Since everyone needs to shop at some point during the month, it is nice getting reimbursed for items you need to buy anyway. Being able to combine errands with mystery shops is a great way to make some extra money.

Retail assignments are popular and available in every city. There are various types of shops that are available. Potential mystery shoppers will have an easier time obtaining these assignments with some basic skills: writing, proofing and being observant.

A retail assignment might involve a small purchase and observing employees during your visit. You may have a specific scenario for a particular store.

It is important to pay attention to employees and their descriptions. If they have a name tag, that is the easiest way to get their names. If you are required to get the name of someone not wearing a name tag, the receipt will frequently have an employee name on it. You can also ask for the name of the employee by simply saying, "Thanks for your help, what is your name?" or "You look familiar, do you go to my church?"

If you are required to get the name of a manager and you don't want to jeopardize your identity by being too obvious, you could say that you want to write a letter about the good service you received and you want to know the store manager's name.

Some retail assignments may require you to purchase an item and return it later that day or on another day. This is designed to see how employees treat customers when they are not happy with an item. The employee may be required to offer you another item first or ask questions to determine what made you dissatisfied with the item. Some employees may suggest store credit instead of a refund. Mystery shoppers can provide valuable feedback about how easy or difficult it was to return an item.

Some shoppers may feel uncomfortable bringing an item back to the store after just buying it. You can simply say that you changed your mind or you found something else after buying the item.

Clothing store managers may want to know how much attention is spent on a customer wanting to try on clothes. If a customer feels ignored in the dressing room, he or she may not return to that store. Employees may be required to check on a customer and suggest other items while clothes are being tried on. It is much more convenient for the customer to have an employee bringing other items than having to keep exiting the dressing room to look for other styles or colors.

Retail assignments are a great way to make extra money.