There are several common mistakes mystery shoppers make and, in some cases, they may not even be aware of how it is affecting the job they have been asked to do or the companies who have hired the shopper. Mystery shopping is a business and you can bet your clients take it very seriously. You should as well, if you hope to become a successful and sought after mystery shopping partner for the companies who want to hire you.

Here are the top 8 common mistakes:

Not Following Guidelines

A very common source of angst among mystery shopping firms is shoppers that simply do not follow the guidelines. This is largely preventable by careful attention to detail, thoroughness and in some cases, flexibility.

Flaking

Mystery shopping organizations really don't like this. As discussed in chapter five, one mystery shopper's flaking can turn into one of your assignments and sources of repeat assignments. This comprises the result of one out of four mystery shopping assignments; it is one of the worst mistakes.

Lack of Communication

It is a frequent complaint that mystery shoppers don't articulate their experiences, or worse, fail to ask questions when clarification is needed. There is no such thing as a dumb question. Clients prefer that you ask all the questions necessary. Failure to communicate can lead to improperly completed assignments.

Inconsistency

Clients don't enjoy receiving inconsistent reports. You may have checked off that everyone at Happy Burger is wearing their paper hats, but your written narrative states that three were missing their hats. Which is it? Make sure you know and you say which it is at all times. Such inconsistencies could lead to the assumption that you are confused at best and incompetent at worst. Neither is good for your career.

Rushing

Clients hate it when mystery shoppers rush through the report, assignment or both. Doing so is an excellent way to be inconsistent, fail to adhere to the guidelines, and fail to ask questions when necessary. If you reasonably suspect you won't have time or be able to complete the assignment properly, inform clients as soon as possible - or don't accept in the first place. Being thorough means taking all the time that you need to do so. Remember, you have all the time in the world to adhere to guidelines, but no time to rush.

Grammar and Spelling

Your report is of no use to the client unless it is coherent. Improper spelling and grammar is unprofessional. It is an excellent way to ensure your report becomes useless, ergo; the mystery shop becomes useless. It will be necessary to send someone else out who does what you failed to do correctly.

Lying

Tell the truth. You are there to observe. This is the point of being a mystery shopper. Lying on reports is a frequent complaint of mystery shopper clients.

Failure to Inform the Client of Errors

If you made a mistake, the client needs to know. Your integrity not only provides the chance to correct the mistake, but it may also help reconstitute a potentially lost account on your end.