How to Have Fun and Make Money in Mystery Shopping (Second Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Not Worth the Price
Review: Don't be fooled by the workbook-style of this book. How to Have Fun and Make Money in Mystery Shopping gives you solid strong advice for those serious enough to jump into mystery shopping. Backed by contributions from actual working mystery shopping companies and active mystery shoppers, Ms. Gow's book offers tips, advice, and directions gained from true-life successful experience, which makes the jump easier. One of the better mystery shopping guides published.

Rating:
Summary: Mystery Shopping Books At a Glance
Review: I applaud anyone who has the guts to write a book on getting into a business or profession out of the ordinary. Having been a mystery shopper for 5 years, I read this mystery shopping book that has only just recently received some negative reviews from an anonymous source, and thought it was WELL-WRITTEN and INFORMATIVE. I just don't have the guts or the dedication to write a book myself and applaud this author for doing so. Believe it or not, there are lots of people out there who do not know that mystery shopping as a business exists! That's why I'm glad there's a book out there for people who want to find out more about it. I have to strongly disagree with the negative reviews written about this book. This book contained enough information needed to help anyone get into mystery shopping. This is a good basic book, and the leads actually are live. If you wanted a step-by-step operations guide, I would suggest you get the book by Judith Rappold, How to Start Your Mystery Shopping Company, which is [price]. But then again, it IS [price], but a consultant would charge in the thousands for the type of information the negative reviewers seem to be seeking. Perhaps these are the same people who want to get everything in life for free without working for it and are critical of anything that they have to really pay for?

Rating:
Summary: Actually written for Canadians, too
Review: I'm very happy with this mystery shopping book. This shorter mystery shopping book (76 pages) is easy to read and has sections on how to get started as a beginner to how to start your own mystery shopping company. This book doesn't waste your time. Unlike the other mystery shopping books on amazon.com, this one actually has mystery shopping companies listed in Canada and information for Canadians. The other ones are only for America.

Rating:
Summary: Proof Positive of a Fun and Rich Life
Review: My friends can't believe I get to watch movies for free and eat lunch for free. I'm not a corporate executive pulling in six digits with an expense account. I'm not a professor with a Ph.D. in English or business. I'm a mom who likes to get out there once in a while, have fun, while not spending a fortune to do so. I didn't believe I can make money while doing the things I normally do for entertainment. This book actually works. I did get assignments. This book talk about starting a business in mystery shopping and getting assignments - more than what I needed this book for - just the leads. It's not quite 5 stars because it tries to cover everything in mystery shopping in a shorter length, but it's a quick read, and I did get work out of it.

Rating:
Summary: Best Mystery Shopping Book I've Read!!!
Review: No doubt about it, this book got me started immediately in mystery shopping. The leads are all from companies who ACTIVELY hire mystery shoppers!! Also, the sections on starting your own shopping business is invaluable - lots of examples, sample forms, and letters. If the information inside isn't enticing enough, the price is - it's the best money for the price.

Rating:
Summary: Just Right
Review: Not too much information so that it's overwhelming, but just enough so that I know what I'm doing. This book gets to the point, and that is what I need. I don't need anyone with a PhD to tell me how to be a mystery shopper, just someone who's done it successfully before. This author seems to know what she's talking about. I heard her on the radio, and she also a recruiter for mystery shopping companies.

Rating:
Summary: Just Right
Review: The book may be small, but it contains valuable information you need to know to become a successful mystery shopper. You can save time and effort knowing how to get and apply to the many companies out there who hire mystery shoppers. I cannot tell you how satisfied I am with this book. I truly have gotten jobs right away and have worked steadily from the leads this book provides. Worth every penny.

Rating:
Summary: It's Okay, but not excellent
Review: This is a good start for a guide, however I personally was left with a few questions, for example how to find specific companies that may need mystery shopping services. It attempts to discuss two aspects of shopping--the shopper aspect and the owner aspect. While the shopper section is very thorough, the owner section is lacking.

Rating:
Summary: Best Value for Your Money in Mystery Shopping
Review: Writer Kailin Gow gives you a condense guide on mystery shopping. I was impressed how this simple guide can cover several aspects of mystery shopping from which industries could use mystery shoppers, what are the other jobs in mystery shopping besides being a mystery shopper, and ways mystery shoppers can own their own mystery shopping business. She doesn't give you false illusions, either, but lays out ways on how to become successful in the industry through smart business practices. She's appeared on over 30 radio shows and written in newspapers as an authority in mystery shopping in the U.S., Canada, England, and Australia. With a background in marketing and over 10 years of actual mystery shopping experience as a mystery shopper and recruiter, her credibility is solid. She may approach this book for those wanting to become mystery shoppers, but she also touches on how businesses can and should use mystery shoppers to help increase performance and service. I highly recommend this book if you want to learn more about mystery shopping, enter the business, or even think about hiring mystery shoppers.