The hardest part about mystery shopping is finding trustworthy companies, often referred to as service providers. Discover our recommendations for the five best mystery shopping companies in Canada.
You need to do your homework to ensure you work for legitimate companies. That way, you’ll actually get paid.
Thousands of people earn extra cash doing mystery shopping. But there are also a lot of scams out there.
What is mystery shopping?
So what is mystery shopping exactly? Mystery shoppers visit physical stores and shop anonymously. Then they submit reports evaluating the quality of the customer service they experienced.
The service providers give you the script: tasks to perform, questions to ask, details to observe, etc. You perform the shopping mission and pay attention to all the things they mentioned. You then provide all your feedback in the final shopping report.
If you’d like more information, then read “Mystery Shopper 101”
The best mystery shopping in Canada is really no different than in other countries. But you do need to find reliable service providers and shopping missions.
How do you find service providers/companies?
There are a few ways to find decent mystery shopping service providers:
- www.wowitinc.com – you can use the information on our website to help choose the best options for you
- MSPA – use the search option on the MSPA site to find registered service providers
- Better Business Bureau – search under mystery shopping or secret shopping to see company ratings and customer reviews
- Internet searches – use your favourite search engine to get more information
For more information, read “How to Find Mystery Shopping Jobs Where You’ll Actually Get Paid”
Scam alerts:
There are many legitimate mystery shopping service providers. But you will also find scams. There are four tips we can give you to avoid becoming the victim of fraud:
- Do not pay to join a mystery shopping service provider
- Do not pay to see a list of mystery shopping jobs
- Never wire anyone any money as part of a mystery shopping mission
- Do not cash any cheques as part of a shopping mission
Reputable service providers will never ask for money before you perform a shopping mission. You might need to make a purchase as part of a shopping mission. But the instructions will clearly outline what’s required and the reimbursement policy.
Best in Canada:
Below we outline our five best mystery shopping companies in Canada. We have performed shopping missions for all of these companies. They are legitimate. And they also pay you on time.
1. We Check:
We Check operates across Canada. They’re involved in many different sectors including retail, restaurants, call centres, automotive, financial, government, etc.
The majority of the shopping missions with We Check are in three areas:
- LCBO – these are either ID check shops or service experience
- Premium Auto – they have a large number of auto service shops but also sales evaluations (including test drives)
- Intercepts – intercepts involve engaging with someone trying to encourage sign-ups (credit card, memberships, etc.)
We’ve rated We Check in the number one spot. This is primarily due to the number of shopping missions available on any given day. They simply have more options for you.
2. Premier Service:
Premier Service also operates across Canada. They focus on retail, the service industry, manufacturing and distribution.
Premier Service works mostly in four areas:
- Tobacco/vaping shops – these are mostly ID check shops. But you also judge the staff product knowledge.
- Apartments – you assess the staff service and the residence presentation (for example, cleanliness)
- Retail – these are focused almost entirely on the staff. You rate their service and inventory knowledge.
- Restaurants – you rank the serving staff. But you also review the food (presentation, flavour, etc.).
Premier Service is number two on our list. But it was a close battle for the number one spot!
3. PerformaLogics:
PerformaLogics operates across Canada and the USA. They focus primarily on food and beverage, tourism and travel, retail, and some government.
One of the interesting aspects of this service provider is that they also have some self-assigned shopping missions. That means you first complete a pre-test to prove you understand the instructions. And then you can accept the mission directly. You don’t need confirmation from a scheduler.
The big focus for PerformaLogics:
- Gas station shops – you evaluate the service and also the cleanliness
- Tobacco/vaping – you verify ID check shops (you prove compliance)
- Retail – you assess the customer service
4. Shoppers Confidential:
Shoppers Confidential works throughout North America. They cover restaurants, hotels, retail, banks, and also the government.
The majority of their shops are for:
- Retail – you evaluate service and cleanliness
- Gaming – these are more detailed shops. You assess staff knowledge, amenities, food services, and the general atmosphere.
- Government – you rate staff knowledge and service at various branches
5. SQM (Sensors Quality Management):
SQM has a global presence but a big focus in Canada. Their focus is on restaurants, hotel chains, and transportation services (air, bus, and rail).
SQM has a different model for their shopping missions. You are reimbursed for the service or experience provided. This is instead of paying you a fee. Do you enjoy free or discounted products or services? Then you might like SQM.
NOTE: You need to submit very detailed reports for SQM. They want a lot of detail to highlight your experience in the feedback.
Most of the missions are in:
- Accommodations – evaluating your experience staying in various hotels
- Transportation – you evaluate your experience of travelling by air, bus, or rail
- Entertainment – you rate the staff and services provided
- Retail – evaluation of staff service
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So what’s the best mystery shopping company in Canada?
It depends. On you!
If your most important consideration is the availability of shopping missions, then you’ll want to look at We Check or Premier Service.
If you’re interested in being able to coordinate your schedule quickly, then perhaps you prefer the option to self-assign shopping missions. In which case, PerformaLogics might be more your style.
If you want to gain more experiences or services beyond what you might normally afford, then consider SQM.
Our recommendation is to register with ALL of them. Then you can select different missions depending upon your mood and availability.
Either way, we would love to know what you try. Add a comment below with your questions. And if you’ve tried any of these companies, we would love to know your experiences!
Have you worked with any of these service providers?
What were your experiences?
Do you agree with this evaluation or have some suggestions of your own?
Click [Submit Comment] below to let us know!
