Is dining out getting too expensive? Mystery shopping is an avenue to cover your expenses and make a little spending money.

What is mystery shopping?

Mystery shoppers visit businesses "diguised as normal customers," and do the things other customers do - ask questions, make a purchase, make a return - but with a twist. These undercover customers are there to evaluate the business and their employees. After a visit, the mystery shopper completes a report or questionaire detailing what occurred during the visit.

Mystery shopping goes by many names, including secret shopping, service evaluation, service check and others. No matter what it's called, mystery shopping is an important tool for businesses that care about how they are perceived by customers.