So how much do you make mystery shopping?
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It depends on a lot of factors, like where you live, willingness to travel, etc. But, I think for the most part (granted, there will always be exceptions), you're right in assuming shopping is, similar to a part-time salary.
If you live in an urban city, with 3+ million people, I think it's safe to say you can average $50 a day in shop fees. Some days, you might make $20, other days you might make $70 in fees. Just like not all days are the same in terms of fees, not all days are the same in terms of time put into it as well. But, I think that's a good estimate.
If you live in an urban city, with 3+ million people, I think it's safe to say you can average $50 a day in shop fees. Some days, you might make $20, other days you might make $70 in fees. Just like not all days are the same in terms of fees, not all days are the same in terms of time put into it as well. But, I think that's a good estimate.
Phoenix is a big city with not so many shoppers. I can do really well on a good day. One day last week was $143. Yesterday was $82.50 but I didn't start until noon. Today my first shop was at 11 am. I won't be home until around 7:30 pm. My gross will be $145 but I have to account for about $20 in gasoline. Friday I will drive round trip to Tucson for 3 apartment shops. Two are video. Gross is $200 but it will cost me $50 in gasoline easily. So it depends on what kind of shops you do. How good you get at route shopping. Whether you branch into video shopping. How you treat your schedulers and how good your reports are. Get the schedulers in your pocket by performing great shops and they will call you. Then you can negotiate fees.
This type of work suits me well because I'm disabled. I make hay while the sun shines (when I'm well) and don't work when I'm ill. Right now I'm able to bust it. I might be sitting next week. I never know. I have angels for schedulers who let me postpone shops to the last minute sometimes. If I know I'm not going to be well enough, most don't ding me with citations and such. Second-to-None fired me because I was in the hospital and missed two shops. Bare International lets me reschedule shops like crazy.
Income is always in direct proportion to the amount of work available and accomplished. I had to beat the bushes and take every shop in Kentucky. In Arizona, I only take what I want. And remember, it doesn't come with vacation, sick days or insurance or a 401k. It has drawbacks. But for some of us it is the perfect solution.
This type of work suits me well because I'm disabled. I make hay while the sun shines (when I'm well) and don't work when I'm ill. Right now I'm able to bust it. I might be sitting next week. I never know. I have angels for schedulers who let me postpone shops to the last minute sometimes. If I know I'm not going to be well enough, most don't ding me with citations and such. Second-to-None fired me because I was in the hospital and missed two shops. Bare International lets me reschedule shops like crazy.
Income is always in direct proportion to the amount of work available and accomplished. I had to beat the bushes and take every shop in Kentucky. In Arizona, I only take what I want. And remember, it doesn't come with vacation, sick days or insurance or a 401k. It has drawbacks. But for some of us it is the perfect solution.
Today I Will Choose Joy!
"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!
"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!
On a great day, I can earn as much as $600 in fees (after gas, rental car, etc.) if I luck out on a route and the project(s). On a slow day / busy day at my full-time job (or personal life), I earn $5-20 in fees and a full belly to avoid cooking and grocery shopping.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
Last month I made $1.3B. </Donald Trump>
Also, depends if you want to do this "full time" (which in reality means part time as mentioned above), or just as a hobby. I'm more of the "hobby" kind of person because I have a full time job, but this it lets me go to restaurants and other fun places without touching my money, and maybe I'll make a few extra bucks at the end of the month (depending on the month, not a lot but I would say anywhere from $50 to $200). Probably some of the shoppers here are much more efficient than I am, but I tend to do my shops only at places that are convenient to my schedule and my commute.
Don't give up your day job. Rather get a start in your free time and see whether it works for you. Here are some 'facts of life':
1) You need to register and be accepted with a fair number of companies to even find those that have work in your area.
2) Some areas have a lot of shops--but they also have a lot of competition for those shops from other shoppers.
3) Most shops pay fairly little with much of the 'value' of the shop being reimbursements. If you can use the reimbursements to substitute spending your own money, that can work, but you need cash to keep the lights on and the rent paid.
4) Shops will pay/reimburse you anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months after submitting your accepted report, depending on the company you are working for.
5) To really make the cash part work as a primary income source you need the organization to put together routes of shops.
6) Better paying shops as a general rule require more of you, including often extensive narratives, often more in depth interactions with employees and frequently doing some homework so you come in with about the knowledge the average customer would arrive with.
1) You need to register and be accepted with a fair number of companies to even find those that have work in your area.
2) Some areas have a lot of shops--but they also have a lot of competition for those shops from other shoppers.
