A lot of people do not like to do phone shops. I guess there are various reasons why someone might not like them, but one of the reasons I hear most is, "They don't pay enough." That makes no sense to me. Most phone shops pay anywhere between $5 and $15 per shop, depending on what is involved. This morning I did seven phone shops. It took me about two hours to make the calls and complete the reports, and I made $41. I did not have to drive anywhere or work on anyone's schedule but my own. And of course, my favorite benefit, I worked in my pajamas. I still made over $20 an hour. In an economy where around 10% of the population claims to not be able to find work, I can't find a thing to complain about.
So what is involved with phone shops? Just like any mystery shop, you evaluate an employee on the service provided. In phone shops, however, a little bit more acting skill is required. You might call various hospital departments or doctor's offices to ask about a medical problem you don't really have or a procedure that you don't need. Sometimes this requires a small amount of research so you are not caught off guard with unexpected questions. It might be important to know where your gallbladder is located if you're calling to schedule an ultrasound for gallstones. That way, when the attendant asks about your symptoms, you'll know not to say you've been having pain in your ear. Likewise, if you're calling a hospital in Missouri, be prepared to name a nearby town when the attendant asks where you are coming from. It might be a giveaway that you're a shopper if they find you are calling from Jupiter (the city in Florida, not the planet). Dead air is even worse ... believe me, I know.
Another popular phone shop is for senior living facilities - not necessarily the same thing as a nursing home. Apparently, senior living facilities have come a long way. Many are like cruise ships on land. They offer everything from Bingo to wine tastings. There are so many activities going on every day, I'm exhausted reading the schedule. The dining rooms offer meals that rival some of the finest restaurants. They actually have "chef wars" with rival communities. Perform enough of these shops, and you will find yourself saving your pennies for the day you can finally move in. Except pennies aren't going to be enough because the good ones are $4000 a month or more. You might as well rent a hotel room and order room service.
Anyway, I'm getting off topic. The point is there are a plethora of phone shops out there, and companies need people to do them. Even if you don't love acting, even if you think you are going to get caught without the right answer, it's worth doing. The shops are not as difficult as they sound, and the worst thing that can happen is you mess up. So what? The person on the other end can't see you, they don't know your real name (unless you gave it to them), and you hopefully blocked your number before making the call. So if you mess up, wait an hour or a day and try again. Be someone else. It's your opportunity to be whoever you want to be.
I recently received a call from a lifestyle advisor at a senior living facility I called a couple of weeks ago. She had been told that I was her "shopper," and she called to tell me how disappointed she was that my Aunt Grace would not be coming to live with her! She actually invited me (and Aunt Grace, who actually passed away a long time ago) to come and stay with them (on the beach) for a couple of days to visit AFTER she found out I was the shopper! So have fun with it! I do.
Some companies who offer phone shops are www.a-closer-look.com, www.baird-group.com, www.bareinternational.com, www.intellishop.com, www.coylehospitality.com
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