Useful FREE Software for Mystery Shopping:

Hello Fellow ICs 

With the advent of Smart Devices like the iPhone or any Android device, I would like to introduce to you these (mostly free) Apps that might help you during your assignments. I do not derive any benefit from this other than the enjoyment of helping my fellow Secret Shoppers. If you have any App to add to this list, you are more than welcome to add, just follow the format of name of the app, how it helped you, what does it do, if it's free, and if a version is available for both iOS and Android platforms.

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2) TimeStamp Camera app. This one is camera app that allows you to time stamp your videos and photos. You can also add GPS coordinates to prove that you took the photo at that GPS location. It is available on the iOS and Android version.

3) Speaking of GPS I think GeoVerify is another essential app. It gets you a code to the location you are at that you can use in your report to prove that you went to the right store location. The first time I used this app I was doing a circuit shop at San Francisco International Airport, with multiple locations in a close proximity to each other and most had the same name, just a different location at the airport. It gave me accurate location codes and I was happy to be able to prove that I did the circuit in the right order, and at the right location(s). Lately it was giving codes that are several hundred feet away, I got a code that said I was 0.2 miles away from the actual location on my iPhone 6S+, so I called on Tech. Support, but I have not heard from them so far. Make sure you are in a good outdoors location or close to a window when you get your code. You can also name the location and email the code so that if you are doing a circuit of shop assignments you can keep track of what you are doing. I am seeing many MSPs adding this to their report. It is available on the iOS and Android version.

4) Talon app. The "Poor" ICs Video app. If you do not want to spend that much money to buy a PV-500 L4, or an L3 if you can find them, camera outfit, Talon can help you save money by allowing you to take video assignments. My experience has shown me that a few MSPs look for Talon video shoppers, and most would like to have you use a PV-500, or similar option, but it is an option out there and can be a backup to the PV-500. Also with one of these running/jogging upper arm smartphone holders, it might give you footage of the subject while walking next to you. Now you still have the native camera app on your smartphone and that should do well. The Talon app turns your screen into a note taking app so if someone is looking at your phone the app is disguised as a note app. What I do not like about Talon is that if you turn your screen off, which you should do to preserve battery life, then the app stops recording, also your native camera will stop recording, at least on the iOS devices. I will check on the Android platform if this is the case and report back to you. It is available on the iOS and Android version.

5) DatesBetween app. This one is for me. When will be the 45th day since the date of my report submission and acceptance? In short, when do I get paid? This app calculates the days between two dates. It can give you days, weeks and days, months and days, and years, months, and days. This app is for iOS devices, and I do not know if there is an Andriod equivalent. There is a web site [www.timeanddate.com] that also gives you that information. The app works off line, so it gets the mention. 

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7) Sudo app. This app allows you up to 9 free phone numbers and identities that you can use to give while doing assignments. If you are supposed to give your real identity information well you must, but if you still want to be anonymous and give out a working phone number that will ring differently on your smartphone, then Sudo is the way to go. Check it out and let me know how it works for you. You can have phone numbers attached to your Sudo Spy Shopper persona, and it will have its own ring tone, so you will know to turn into that persona when the phone rings. It offers email addresses as well, but the domain name of the email is less than desirable. It is available on the iOS and Android version.

8) Mobee. Mobee pays (or earn rewards) to you shop and dine and provide feed back to the businesses you frequent. So, you have an assignment go with Mobee and get paid twice. Sometimes the assignments are so intriguing that you just have to do them. You will start the app, it will give you a map showing near by assignments, then you will look at the requirements and the points you get for a successful completion of the assignment. The work flow may need some enhancements such as telling you more about the assignments, and what photos are required. It is available on the iOS and Android version. 

9) DropBox. You all should have an account because most MSPs require you to upload video files to them and emailing large files might not work. So Dropbox is the way to go. There are other alternatives, but it seems to me that DripBox is the standard for many MSPs. It is available on the iOS and Android version. 

Here are 10 of my apps. Will you give your feedback and let us know what apps you use to make this work go smoother. Go ahead and add to this list. Yes I said 10 but listed only 9. Hum!!! Why is that?

This is very helpful. I will try out some of these apps and let you know. I do use gigspot and I like it slot but if you start filling out information on a shop starting on Ur phone then finish with your phone. Same if you start with your computer. Atleast that is what I have noticed to be the toughest part. Pretty new to all of this ( doing shops for two months now) but love it!

Thanks again!

Awesome, I really appreciate all the app recommendations! The brief summaries for all your app recommendations were also extremely helpful. I am very excited about getting started and because of all the information provided within the app and website, I am confident that I will do well! Thanks again!!!

Thank you so much for all the info provided Wassim!

I'm glad you mentioned metadata, such as timestamp or geotag - I'd like to elaborate even further on that.

Whenever you take a photo with your smartphone (wether by just using your ordinary phone camera, or the iSecretShop app, or some other camera app), the exact time and date, as well as the location where it was taken, are recorded in the photo information.

When you upload that photo to your shop report, if the date/time do not match the date and time of your shop, or if the location does not match, you will usually see a small error message under the photo. You will still be able to submit it of course, but this serves for editors to check if the photos that had to be taken at the time and place of the shop (photos of the location exterior/interior, or photos of the specific items inside the location) have indeed been taken at that time and location.

This is a very important part of verifying that the shop is valid, so you can consider this to be proof that everything is legitimate, that you were there and did the shop. Removing this metadata will raise suspicions with editors that are checking the shops, and might lead to the shop being declined, or even result in restrictions or bans, so I strongly advise against it.

In any case, trying not to be bias or subjective (and admitting I personally haven't used some of those apps), but I do think that the iSecretShop has all the functionality you need for completing and submitting all shops in the iSecretShop system - browsing and taking on shops from anywhere, filling out reports on the go, receiving notifications of interesting shops or needed actions, taking photos, recording video and audio from within the very question itself in which they are required, Geo-location options, payments, direct way to contact the support at iSecretShop via the Ticket button, and many other things.

And again - thank you so much for everything you shared, this is some very useful stuff!

Cam scanner is good for recipts. Lets you take a picture of a document and save as a PDF.

Great input Ross! Keep in mind though, that most receipt questions on iSecretShop require the photo of the receipt to be an "image type" file for you to be able to upload it - so .JPEG, .IMG, .PNG, etc (those 3 are most common).

My absolute favorite for scanning receipts is OfficeLens. It automatically crops and focuses on the receipt while you take the picture. And you can export as Jpeg or PDF direct to your onedrive or phone.

That's very useful indeed, thank you for the recommendation!

I use an app called ShopIT. It looks like text a message, but it keeps track of timings and notes for you. Things like, "Walked in", "greeted","water arrived", etc. Later you go back and has times on each entry. It also records voice, but I do not rely on it.

Thank you! That could be a godsend!