Shoppers are usually repaid any money they spend in the stores. “I’m typically given between £5 and £20 to spend at each store, to assess the service I receive at the counter,” says Laura, a 50-year-old mystery shopper from Devon, who has been paid to visit around 7,000 shops since 2001. The purchase usually has to be related to a service or a type of product that the retailer wants her to check. “I’m always given a scenario, such as buying something from a specific department or a new product range, but, within that framework, I can often buy whatever I want – and keep it.”
What does Laura get between £5 and £20 for?
To see how good the service at the counter is As pay for visiting each store As a one-time bonus which allows her to by whatever she wants and keep it To cover her travel expenses