-Such Stress-


There are times when people hear what I do as my job and just think I have the coolest job ever. For those of you who don't know, I am a secret shopper. Or mystery shopper, customer service analyst, whatever you want to call it. I personally like the third option better because it makes me sound more professional. Anyway, people find out about how I try and make money and all they see is the glamour of shopping and getting free stuff. And yes, this is mostly from the women. And then they talk to me and I'm sure that I just make it sound as if it is the worst thing to do in the whole wide world. Now don't get me wrong, I really do like what I do. But there are a few reasons why when people talk to me and ask me questions about it, I come across as if I would rather be doing something else.

Reason #1: Because I live in such a small area, getting work is very difficult for me. If I want to have a decent month, it usually requires making the effort to travel to surrounding areas. Whenever someone talks to me who is considering trying it out in my area, I know that this will equal more competition in a place that already has too much. (I realize that this may make me sound bad and selfish. But hey, I'm trying to make a living too!)

Reason #2: You barely make any money. Especially when you start off. Most of the assignments you receive are the ones that more experienced shoppers won't take because they pay horribly but require a butt load of work. A lot of people I know have heard stories of shoppers in places like New York who are making way more than they ever made. But ask them how long it took them to get to that point. Most will say around 20 years or so. I have only been doing it for 3. Luckily I am starting to get noticed for my work and therefore am being offered better jobs. Also, once I find out that someone I know works at a particular store; I am ethically called to no longer complete an assignment at that establishment again. Or at least until they leave. Now, I help lead a 20 something ministry. What are the chances that I don't know someone working at a place I may potentially shop?

Reason #3: The stress level can be awful. What most people don't know about secret shopping is that there is way more paperwork than you would ever imagine. Plus, I have to take tests for qualifications and go through briefings and trainings. Sometimes before I can even be assigned a shop there is an hour long process to test my ability to do it. And since I am working out of my home, I don't actually get to see the people I am working for. Now for me this is a great perk. But if I ever have a problem (which is usually the case) there is such a huge amount of stress in trying to contact the correct people all before the shop is to be completed. Or how about if something goes wrong with the shop and I have to turn in my information online before the night is over but everyone I would talk to for problem solving issues is out of their offices. John will probably tell you that this is the worst time for him because my stress level goes through the roof.

And then on top of all of this, there are some jobs that require tons of pages of information for a 45 minute to an hour shop. Things ranging from a person's name all the way to what they were doing at some exact moment at some exact time. Detail that no one should have to remember. Saying or doing obscure things that you think would definitely rat you out as a secret shopper because no one asks those types of questions or behaves in that way. Wednesday I have a shop that I will be doing for the first time and the stress is getting to me a little. They want lots of detail and prep work that I wonder if I will able to complete with success. But I guess I always stress out my first time. I did last week. And no matter how long I am doing this, I will probably always doubt my ability to get the job done well. But it usually works out.

I feel like I should end on a more positive note. Like stating that I really do like what I am doing. I do. And it definitely beats having a regular job where I have to do go into some office environment where they suck the little bit of life and hope you had in you to begin with. And yes, the money can suck at times and jobs are very sporadic. But it is nice to know that if I want a meal at Steak N Shake, have the urge to see a new movie, or need to pick up a few things at the grocery store, I can just check to see if they need a shopper for an evaluation. Because then, I get to do all those things for free!


Song of the day: Such Great Heights
By The Postal Service

shawanda
spewed 3:26 PM

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