A seasoned shopper accepted an upscale grocery assignment for the weekend. There were more than 10 departments to investigate. The shopper didn't mind since the reimbursement and fee was generous. The shopper took along her husband to help pick out some delicious items for an upcoming party. The shop took an hour and 10 minutes. The shopper was meticulous with writing notes in the car as soon as she left the store. The report took about 25 minutes to write. The shopper kicked herself when she noticed that the shop had to be completed by 2pm. The shopper had mistakenly assumed that as long as she had entered the store by 2pm, she would be fine. The shopper had to accept the fact that she had just purchased items that would not be reimbursed.

A shopper who had been shopping for about 3 months had an assignment that she had completed before. She was so confident about the shop that she didn’t bother to look at the entire list of instructions. When it was time to submit the report, the shopper had not purchased the correct item. Some of the instructions had changed. The shopper decided to keep her status in good standing and returned to the store to buy the correct item. She didn’t bother to tell her scheduler she had made a mistake.

There are important details that need to be remembered for every assignment:

1. Always read the instructions. The client can change aspects of an assignment at any time. Keep a copy of the instructions in your car. It is useful to refer to the instructions before entering a store or restaurant.
2. Have your checklist or "cheat sheet" as a reference. If you are performing a grocery assignment and will have a shopping list with you anyway, it is easy to keep notes within reach. You can tuck them in your purse or have your grocery list in front of them.
3. Don’t assume you are an expert on the assignment you have accepted. Review all materials and think about the shop ahead of time. Will you need to ask questions to an employee? Do you have some questions prepared? If you are role playing, do you have some ideas about your "story"?
4. Did you get a copy of your receipt? Some assignments may have instructions that say not to ask for a receipt. Most companies will want you to mail the original receipt or fax a copy of it. Be sure you have your receipt if needed. Some assignments will have specific data that is needed from the receipt.

Being prepared for a shop is important. Whether you are accepting an assignment for the first time or have submitted 50 reports on the same shop, it is crucial to review your instructions and know about any updated information.