5 Ways to Be a More Observant Mystery Shopper 

Mystery shopping can seem deceptively easy on the surface. Many think it’s as simple as downloading an app, heading to the store, answering some questions, and making money.

However, there are some nuances that go into being successful at it, just like with any other job.

No. 1: Follow Directions as Closely as Possible

Arguably the most important part of completing a Mission is following all directions to a T. If each step is not followed correctly, the whole assignment could fall apart and result in you losing out on your rewards.

Some instructions may feel unclear or difficult to follow when you’re first starting out, but as you gain experience, completing Missions quickly and correctly will become second nature.

If at any point you aren’t sure what to do, try to take all directions literally and follow them as closely as possible.

Unfortunately, sometimes your Mission results may get rejected, but Mobee will always tell you what the issue was, and this can help you learn what to do in the future.

No. 2: Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

One big issue that mystery shoppers face is having to remain hidden amongst the sea of regular customers while in stores. Retail employees are often briefed on what to look for and can ask you to leave the store if they suspect you are a mystery shopper.

Because of this, it’s very important that you stay aware of who and what is going on around you, and make sure you are being inconspicuous.

Sometimes, Missions might even ask you to speak directly to employees and gauge their answers. In order to accurately complete your Mission instructions, you need to make sure you stay aware of their responses to your questions. Do they seem suspicious or uncomfortable? If so, then it might be a good idea to retreat and pretend to go back to your normal shopping so as not to get found out.

Being a good mystery shopper means keeping in touch with what’s happening around you.

No. 3: Blend in as Much as Possible

As stated previously, staying hidden is a huge part of being a good mystery shopper. To everyone else in the store, you must appear as though you are just a normal customer.

If you have to worry the whole time about whether or not people are noticing you, then you won’t be able to complete your Mission comfortably or accurately. How can you be an observant shopper if you are distracted?

There are a few ways to make sure you are staying inconspicuous:

1. Plan for your Mission ahead of time in order to stay prepared.
2. Consider creating a fake story in case you are approached by employees.
3. Remain confident while in stores and speaking to employees.
4. Don’t draw any unnecessary attention to yourself with loudness or fashion.
5. Keep your secret shopping a secret—don’t tell anyone in the store why you are really there.
6. Never be too obvious with your picture or note taking.

All of these could help you stay hidden in stores and help you to be a better secret shopper.

No. 4: Be Thorough When Answering Questions

Often when mystery shopping results are rejected, it is because the assessment questions have not been answered clearly or fully.

Whenever you are unsure about exactly what the question is asking, it is always better to be as thorough as possible and provide any info you think is helpful and pertains to the assignment. In this case, more is more.

This way, you are more likely to give whatever information the mystery shopping company is looking for.

Make sure to stay as detail oriented as possible, especially if the assignment mentions any of those details specifically. Try to keep this information organized so it’s easy to understand and the evaluator doesn’t have to guess at any of your answers.

Once you have finished all the questions, go through and double-check to make sure you haven’t made any meaningful grammar or spelling errors. The goal here is to keep all your answers as readable and easy-to-understand as possible. This raises your chances of getting your Mission approved.

No. 5: Maintain Confidence in Yourself

Your confidence levels can play a huge part in your ability to complete your Missions well. If you remain calm and collected, it becomes easier to navigate stores and ask employees questions without faltering.

Allowing yourself to become nervous and be unsure can lead to inaccurate or incomplete submissions if you aren’t careful, so make sure to stay confident in your abilities.

This can make you into a more reliable secret shopper—one that mystery shopping companies are happy to work with.

It takes a certain set of skills to be a good mystery shopper, so if you’re interested in doing the job well, make sure you’re working on building all these skills in yourself. With a little determination, you could be completing more Missions and gaining more rewards in no time.