can be a great new specialty for mystery shoppers, your gut feelings about privacy issues could be
correct, and should not be ignored.
Here's Stan's story:
Stan is an experienced mystery shopper, and one of the companies he works with offered him some video mystery shops with the pay ranging from $30-$50 per shop. He was interested, but concerned about the issue of the employees' rights being violated. The company then assured Stan that all employees that would be shopped had signed a release saying they consent to being videotaped for the purposes of evaluation. Sounds familiar? This is what our shopper Margie
from the March issue of "Perfect Work-At-Home Job Update", was told. (If you missed that article "A Peek Into The World Of Video Mystery Shopping", check out the March issue HERE. Feeling better about the project after this assurance, Stan went ahead and accepted the assignment.
Next, Stan received some equipment which he wore strapped to his body with a big shirt covering up the surveillance equipment (the shirt was supplied). Stan enjoyed the first couple of shops,
which went well, and loved the fact that the videotape was his report.
However, a nagging feeling about the employees' privacy kept eating at him. So Stan asked the mystery shopping company to please send him copies of the releases that the employees signed,
so he could put to rest his concerns once and for all. That's when he discovered that releases were never signed. Feeling that he had been lied to, and uncomfortable with the idea of taping
people without their consent, he turned down the rest of the assignment and returned the video equipment.
The moral of the story? You need to do your own verification that all the proper releases are in place and that what you are doing is legal, before you take on an assignment. Ethical issues
aside, if you are not careful you could be breaking licensing laws (video mystery shopping borders on private investigator work in many states) or civil laws. Sure we all love a good-paying
assignment, but before you let the dollar signs dance too much in your head, know what you are getting into!
As Stan says, "if you ask for proof that the employees you are taping have consented, you may be surprised like I was."
(Attention mystery shopping companies and schedulers: Need a great, reliable, ethical audio or video mystery shopper? Stan is in Chicago. He's experienced and ready to work with you. Please
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2. "Ask The Coach"
Question: Does being unemployed have an adverse affect on securing positions as a mystery shopper?
Answer From Melanie: Being unemployed should have nothing to do with your ability to get a mystery shopper assignment. Keep in mind that this is work that is typically done on an independent contractor basis--meaning you are a freelancer who usually works with several mystery shopping companies or schedulers. I have found that virtually no one asks for a resume or checks any prior references, so there is likely no need for anyone to find out you are unemployed.
Besides, if you do not currently have a "regular job", you are now self-employed, not unemployed--
see the difference?
Question: Do the companies that hire a mystery shopper pay that person before they "shop" or does that person only get reimbursed?
Answer From Melanie: The term "shopper" is not exactly an accurate term. Mystery shoppers--
especially the ones that make the top money--don't always actually shop a store, nor due they always make a purchase. Top-earning mystery shoppers usually do a lot of service category shops for apartment complexes, new home builders, car dealers, financial services companies, gyms, testing centers, etc. Or they may do shops that involve the use of audio or video
technology.
It is often a lower-paying retail shop that has a purchase requirement. In the case of a purchase and return shop, the pay is usually higher because you may have to wait anywhere from a
half-an-hour to a day to return the item. There you are returning the item so you don't really lay out the money. In other cases, where you are supposed to make a purchase that you keep, you are given a certain item and/or a spending limit up to which you will be reimbursed. A restaurant shop is often a reimbursement-only situation where you will receive a meal for two and that is the compensation for your time. Overall, you are always paid after the shop and your subsequent report has been filed and accepted as valid. If there was a reimbursement due, that is also post-shop.
Question: I shop for some companies that require the actual second that you enter a store. Though I personally think this is ridiculous when performing a clothing, cellular, etc. shop,
that is what they require. How do other people accurately make note of this without looking suspicious?
Answer From Melanie: Yes it is ridiculous; don't sweat it. Either use a stop watch or just glance at your watch right before you walk in the store and are visible and maybe add 10 seconds. You'll be fine--it's not like they are going to check the store's video to double-check your arrival time (in most cases--they could check it if there is a dispute over a big gap in time or perhaps a mix up with another shopper's report)! Their main point with that requirement is really just to get you focused on paying attention to detail.
Do you have a question to "Ask The Coach"? Please e-mail me your question at mysteryshopcoach@aol.com. I will select the best ones received each month for publication in this e-zine. Either way, I will personally answer your question as quickly as my schedule permits via e-mail. So feel free to contact me--you will get my response back (not an autoresponder).
--Melanie Jordan, editor
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3. Shopper Round-up: Your Feedback On The Mystery Shopping Scam
Issue + How To Tell Who's Likely Legit And Who's Not
Many of you were kind enough to write me back regarding the alert I sent out recently about a mystery shopping scam that was brought to my attention by one of the companies I partner with.
Lots of people appreciated the alert and thanked me, some shared other scams, some asked for more information about detecting scams, and some concerns were expressed by a couple of smaller, legitimate companies who do run classified ads in smaller markets where they have trouble finding shoppers.
So I knew I had to address some more issues on this topic as these ads have appeared nationwide from large places like Cincinnati to small towns in Montana. In this piece, I will share some of the information that other subscribers were kind enough to provide, and also offer some of my insights.
