Starting Your Mystery Shopping Business [Ring-bound]

Judith Rappold (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Starting Your Mystery Shopping Business is now available in the third edition! We have been working hard over the past several months to get the book written and published and to produce the CD. Every time we write a new edition, I am amazed at how much and how quickly our industry is changing.

Our new edition includes plenty of information about the introduction of computer technology. In this new edition, we have included information about how the Internet has impacted the operation of a shopping company. It's hard to imagine running this kind of business without e-mail, access to websites that provide information about shoppers, and a company website.

Owners of shopping companies have formed associations to strengthen the industry.Both groups sponsor educational activities and promote networking.

Nevertheless, while the industry has grown and changed, the qualities needed by the entrepreneur getting ready to start his or her own business remain the same. You will need courage to market your service aggressively and make your initial sales calls. You will need to read and study this material, but remain flexible enough to adapt some of it to your customers and your locale. Especially in the first year, you will need to have faith in your idea and keep plugging through the months of foundation building. Starting a business will probably be one of the hardest things you do in life, but it will also be one of the most rewarding.

Judith Rappold

[e-mail]

About the Author

Judith Rappold formed Business Resources in May 1984 to provide customer service training and consulting services to rapidly growing organizations. Shortly after forming the company, she developed a customer service evaluation (mystery shopping) system. Her company has designed service evaluation programs and performed thousands of evaluations for private corporations, government, and non-profits.

Ms. Rappold has authored two books on service evaluation, Starting Your Mystery Shopping Business, which is in its third edition, and Get Paid to Shop: Opportunities in the Mystery Shopping Business, which is in its second edition.

Judith is a founder of the International Association of Service Evaluators, an organization devoted to professionalism and quality improvement in mystery shopping. She has instructed and developed programs at the University of Texas, Austin Community College, and Baylor University.

Product Details

• Ring-bound: 271 pages
• Publisher: Business Resources Publications (April 2002)
• ISBN-10: 0966758048
• ISBN-13: 978-0966758047
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 11.7 x 2.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,515,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Smart Investment!, January 24, 2003

By 

Juliana Schoonover (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting Your Mystery Shopping Business (Ring-bound)

This manual is a definite asset for anyone determined to run a successful mystery shopping company. The sample formats for various reports will save me hours of set up time so that I can get right to work. Judith touches on everything from marketing strategies to tracking work in the office. The included CD is a great addition. A smart investment that will pay off quickly when put to use!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My right hand for my business!!!!, May 15, 2003

By 

N Sipe (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting Your Mystery Shopping Business (Ring-bound)

I bought this book a few years ago. I still use it on a very regular basis in my business. It is open on my bookshelf, as I needed to refer to it for a project I am working on. It has a wealth of vital, to-the-point information. There is no hype, just straight forward, solid information.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Expensive!!!, May 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting Your Mystery Shopping Business (Ring-bound)

This manual is comprehensive, but you pay the price. If you're looking to get into the mystery shopping business, start as a mystery shopper first quickly, then decide if you want to do this.