This Customer Impact review covers a Texas-based mystery shopping firm founded by field veterans. Customer Impact has over 200,000 shoppers and works with brands like Ruth’s Chris, Mattress Firm, and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.
Customer Impact mystery shopping launched in 2009. Scott Hiller and Mike Green — a past head of the MSPA — started the firm. They had already built and sold Speedmark to Market Force. That track record shows in how they treat shoppers.
But is Customer Impact right for you? This Customer Impact review breaks down their payment setup, shop types, and what real shoppers say.
Quick Facts
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Company Background
Scott Hiller and Mike Green founded Customer Impact in 2009 in Bryan, Texas. But their story started much sooner. Mike Green is a charter member and past head of the MSPA — he helped build the mystery shopping field from the ground up.
Before Customer Impact, Scott and Mike founded Speedmark and grew it into one of the largest mystery shopping firms. In 2007, Market Force bought Speedmark. Still driven by the work, they launched Customer Impact mystery shopping two years later.
Today, Customer Impact has over 200,000 shoppers across the country. They use Sassie — the field’s top-rated software. The firm keeps a “boutique” style, with a focus on hands-on service for each client.
Field Leadership
Mike Green’s MSPA standing is top-notch. As a charter member and past head, he helped set the rules that mystery shopping firms follow today. He’s spoken at events for the Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia Restaurant groups.
The firm values MSPA certs. Gold certified shoppers get first access to high-end jobs. Silver shoppers come next. Certs serve as the tiebreaker when two shoppers have equal backgrounds.
Key Clients
Customer Impact serves major national brands:
- Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (worldwide)
- Mattress Firm
- Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
- Boot Barn
- Sara Lee Bakeries
- Applebee’s
- Hostess
- Wagner
Their vision? “The only thing better than great customer service is steady customer service.” That focus on being steady drives their programs.
How to Sign Up for Customer Impact Mystery Shopping
Signing up is free and simple. Customer Impact uses the Sassie platform for shopper sign-ups.
Sign-Up Process
- Visit customerimpactinfo.com and click “New Shopper Sign Up”
- Fill out the Sassie form
- Submit a writing sample (required)
- Wait for account approval
- Browse the job board for open shops
- Apply for shops you want — most need scheduler approval
Other Ways to Reach Them
Prefer to call? Reach Customer Impact mystery shopping at (800) 677-2260. Their staff can help with sign-up questions.
What You Need
- Must be 18 years or older
- US resident
- Good writing skills (writing sample required)
- Steady transport
- PayPal account for payments
- Able to follow detailed guidelines
Pro Tip
Add “@customerimpactinfo.com” to your email whitelist right away. Their shop alerts can get flagged as spam — and you’ll miss job chances.
Customer Impact Review: Payment Details
This Customer Impact review found that payment is solid. Shoppers often praise timely, correct payments.
Payment Methods
Customer Impact mystery shopping offers two payment options:
- PayPal: Main method for mystery shoppers
- Direct Deposit: Open to retail product reps (bank account or prepaid debit card with routing numbers)
Key point: They never mail checks. This is part of their scam safety — legit Customer Impact payments only come via PayPal or direct deposit after you finish approved jobs.
Payment Schedule
Payment goes out monthly for work done the prior month. Based on shopper reports, payments land between the 15th and 25th.
| Work Period | Payment Date | Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
| Any day in January | February 15th-25th | ~3-8 weeks |
| Any day in February | March 15th-25th | ~3-8 weeks |
Retail product reps have a slightly different schedule — payment by the 15th of the next month.
Typical Pay Ranges
Pay varies a lot by shop type:
| Shop Type | Typical Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress shops | $12-20 | Entry-level, prove yourself here |
| Casual dining | $15-30 + payback | Meal costs covered |
| Fine dining | $30-75+ + payback | Popular, tough to get |
| Retail product work | $12-25 per spot | Time varies by store |
| Video mystery shopping | Varies | Niche jobs |
Bonuses come up for hard-to-fill shops. Forum members report big bonuses — sometimes double the base fee for urgent jobs.
Types of Customer Impact Mystery Shopping Jobs
Customer Impact offers many job types beyond the standard shop.
Fields Served
- Dining: Fine dining, casual, fast casual
- Hotels: Hotels, resorts
- Retail: Mattresses, western wear, bakeries
- Grocery: Store reviews
- Banking: Bank and credit union visits
Job Types
- Standard mystery shops: Visit as a normal buyer, rate service
- Video mystery shopping: Record footage of the visit
- Rival shops: Rate rival locations
- Franchise checks: Verify brand standards are met
- Reveal/reward jobs: Praise standout staff on-site
- Retail product work: Stock, set up displays, and audit products
The reveal/reward shops are unique. You get to publicly praise great service rather than secretly rate it. Many shoppers find these jobs to be the most fun.
The Gateway Platform
Customer Impact mystery shopping uses their Gateway system built on the Sassie platform. Here’s what to expect.
