MSPA
Home
Being a QSI Shopper
Client FAQ
Nevada Laws
Hints for Shoppers
Training Schedule
Scam Alert
Apply
Back

Phone:
877-891-0500
Toll Free in the US and Canada
Phone:
(702) 891-0550
Fax: (702) 891-0555

 

 
 


QSI Specialists FAQ's

What does it take to be a Mystery Shopper?

Mystery shoppers must possess the ability to:

  • Dependable
  • Self-discipline
  • Trustworthy
  • Have a good grasp of the English language both written and spoken
  • Computer literacy and access to a personal computer & Internet service
  • Abide by the Shopper’s Code of Ethics as established by the Mystery Shopper’s Providers Association (MSPA).
  • Read and follow instructions to ensure that the client’s specifications are being met
  • Remain calm while performing undercover guest service audits
  • Observation skills to notice specific details
  • Proactive in contacting appropriate Account Manager with any questions they may have to perform a shop and/or to complete an accurate evaluation form
  • Communicate through written materials the details observed while performing a client’s guest service audit
  • Remove perception and opinion from the experience and simply communicate the facts of an interaction
  • Meet deadlines inasmuch as most clients require detailed written reports within 24 to 48 hours of the completion of the shop
  • Attend Mystery Shopping classes provided by QSI Specialists

Are there any other requirements a Mystery Shopper is required to provide QSI Specialists?

There are many different reasons that a client may come to QSI Specialists requesting an undercover audit. It is important to understand that for the most part our audits hope to uncover the good work a given employee is providing to the public. However, there are times that as a Mystery Shopper you will witness less than ideal employee behavior. It is most often in these situations a Mystery Shopper may be required to provide their verbal account of a previously performed mystery shop in a court of law and/or in a union grievance setting. Hence it is understood by QSI Specialists that if you accept and perform a mystery shop and are witness to any behavior that may require additional discussion with the hiring client, union representative, Human Resource staff member or any similar authority, that you will make time out of your schedule to attend legal and/or grievance meetings required in the given situation. QSI Specialists will compensate all Mystery Shoppers to attend these hearings when a client requires your expert input into a grievance matter.

How far will I have to travel and do I get paid mileage?

QSI Specialists generally does not pay mileage for shops around the Las Vegas Valley or in the greater Reno/Carson area. We do try to assign shoppers jobs near their residences or several shops in the same general vicinity to cut down on their driving; however that is not always possible to coordinate due to rotation issues. We do have clients in many of the remote areas of our state and they often include reimbursements to cover the cost of mileage. As always, Mystery Shoppers will be provided the opportunity to decline a job if they find the travel distance prohibitive.

Is Mystery Shopping a full time job?

Mystery Shopping through QSI Specialists is a part-time employment opportunity at best. The number of mystery shops is completely dependent upon the evaluator’s ability to perform the necessary functions of the job and their ability to be available to perform shops as determined by QSI Specialists client’s timelines.

How much money can I earn while performing mystery shopping services?

Pay generally ranges between $10 and $40 per properly executed mystery shop evaluation. Based upon industry standards the pay offered by QSI Specialists is regarded as above the national average of pay scale for mystery shopping providers. You can also anticipate that QSI Specialists will reimburse a mystery shopper for expenses incurred to conduct a mystery shop i.e. dinner, drinks, admission, etc. depending on the type of shop performed. However, QSI Specialists will not be responsible for gas, car insurance, telephone charges, Internet service fees, nor any other cost associated to qualify a person to perform mystery shopping services.

How often does QSI Specialists pay their shoppers?

Since QSI Specialists shoppers are employees of the company, rather than independent contractors, QSI Specialists is required by law to pay you every two weeks. Since all Mystery Shoppers in the state of Nevada are considered part-time employees of each mystery shopping firm they work with (with no limit to the number of mystery shopping firms a Mystery Shopper can be an employee of), withholding taxes will be managed for you by QSI Specialists, as well as any additional mystery shopping firm you work for as a mystery shopper.

Is there an advance reimbursement program available for Mystery Shoppers to cover anticipated expenses?

