FAQ

About Mystery Shopping

• What is mystery shopping?
• How does an individual mystery shop work?

General Questions

• Who are your clients?
• What are the entry requirements?
• Where can I work for you?
• How frequently can I work for you?
• Can I work fulltime as a mystery, interviewer, editor or panel member?
• How will I be informed about new assignments?
• Am I obliged to take on an assignment when I have been invited by email?
• Should I follow any training or courses?
• What will I get paid?

Registration

• How do I register?
• Why do I have to enter an IBAN number and Swift code?
• Why do I have to enter my monthly salary?

Other activities

• What can I do besides Mystery Shopping?
• What is reviewing?
• What is interviewing?
• Wat are panels/focusgroups?

Should you have any other questions that are not listed, please contact AQ Services International via email:: shoppers@aq-services.com

What is mystery shopping?
As a mystery shopper you will visit our clients’ outlets in order to observe various quality levels. You will work by means of a set of instructions, and a fixed scenario and questionnaire while checking for example sales techniques, customer friendliness, service levels, how products are displayed etc. After completion of a shop you will report your findings to AQ Services International by filling out an online questionnaire.

AQ Services International uses similar methods for its mystery calls and mystery correspondence systems.

AQ Services International works for many different clients in varied segments of the market. We offer our services for example to cinemas, retail (clothing/electronics etc.), restaurants, bars, hotels, car dealers, financial institutions, banks and many others.

How does a Mystery Shop work?
After you register as a shopper, your data will be processed in our database. As soon as we have received an assignment that fits your profile, you will receive an invitation by email. It is then up to you to decide whether you take on this particular assignment or not.

If you accept the invitation, you will be sent all necessary documentation and instructions. You will be expected to carefully read the questionnaire, the scenario, and the instructions and if required to complete a short training/briefing session on the telephone. After these steps you will be ready to visit your appointed location and to follow predetermined scenario.

Once a shop has been completed, you will report your findings to AQ Services International by filling out an online questionnaire.

Who are AQ Services International clients?
AQ Services International works for many different clients in varied segments of the market. We offer our services for example to cinemas, retail (clothing/electronics etc.), restaurants, bars, hotels, car dealers, financial institutions banks, and many others.

What are the entry requirements?
You don`t need any specific educational background to work for us, but there are a few attributes we look for in potential shoppers:

minimum age of 18,
- reliable and dedicated
- good observation skills
- an excellent memory
- being able to report clear and objective findings
- excellent communication skills.

Where can I work?
AQ Services International is an international company. However we always prefer to work with local shoppers, editors, interviewers and panel members. So and are always looking for suitable candidates in all regions worldwide.

How often can I work for AQ Services International?
Can I work fulltime as a shopper, editor, interviewer or panel member?
Mystery Shopping, interviewing, reviewing or taking part in focus groups as a panel member is not a fulltime profession. Despite the many assignments AQ Services International is working on, your suitability for a particular assignment will greatly depend on the profile that a client requires (age, background, locality etc).

Unfortunately, we are not able to guarantee a minimum amount of hours of work. AQ Services International deliberately chooses not to engage fulltime shoppers so that we can fulfill the requirements of our clients in the best possible way.

How will I be informed of new assignments?
Am I obliged to take part in an assignment once I have been invited?
AQ Services International selects its shoppers, interviewers, editors and panel members according to the desired profile. You will receive an invitation by email, or sometimes by telephone, to work on an assignment. You will receive an in depth briefing on the assignment with a clear indication of what is expected from you and what the remuneration is for the specific project. It is then up to you to accept the invitation or not.

Do I need to follow a course or training?
AQ Services International has not set any requirements in terms of educational background or diploma`s. AQ Services International has developed an online training program for its mystery shoppers. After you register, you will be able to follow this training program online. Successfully completing this training program, will give you the status of “Preferred Shopper”. Once you have the “Preferred Shopper” status you will be among the first shoppers to be contacted for relevant new assignments in your area.

What will I get paid?
Besides having interesting experiences, our shoppers, interviewers, editors and panel members are paid. You will not become an employee of AQ Services International, but will work for AQ Services International in a freelance capacity.

The amount that you will be paid greatly depends on the types of assignment, the time you spend, and the costs incurred during a shop. The amount we pay varies greatly. It may be anywhere between $15.00 for a short visit to $400.00 for assignments that take the whole day. These figures are only a guide.

How do I register? Click here to register .

• Why do I have to enter an IBAN number and Swift code?
AQ Services International needs the IBAN number and Swift code to be able to transfer the payment by bank if you do not live in the Netherlands. More information about Swift codes can be found at www.swift.com. More information about IBAN numbers can be found at: http://www.ecbs.org/Download/LFL9204V4.pdf

Why do I have to enter my monthly salary?
For some assignments a certain level of monthly salary is part of the shopper profile. AQ Services International will only invite those shoppers who match with the profile. You are free not to answer this question (please put: N/A). In that case you will not be selected for projects where monthly salary is part of the profile.

What else can I do for AQ Services International besides Mystery Shopping?
AQ Services International is constantly on the lookout for interviewers, editors and panel members for focus groups.

What is reviewing?
During compiling and processing of questionnaires of shoppers, AQ Services International is assisted by editors. As a editor you will check questionnaires for correct grammar, spelling and content.

As a editor you need to be very proficient in English and have several hours per week of free time, during which you can work for us. In addition, you need to have a good internet connection at home.

If you are interested in working for us as a editor and would like to register right now, please click here.

What is interviewing?
AQ Services International provides other services as well as Mystery Sopping. Services. Such as: customer satisfaction surveys, target market research, benchmarking and competitor analysis. We are always looking for good interviewers who will interview clients, customers or guests at one of our client`s outlets. As an interviewer you need to be well groomed and have excellent communication skills.

If you are interested in working for us as an interviewer and would like to register right now, please click here.

What are panels/focusgroups?
AQ Services International organizes panels and focus groups for its clients. As a panel member you will be asked to give your opinion on certain products, services or subjects. Focus groups and panels will take place at a specified location or through virtual environments (web panels). As a panel member, you need to be well groomed and have excellent communication skills.

If you are interested in working for us as an interviewer and would like to register right now, please click here.