How Jobs Work
Unlike some firms that let you grab jobs on the spot, most Customer Impact shops need you to apply and wait for approval. This takes about one business day.
Each shop listing shows:
- Location and address
- Pay amount and payback details
- Shop window dates
- Report due date (usually 12-24 hours after the shop)
- Number of guests allowed
Shop Log Features
Once you’re picked, you’ll find all you need in your Shop Log:
- Full guidelines for each job
- Report forms to fill out
- Help/Contact link to reach your scheduler
- Status updates
- Payment tracking
Shopper Hotline
A standout from this Customer Impact review: they have a phone hotline for pre-shop questions. Many shoppers love calling to make sure they grasp the guidelines before going in. It stops mistakes that lead to turned-down reports.
Field Standing
Customer Impact’s MSPA ties run deep. Co-founder Mike Green helped create the group and served as its head. That’s not just a badge — that’s field leadership.
The firm gives first pick to MSPA-certified shoppers. Gold cert holders get first access to top-tier fine dining jobs. If you’re serious about high-end shops, getting certified matters here.
Customer Impact Review: What Shoppers Say
Shopper feedback in this Customer Impact review is strongly positive. Many call it their top firm.
What Shoppers Like
- Helpful, pro staff
- Clear, detailed guidelines
- 24-hour report deadlines for dinner shops
- Phone hotline for pre-shop questions
- Thank-you notes after jobs
- Lenient on small errors — they try to use reports
- Timely, correct payments
- Great fine dining chances
- Big bonuses on hard-to-fill shops
Common Complaints
- Stiff contest for popular jobs
- Some editors stricter than others
- Must prove yourself before getting top shops
- No instant self-sign-up for jobs
- Some product work fees haven’t kept up with costs
- Long write-ups needed on high-end shops
Shopper Quotes
From mystery shopping forums:
“I love working for Customer Impact more than anyone, to be honest — almost all the shops I do are for your company.”
“Customer Impact is my top pick for shops. They have the most shopper-friendly setup I’ve come across.”
“Anything for you guys — truly the best out there. Always so respectful, kind, grateful, not pushy.”
The Fine Dining Contest
Fine dining jobs with Customer Impact are very hard to land. Ruth’s Chris, Margaritaville, and other upscale shops draw many hopefuls. The firm suggests proving yourself first with entry-level mattress shops before asking for top-tier jobs.
Once you build a track record of quality, on-time reports, your odds go up a lot.
Tips for Customer Impact Success
- Start with mattress shops. They’re open and help you prove yourself.
- Read guidelines fully. Most shopper questions are answered there.
- Call the hotline before shopping. Confirm anything unclear.
- Use sample comments as guides. Follow their write-up examples.
- Keep a calendar handy. Never accept shops you can’t finish on time.
- Note guest limits. Bringing too many or too few guests voids reports.
- Submit within 12-24 hours. Report due dates are strict.
- Be flexible with routes. Taking many shops in one area boosts your odds.
- Get MSPA certified. Gold cert unlocks fine dining first.
Customer Impact Scam Alert
Customer Impact is 100% legit. But scammers often use their name.
Red Flags of Scams Using Customer Impact’s Name
- Emails not from the @customerimpactinfo.com domain
- Getting a check in the mail (they never mail checks)
- Payment offered before work is done
- Told to wire money or buy gift cards
- Offers of $300-400 per survey (way too high)
- Vague emails with bad spelling or grammar
- Contact through Craigslist or social media
Real Customer Impact mystery shopping never sends payment upfront. They never mail checks. Payments come only via PayPal or direct deposit after you finish approved jobs. Sign up only through their website.
Contact Details
| Contact Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Website | customerimpactinfo.com |
| Shopper Sign-Up | customerimpactinfo.com/mystery-shoppers |
| Phone | (800) 677-2260 |
| Main Office | Bryan, Texas |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Leadership | Scott Hiller (President), Mike Green (President, MSPA Past President) |
Final Verdict: Is Customer Impact Worth It?
Here’s the bottom line of this Customer Impact review.
Customer Impact mystery shopping is one of the best firms in the field. Founded by MSPA leaders, they know what shoppers need — clear guidelines, quick support, and fair treatment.
The shopper quotes speak for themselves. Words like “favorite,” “best,” and “top-notch” pop up again and again in forum threads. The 24-hour report deadlines for dinner shops, phone hotline, and thank-you notes set them apart.
The downsides? The contest for fine dining is fierce. You’ll need to prove yourself with starter jobs first. And some product work fees haven’t kept pace with rising costs.
My take? Sign up if you want a shopper-friendly firm with great dining chances. Customer Impact mystery shopping rewards shoppers who start with entry-level jobs and build from there. Put in the work. In time, those Ruth’s Chris and Margaritaville jobs will come.
Customer Impact mystery shopping won’t make you rich. But for pro treatment, on-time payments, and truly fun jobs, they’re among the field’s best.