3) Most shops pay fairly little with much of the 'value' of the shop being reimbursements. If you can use the reimbursements to substitute spending your own money, that can work, but you need cash to keep the lights on and the rent paid.
4) Shops will pay/reimburse you anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months after submitting your accepted report, depending on the company you are working for.
5) To really make the cash part work as a primary income source you need the organization to put together routes of shops.
6) Better paying shops as a general rule require more of you, including often extensive narratives, often more in depth interactions with employees and frequently doing some homework so you come in with about the knowledge the average customer would arrive with.
Just get a rich dad like Paris Hilton, then problem solved, no more hustling for shops.
You can't make everyone happy, you're not pizza!!!
depending on luck, hustle, and my perseverance, mood, etc. $50 to $100 a day. Slow day $20 to $30. Lazy day, zelch $0. Monthly $600.00 so it is a part time income.
You can't make everyone happy, you're not pizza!!!
Arty, I work consistently part time about eight months a year and intermittently the other four months. I took in almost $16,000 gross last year. That was a combination of fees and reimbursements. Most of my reimbursements are actually useful to me because of the type shops I do and consist primarily of gas with some food and a few incidentals such as automotive oil changes and repairs. I do incur legitimate expenses so the $16,000 is not a net number.
I do not video shop and I do not do cruises, time shares, apartment shops, new homes, or fine dining. You can up your numbers depending on the types of shops you choose but some of them lean more to lifestyle enhancement than they do to actual income.
It would be extremely difficult for me to support myself mystery shopping unless I downsized my house and saved less money. Some of the more experienced and elite shoppers are able to fully support themselves, but when they post experiences and numbers on this forum the reception is not kind and considerate.
How much you can make is limited by several factors, some of which are your age and energy, your will to work, the amount of work available in your area, the number of other shoppers around you, and the types of shops you choose.
I do not video shop and I do not do cruises, time shares, apartment shops, new homes, or fine dining. You can up your numbers depending on the types of shops you choose but some of them lean more to lifestyle enhancement than they do to actual income.
It would be extremely difficult for me to support myself mystery shopping unless I downsized my house and saved less money. Some of the more experienced and elite shoppers are able to fully support themselves, but when they post experiences and numbers on this forum the reception is not kind and considerate.
How much you can make is limited by several factors, some of which are your age and energy, your will to work, the amount of work available in your area, the number of other shoppers around you, and the types of shops you choose.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
There are people who claim they make a livable income from shopping and I'm sure they do. But it takes a lot of hard work and self-discipline to get there, and it's certainly not for amateurs or flakes. For example, referring to mystery shopping as "work" with scare quotes is not a productive approach.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2015 10:33PM by af517.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2015 10:33PM by af517.
@af517 wrote:
There are people who claim they make a livable income from shopping and I'm sure they do. But it takes a lot of hard work and self-discipline to get there, and it's certainly not for amateurs or flakes. For example, referring to mystery shopping as "work" with scare quotes is not a productive approach.
Yeah. I wasn't sure how to respond to that, actually. Arty, it's not "work". It's work. You have to be self-driven. You have to care about doing good work. You have to be responsible and dependable. The companies who hire us are dead serious. They don't consider it fluff.
I make between $600 to $1200 per month, and it's all up to me. And most days I work well over your 3-6 hour window. It's a second income in my household. If I had to support myself on it I'm not sure how that would go. I'm sure it would be difficult. Like the others said... don't give up your day job.
Not another one. :/
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Let me condense this thread for you arty
A lot of people will tell you you can make peanuts doing this.
A few people will tell you can make a good living.
Several people will comment on how rude it is to ask this question.
Some of the people who are defeatists will say there's no way the people that say you can make money are telling the truth.
Invariably someone will ask the people making a good living what msc's they work for and what shops they do.
Then the people that live in areas with too many shoppers and not enough shops will lament the fact that they live in an area with too many shoppers and not enough shops.
This will go on for 3 or 4 pages until it dies and then in a few weeks someone else will ask the same question.
A lot of people will tell you you can make peanuts doing this.
A few people will tell you can make a good living.
Several people will comment on how rude it is to ask this question.
Some of the people who are defeatists will say there's no way the people that say you can make money are telling the truth.
Invariably someone will ask the people making a good living what msc's they work for and what shops they do.
Then the people that live in areas with too many shoppers and not enough shops will lament the fact that they live in an area with too many shoppers and not enough shops.
This will go on for 3 or 4 pages until it dies and then in a few weeks someone else will ask the same question.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Where were you when I needed to read those really loooong novels and write an essay on them
Kim
But you have to make a viral sex tape also!@ishop2getpaid wrote:
Just get a rich dad like Paris Hilton, then problem solved, no more hustling for shops.
