Mystery shopping work involves visiting shops and retailers posing as a customer to assess the standards and level of service that's being delivered. Occasionally mystery shopping will involve just making a phone call, but usually you'll have to visit the retailer and follow a scenario that you'll be given. After the visit you'll need to complete a report which will often consist of answering multiple choice questions backed up with detailed comments to describe your experience.
Mystery shopping alone will never be a full time job, but it can be used as a great way to earn extra money or combined with other types of face to face marketing work to generate a reasonable income. You'll usually earn up to about £10 per hour for mystery shopping work (more if the work involves wearing a hidden camera or microphone) plus travel expenses, however you'll also be reimbursed for your purchase and will usually get to keep whatever you have to buy.
FieldStar membership includes online training for mystery shoppers, access to mystery shopping jobs, and a searchable database of mystery shopping agencies.
Watch an interview with a mystery shopper