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Looking mysterious? Well, this term has not been coined by us and its also not a term that has been coined by lexicologists or marketers. Its an organised industry and has very much participation from top MNCs in the world. Its a very much developed concept in the advanced countries and so is relatively nascent in countries like India. Lets uncomplicate the things through an example:

Lets give you a name – Parminder. Now, Parminder is a shopaholic. There's this FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) company – “Domi Does Not Know” Pizza who hires a company called MistyShop (imaginary name, even if a real exists). MistyShop has deployed say 500 Parminders to shop at “Domi Does Not Know” Pizza countrywide, but who are not its employees. According to some pre-determined terms and conditions, shopping criteria, other constraints and parameters, Parminder goes to “Domi Does Not Know” Pizza outlet. S/he acts like a normal but is very careful and observant and is constantly measuring the performance of the “Domi Does Not Know” Pizza outlet on various parameters with minutest details possible. S/he observes behaviour, voice tone, language, non-verbal language of the “Domi Does Not Know” Pizza employees. Then s/he takes note of outlet ambience, cleanliness, waiting time in inside and outside queues, time taken in ordering, serving etc; customers' reactions on employee behaviour and food quality and many other things.

But why would You alias Parminder do this? Because s/he gets paid for the efforts (and not for shopping, if you are already thinking of a sponsored pizza party). The money could range from Rs. 5000-10000 per month. Besides, dont worry that you will be responsible for some employee being fired. It doesn't happen generally. The feedback is only used to improve the MNC's services and customer experience.

Can Satvinder alias 'the other You' be a mystery shopper? Well, yes. Just go through the websites and contact any of these mystery shopping organisations in India. {The list is not exhaustive. So, You (now I mean the readers) can mention the other names in comments}

• DQS India www.dqsindia.com

• Grassroots India www.grassrootsindia.in

• AQ Services Internatinal (India subsidiary) www.aq-services.com

• Shopmax www.shopmax.in

• Bare Associates India http://www.bareinternational.com

Enlist with them and do the assignment properly.

And be the Mysterious Millionaire :-)
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Also Read: Is your staff well informed?

Mystery Shopping Videos (Press Ctrl + click) :