I made more than that and I am prettier. <Heidi Klum>@af517 wrote:
Last month I made $1.3B. </Donald Trump>
I am allergic to peanuts!@bgriffin wrote:
A lot of people will tell you you can make peanuts doing this.
ty good insight@bgriffin wrote:
Let me condense this thread for you arty
A lot of people will tell you you can make peanuts doing this.
A few people will tell you can make a good living.
Several people will comment on how rude it is to ask this question.
Some of the people who are defeatists will say there's no way the people that say you can make money are telling the truth.
Invariably someone will ask the people making a good living what msc's they work for and what shops they do.
Then the people that live in areas with too many shoppers and not enough shops will lament the fact that they live in an area with too many shoppers and not enough shops.
This will go on for 3 or 4 pages until it dies and then in a few weeks someone else will ask the same question.
although i all was looking for, i guess its probably too much to ask for, is simply people giving the amount of time they spend MS and the amount of pay they get.
For example, so far ive spent about maybe 8 hours browsing internet and signing up to MSP's and ive not yet done a single shop. I applied to a couple for a few earlier today (car dealerships and property i believe) but I think iam now supposed to wait to get accepted or something. Seems to me like organizing this whole thing may be the most difficult task...
@arty wrote:
ty good insight
although i all was looking for, i guess its probably too much to ask for, is simply people giving the amount of time they spend MS and the amount of pay they get.
For example, so far ive spent about maybe 8 hours browsing internet and signing up to MSP's and ive not yet done a single shop. I applied to a couple for a few earlier today (car dealerships and property i believe) but I think iam now supposed to wait to get accepted or something. Seems to me like organizing this whole thing may be the most difficult task...
I think you've got it, arty. What people are trying to tell you is that we can't answer what you want and tell you how much you may make for a certain amount of work.
Being a mystery shopper means being in business for yourself and running your own small business as an independent contractor to a lot of mystery shopping companies. You would not be an employee of any of the companies. It's very time-consuming to research the industry and learn how to do it and organize your business. It is also time-consuming to register with multiple companies. Self-starters who can read and research and have the follow-through skills to apply for assignments and carry them out independently do the best.
Some shoppers make a lot. Some do not.
Arty,
About your first post....
Why do you want a different job?
Beyond this great forum is a book called Change Anything. The authors suggest that multiple changes might be needed to accomplish one big change.
A different job is a big change.
Shopping, marketing, and merchandising (major components of this business) might. be parts of larger change process for you.
Performing these jobs will add dimensions to you as a working person. Will this be enough, or will you want more?
Good luck! This can be much more than just money. Enjoy!
About your first post....
Why do you want a different job?
Beyond this great forum is a book called Change Anything. The authors suggest that multiple changes might be needed to accomplish one big change.
A different job is a big change.
Shopping, marketing, and merchandising (major components of this business) might. be parts of larger change process for you.
Performing these jobs will add dimensions to you as a working person. Will this be enough, or will you want more?
Good luck! This can be much more than just money. Enjoy!
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
b, I hope you saved the content of your excellent post so you have it available to post on the next thread.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
@MDavisnowell wrote:
b, I hope you saved the content of your excellent post so you have it available to post on the next thread.
I was thinking the same thing.... it should be a sticky in the new member section.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
January 2014 - No income
February 2014- No income
March 2014- Decided to start back shopping and made $1,024
April 2014- Got a part time job and still remained shopping $1,253
May 2014 - $967
June 2014- $1077
July 2014 - $949
Basically, the time line shows the honest earnings of someone who averages 2 shops a day and is a full time student.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2015 03:58PM by Mcerex.
February 2014- No income
March 2014- Decided to start back shopping and made $1,024
April 2014- Got a part time job and still remained shopping $1,253
May 2014 - $967
June 2014- $1077
July 2014 - $949
Basically, the time line shows the honest earnings of someone who averages 2 shops a day and is a full time student.
*****************************************************************************
Gold Certified
507+ Sassie Shops
Shopping South Florida since 2007
Own PV-500
IMSC132
Gold Certified
507+ Sassie Shops
Shopping South Florida since 2007
Own PV-500
IMSC132
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2015 03:58PM by Mcerex.
awesome@Mcerex wrote:
January 2014 - No income
February 2014- No income
March 2014- Decided to start back shopping and made $1,024
April 2014- Got a part time job and still remained shopping $1,253
May 2014 - $967
June 2014- $1077
July 2014 - $949
Basically, the time line shows the honest earnings of someone who averages 2 shops a day and is a full time student.
no wonder MSP's and their clients want objectivity and factual information. Thank you
I was very interested in your reply. It is good to know that this system really works. Just like anything else. You get back what you put in. I have signed up to be a shopper and did my first shop, now I can not figure out how to use my receipt on the form. Obviously I am not computer savy.
