SECRETS
OF A SECRET SHOPPER
Reveal | Summer 2016 6
Like many of my best ideas , I was drinking a glass of wine when I had the thought to investigate the mysterious , intriguing lifestyle of Secret Shopping . I ’ d heard it all before : “ Sign up now and get paid for your opinion !” the advertisements would proclaim . Until that moment , I had dismissed the e-mails , blog posts , and advertisements as nothing more than a scam . Now , however , I was curious . What if there was a way I could actually get paid to shop , eat , and travel ? SPOILER : There was .
A Closer Look is an international mystery shopping company headquartered in Norcross , Georgia . A Closer Look recently won the 2016 Shoppers ’ Choice Award through the Mystery Shopping Providers Association ( MSPA ). This prestigious award proves that A Closer Look is a personal favorite of many shoppers throughout North America . Clients , which include chains and local establishments , hire them to ensure that employees and business functions meet or exceed company expectations . Any business that involves customer service can benefit from hiring mystery shoppers .
I have completed mystery shops including , but not limited to , the following :
• Restaurants / Bars / VIP Lounges
• Retail Shops
• Movie Theaters
• Gyms ( Um … getting paid to get fit ? Yes , please !)
• Hotels
• Concerts
The number of shops and the types of shops you can sign up for are dependent on how experienced of a shopper you are . The types and number of shops I was eligible for began to increase after I had completed about five shops for A Closer Look . You are in complete control of which shops you sign up for . While the shop might specify certain days of the week it must be performed on , the shop schedulers tend to be flexible in adjusting the dates for you . There is not a minimum number of shops you must complete each month to be a shopper in good standing . While there have been months where I have done about 8-10 secret shopper jobs , there have been months where I have done zero . Flexibility in shop times make secret shopping with A Closer Look perfect for those who are already employed or have other daily commitments . Shops typically have a time range , reflecting the time period the shop may begin .