Shopper FAQs

No, there are no costs associated with being a Retail Compliance Auditor with our organization. You will never be asked for your credit card number, charged a registration fee, or charged a monthly fee. Be cautious of mystery shopping companies that may not have the same policies and charge for registration.

Prior experience, certifications, or training in the Retail Compliance Auditor industry are not required to join the team. The majority of our clients just want average people representing a variety of demographics to provide accurate feedback on their businesses. Some assignments may be restricted to shoppers with certain demographics, such as gender, age, income, etc. Other assignments may require professional hospitality industry experience or MSPA certification. Please be sure to note your hospitality experience or certification status on your shopper profile when registering. Retail Compliance Auditor must be at least 21 years old to complete assignments that require entering bars or ordering alcoholic beverages. Retail Compliance Auditor also must have access to a reliable computer with internet access and an email account.

Most of our assignments require a shopper rotation to prevent any bias from being formed or shoppers being identified from frequent repeat visits. Some assignments require that shoppers live in a certain area or have a local phone number. Other assignments require shoppers of a certain age range, gender, income level, or profession. These requirements are necessary to meet the clients’ needs and match the profile of their clientele.

The program is flexible and you can decide how many assignments you wish to accept. There is no minimum amount of completed shops required to stay active in the database. You can do 1 shop a week or 1 a year depending on your interests and schedule.

You don’t need to sign a contract, but you should read our shopper agreement. As one of our Retail Compliance Auditor, you are legally bound by the terms described in that agreement. All shoppers are independent contractors and their relationship with Retail Audit Pro may be terminated at any time for any reason. Shoppers’ accounts will be deactivated if they miss assignments, violate our policies, or if their integrity is questioned.

We execute thousands of shops across the United States each month. Chances are, there are probably a few assignments in your local area too. The assignments and locations change on a regular basis though so be sure to check our website often for new opportunities in your local area.

Retail Compliance Auditor are scheduled on weekends and weekdays at various times. Each assignment has different time and date requirements, which are detailed in the shop instructions online.

Review the shop instructions and survey online before completing the assignment. Then go the business that you are assigned to and follow the shop instructions. Be careful to pay close attention to how you were greeted, the environment, the cleanliness, the staff, etc. Do not take any notes or do anything that would give away your identity as a Retail Compliance Auditor. Pay for your experience and keep your itemized receipt. Within 24 hours of your shop, sit down in front of a computer and login to our partner website to complete your survey. Complete the survey that appears by thoroughly answering all questions in the survey and providing comments. Finalize the report when you are done and feel that it is a complete and valuable report.

Never bring a printed copy of the report with you on an assignment, as that will jeopardize your identity as a Retail Compliance Auditor. If the client identifies you as a shopper, then the integrity of the report is compromised and it is no longer considered a valid report. If this happens, you will not be paid for the assignment or reimbursed for any expenses incurred.

Some shoppers bring a friend and each person remembers particular details. Some shoppers go to the restroom and make some notes away from the view of employees. Other shoppers send a text message using their cell phone or make voice notes into their voicemail. Just be very careful that a staff member doesn’t hear you leaving a voicemail or see you taking notes, as that may compromise your identity. If the client identifies you as a shopper, then the integrity of the report is compromised and it is no longer considered a valid report. If this happens, you will not be paid for the assignment or reimbursed for any expenses incurred.

Yes, you must get an ITEMIZED receipt for all assignments, which must be attached to your report online or faxed/emailed to us. Payment will not be processed for shops without valid itemized receipts. Retail Audit Pro or any affiliate is not responsible for holding, housing, or organizing shoppers’ receipts for tax purposes. Storage and tracking receipts is the sole responsibility of each shopper.

When you are completing your report online, there is a spot for you to upload an image of your receipt. Many shoppers take a digital picture or scan their receipt and then use this upload function, which is the preferred way to send in your receipts. You may also fax your receipt using the fax number provided in the shop instructions. Payment will not be processed without a valid itemized receipt.

When you accept an assignment, we are counting on you to complete it. If you need to cancel the assignment for any reason, we must be informed at least 48 hours in advance so that we can reassign the assignment to another shopper. Failure to notify us of a cancellation may result in termination of your Retail Compliance Auditor account. Notify us of cancellation or schedule changes by emailing shopperhelpdesk@360intel.com.

As a Retail Compliance Auditor, it is your responsibility to remain “undercover” so that no one in the business suspects that you are on a Retail Compliance Auditor assignment. If the client identifies you as a shopper, then the integrity of the report is compromised and it is no longer considered a valid report. If this happens, you will not be paid for the assignment or reimbursed for any expenses incurred. If you suspect your identity has been discovered, we ask that you inform us immediately. You will be asked to not shop that particular establishment again, but may still perform shops at other establishments as usual. We recommend following the rules below to avoid being identified:

• Be discreet when noting times on your watch or cell phone.
• Do not print out and bring the survey with you on the assignment.
• Do not write anything down or take any notes. If you need to make notes you could do so in the restroom, but never in view of a staff member.
• Do not tell anyone that you are or have been a Retail Compliance Auditor for a particular location.
• Do not ask too many questions or unusual questions to the staff.
• Do not ask staff members for their names or the names of other staff members.
• Do not behave suspicious by staring at employees or making it obvious that you are looking around.

It is important to remember that you are accepting the assignments as an independent contractor for Retail Audit Pro and are assuming all risks and responsibility for any resulting experience that may occur. If you are uncomfortable accepting a shop for any reason, such as it being in a bad neighborhood or hazardous driving conditions, we encourage you not to accept that particular assignment or to provide us with notice within 48 hours of the scheduled assignment. In the incredibly rare event of a bad occurrence during a shop, we encourage you to handle the event by dealing with the management of the establishment just as you would any other consumer experience. At no time may you identify that you are a Retail Compliance Auditor or that you are affiliated with Retail Audit Pro. It is extremely important that you realize that Retail Audit Pro assumes no liability for anything that might occur while you are at or on your way to an assignment.

You may contact us at ShopperHelpDesk@360intel.com with additional questions, comments, or concerns.