Knowledge · ShopperMatch

Briefings and reporting: what shoppers should check

How to review a mystery-shopping assignment before a visit and document observations reliably afterwards.

Read the full briefing before the assignment

Check the scenario, location, permitted time window, mandatory questions, prohibited actions, required evidence and submission deadline. If something is contradictory or impractical, clarify it before the visit rather than guessing afterwards.

Separate facts from judgement

A reliable report first describes what actually happened. Personal impressions can also matter where a question asks for them, but they should not silently replace observable facts.

Record permitted notes promptly

The longer a visit is in the past, the easier it is for details to blur. Record permitted notes as soon as practical and use the reporting requirements as your guide without making recordings that are not allowed.

Provide evidence only to the required extent

Receipts, photographs or other evidence may be part of a project. Create and submit only what is genuinely required and permitted; collecting extra personal information is not automatically helpful.

Related fundamentals

What is mystery shopping?

A factual introduction to mystery shopping, typical assessment tasks and the role of shoppers.

Is mystery shopping legitimate?

When mystery shopping can be a legitimate activity and which warning signs should make you cautious.

How much can you realistically earn from mystery shopping?

Why there is no credible universal hourly rate and how to judge effort and compensation more realistically.

← Back to knowledge overview