Personal Shopping in Burnaby, BC

Choose the task and prepare your brief

Describe what you want to have at the end of the booking. For groceries, name quantities, brands and dietary requirements. For clothing, describe the occasion, fit concerns and existing pieces you want to wear. For gifts, include the recipient’s interests, delivery deadline and wrapping needs.

Decide whether you will accompany the shopper or approve choices from home. Ask a prospective clothing shopper to explain how they learn your preferences and choose stores. For wardrobe planning, specify whether you want a review of existing clothes, a purchase list or help assembling outfits.

Compare complete quotes

Give each shopper the same brief, proposed stores and delivery address. Request a separate service quote and purchase allowance. Ask each provider to identify charges for preparation, shopping time, travel, waiting and follow-up, plus any minimum booking or deposit.

Compare the included work before choosing an hourly rate or package. Ask where paid time starts and ends and how the shopper charges for unfinished tasks. Agree on a maximum service charge and a purchase limit, with permission required before either increases.

Consumer Protection BC’s guidance requires covered businesses to disclose itemized prices, known extra costs, payment terms and the total price. It describes distance-sales contracts as purchases made online, by phone, email or fax. Its future-performance category covers goods or services supplied later, or not paid for in full upfront, where the total price exceeds $50. A future appointment alone does not establish that category. [4]

Choose stores and arrange the handoff

The City describes Metrotown as a regional town centre with extensive shopping and public-transit access. It also identifies shopping and amenities in Brentwood and shops and services in Lougheed. Ask the shopper to check whether the stores in your chosen area carry the items you need before agreeing to a route. [2]

For accompanied shopping, name a meeting point and discuss walking limits, fitting-room assistance, breaks and carrying bags. Ask whether the shopper provides the assistance you need. For delivery, give building-entry instructions and choose a handoff location that you can reach.

If the shopper uses transit, discuss the route and payment method when agreeing on reimbursable expenses. Across Metro Vancouver, TransLink charges one-zone fares for bus trips at all times. SkyTrain fares depend on zone crossings, time and day. Trips starting after 6:30 p.m. on weekdays, and travel on weekends or provincial statutory holidays, use one-zone fares across the system. [3]

Check the operator and booking agreement

Ask the operator to identify the licence that covers their Burnaby work. The City requires a valid business licence for businesses here, including personal-service businesses, and provides resident and non-resident categories. Use City Licensing at 604-294-7320 to clarify coverage if the operator’s explanation leaves questions. [1]

Read the full agreement before paying. Consumer Protection BC says new contract rules took effect on August 1, 2026. For covered contracts, businesses must give you an opportunity to review the agreement and disclose return, exchange, cancellation and refund policies, including when they have none. [4]

For an online booking, save the agreement and confirmation. Consumer Protection BC says you must receive a contract copy within 15 days. Missing required information or failure to provide a copy can give you cancellation rights; use its guidance to check the conditions that apply to your booking. [5]

Agree on purchase authority and returns

Write down acceptable substitutions and the choices that need your approval. For example, allow a different grocery brand within your allowance but require a message before changing a clothing size or colour. Decide who pays the retailer and how the shopper accounts for purchases and unused funds.

Ask the shopper to check merchandise-return deadlines and final-sale conditions before buying clothing or gifts. Assign receipt keeping, return trips and refund handling. Keep the retailer’s merchandise terms separate from the shopper’s service-cancellation policy so you know which business to contact about each issue.

Adult one-zone transit fares for shopping travel

Choose the booking that fits your task

Your hiring checklist

1. Write the desired outcome and purchase deadline.
2. Specify whether you will accompany the shopper or approve choices from home.
3. Provide item quantities, sizes, fit needs or recipient preferences.
4. Compare quotes for the same scope and route.
5. Check the operator’s applicable local licence.
6. Confirm the meeting point or delivery access.
7. Save the agreement and the approval rules you negotiated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for a personal shopper?

Obtain comparable quotes for your brief. Ask each provider to identify the service charge, included tasks and possible extras. Keep the money for goods separate so you can judge the cost of the help without mixing it with your shopping choices.

Can I hire someone based outside Burnaby?

Ask how the operator meets the City’s licensing requirements. Burnaby provides a non-resident category for temporary and mobile businesses without a fixed local location. Contact City Licensing at 604-294-7320 if you need clarification about the proposed work. [1]

Can I cancel an online booking?

Check the agreed policy and your circumstances. Consumer Protection BC describes cancellation rights for some online-purchase problems, including missing disclosures or an absent contract copy. Those rights depend on conditions; consult the guidance before treating a change of plans as grounds for a refund. [5]