If you are looking for a way to make more money as a mystery shopper, you may want to consider picking up a few audit assignments. Many mystery shoppers, especially new mystery shoppers, pass over audit assignments simply because they appear to be so drastically different from other standard mystery shopping assignments. In most areas, audit assignments are usually easy to get your hands on, and often offer approximately equal pay as your average mystery shopping assignment. Including audit assignments in your work schedule as a mystery shopper is a great way to add another dimension to your income potential. If you haven’t done an audit assignment before, here’s what you need to know to get started:
Different Kinds Of Audit Assignments. Audit assignments can generally be broken down into two different types – concealed and revealed. Concealed audit assignments are largely similar to your traditional mystery shopping assignment, with the mystery shopping conducting the assigned tasks without revealing his or her identity to the store’s staff. On the other hand, a revealed assignment requires that you make your presence known, often with a letter that you will need to give to the store manager before you begin your on-site duties. The letter will tell the store employees and manager who you are and why you are there. Many mystery shoppers find revealed audits to be a breath of fresh air, as this type of assignment takes away the worry of having your identity revealed or discovered.
The Job. Auditing assignments can truly run the gamut in terms of duties you may be assigned, but generally you will be asked to ensure that a store is complying with some company policy, government laws, or even fire and safety code. Some audits will also have you ensure that the prices shown on merchandise are listed correctly and are ringing up correctly at the cash register. Because these assignments vary so greatly, mystery shoppers should take a moment to ensure they understand the requirements and are comfortable performing the job function before requesting the assignment.
Other Aspects Of The Job. Audit assignments are unlike most other mystery shopping assignments, as they can vary greatly in the amount of time required to complete and many often require the use of additional equipment. Some audit assignment can take just a few minutes while others may span across several days. Pay attention to this aspect of the job and ensure that the pay adequately compensates you for your time and effort. Also read through the assignment requirements and pay attention to any special equipment you may be required to bring to complete the job, such as a video camera, digital camera, or other equipment. Some audit assignments are very particular about the type of equipment required for the job.
While it can sometimes be a hassle to learn a new part of a job, audit assignments can really increase your job possibilities as a mystery shopper and ultimately increase your income, too. If you haven’t considered working on these types of assignments, think again and consider the potential income you could add to your mystery shopping job by including a few audit assignments in your work schedule.
in the future would like to see examples of different audits and how you keep your identity secret, when you are all over a store looking and noting prices. thx kc
OK but you seem to have failed to mention one big drawback. A company gives you a list of 48 items that they want to aquire the prices using a concealed audit. This puts you on the spot to covertly sneak around, avoid store personel, and hide your audit sheet. I found that it creates a very embarrasing situation to be caught writing down competitive prices.
I pick up many audits along with merchandising jobs. Most are simple so called concealed yet the client wants signatures that you’ve been there-go figure. Don’t pay much but require about 15-20 minutes and the grocery ones are doable when I’m doing errands or other jobs.
Convenience store audits are both secret and revealed shops. The first part of the shop is covert, in that you are required to look around the store, make a purchase, then complete a short survey on the experience. THEN, you re-enter the store and reveal yourself as a secret shopper/auditor by giving an introductory letter to the attendant/manager. These audits usually require several detailed photos of signage, pumps, lot, store front, front counter, restrooms, etc. I have done over 50 of these types of audits. It usually takes me 45 minutes to an hour or so to do each one (NOT counting the online report). The pay is in the $10-$15 range. Doing one or two at a time doesn’t make for good income. I usually bundle 4-5/day, two to four days/week and combine them with other assignments in the same vicinity to make it worthwhile doing them. Convenience store audits are involved. The training manuals are thick and detailed, and the requirements for performing successful audits are fairly strict. I’ve never had any hassles from store employees (except one store manager wanted to limit me on the number of photos I took). Once you perform a few of them, you get into a routine and the time involvement reduces from being experienced. Overall, these are good assignments IF you bundle them and include other assignments around them to make the money worthwhile.
I would never do a revealed audit. A lot of the ones are in the same locations as my regular shops, and it is not worth the suspicion. Also, the pay for unrevealed audits is usually between $6-$8 per hour, but with less paperwork to fill out. I find mystery shopping usually pays my more than $10 per hour, including reporting time, and it fun. Audits are good if you don’t have much in your area, but otherwise, I wouldn’t bother.
I just completed some of the convenience store audits like Don described – 5 in 1 day. He is right in all he says. But I will never do that again. They took about 45 minutes at each location, but the real issue was the online report. That time has to be figured into the time to do the shop. It took me about 30 minutes to answer the 35 detailed questions and go from page to page, then 10 minutes to rename the photos, then 40-50 minutes to upload the 20-30 required photos, then another 20 minutes to put them with the correct question – all told almost 2 hours. Then I had to respond to the reviewer. If I were to add in the drive time I made less than $5 per hour and a lot of aggrevation.
On the other hand, I have also done other convenience store audits, both revealed and concealed, that only required about 6 photos that didn’t have to be fiddled with – those shops are well worth it.
I also agree with Robert’s statements about the concealed audits. I have done a couple of those and it is very uncomfortable to try to get the information exactly right without being discovered.
My advise to anyone considering doing audits is to read the paperwork very carefully before you accept the assignment so you know what you are getting into and if the job is within your comfort level and required pay.
I will certainly give this some thought thanks.
I would love to hear more details about Auditing. Thanks
I have done audits that are first covert and then revealed. My suggestion is to do these types in parts of the country away from your home turf. One company required a hidden audit of about a hundred pages of prices, prices that were collected on the store price check scanner, but then that was it; I just mailed it it. Pay was good. One type was revealed only if I was uncovered. Then I would show a letter of authorization. To be successful at audits, role playing is required just as it is for mystery shopping. You can put items in your cart, check labels like you’re health conscious, look at prices and compare them to the store flayer, take a break, stroll along like your relaxing (not doing business), talk on your cell phone, take the opportunity to make a small personal purchase (whether required or not). In my instance, my regular ‘other’ work allows people to see me merchandising around local stores, so they’re used to seeing me, like I’m a fixture. In any case, variety is the spice of life!
Sorry! …should by ‘flyer.’
I personally don’t think I’ll ever do a reveal one again. I did one and it was the worst report I’ve ever had to do, now whenever I go near that shop I see the staff looking at me and whispering to each other. It’s not somewhere I visited frequently before but I used to go sometimes and it’s in a shopping centre so I go past it a lot, even though I don’t go in.
I have done audits and inventories, the pay doesn’t cover the frustration.
Sorry not for me.
Stacey says
I personally don’t think I’ll ever do a reveal one again. I did one and it was the worst report I’ve ever had to do, now whenever I go near that shop I see the staff looking at me and whispering to each other. It’s not somewhere I visited frequently before but I used to go sometimes and it’s in a shopping centre so I go past it a lot, even though I don’t go in.
Stacey I believe the have much more to fear from you then vise versa. Just plug in there and go for it
I was going to get involved with this, but now I have changed my mind. Doesn’t sound at all like it is worth the low pay and the costly time. Either way–Very glad I read this. Thanks!
After reading these, I have decided I will not even try them. I am 72, and find the easier shops are fun and help add to my income, but the more involved ones cause too much stress and just not worth it.
I do both revealed and covert. To me they are not a big deal.
I do a covert one every month at the same store. It is a pet supply. I have pets, so if I am approched, I just tell them that I have a picky eater, a animal with food issues, or something along those lines.
The revealed ones I am more picky about. It has to be worth my time and gas stations are not high on the list.