It is important to have a well written reply when contacting a scheduler. Many shoppers would make a better first impression if they would simply take a few minutes to write an original reply or request.

The examples below are for guidance only. They should not be directly copied. Shoppers don't seem to take into consideration that some examples are actually written by schedulers. It would be a shame to send a copied example to the author who wrote it!

Here are examples of replies to send to schedulers when looking for assignments. These examples are for a variety of experience levels.

Reply for a beginner
I am interested in helping you with your casual dining shops. I eat out almost every day. I am reliable, responsible and follow directions well. I understand the importance of good customer service. I pay attention to detail and am a good writer. Please keep me in mind for any assignments in my area.

Reply for intermediate shopper
I have been a mystery shopper for six months. I average about 15 shops a week. I have experience with retail purchases, fast food, exit interviews, purchase and returns, surveys, and casual dining. I work part-time as a tutor and understand how important it is to proof reports. I am available Monday, Wednesday and Friday after 2pm.

Reply for experienced shopper
I have been mystery shopping for almost a year. I have experience with retail, casual dining, fast food, fine dining, hotels, coffee shops and gyms. I enjoy any type of assignment. I follow directions closely and have a good relationship with schedulers. I can help you with any assignment in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Writing samples

New shopper who wants more experience:
I am new to mystery shopping and I really enjoy being able to share feedback. I am great at noticing the smallest detail. I usually dine out for lunch almost every day. I also frequently go out for dinner. My accounting job has taught me to focus and follow directions. I am a quick learner and am happy to help with any assignments that I can.

Writing sample for a dining shop.
We entered the restaurant 15 minutes before the reservation. We were able to be seated right away. The host staff was polite. Bob, our server, greeted us right away. He was professional enough to be attentive the entire meal. He was friendly enough to establish a rapport with us. The pace of the meal was wonderful. We never felt rushed. Each course was wonderful. The salad was crisp and fresh. The soup was piping hot. The steak was tender and cooked as ordered. The cake was sweet and delicious. I was able to quickly pay the bill. Bob thanked us and invited us back. I look forward to my next visit.

Writing sample for retail.
I entered Just Jeans at 1:00pm. The facility was clean and creatively decorated. The sales associate cordially greeted me. She said to let her know if I needed any help. I looked at several items and asked about the jeans on sale. I was told that I could start a dressing room. The associate took my items to a room and helped me find several blouses as well. She would hand me items while I tried things on. I appreciated her help. I selected a pair of jeans and a white blouse. I did not bring my coupon with me, but was able to get the extra 10% off anyway. I appreciated the gesture of the associate. My items were quickly rung up. I was given a flyer for 20% off one item on my next purchase. I was thanked for my business and I exited the store.

Shoppers will sometimes spend too much time on a biography or profile without focusing on actual mystery shopping experience. It is useful to consider the type of shop that you are requesting and what details will make an impression on a scheduler. Since you have a brief moment to catch the attention of a scheduler, you don't want to talk about how much you love gardening or how many dogs you have. Even if your children are wonderful, those details are not relevant to mystery shopping.

Here are some examples of profiles. It is important to look at them and incorporate your own experience when sending a profile to a scheduler. When new shoppers copy profiles, claiming that they have years of experience, it isn't accurate to their current experience.

PROFILES

Profile of a Restaurant Shopper with experience
My name is Bob Smith. I have been mystery shopping for 2 years. I have experience at fast food shops, concession stands, take out, home delivery, buffets, casual dining, upscale casual, fine dining, bar shops, coffee shops, airport restaurants, travel plaza shops, and salad bars. I have visited well known chains, mom and pop restaurants and just about every type of restaurant possible. I enjoy trying a variety of foods. Feedback is important for the chef to know what was enjoyed about the meal. I am also good at giving constructive feedback if something was missing. I understand how good customer service can affect repeat business.

Profile of a Retail shopper with experience
My name is Jane Brown and I have been mystery shopping for about a year. I shop at local malls, well known franchises and outlet stores. I have experience with inventory shops, department store assignments with multiple check lists, pricing assignments, purchase and returns, integrity shops, assignments that require a spotter, customer service shops, grocery stores, music stores, and kiosks. I enjoy comparison shopping and I know how important it is to listen to employees for appropriate questions and upselling.

Profile of a shopper with varied experience
My name is Power Shopper. I have been a mystery shopper for 3 years. I have experience with fine and casual dining, retail, surveys, bars, hotels, exit interviews, theme parks, book stores, airports, apartments, merchandising, museums, test drives, grocery stores and nursing homes. I am detail oriented and reliable. I enjoy writing and don't mind lengthy reports. Giving feedback about my customer service experiences allows me to share the details of my visit. It also allows the client to know what went right or wrong on the assignment. I am the type of person to give feedback anyway. Being paid or reimbursed for my thoughts is rewarding.

In order to have a creative biography, shopper profile or request for a scheduler, the shopper needs to take the time to write something that will make the best first impression possible. The shopper can write a list of categories that he/she has experience while shopping. That list can be included with the completed paragraph.

It is important that your writing sample or biography is personalized for your own experience. If you don't have experience with a certain type of assignment, don't include it on your bio. You can always say that you have an interest in learning and that you are a quick study.

A carefully written paragraph can make the difference in getting the attention of a scheduler or being overlooked. A few minutes of your time can increase the chances of getting more assignments.