Part 1 of Common Mystery Shopper Mistakes highlighted the fact that mystery shoppers can make many mistakes that may or may not be intentional. While we all make mistakes, it is important to avoid making these mistakes if you are hoping to be regarded in the industry as a serious mystery shopping professional. Let's continue on and look at the next 8 top mistakes:

Failure to Meet Deadlines

A major complaint of clients is reports submitted past the deadline. Thoroughness, flexibility and attention to detail will help keep your information in order to help you write a better report - and deliver it in a timely manner.

Calling Clients to Shoot the Breeze

Never call a client to 'chat it up'. Not only do they lack the time to do so, it is very annoying. The same goes for forwarding funny emails. Clients simply have no time for this. Besides, how are they supposed to assign you work if you keep wasting their time?

Badgering Clients for Work

Never complain or badger a client because you have not received an assignment yet. Never demand that you receive an assignment immediately. This is an ideal way to make sure you never get one.

Repeatedly Asking for Deadline Extensions

Occasionally is fine in extenuating circumstances. Requesting more time to do the work routinely simply conveys the message that you are unreliable and cannot handle the work you've been assigned. It also takes time away from your scheduler, who will cease to assign more work.

Delayed Responses to Email and Phone Calls

When you receive a confirmation that you have an assignment, respond immediately. Clients frequently complain that they cannot get through to some mystery shoppers. Promptness is especially important when a client is attempting to notify you of some change to the assignment or guidelines themselves.

Very Last Minute Cancellations

Short of flaking, routine last minute cancellations are a primary pet peeve of mystery shopping schedulers. Similar to flaking, these require a last minute scramble to find a replacement mystery shopper. It can lead to the scheduler losing an account, ergo, you losing an account.

Incomplete Reports

Almost on par with a poorly spelled and grammatically tortured report is an incomplete one. A mystery shopper is sent to a store to observe what happened and to report what happened. Clients simply cannot fill in the blanks. Attention to detail, thoroughness and constant review of the guidelines translate into a complete report. Anything short of this makes an incomplete report, and consequently, translates into a waste of your time and the client's money. In some cases, it means you are not paid. Unless you happen to be a fan of not being paid, don't deliver incomplete reports.

Finding Someone to Stand in For You

Never, under any circumstances, send someone to do your mystery shop or write your report for you. After all, the client chose you for the assignment and signed a contract with you for a reason. You have a fiduciary duty to complete the assignment yourself, one having someone else fulfill would violate.