I've answered a few questions around here, but have never played the
game from the customer side, so I'm offering up my virginity today.

One of the things I've learned during my months of association with
Google Answers is that the collective GA researcher staff can
out-clever me by leagues. With that humble admission, here's my
request: name the mystery shopping business I'm considering starting
as a sideline endeavor. Here are some specifics:

  1)  business will surreptitiously "shop" and evaluate service
quality of any business with a public presence (restaurants, retail,
doctors' offices, auto dealerships, apartments, etc.);
  2)  evaluations will be high quality, standardized, guaranteed,
timely;
  3)  reports will be served to clients via Internet website (with
email notification), providing quick turnaround, readily available
history, sortability;
  4)  clientele will be focused in North Texas (geographically
convenient direct sales area) but not geographically limited - in
other words, shoppers can be provided for businesses nationwide;
  5)  owner-to-be of this business (me) has overriding interest in
customer satisfaction and ten years retail experience as hands-on
owner/manager.

Now, having observed how some of these kinds of questions play out, I
make the following pledges:

  1)  I will provide feedback naming the "winner" provided I'm able to
choose one;
  2)  I will actually pay the nominal fee offered (i.e., I won't
collect dozens of GAR suggestions, then expire the question without
ponying up).

Thanks, y'all!

---

Clarification of Question by ericynot-ga on 12 Mar 2003 16:05 PST

A clarification -- I'm not looking for a URL name. I'm looking for a
regular business name. While I will be using the Net for client
communication purposes, this is not a web-based business per se.

Thanks,
ericynot-ga

Super Secret Shopper

The .com, .net and .org domain names are available,
and there does not appear to be a Federal trademark
that is close to it.

Okay, I'll play.

I think I got half way there, but couldn't find where you've discussed
this business idea on the Net.

For discretion, I'll protect your identity, but you'll know if I'm
right.

Here's what I found, until the point where I gave up.

Your name is E*** ******son
You live in C********, TX
You love motorcycles
You retailing background involves art

That's about as far as I got.

Looking forward to reading the winning answer!

Thanks for the challenging diversion.

Facetious: Holmes Shopping Network

Serious:   Stealth Shoppers

Service Sector Scorer
www.servicesectorscorer.com
www.servicescorer.com
www.servescore.com

Ssshhhoppers

Shop 'n Tell
Covert Consumers
Concealed Consumers
Undercover Clients
Private Patrons
Masked Man of Marketing
Shrouded Shoppers
Secret Service
Shoppers Anonymous

If you are looking for a business name, you really should
be looking at whether the domain name (and Federal trademark)
is available as well.

Discreetly Yours
Secret Admirer

Well I dont think you can beat "Shop n' Tell" as a play on 'Show n
Tell from early school days. Well done again Beth.

 P.S Someone does something similar over here in Melbourne Australia
but cant think what they call themselves. Also perhaps of interest is
that a young lady here started up a site called WWW.notgoodenough.com
(or is it notgoodenough.com.au)where she seeks such feedback from
customers then actually sells the info( complaints or praise) to the
featured business. How she achieves this I have no idea but certainly
this was what appeared in newspaper as to how site would become a
viable business for this woman. Have a look
perhaps??

The 4-1-1
Sly Consumer
The Telltale Cart
Buyer Be Where

My apologies, ericynot.

I misunderstood your question and thought you were having people guess
the name of your (already existing) business, by finding it on the Net
based on the clues given.

Here are my suggestions:

Shoppers Incognito
Shopping Igcognito
Surprise, Surprise
Shopping Snitch

How about ...

The Shop Shop

Serenata

Checkout Ferrets (kidding)

Clientell or Client-Tell

- Hammer

Hey Eric,

Those businesses have been around for a while. 
There are even websites devoted to helping people
find work as shoppers. And an organizaton for the industry: 
http://mysteryshop.org/

You've been given some excellent advice regarding trademarks
to protect your new business name, once you find it. 
And a matching URL doesn't hurt, of course. 

My offering?

Private Buys

ShoppingPros

Undercover Service

Ethical Consumers

Ship Shop



I really like 

The Shop Shop
Private Patrons
Covert Consumers

Good luck on your new business.

Best wishes

Your TaxMama-ga

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I see a couple of quite
intriguing ideas. Since I have a ferret, I'm sort of drawn to
hammer-ga's tongue-in-cheek Checkout Ferrets, but we'll just have to
see :)

Of course there is always the chance I go the boring route and just do
XYZ & Associates or something like that. Or, I may see something here
that inspires me to come up with my own idea. But, I promise, I will
report back when I have a decision made.

Again, many thanks for the help so far.

ericynot-ga

ericynot...

BizRate has done this in the online milieu, so you
might find a variation of that name:
BizRater
Service-Rater
Milieu-Meter
Ala Carte Appraisal(s)

You could emphasize quick turnaround with:
Alacritique

If your primary customers were restaurants:
Graze & Appraise
-I'd like to hire on as a consultant in this division  : )

Focusing on the surreptitious aspect:
Couth Sleuth
Service Sleuths
A Snitch in Time

The Zen approach:
Be the Customer!