Basic's of Researching

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Your role as a mystery shopper is key to our success in helping our clients’ to achieve their goals. We rely on our network of mystery shoppers to provide us with reliable, factual, timely shop evaluations for all our clients. We look for a variety in age, gender, race, background and current work commitments for our shopping network.

Wikipedia offers an excellent description of what mystery shopping is: “Mystery shopping or a mystery consumer is a tool used externally by market research companies or watchdog organizations or internally by companies themselves to measure quality of service or compliance to regulation, or to gather specific information about products and services. The mystery consumer’s specific identity is generally not known by the establishment being evaluated. Mystery shoppers perform specific tasks such as purchasing a product, asking questions, registering complaints or behaving in a certain way, and then provide detailed reports or feedback about their experiences.”

Add an answer to this item.apc is an award-winning leader in Customer Experience Research and Mystery Shopping, particularly in North American financial services sector. We are the all-in-one resource for audit and mystery shop studies, survey research, market analyses, employee development and strategic brand planning. apc owns one of the largest panel of field representatives (mystery shoppers) in the nation, and we execute more proprietary banking audits than anyone in the industry. For over two decades, our fully customizable solutions have helped improve customer retention, build brand loyalty, increase profitability, and enhance performance and market share for a wide range of clients including the top banking, credit card, mortgage, insurance, investment, government, healthcare, and retail organizations across North America. apc is proud to offer customized solutions that can meet the needs of any client.

apc does not charge shoppers to sign up or to accept projects. Check the MSPA shopper website for information on scams and fraudulent agencies to avoid: http://www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers

There are many ways mystery shoppers go about their shopping routines. Mystery shoppers have varying degrees of involvement – it is all based on the reasoning behind why you’re mystery shopping in the first place! Check out a few of the reasons below why some people mystery shop.

Need / Product Research – Be paid while exploring product options or services one would already be researching out of need.

Hobby – Shop for the satisfaction of the role-play and experience. Or, for example, using the experience as practice toward public speaking or acting skills.

Convenience – Find opportunities located near locations part of your routine. For example, finding projects near your gym, workplace, or favorite restaurant.

Supplemental Income – Do the big spree – auditing multiple locations and building a routine focusing on supplementing your income. This requires practice and we advise not to rush in too fast!

Remember that for whatever reason and with whatever frequency you choose to be a mystery shopper, that you always treat your scenario with professionalism and the audit’s goals in mind

Once you have signed up, log into aNET. Next, select the Job Board option at the top of the page.

Within the Job Board, you can search for available projects based on country, state, or zip code. BE SURE you add in the number of miles away from the zip code that you are willing to travel.

The search results will display Map and More Info links beside each available mystery shop in order for you to learn more about the project. By clicking More Info a window will appear explaining the fee paid, how to apply, and more details about the project.

Yes. In fact, apc’s Executive Vice President, is the Immediate Past President and current Vice President of the MSPA.

1)Go to the aNET home page and click on New Shopper Sign Up. Choose your preferred language.

2)Enter your email address and click Go, then follow the on-screen requirements and fill out the application. You will receive an activation email at the email address you used to sign up.

3)Follow the requirements in the activation email you will receive to ensure your email address is validated in our system. You are one step away from seeking shop projects!

4)Log into aNET by clicking on Shopper Login at http://www.athpoweronline.com. You may review projects now; however, you are not eligible to accept them until you complete your “Extended Shopper Profile”. Once completed, you will make yourself eligible for shops that require specific demographics or certain industry knowledge. Congratulations! Once completed, check [how to get started mystery shopping] and [where are shops located] for some advice on how to begin.