The shopper is given specific instructions on what to purchase and how to act while making the purchase. The shopper then visits the store, makes the purchase as directed, and provides feedback on the experience.

Test purchasing can be used to measure employee performance, quality of merchandise, compliance with store policies and procedures, and customer service levels. It can also be used to help identify areas for improvement within a retail business.

Test purchasing is a market research technique that involves the real-world purchase of a product or service to assess its appeal and viability in the marketplace. This information can be used by businesses to make informed decisions about whether or not to bring a product or service to market.

There are several ways to go about conducting test purchases. One popular method is through online survey panels, which allow researchers to randomly select participants who will be asked to purchase a product or service. Another approach is known as "mystery shopping", where individuals are hired to purchased goods and services in order to assess customer service quality, pricing, and other factors.