Arty, I am brand new, too.
Week one all I did was apply -- very frustrating until I found a few companies that were hiring in my area. I found them on Jobsliner.com and checked their reputations on paidshoppingproviders.com.
Week Two I did one shop at an electronics store and mad $11, lol. The report wasn't too bad, but took me several hours because I wanted it to be "perfect." They contacted me right away with more opportunities, but they were not a good match for me.
Week three I did two apartment shops and made $50 (I think - I have not been paid). It took me forever to fill out the forms for one shop. The shopping itself was easy and close by. I had to rest one day between jobs because it wore me out trying to meet the deadline to finish the reports and meet the deadline.
Week four, I am doing a complicated big store shop. I guess you could say it is an audit because I will visit all departments. The ad said it was only for experienced shoppers, but I applied because it is the same company as week three, and I knocked myself out on those shop reports. I guess it paid off. This one job pays $45 as opposed to the $30 and $20 on the apartment shops. So I guess "knocking myself out" was worth it. I am also doing a communications shop on the same day, only $10, but close, and a pretty simple report. So this week four I will work 2 jobs on the same day and make $55, but be up until midnight filling out reports.
Bottom line -- each week has been better than the last. I do knock myself out on the reports and I do try to give the employee as good a report as I possibly can and knock myself out trying to look for their good points. How would you like to be in their shoes, being "spied" upon?
The companies that gave me the foot in the door were Best Mark, Cirrus 360, and Intellishop.
Good luck to you, my friend!
Week one all I did was apply -- very frustrating until I found a few companies that were hiring in my area. I found them on Jobsliner.com and checked their reputations on paidshoppingproviders.com.
Week Two I did one shop at an electronics store and mad $11, lol. The report wasn't too bad, but took me several hours because I wanted it to be "perfect." They contacted me right away with more opportunities, but they were not a good match for me.
Week three I did two apartment shops and made $50 (I think - I have not been paid). It took me forever to fill out the forms for one shop. The shopping itself was easy and close by. I had to rest one day between jobs because it wore me out trying to meet the deadline to finish the reports and meet the deadline.
Week four, I am doing a complicated big store shop. I guess you could say it is an audit because I will visit all departments. The ad said it was only for experienced shoppers, but I applied because it is the same company as week three, and I knocked myself out on those shop reports. I guess it paid off. This one job pays $45 as opposed to the $30 and $20 on the apartment shops. So I guess "knocking myself out" was worth it. I am also doing a communications shop on the same day, only $10, but close, and a pretty simple report. So this week four I will work 2 jobs on the same day and make $55, but be up until midnight filling out reports.
Bottom line -- each week has been better than the last. I do knock myself out on the reports and I do try to give the employee as good a report as I possibly can and knock myself out trying to look for their good points. How would you like to be in their shoes, being "spied" upon?
The companies that gave me the foot in the door were Best Mark, Cirrus 360, and Intellishop.
Good luck to you, my friend!
First of all, MS'ers need to stay totally neutral and just report the facts required by the guidelines and shop report. You are doing a major disservice if you ONLY report the good stuff. You are not helping the employee by enabling them to keep performing sub par. You are definitely not helping the business/client or the MSC. You need to report the good, the bad and the ugly.@4xDudess wrote:
Bottom line -- each week has been better than the last. I do knock myself out on the reports and I do try to give the employee as good a report as I possibly can and knock myself out trying to look for their good points. How would you like to be in their shoes, being "spied" upon?
Second, we are being "spied" on all the time. Most of today's businesses have video cameras recording us. Many public places have people watching and recording You Tube videos. Red light cameras at many intersections. And what do you think the government is doing with all those satellites?
Me too, Dudess. I do my best to be fair when reporting on employee interactions. If an employee is truly rude or robotic I'll report that because it's my job, but I don't go in looking to give them a hard time. My attitude is "I believe this interaction will be great" and most of the time it is. We usually get back what we send out.
@4xDudess wrote:
I do try to give the employee as good a report as I possibly can and knock myself out trying to look for their good points.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Like others, I do believe in giving every praise possible. This does not mean that we overlook any questionable or egregious acts. It means that we look for as many facets of performance as possible and can identify continuable and changeable behaviors or conditions.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
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