Shopping Pays the Bills
By David Silverberg
The next time you wait in line at a gift-buying marathon, remember
someone in line could be shopping to earn extra cash.
Like focus groups that pay participants to evaluate products, mystery
shoppers can visit retailers or hotels and get paid to assess their
experiences.
Sensors Quality Management hires these shoppers—who work
from one to 12 hours a month – to purchase products at a store
as if it was a normal shopping day.
“We want the average customer, someone off the street,”
says David Lipton, president of the nine-year-old SQM.
Testing sites including clothing retailers, restaurants, hotels,
sports centers, and car dealerships. Mystery shoppers are often
paid between $10 to $100 per session, while sometimes receiving
no cash but free goods or services. Lipton tends to hire mystery
shoppers who are reliable, responsible, and observant.
“Even though you may enjoy shopping, this is still a job
that requires an evaluation.” Adds Lipton, a graduate of Ryerson’s
Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.
SQM identifies a client’s strengths of weaknesses “but
we leave it to them what they decide to do about it,” says
Lipton.
Patrick, who could not reveal his last name, has been a mystery
shopper for four years. The 29-year-old views the contract job as
a great opportunity to supplement his income.
Besides evaluating bars and restaraunts, Patrick has been fortunate
enough to enjoy a free Maple Leafs game, complete with drinks and
food.
But he cautions against joining mystery shopping just for the perks.
“You still have to be alert and detailed,” he stresses.
“And it’s important not to play God, but just act as
a reactor.”
Those reactions may spark overarching change, Lipton notes. “People
enjoy mystery shopping because they like to see their opinions make
a difference.”
SQM employs more than 5,000 mystery shoppers internationally, with
its head office based in Toronto.
To apply to be a mystery shopper, click on www.sqm.ca and fill out
the online application form.
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