Professional Standards

The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) has created professional standards for shoppers.  These standards were designed to ensure the highest standards and ethics are maintained.  The MSPA expects shoppers to follow principles of honesty, professionalism, fairness and confidentiality to guard the interests of the public and our clients in order to promote good business practices.

Professional Standards:

• Commit, in principle, to the purposes of the association: improving service and promoting excellence in the mystery shopping industry.

• Conduct mystery shopping services in an honest and ethical manner.

• Conduct mystery shopping services according to industry procedures and regulations set forth and agreed to by MSPA members.

• Respect our MSPA members, clients and the general public.

Ethical Conduct:   

• I agree to perform all shops to the best of my ability.

• I agree to perform all shops with honesty and integrity.

• I agree to submit all reports on or before the deadline.

• I agree to honor all confidentiality agreements.

• I agree to give immediate notice to the shopping company if I cannot perform a shop for any reason.

• I agree to return follow up calls or e-mails in a timely manner.

• I agree to keep paperwork and notes for at least 60 days in case questions arise by the client.

• I will not perform a shop unless I have thoroughly read each question on the survey and the guidelines provided by the shopping provider.

• I will not falsify or misrepresent reports.

• I will not ask or encourage anyone to break confidentiality agreements with other firms for whom they conduct mystery shopping assignments.

• I will not use any MSPA media to publish complaints against vendors, clients, shoppers or mystery shopper providers.

• I will not share information with others on which company shops which clients.

• I will not share information with others on shopping fees and reimbursements for specific clients.

• I will not share the results of a shop with others in order to protect the client’s confidentiality.

• I will not perform any shops under the influence of illegal drugs, or prescription drugs that might impair my abilities.

• I agree not to become inebriated or drink beyond the legal limits set forth in my state or perform any other activity that my cause harm to myself or others while mystery shopping.

• I will not contact a client directly without approval of the shopping company.

• I will not disrupt the normal business flow of an operation in the process of performing a shop (do not cause a scene).

• I will not announce myself as a mystery shopper to the business being shopped unless given specific instructions by the shopping company.

• I will not accept a mystery shopping assignment for a business that I, my family or friends work for.

• I will not list any shopping company I work for as an “employee” on any forms (especially unemployment forms) if I am hired strictly as an independent contractor for that company.