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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.
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