Mystery Shopping / On-Site Inspections

Shopper FAQs

Please review the questions in this FAQ prior to e-mailing Customer-1st. If you have a question that has not been addressed then please contact our staff.

Becoming A Mystery Shopper

Does it cost anything to become a mystery shopper?
No. There are no registration fees or other fees to join. You should never have to pay to become a mystery shopper as there are several free resources available on the internet.

How do I become a mystery shopper?
To become a mystery shopper, you must register with us. Following registration, you will be able to sign up for available assignments.

What should I enter in the social security number field if I am a Canadian resident?
Our system is set up for American citizens. If you are a Canadian resident, please enter 5 zeros and the last 4 digits of your Canadian tax number (00000xxxx).

What types of businesses use mystery shoppers?
Any business which deals with the public may use mystery shoppers. Stores, restaurants, banks, hotels, salons, home builders, apartment complexes, gas stations, casinos, auto dealers, auto service centers, movie theaters, health clubs, pet stores, amusement parks, optical providers and more.

What qualities should mystery shoppers have?
Mystery shoppers should be reliable, observant and able to follow directions.

Is it ethical to work for more than one company?
Most companies understand that you will work for other companies. However, never share information about one company with another and don't share one company's report forms or other confidential information with another. Be professional and be discreet.

What will I do when I'm mystery shopping?
You'll be given specific instructions for completing your mystery shop and you will be provided with the client's requirements (usually in writing or over the phone).

While mystery shopping, you will be observing things such as cleanliness, service, quality and other standards important to the business and its customers.

How much do the shops pay?
Shop assignments have different payments. Payment may include cash, reimbursement or both. Payment for a particular shop will be specified prior to acceptance of the shop.

May I take my spouse, friend or child with me?
Sometimes, if it is a place they would normally go with you. For example, you might take your children to the grocery store or to a family restaurant. However, you might not take young children to a more formal restaurant or an upscale retail store. Don't take anyone else along if they will distract you from properly completing your assignment or if you have been asked not to.

Remember you are a mystery shopper. If you have young children, don't tell them you're mystery shopping. You don't want them asking, loudly, in the middle of a shop, "Mommy, are we doing the mystery shop now?" Adults who accompany you must know that they are not to talk about mystery shopping or give away that you are the shopper.

What happens if I can't complete a job after accepting it?
If you cannot complete your assignment by the deadline, you will need to contact us before your scheduled shopping date so that we may schedule someone else. If you accept an assignment, do not complete it and offer no practical explanation, your name will be removed from our database.

Do I have to buy anything?
Not always. However, we do have some assignments that may require you to make a purchase. All reimbursement details will be explained before you accept an assignment requiring a purchase.

Can mystery shopping become a full-time or part-time job?
Not usually. Mystery shopping is only occasional work. People often do mystery shopping during their lunch break, after work or on weekends.

We may have several clients in your geographical area or only a few. Some clients require that we rotate mystery shoppers rather than send the same shopper repeatedly. Some clients require monthly shops and others ask for shops only once a quarter or once a year. Mystery shopping is not a get-rich-quick scheme or a way to make a living.

Can I refuse certain assignments?
Yes. You are not obligated or required to accept any assignment offered to you.

Do I need previous experience?
No. You do not need previous experience to work in this program.

Why am I asked for my social security number?
We ask mystery shoppers to provide their social security number for tax reporting purposes only. This information will not be used for any other reason or disclosed to any third parties unless required to do so by law.

After I have registered, how do I login?
Once you have registered with our company and your registration form is approved, you will be able to log onto your Customer-1st homepage. It usually takes 1-2 business days for your registration to be approved. You will need to make sure that you write down your user id and password. They will not be sent to you.

Shop Visits

When does a mystery shop have to be completed?
Generally, unless otherwise noted, you have 24 hours from the self-assigned date to complete an assignment. This assures that shops are completed as soon as possible for our clients and helps us to meet internal deadlines. This also prevents shoppers from assigning themselves shops and then failing to complete them in a timely manner. In some cases, you may ask for an extension and if possible we will grant it to you.

How long should I keep surveys and receipts after a shop has been completed?
We recommend that mystery shoppers keep all shop documentation at least 6 months after a shop has been completed in case there are any questions or problems concerning a shop.

Payment Issues

When will I receive payment for completing a shop?
Payments by check will be mailed to the address listed on your homepage on the 15th of the month following your shop no matter what the shop completion date is. (i.e. An April 4th shop check will be mailed May 15th). Not providing a receipt, shop discrepancy or overdue shops may delay your payment. Please note: our checks will say First Point Resources which is our parent company. Please send inquiries regarding payments to kcoble@firstpointresources.com

Fax all receipts, if applicable, to 1-888-654-1602 making sure to include your first and last name. Also, include the shop name and location if not already printed on the receipt.

How do I know you received my report?
When you submit your report, you will receive a confirmation message. If you do not receive confirmation message after submitting your report, your shop did not go through and you will need to re-submit your report.

I was sent payment for my assignments but my check was "lost in the mail". Will you send me another check?
If a check is returned to us by the post office, we will resend it at no additional cost to the shopper. Unfortunately, for any other case where a check is not returned directly to us, our company has very strict policies regarding this specific payment issue because of the possibility of fraud. Therefore, we must wait a minimum of 30 days to reissue payment or issue a stop payment on a previous check. Note that the shopper is responsible for updating their account information online and making sure that their mailing address is correct.

Other Frequent Questions

Why haven't I heard from you?
We are continuously growing our client list. In order to get new clients, we need a large database of potential shoppers. That means that it can take several months before we have an assignment that's right for you. Please be patient. Unless told otherwise, you are in our database and will be notified as soon as we get a new client in your area.

How do I update my address or other personal information?
You can change your contact information at any time by logging onto your homepage.

Who do I contact to ask questions or send comments to?
Please send any questions or comments to help@customer-1st.

When are available shops posted on the Customer-1st website?
Our specific posting schedule is dependent on our clients and how quickly shops are scheduled. Therefore, it is recommended that shoppers check the website for postings periodically. Shoppers will receive e-mail notifications or called if shops remain unscheduled in their area so please be sure to keep your contact information up-to-date on your homepage.

Why don't I see any available shops when I check for assignments?
There may be several reasons that you are not seeing any available assignments. Some of them may be: there are no assignments available in your area at the moment, your registration request may not yet have been approved if you registered less than two business days ago, you may not have a high enough shopper rating since some assignments are only available to our most experienced shoppers, you may not be eligible to complete an assignment because you recently completed an assignment for a particular client or you may not meet eligibility and demographic requirements for certain shops.

Why isn't there a phone number listed so that shoppers may contact Customer-1st?
We request that all shoppers contact our staff by e-mail. This is because e-mail provides a written record of any conversations between our staff and our team of shoppers. However, when necessary, shoppers will be provided with a phone number to contact our staff in regards to urgent matters.