I'm a grass roots undercover agent (Grass Roots Group Mystery Shopping)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Grass Roots Group Mystery Shopping
Date:	21/02/09 (670 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A very user friendly website, and excellent support.

Disadvantages: The assignments don't come up too often.

I have been a "mystery shopper" for about 7 years now, and do work for a number of mystery shopping companies, including Grass Roots.

First, for those of you who don't know, I will give you a little information about mystery shopping in general, although there is a category for that as a review on its own, so you can easily find more detail on dooyoo.....

It is no good just offering a good product, or just offering the cheapest price in town - customer service and ease of use are incredibly important. If you provide shoddy service, rude or inefficient staff, or can't provide the items you promise, then your customer may well look elsewhere.

Head office cannot keep an eye on all their staff all the time, and can't visit each branch every day to check out what they are doing, so need to enlist the help of Mystery Shopping Companies to provide undercover agents to do the work for them. The mystery shopper will provide a full report of their visit, good points and bad, and from that the Company involved can assess whether there are any training shortfalls that need addressing, or whether a particular staff member is working "above and beyond" the expected level and therefore due a bonus or letter of recognition.

To be a good mystery shopper, you need to be able to blend in with all others visiting that branch/shop/restaurant in order that the staff act normally with you. If you can't blend in, you will stand out as a mystery shopper and the staff will pick up on this. You will therefore not be able to get a true picture of the service and that would be no good to those appointing you to do the job.

So, who are grass roots? Well, they are one of many mystery shopping companies, and for me they are one of the simplest and easiest to use.

*how to apply*
Simply go to www.grassrootsmysteryshopping.com and click on the FAQ button to the left hand side of the screen. There is a link that will take you to apply online. Application is done online and is very easy - you fill in your personal details together with a statement of why you would be a good applicant.

*what happens next?*
When assignments are available in your area, and that match your profile, Grass roots will send you an email to let you know. Be warned, that others in your area will also be sent an email so you will have to be quick to accept, as these assignments don't hang about for long!

*do I have to accept?*
No, once you know an assignment is available, you can view it before deciding whether to accept it. Perhaps it needs to be done on a day that doesn't suit you, perhaps it is just outside your area, or maybe you just don't fancy it. By being able to view the assignment before accepting it, there is less chance of you completing it badly, or not completing it at all.

Please do not accept assignments if you do not think you will complete them - it is unfair on other mystery shoppers in your area that might be able to do that job without a problem.

*I've accepted, what now*
Grass Roots will email you confirmation and a questionnaire. Read through the questionnaire and make sure you are familiar with it before you carry out your visit. Remember, that you want to look as natural as possible, so having to refer to notes while you are on the job will not do you any favours!

It is vital you do your visit when you say you will. When you arrive you will have to take note of various things like the buildings to either side of the one you are visiting, the time you enter and exit the branch, descriptions of those who served you etc. If you have not got a good memory, then come up with some covert way of recording these details as they WILL be needed when you submit your report. I find that I can pretend to be texting someone on my phone, when really I am entering *left-post office, right-shoeshop, female aged 30ish brn hair nicola*........! You also need to be thinking about the way that staff interact with you and other customers, whether the surroundings are clean and tidy, etc so don't switch off while you are in the queue to be served!

*after the visit*
As soon as possible after your visit, log on to the website and submit your report. Grass Roots have some of the simplest reports to do, and they are very user friendly in my opinion. You need to be detailed in your report otherwise they will come back and question it. Be objective and not insulting. Remember, that the person who served you may even get to see a copy of it, so you must be fair at all times.

*payment*
Grass roots typically pay about £10 for a visit, and once your report has been submitted and verified you should receive payment in a couple of weeks. Sometimes it takes longer, but not often. They have a payroll run every two weeks, and you can see on your homepage what you are due, so you can keep an eye on it easily. Remember, that you are responsible for tax on this as it is paid gross, so have a word with your tax office before you start so that you don't fall foul of the rules.

*typical assignments*
For me, almost all of my assignments with grass roots have been banks - simply assessing the branch, the availability of information, the counter service and the personal bankers. A typical assignment would not take more than half an hour, so if you can pick one up to do in your lunch hour, it is ideal! Other assignments would include shops, but as I say, mine have almost all been banks.

*frequency*
Sadly, Grass roots don't come up with the jobs as often as other mystery shopping sites, - perhaps I get one every other month. But then sometimes I can get four for one day! That is the reason I register with several companies, because you never know who will have assignments available for you.

*support*
If you need help or have concerns, then grass roots have an excellent helpdesk and I have never found them to be unhelpful. If you are not sure about how to do an assignment, give them a call or email them - they are very good. Once you have done a few, however, you will know exactly what you are doing!

Overall - Don't rely on mystery shopping as a way of making a living.....it can be a bit hit and miss, but if you are after an extra bit of occasional cash, then Grass Roots is one I would look at, for certain.

Summary: Be aware of the lady in the queue texting on her mobile phone.......!