For the benefit of the new subscribers and those who missed that alert, here is what the scam involved:
Tema Frank, President of Web Mystery Shoppers, received a call from a mystery shopper in Delaware who was the unfortunate victim of a scam. Apparently, some company took an ad out in a local paper in the name of Web Mystery Shoppers, using their toll-free telephone number. The shopper responded to the ad, and got a blank disk that claimed to be a mystery shopper information program.
This company then called her and persuaded her to give them her bank account details. Now money has been taken out of her account without her permission. The bank says Web Mystery
Shoppers took it out, but of course it was not the legitimate Web Mystery Shoppers company. Tema assured me that they would never ask for a person's bank information (or even their credit
card number), nor have they ever advertised in print, nor sent disks out.
A New Twist From Shopper Laura:
"Yesterday in our local paper there was an advertisement about mystery shopping with a toll-free number. I called out of sheer curiosity and the man who answered said they were Direct
Merchants. For an undisclosed amount, you would get a similar thing (a disk with some companies to contact). Also, if you were already a shopper, they would give you whatever free if you would fax them completed shop reports, companies you worked with and some verification of payment like a pay stub from a mystery shopping company. What really shook me was the thought that any shopper might divulge that kind of information. The man never did reveal his name."
Editor's Note: Both the scam reported to me by Web Mystery Shoppers and the convenient new twist which came from Laura have some pretty obvious red flags that should clue you in to run,
don't walk, away from these advertisers:
1. They are requesting sensitive, personal information. Be especially concerned when you get such a request either from an unsolicited e-mail, phone call or mailed letter. And even when
you get a follow-up request for more information from someone with whom you have done business, stop and think about why such information would ever be necessary. Even your bank would not
call and ask for information like your account number, social security number, etc., so why would you ever give it out to a place you barely knew or had not checked out?
I used to hear of such scams regularly in my corporate banking days and was always shocked about how someone could be so free with their personal information. The answer was that people
unfortunately do, so the scams do work. If we kept the scams from working, we wouldn't have them!
2. If you didn't get something of quality from the initial order you made, why give out more information (our unfortunate Web Mystery Shoppers victim)?
3. While there are indeed legitimate information products available on disk or CD, most legitimate companies would likely offer you the ability to get access to your product immediately
after purchase as one of the delivery options. It costs more for someone to send a disk or CD to you--so why would they not offer it on-line or in paper-published form where you can easily
see whether or not there is solid information being provided? The reason could very well be that there is not any information supplied or that it is of poor quality.
4. Where's their free sample of what you will be getting? If they have something of quality to offer, why not demonstrate this?
5. Why are they cautious with information like their name? A legitimate person or enterprise works hard to build their name, reputation and company or brand recognition (I know I do), a
scammer hides information, because they will change it as often as most of us change socks! Anyone see the movie "Boiler Room" with Ben Affleck? It's a must-see--go rent it.
6. When you go to an advertised web site, if available, what is the content like? Do they provide lots of free information that is valuable? Are they connected with legitimate companies,
organizations or other resources? Do they freely identify themselves and encourage contact? Do they come up clean with the Better Business Bureau? Can you apply without divulging any
information you feel is unnecessary until you at least feel confident in who you are working with?
Once again, there are legitimate companies that do advertise mystery shopping work in the classifieds of a paper. However, do their ads read like a typical job ad, or do they sound like they
are promising the moon? Do they ask for money upfront? Do they ask for sensitive information upfront? Are they members of the MSPA (not all companies are, but if so, they have gone to the
trouble of joining a trade association and have a code of ethics to uphold)? Do they check out with the Better Business Bureau (not all companies will have a Better Business Bureau record,
but at least make sure there are no complaints)? What kind of company do they keep?
Stop and think about all of the points in this article before you part with your money or sensitive information. A real mystery shopping job opportunity should not set off any warning bells to you. And above all, the best way to not be the victim of a scam, is to stay alert and use common sense. We all tend to have good heads on our shoulders and pretty good basic instincts. If something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't. End of story.
Scam Or Not? From Shopper Rich in NY:
"Our "Pennysaver" type publications have an ad as follows:
MYSTERY SHOPPERS $25/HOUR. For local area businesses. FREE merchandise, meals and more! No experience!
Once you check the web site you soon see they're after sign up fees for jobs."
Editor's Note: Now this may or may not be a scam, but at the very least, it may not be necessary.
So enjoy your mystery shopping work, but remember at the same time that it's good to keep your guard up. If you come across a scam or a situation you would like a second opinion about,
please feel free to e-mail me at mysteryshopcoach@aol.com. I'll keep sharing information I uncover either through this e-zine or special subscriber alerts.
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The next issue of "Perfect Work-At-Home Job Update" will be released on May 15th. Your comments, questions and suggestions are welcome. Please feel free to pass along this issue in its complete form with all contact information intact to any other mystery shoppers you know, or anyone who might never have otherwise thought about the possibility of mystery shopping as a work-at-home career. New subscriptions are welcome by e-mailing me at mscoach@aweber.com.
Guest features are provided for your information and may not represent the views of the publisher.
This publication offers information on the subject matter of mystery shopping. It is not intended to substitute for legal or other professional advice. Readers should consult with a professional whenever expert advice is needed. As laws and regulations may change from time to time, it is recommended that readers contact the appropriate authority to assure compliance with applicable statutes.
The author and publisher shall assume no responsibility or liability with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, by the application of the information contained in this publication.
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Please note we respect your privacy and do not share or sell your e-mail address or other information with anyone else.
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