Hello everyone,

I just started mystery shopping about two months ago and I can’t believe how much I’ve learned already, partly by reading in forums such as this one. I have a question about phone call shops where you are required to speak to a certain individual. I have done quite a few phone calls shops and I really enjoy doing them because, well, I can actually do them from work and you don’t have to get in your car or anything! I see quite a few crop up where they require that you talk to a certain person and I envision endless rounds of phone tag. Does anyone do a lot of targeted phone calls? Is it hard to actually get the right person? I would think if you’re constantly calling back looking for so and so, that would tip them off pretty readily that you are a mystery shopper.

Sometimes they do seem to pay a little more but I like the ones where I can just do it, file it, and be done with it. Thanks for any input!

Targeted phone shops can be a huge pain and can make it very obvious one is the shopper.

It works better if you have their schedule so you only call on days and times the target is working.

If not, try tag teaming with someone else to clog up the phone line forcing the target to answer the phone.

I've read here that sometimes you are given the proper name and the target goes by the common name. This allows them to avoid your call or know you're shopping them. Susan vs. Sue, William vs. Bill.

I've also experienced two people with the same first name in the office and shopped the wrong one. But would asking with the last name tip off you're a shopper if there's only one in the office?

I agree with eyelove2shop. I am not sure why the client cannot provide a schedule for the target. I used to do mattress store shops and was required to speak with a particular associate. The company had the work hours of that person listed so I did not waste time calling when they were not working. Although it was easy to reach the target the report length and depth of information for the shop fee of $7 made the shops not worth doing. Not sure they still have them but if they do not interested.

That’s what prompted my question, there is a mattress store shop and they are requiring that you talk to a certain person and it’s seven dollars. I feel like the targeted calls could really spiral lol. I will likely avoid them as well at the price as they are paying.

If the same shop I did for mattress store please beware that the report is very lengthy- with narratives required on a lengthy list of mattress features, the owner of the company, various other things with boxes for mentioned in detail, mentioned but not in detail, did not mention with detailed comments as to what was said or not said on each of the items. WAY too much work for $7.00 considering prep time, time on phone and reporting time. I will not take another one. A fee of at least $15 would make me consider it but not thinking it will ever be increased.

Good to know. A lot of the shops I am doing, I look at it as an experiment to learn if it’s some thing I want to do in the future. Some of these have been a resounding yes.

Some of the shops require that you make a website inquiry and they will call you back. That’s a little problematic for me because I’m just not always camped on my phone but I see that as way less troublesome than having to get ahold of a specific person.

So in terms of hassle factor, here is how I rank these:

Best: Phone calls to something like a reservation center where you know someone will pick up the phone, you just get their name, go through the script, file the report and that’s it. I will do these for five dollars but no less. I’ve seen some posted for $4.50 and I won’t do it. Even if it was $4.99 I wouldn’t do it lol.

Mid-level hassle: This would be where you have to let somebody call you back, however, it can be anybody. For me, the only downside here is that I’m not always camped on my phone. I’ll need $10 for this.

Worst: Where we have to be talking to a specific person. This seems like the biggest hassle based on everything that was said above. I would probably avoid this unless it was paying something much higher but people always seem to be scooping these up so I don’t think it would ever go as high as what I would need to pick it up.

I stopped doing “target” phone shops eons ago due to it being a hassle trying to reach the person especially if they don’t initially answer the phone. And as you said, it can tip them off if you have to repeatedly call or ask for them by name.

Agreed.

@mjt9598 wrote:

Targeted phone shops can be a huge pain and can make it very obvious one is the shopper.

Targeted sales shops aren't bad. It's easy to say that your neighbor bought from them or you are browsing and met with them previously and want to give them the business. It's not at all uncommon to have someone's first name in a commissioned environment like mattress or car sales.

Targeted apartment and senior living is a lot harder. I'm working on one right now where the target is not in sales or marketing, but actually in admissions and normally wouldn't take these type of phone calls. Thankfully I've been in contact with the scheduler and we've been able to make some accommodations. But not all companies are that way. You may have to do your homework or come up with a really good reason such as a LinkedIn contact connection or something like that to be believable and even then, not always worth the low pay.