As any at-home parent can attest, restarting a career after well over a decade can be a daunting task. Not only are you throttled by an enormous hole in your resume, but the very thought of spending all day in an office thinking like an adult, acting like an adult, and just generally doing grown-up…
Company Overview Ath Power Consulting is the top mystery shop provider for the financial services industry. The company is based in based in Andover Massachusetts. They were established in 1997 and specialize in helping clients build brand loyalty and customer retention. They pride themselves in their large database of reliable shoppers. The Better Business Bureau…
Sometimes a mystery shopping company will accidentally pay a mystery shopper less than they’re owed. Other times you will have an opportunity to ask for a bonus. Very rarely a company will simply not pay a mystery shopper, or pay them quite late. Here is some advice for getting the best outcome possible in each…
When I moved to Las Vegas I found out that mystery shopping was much different in the state of Nevada than anywhere else in the U.S. I learned right away that you must be an employee of a licensed private investigative firm. I looked in the phone book and found QSI Specialists. I gave them…
Written by LIJake Having retired from my 30+ years as an independent manufacturer’s representative, I was seeking an alternate source of income and a way to keep physically and mentally fit. After exploring several options my research led to mystery shopping and I decided to go in that direction. Since then, I have set specific…
Forum Alias: Stormcloud How long have you been mystery shopping? Currently, since October 2010. I previously did some mystery shopping in 1997-99. Where are you shopping? Northwest Oregon, centered from the Wilamette Valley area. What got you started? Back in ‘97-98, my sister came across a couple of mystery shopping companies (don’t know/remember how, but…
Throughout my 4 1/2 years mystery shopping, I have had some funny and strange and wonderful experiences. Today, I would like to share some of them with you. Enjoy! Most Humbling: I had just visited a famous fast food restaurant drive-thru and I had a bag of food on the seat. I was driving down…
I had to make a career change due to an injury and started out doing Demos. Back then, being under-employed, NCIM gave me my first chance at Demos. I excelled and ending up joining a few other Demo Companies. I did quite well and grabbed every opportunity. While I was searching for Demo Companies, I…
Company Overview: JM Ridgway has been in business since 1924! While they don’t claim to be the oldest mystery shopping company, if they’re not, they’ve got to be right up there. According to the company’s “About JM Ridgway,” the “core management team” of CEO Frank Kneisley and President/Sales Manager Scott Ridgway have a combined 80-plus…
Mystery Shopper Magazine is currently calling for applications for new contributors. If you love mystery shopping and want to help your fellow mystery shoppers succeed, then this could be the right opportunity for you. We are currently in need of a new contributor able to write a weekly article for the magazine. This could include…
Company Overview: KSS International (KSS) is a privately owned company, headquartered in Boston, MA. They schedule, recruit and edit for the mystery shopping, merchandising and demonstration industries. Currently, KSS has the resources to provide contractors throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico. KSS enjoys an A+ rating…
Company Overview: Texas Shoppers Network, Inc (TSN) has the only registered U.S. Patent within the mystery shopping industry. That patent covers the process developed to evaluate client’s businesses. With experience as a vendor and merchandiser for major retail stores, Sondra Pulford founded TSN in 1996. The company’s purpose “is to form long-term relationships with clients…
Company Overview: This is a smaller mystery shopping company founded in 1986 that manages to fly largely under the radar. It focuses on mystery shopping, surveys, inspections, and compliance audits for hospitals, healthcare organizations, hotels, and restaurants in the United States. A list of clients and testimonials are located on their website. The location of…
Forum Alias: LJ How long have you been mystery shopping? I’ve been mystery shopping off and on for 8 years. Where are you shopping? I started in the Tampa Bay area, but now I’m in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon. I also enjoy picking up a shop or two when I travel. What got you…