RoboForm Since there are more than 500 mystery shopping companies in the United States, you have the potential to submit several hundred applications over the next year.  Many of the same companies will be asking for the same information over and over again.  No need to fret!  Roboform has created a free password manager (you can save up to 30 passwords on the free version) and one-click web form filler with some serious artificial intelligence.  It saves you time and hassle. Once you install it, you never have to type in the same information again and again on registration and application forms. Youll never have to remember another password, account number, or a log-in ID. Click here for your free download:

Timing devices Many of your shops will require accurate timing. You will need a watch with a second hand and at least one stopwatch, preferably one with a split timer.  If you perform movie shops, you may also want to invest in a counter.  

My first few shops I had cheat sheets (in the guise of shopping lists) to help me remember what I needed to do. I'd go to the restroom and jot down things too. You could also use a PDA, or a cell phone. If I'm doing a shop that

Requires lots of time (like a fast food shop that requires exact timing down to

the second for every step of a transaction), I take a digital recorder. I stick it in my pocket before I go inside, and when I join the line, I'll do something like rub over my pocket to create a bunch of static. This way, I really only have to look at my watch once (to get the time I joined the line), and the recorder gets the rest.  I go home, listen to the recording, and write down how much time passes between each of my signals, and add it to the time I joined the line.
                                                     

Adobe Acrobat Reader Many mystery shopping companies will send your shopper instructions as a PDF file which means you will require a PDF reader to open them.  You can download the reader for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Mapquest Use Mapquest.com to plot multiple shop routes. I save each planned route for a couple of reasons. Time is money, use it wisely by planning the most efficient route to your destinations and attach it to your daily log of activities. This comes in handy when the Taxman Cometh!  

Recording/Dictation devices A mystery shopping favorite, due to its compactness and quality sound recording are the Olympus Digital Voice Recorders.  They can be found at most consumer electronic stores like Circuit City and Best Buy.  The price you can expect to pay will depend on the number of recording minutes you will require.  Be prepared to pay in the range of $39-$89.  Each model comes with 3 recording modes. The middle mode I have found out is the best as it provides more recording time without jeopardizing quality.  The Olympus VN1800 provides 3 - 8 hrs of recording time depending on the mode you are using. It is small enough to fit in your shirt pocket or purse without being noticed. This is great for timing shops as it displays minute and seconds recorded. You can create folders for each shop. It has been an invaluable tool for me.

GPS Devices to plot multiple shop routes. Other nice features include trip planning with multiple stops; an address book where you can enter custom names,addresses, AND phone numbers; a Favorites list; a dedicated "home" button; detour planning; etc, etc.

There is also a great "where am I?" feature that with a single button push will display your precise location -- street, nearest intersections, lat/long coordinates, etc. This could be very useful if you need to summon emergency help.

All in all, this newly released (April 2007) GPS device should definitely be on your shopping list if you're looking for basic, low cost navigation to get you from one shop to the next.