6 min read
5 ways a Mystery shopping program can go wrong (and how to avoid it)
As part of a holistic Customer Experience Program, Mystery Shopping is a GREAT tool to gain insights and feedback on...
Wikipedia defines Mystery Shopping as:
Mystery shopping (related terms: mystery shopper, mystery consumer, mystery research, secret shopper and secret shopping and auditor) is a method used by marketing research companies and organizations that wish to measure the quality of sales and service, job performance, regulatory compliance, or to gather specific information about a market or competitors, including products and services.
Mystery shoppers typically mirror common consumer behaviour to test the consistency of the habits deemed important to specific brands or industries. Mystery shoppers, which are gig workers or independent contractors, submit detailed reports and feedback about their experiences.
Shoppers Confidential is a full-service insight and feedback firm that provides Mystery Shopping and Customer Experience Auditing Services to businesses in Canada and the US.
We help you better understand your customers and guide you through organizational strategies. Read more about Mystery Shopping Services on our Mystery Shopping Primer page.
We have an extensive Mystery Shopping Case Study to demonstrate the importance and impact a Mystery/Secret Shopper program or insight and feedback program can have on your business.
Not 100% ready to commit to a program? Looking at handling things in-house until you gain more confidence in what you want to measure? This is the program for you! 100% risk-free and no reoccurring fees or costs. If you want more information, our DIY Mystery Shopping page covers it all (coming soon!).
Do you really know what’s happening on the front line of your company, especially when you’re not available? Even one employee’s poor performance can waste the millions of dollars spent getting and keeping your customers. (Quoted by Baron Hilton of Hilton Hotels).
Our certified mystery shoppers act as your eyes and ears. This gives you a 360° view of your business from the customer’s perspective. Reports provide you with objective details and are a tool to further enhance the training of your staff.
Your mystery shopping reports give detailed, objective and accurate views of your business from the customer's perspective.
Find out more about our Customer Sales and Service Audits.
These just aren’t any surveys… Customers will want to fill these out!
Customer satisfaction surveys are designed to encourage customer participation. Surveys can be administered through a smartphone or a standalone kiosk in your locations (most effective, for higher response rates).
These can even be a survey or QR code linked directly to your website which can be emailed to your customers to collect feedback.
This is something you can implement to encourage your everyday customers to leave their feedback. Find out more about our VoC Programs.
Get a competitive edge on your competition to always be one step ahead. Our experienced shoppers will evaluate your competition from top to bottom at your request. Find out more about our Competitor Intelligence Programs.
Do you sell alcohol or tobacco products? Our compliance program provides invaluable peace of mind!
Protect yourself, your employees, and your business. Ensure all government compliant identification procedures are being followed appropriately as required. A mystery shopper (of legal age) but still under 21 (or 25) makes a purchase, and reports whether the proper identification was requested. Find out more about our Compliance Audit Programs.
Do you have concerns about shrinkage or employee integrity issues?
We develop programs to identify and control any issues and assist with incorporating a solution. Find out more about our Integrity Audit Programs.
Does your business offer customers the old paper method to share their feedback?
Why not give your customers the convenience of providing their comments online? Leaving comments online is quick and most importantly easy.
Are your employees treating inbound calls as an interruption or nuisance? Our certified mystery shoppers evaluate the greeting, telephone manner, helpfulness, courtesy, and sales skills. Telephone evaluations are of immeasurable value to call centers and retailers. Calls may also be recorded upon request.
Outbound Call Center
Do you have to gather information that can easily be done over the phone? Depending on the project size, we can set up your outbound call center in as little as 1 week. We provide our clients with accurate and cost-effective call center operations. The data collected is provided however you choose using our automated and fully customizable reporting software. The data is presented in real-time and with action plans on your mobile device, tablet or computer.
Inbound Call Center
Want to be set up an inbound call center? Our phone operators have exceptional communication skills. They deliver the highest customer service standards.
This program entails customer sales and service visits to your establishment. Once the mystery shopper has gathered all information needed, the employee can be rewarded on the spot by the mystery shopper, or at a later date.
Rewards are limited only by your imagination. We can help pick the perfect reward for you.
Other than yourself no one knows your company better than your employees. Are they happy? Do they have ideas on how to improve morale and sales? Surveys are tailored to discover the information needed to maintain a successful employer/employee relationship. Surveys may be administered anonymously or otherwise.
Our certified shoppers visit your website and evaluate every element including selling tactics, checking out (purchase), returns, ease of use, and appeal to the target audience/market.
Are your staff serving minors simply because they are accompanied by someone of the age of majority?
This is an excellent choice for restaurants, bars, convenience, and liquor stores.
This program takes the compliance program one step further. *Agents and **decoys visit your establishment together. A customer sales and service audit is performed. The agent takes the lead by requesting an alcoholic beverage or tobacco product followed by the decoy.
*Agent = mystery shopper who has reached the age of majority in your province. **Decoy = minor who is approaching the age of majority.
Mar 1, 2021by Kyla Broughton
As part of a holistic Customer Experience Program, Mystery Shopping is a GREAT tool to gain insights and feedback on...
Sep 3, 2018by Julie Anthony
The fact you’re wondering how to improve customer satisfaction scores with Mystery Shopping services shows you’re...
Sep 18, 2015by Kyla Broughton
Each business has its own particular unique show of merchandise and administrations and has a thought of how to offer...