Thanks Ivan! I do love my badges haha

I didn't get the "adults only" one for some reason, but oh well, maybe next time

I also use Excel. I have one sheet just for company information, like passwords and websites. I have a separate worksheet for each month detailing the work I'm doing, status of an assignment, payment policy for that company, money spent, reimbursement, compensation, etc. I also use different color highlighters for each software platform. For example, all of my shops I do on isecretshop are highlighted yellow and those on different platforms are highlighted pink or gray.

I also use Google calendar synched to my phone and I have an app called Monthly Calendar that displays it in an easier to read way. I use GeoVerify. I use Instagram and Poto for making image collages for clients that specifically request this.

I currently use my phone's stopwatch and then take screenshots for different timings in restaurants. I feel like there has to be a better way to do this, so I would love suggestions if anyone has an app for this.

When I first started mystery shopping, it was before the age of smartphones. I didn't even have a laptop. Technology has made this work sooo much easier!

I was recently sent to a store that was closed, haha. The assignment did not require me to call ahead, but I always do it anyway. The phone number was disconnected. I looked them up online - they had closed down over a year ago. Oops!

I also would not trust store hours that you find online. Sometimes they are outdated or just plain wrong.

Regarding followup sales... most of the time you do need to give out your real information. This is so you can keep track of and report on the employee's followup. Once the reporting period has passed, you can just call them and tell them to stop calling you. Tell him you already bought a car from a less annoying salesman ;)

When in doubt, check with the MSP :)

I was once ineligible to do a web shop because I had recently done the physical location, but I contacted the MSP and they manually scheduled it for me anyway. Sometimes it's ok if you just use different info, but they will know.

I don't want to mention a client company + the corresponding MSP in a post... When you accepted the assignment, you would have received an email with this information. Can you go back through your email to retrieve this info?

I don't do route shopping, but I know there is a website for that, maybe someone can link it?

Have you tried prestomap.com?

Here on isecretshop, you can search for available shops in different areas. Try looking up a few zip codes between your location and your daughter's location. Then search for available shops within the smallest radius from those zip codes.

I used to do those ID check shops when I was in my early 20s. I was a smoker and got so many free packs of cigarettes :P

Dustin, are you asking about the MSPA certifications? They have 2 levels, silver and gold. If you pay for and pass the exams, you would receive a certification number.

Hmmm, I'm not sure what that is either?

If it's something in your shop report, you can contact your scheduler with any questions. Their contact information would be in the shop details.

Welcome!

Doing more shops gets you points so you can do more shops haha

Try starting off with smaller/easier shops to rack up more points. You will probably only be able to take on one at a time while you build up your reputation, so don't get discouraged if multiple requests get denied. When you see the timeframe for a shop, try applying for the very first day available.

I was doing a restaurant shop that required a guest. My roommate sits down and says "so what do I have to order for this one??" too loudly. I kicked him so hard in the shins! Luckily no one was around us, but still, it stressed me out.