FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
Q. Is it free to become a mystery shopper?
A. Yes. You can become a mystery shopper by filling in our independent contractor's agreement and non-disclosure agreement on our website. Afterwards, you will be directed to one final registration on our on-line reporting system (SASSIE). You will never be asked by CRG to pay money to be a part of our mystery shopper database. You may, however, elect to become a certified shopper with MSPA, which does cost a fee. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) offers a Silver and Gold Certification Program. For more information, please visit www.mysteryshop.org
Q. How soon after I register will I receive work?
A. That depends on a number of factors. Once you have registered you are automatically placed within our shopper network. The contracts we have in your area and the amount of available shoppers are variables that may affect the frequency and availability of work. CRG Mystery Shopping does not make any guarantees regarding the frequency of work
Q. Is mystery shopping just like filling out an opinion survey?
A. No. We are not seeking your opinion of what happened during your shop. Our clients are more interested in knowing what happened or didn't happen during your visit, search or call and whether or not your observations of the business' operations and staff were in accordance with the company's standards and expectations.
Q. Is mystery shopping fast and easy money? How much do I get paid?
A. Some mystery shops pay better than others, but only rarely do people make a living at being a mystery shopper. This usually involves registration with multiple companies and would consist of doing many mystery shops a month.
CRG Mystery Shopping does not make any advance claims of possible remuneration or guarantee a consistent and reliable flow of mystery shopping assignments. Based on our experience, we can tell you that most assignments pay between $4.00 and $30.00. In some instances, we have had assignments that pay shoppers $100.00.
Q. Can anyone be a mystery shopper?
A. Anyone can be a mystery shopper if they are trustworthy, objective, good communicators (verbally and written) and have a knack for making observations. Being a mystery shopper with CRG Mystery Shopping also requires that one has access to a reliable computer with Internet/e-mail hook-up.
Q. How do I find out about CRG Mystery Shopping opportunities and assignments?
A. When an assignment becomes available in your area you will receive an e-mail with information about that assignment. Read the e-mail in its entirety and reply accordingly (if you wish to accept the assignment). You will be notified by e-mail if you are selected as the shopper for that particular assignment.
Q. If you send me an opportunity for an assignment, am I guaranteed to get the assignment?
A. No. All of our opportunities are sent to shoppers from our database. Each assignment opportunity is processed to shoppers by geographic area and shopper profile. The following are some key factors we use, but aren't limited to, when considering a shopper for an assignment:
- Shopper's speed of reply (first come - first served)
- Shopper's proximity to shop location
- Shopper availability
- Shopper reliability (proven track record - conducts shops according to guidelines; keeps within deadlines; good writing and communication skills)
- Shopper certification
- Shopper profile (must fit with client's requested profile)
If you always respond to an opportunity but are never selected, don't give up. With all the responses we get, it likely means someone just responded a little faster or that you didn't meet the exact shopper profile this time.
Q. Once I receive an opportunity or assignment e-mail, how will I know what to do?
A. Our opportunities and assignments are carefully worded to include all of the information you will need to proceed. Opportunity e-mails give a general description of the type of mystery shopping assignment being offered and indicate how to apply if interested. Assignment e-mails are sent to shoppers that have been chosen for an assignment. The assignment e-mail will indicate how to proceed to access specific guidelines for the shop and how to access the questionnaire. Contact information for a CRG Mystery Shopping project coordinator will always be included within all correspondence. If you are unclear as to how to proceed, just send an e-mail or give us a call and we will help clarify any questions or comments you may have.
Q. Sometimes I think I may be missing opportunities, assignments or e-mails from your company. Is there anything I can do to ensure I am receiving them?
A. Yes. If you have an e-mail service that might filter out Spam or any unknown e-mail addresses, be sure to add the CRG Mystery Shopping and our on-line reporting system's (SASSIE) e-mail addresses to your "favourites" or "my contacts" profile within these e-mail accounts. This will help to ensure that you receive all of our mystery shopping opportunities. Failure to do this could mean that many opportunities are sent to your junk mail or trash folders.
Q. How do I know that I have completed a shop correctly?
A. You will only be contacted if there is a question for clarification or inconsistency in your report. You may be contacted if your report did not respect established deadlines, was carried out incorrectly or if there is a request to clarify or expand upon your comments. You should always respond to any of these requests within 24 hours. If you are not contacted, then in all likelihood your report was submitted correctly and your pay will be issued on schedule.
Q. What does the shopper grade mean? How does it work?
A. All submitted reports are examined by CRG Mystery Shopping representatives (validators/editors) to ensure compliance with the shop guidelines. After each completed shop is examined, a grade is given to the shopper for that specific assignment. A perfect report might be given a 10, which means that all timelines were followed, the assignment appears to be carried out according to the guidelines and the comments were clear, concise and in the required quantity. A score of five or less means there might have been significantly poor grammar usage or many spelling mistakes in comments. Other major inconsistencies might have been noticed and/or the report might have been submitted late. Any scores between six and nine are due to variations of any or all of these aspects. You may receive an e-mail note from the validator/editor once the report is finalized with comments about your report.
Q. Do I have to be an MSPA certified shopper to get assignments?
A. No. The MSPA offers a Silver certification (on-line test) and a Gold certification (workshop) to shoppers. While these certifications may enhance your knowledge and understanding of what mystery shopping entails, they are not mandatory in order for you to receive assignments with CRG Mystery Shopping.
Q. Who do I notify if my contact information changes?
A. If your contact information changes, simply send an e-mail to a CRG Mystery Shopping coordinator with the updated information. Additionally, log in to the on-line reporting system (SASSIE) by visiting the Shopper Login part of our website and update your profile. It is important that all of your contact information be accurate in case we need to reach you regarding an assignment and also to ensure that payment is sent to the correct address.
Q. What method do you use to pay shoppers?
A. CRG Mystery Shopping currently processes payments to shoppers by cheque and by PayPal). Shoppers will be notified when this option is available or required in the future.
Q. How long does it take to receive payment?
A. Please allow 30 to 45 days from the date of your completed shop to receive payment or, where applicable, 30 to 45 days from when we receive your original cash receipts in our office. Failure to submit any receipts in a timely manner may further increase the processing time.
Q. Can I fax or scan my receipts and then send them to you?
A. No. Due to an increase in fraudulent receipt submissions we require that all submitted receipts be the original cash receipts only. Receipts are used as proof of visit as well, therefore no copies (fax or scanned) can be accepted. You should always keep a copy of your receipts for your own personal records. Depending on your assignment, failure to submit the original receipt may delay or prohibit the timely processing of your pay.
Q. Can I work my own hours?
A. Even though you are classified as an independent contractor you must still follow the shop guidelines set out for each mystery shopping assignment. In particular, there may be specified shop times All shopping assignments have a due date which must be observed. Shoppers should always verify required dates and times for shops in the opportunity before accepting assignments. Shoppers may not receive payment for shops conducted outside of the client's shop time and date parameters.
Q. Do have to claim the money I make from mystery shopping on my Income Tax?
A. As a shopper, you are an independent contractor. As such, you are "self-employed" in this regard. It is important that you be aware of the Federal and Provincial income tax reporting regulations for the province in which you live. You are responsible for reporting this income where/when required.