QSI Specialists certainly understands that shoppers come from different walks of life and different backgrounds. We realize that to be out of pocket for several hundred dollars for expenses in order to perform a scheduled mystery shop can place a financial burden on many shoppers. QSI Specialists recognizes that there are extenuating circumstances as well as extensive hotel and dining shops that require ample cash to perform mystery shops. We have several programs in place where we can advance you cash for a job or put expenses such as hotel rooms on a company credit card. If you may be in need of a cash advance to perform a given mystery shop, please voice your need to the Account Manager responsible for that given client’s shops. QSI Specialists will review the intended shop and determine on a case by case situation, whether an advance of monies is appropriate to perform that given mystery shop. QSI Specialists attempts to support each of our Mystery Shoppers in the very best possible way, so please do not hesitate to inform your Account Manager of a cash advance need you may have.

I do not have a credit card to use for doing shops; does that mean I can not do some shops?

In some isolated cases the instructions for a shop may require that payment be made with a credit card. In those instances, shoppers without credit cards can not perform that given shop. However, as stated above, if payment in cash is acceptable by the client, in most instances, a cash advance may be obtained from QSI Specialists. All you need to do is simply give your Account Manager advance notice.

I have heard that the laws governing Mystery Shopping are different in Nevada. Is that correct?

Yes! Nevada is one of the few states in the country that has made the legal determination that mystery shopping activities fall within the definition of a private investigator. This is because Mystery Shoppers are observing, evaluating and reporting on the “habits, conduct, honesty, integrity, credibility, knowledge, trustworthiness, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movements and transactions of the client’s employees (See link to NRS.648). For this reason people who conduct mystery shopping in the state of Nevada must be a licensed private investigator or an employee of a licensed Private Investigator firm. Also, Mystery Shoppers are also required to maintain a valid work permit issued by the Private Investigators Licensing Board. If a Mystery Shopper or Mystery Shopping firm conducts any type of mystery shopping audit without the required up-to-date Nevada licensing, a fine of $2,500.00 may be invoked.

What is the first thing I need to do if I am interested in becoming a Mystery Shopper?

If you are interested in becoming a Mystery Shopper with QSI Specialists, please feel free to fill out our online employment application, by clicking on the radio button “Apply”. Complete all fields on the employment application as well as perform an unpaid sample audit to provide QSI Specialists with insight into your writing style and observation skills. Once we have received your completed employment application and sample guest service audit, we will review your information and make the determination if you have the appropriate skills to become a mystery shopper with QSI Specialists. If we find that your employment application and sample guest service audit meet our standards, then we will contact you at the e-mail address and/or telephone number you have provided us.

What else can I anticipate in the employment process?

If you pass the first stage of the employment process with QSI Specialists, you will be asked for your Private Investigator Licensing Board number and/or your Sheriff’s Card also known as Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department License. If you are not in possession of this number, QSI Specialists can provide you with instructions on how to attain this license with the state of Nevada. The cost to attain this license number will range between $85.00 to $110.00.

If I am accepted as a Mystery Shopper for QSI Specialists, does that mean I can not perform shops for other mystery shopping companies?

In the state of Nevada Mystery Shoppers are not limited to the number of mystery shopping firms they can work for. However, to protect your license with the Private Investigator Licensing Board (PILB) it is incumbent upon you to confirm that each mystery shopping firm you work for in the state of Nevada is an actively licensed Private Investigator firm, as licensed by the PILB.

Will I always report to the same Account Manager?

At QSI Specialists, our client accounts are divided amongst several different Account Managers. Therefore, it is quite possible that you will receive job notifications from any number of Account Managers within QSI Specialists. Please become familiar with all of our Account Managers by visiting the Bio page under “About Us” radio button on the homepage of the QSI Specialists website. The more you get to know each of our Account Managers, the more opportunity you will have to multiply the number of mystery shops you can perform for QSI Specialists.

 

 
 

 


HOME
ABOUT US
SERVICES
PARTNERSHIP
SHOPPERS
CONTACT US
NEVADA LAWS
LINKS

© 2002-2010 Global Intelligence Network
Last modified: 06/09/2010
Contact Webmaster