YES!, YES!, YES!
It has been my experience to have worked as a SECRET SHOPPER, SECRET CHECKER for fifteen years in many categories and venues.
I had to eat TACOS til they dribbled out of the corners of my mouth, rate them for many and sundry conditions and complete incisive, demanding questionairees.
I SECRETLY checked K-Mart stores as to IN-STORE, on-site availability of merchandise as listed in their flyers and advertising.
Many other store conditions and observations had to be detailed in writing on the SECRET report-forms MAILED IN TO A SECRET, non-K-Mart reporting agency in Georgia!
I have conducted 'secret' head-counts of shoppers passing a certain location in a MALL so as to provide viable information to businesses as to whether a certain location was appropriate for their type of OPERATION:
I checked restaurants in Washington and Oregon for food appearance, temperature levels in hot foods, food taste, kitchen cleanliness, employee hygene practices, public relations level of employees and many other points of interest. Great Job!
DURING the time period of [1985 til 2000] I was paid adequately by check for some jobs and given free food or generous food coupons in advance for some assigned RESTAURANT checks!
One negative factor in restaurant checking was the cost of gasoline because at the time there was no travel allowance.
NOTE; My work for cinema producers did offer an adequate round-trip mileage allowance from home to theatre site.
Most of these assignments were fun-filled, provided pleasant excursions away from home with my darling wife, opportunity to meet mostly INTELLIGENT AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS.
As an outgoing, upbeat, alert, PEOPLE PERSON, I ENJOYED VERY MUCH THESE TYPES OF JOBS.
My work as a 'theatre-checker' for seventeen years was occasionaly more interesting because of the oft-needed requirement to conduct my head-counts in secret, (unknown to the theatre manager)
These THEATRE assignments of 'SECRET-CHECK' and mainly 'OPEN-CHECK' paid well and offered a mileage allowance. It was light-duty, dressed-up duty, and offered chances to watch movie presentations because I performed the job intelligently! Theatre managers offered me passes and 'comps' for my wife and myself as I became acquainted with, recognized and treated these responsible managerial people with honor and respect! They also liked and respected me as a 'professional' person: I often made over one hundred fifty dollars for a total of a few hours on Friday nite, Saturday afternoon and evening, Sunday afternoon and evening services.
An.....................ON-DUTY, slick, easy job!
It was only necessary to be present one half hour prior to each movie screening, count the people entering each little screening room or theatre then remain and count all people entering the particular assigned movie screen or individual theatre for one-half hour after the movie actually begins on sceen! Simply make an accurate head-count!
Sometimes I would check two movies and double my weekend income, WOW!