With so many gadgets and gizmos on the market, it may be difficult determining the difference between “needs” and “wants.” While there are a variety of gadgets that will make your life as a mystery shopper easier, there are just a handful of must-haves. Here’s the breakdown:
You’ve Got Mail! While many long-time mystery shoppers started mystery shopping long before email was commonplace, an email account these days is a requisite. You can surely log on to each of your mystery shopping providers’ websites daily to check for new assignments. However, it is much easier to simply check your email account, as the providers will email you when new assignments are posted in your area.
In addition, you will receive confirmation and reminders of your job assignments in your email. Email is also the usually easiest and best way to communicate with your scheduler in the event you have a question or a problem.
“Watch” Out! Almost every assignment requires you to keep track of the time, to some degree or another. Many assignments just ask you to keep track of the time you entered and left the premises. Some require you to keep track of how long you were in line or how long you waited to be greeted or helped by the staff. Many assignments will suffice with just know the time down to the minute, but there are some assignments that are nit-picky with needing to know the exact time down to the second.
If you pay attention to the assignment requirements before you request an assignment and request the down-to-the-minute assignments, you can make due with just using the clock on your cell phone or wrist watch. However, for assignments that require the time down to the second, you should really invest in a stop watch as your job will be much easier. There are more than enough assignments to keep you busy that don’t require a stop watch, though. So just pay attention to the assignment requirements.
On The Periphery. There are a few peripherals, or accompanying gadgets, your computer will need to help you with your reporting. Ideally, you can purchase a combo machine that has printing, faxing, and scanning capabilities all in one. You don’t necessarily need to print your assignment requirements out before shopping, but your job will be easier if you can bring them in the car with you and peruse them once more before you set off inside the store. Some providers do require you to print out a statement of authenticity or submission to sign and fax or email back to them.
For assignments that require a purchase, you will be required to fax or scan the receipts and send them to the provider. So you don’t necessarily need both a fax machine and a scanner, but rather just one or the other. However, if you can get a machine that covers both functions, that is preferable.
Say Cheese! There are a very large number of assignments that do not require digital photos. You can make a very good monthly income and stay very busy completing assignments without the need to purchase a digital camera. However, many of the higher paying assignments do require the use of a digital camera. So if you want to make more money for your time and efforts, you should consider purchasing a digital camera. Note, many shop requirements specifically prohibit the use of the camera on your cell phone and require the higher quality photos from a digital camera.
Once you have these gadgets in your mystery shopping arsenal, you will be ready to complete any number of assignments!
Which stop watch and voice recorder would you recommend?
I would like to know the same thing that Cathyann is asking you also and what is the best digital camera to buy.
Ladies,
I can answer that for you. I wouldn’t buy a stopwatch. A watch with a second hand that you can easily read is good enough and as long as you can give the approximate time with the seconds I wouldn’t sweat it too much. Check out your local KMart, WalMart or any other big discount store for a digital camera and voice recorder. A camera with at least a 6.0 Megapixel or more capacity would be the best option. I bought a Canon Powershot SD750 about 3 months ago, which is 7.1 Megapixels, online at Best Buy for $179.00 but I did need a larger memory card (another $25.00 and it included a leather case and an extra battery). The voice recorders can range anywhere from $20 and up. I bought mine for $30.00 at Target and also use for my grocery lists. Online deals around this time of year will probably yield better results.
Good luck!!
Hi ladies. Some cell phones come with a stop watch feature that will let you split times. This usually works real well because nobody thinks twice about you holding a cell phone. As for the voice recorder just about any digital one will work. Mine has VOR which means it only records when it hears something. That eliminates a lot of dead air space. I only paid 39.00 for it. You should however buy the best digital camera you can afford. The higher the pixels the better and be sure the preview screen is big enough to see. You need that to preview your pictures before you leave the site to make sure you captured everything you were supposed to. I hope this helps.
Ditto the aforementioned! I am still learning the ropes, using a digital recorder, but expect to employ it with shops next week. Thank you All, for the splendid information!
My cell phone has a stopwatch and a timer on it but I very rarely use it for timing. I have a tape recorder hidden in my purse and it does very well on recording even from a distance. I can check the timing when I get home.
My experience with a digital recorder has reinforced my decision to acquire one that is rechargeable. The batteries run down VERY fast. A stopwatch that has a split time feature really simpifies reports, however I suggest practising using it, well before using it on the job.
P.S.: Just a tip for an edit above____
If you pay attention to the assignment requirements before you request an assignment and request the down-to-the-minute assignments, you can make due with just using the clock on your cell phone or wrist watch. (you can make do……):)
Happy shopping!
I’m about to buy a digital voice recorder. Is it possible to use it to time assignments? Ideally I would like to buy a model that has the option of turning voice activation on or off.
Thanks
Jo
I have been using my IPod cell phone and am just getting to learn the features. I was using the notes and noting the time from that but noticed that it shows two times…the time you started to take the notes and the real time. I messed up my timing by not knowing that and now just use the start time for the note.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a video system that can be used on unrevealed shops, such as apartment shops?
One more…guess with this down time I’ll go ahead and get the CD for obtaining the gold certificate. The silver has helped in getting the better paying and more interesting jobs.