I want to help you with your mystery shopping...

But I need to know where you stand!

So tell me what you know, and what you don't know...

Just fill out the form below and click submit!

Thanks!

Jacob

Honestly there hasnt been much in my area.. however, I did research the one for a Tall Girls Shop.. the amount you could spend was $20 and after searching their website most of the articles there were a lot more then that. I would enjoy mystery shopping in my area, and if the company wants us to do them a service, I really think they should be more realistic about their prices, after all they should know their line better then anyone else.
I am a single mom of three teenagers, so I really would like things in my area.
Or if u really want to put a place to the test have me take in all three teenagers.. lol

I wrote you a while back. I had starting testing for the Mystery Shopper and never finished.I was trying to find my way back to my history. And cannot. Can you help>

I paid for a 2 year "contract" with a company that has ties with this company. Now they want more money from me - to me that is a scam, no waty around it. If I could cget my credit back for my 2 years which I didn't use - only completed a lot of tests, I would try is again, But I'm not paying over $200 to do this.

Juile

I've been mystery shopping on a parttime basis seriously since Oct.'06. My goal was to make an extra $200-$300. I only take assignments that pay a minimum of $10. If I do take an $8 assignment it has to include reimbursement for a purchase of something I needed anyway. I do mainly bank shops because they are quick and easy. I have reached my goal every month. I also try to take on most of my assisgnments in the first two weeks of the month. Then I find towards the end of the month, schedulers are calling me for last minute assignments and offering additional money. I find this work easier than working for $7-$8 at a retail store and standing for 4-5 hours a night. I set my own schedule and because I do so many bank shops, I have saved money. Some of the shops require that you have an account with the bank. So I opened up additional accounts and make small deposits when I do my assignments. You will not get rich mystery shopping, but who can't use a few extra dollars every month. The key is definitely applying to many companies. Also shoppers must be very detailed-oriented, complete your assignments on time and have the ability to write well.

I have learn a lot by reading your emails. I have signed up with 50 companies. I great some great offers. Like I have gotten everyone in my family cars oil changed with the price reimbursed and a bonus with some of them. I get paid to have breakfast every other morning.I keep my car, my husband, and daughter's car filled with gas, even though there is no reimbusement but you have to have gas any way. I go to the movies to see what trailers are showing, this my family really likes because them get to go to work with me. My teenagers like the MacDonald's & Popeye's assignmennts. I enjoy Potbelly's myself. I bring in about $500 to $550 total a month. I also get assignments that do not require me to buy anything at all. Lkie going into Best Buy & Cellular phone store just to inquire about certain products and services. Usually,I get paid $12.00 to $18.00 for just 15 minutes of my time, this is usually when I do other jobss in that area. So in a day for about 3 hours of work I can make about $75 to $100 bucks in one day. You have to be organized and dedicated to providing the services that asked of you in order to make the money you want to make.

I want to be a shopper.

Carla L. Duck
7160 Fire Tower Road
Zuni,VA 23898

Do they have online Mystery shops and where ???

I know that there are many companies out there that can help provide shopping jobs. I've subscribed to about 50 I guess but have heard from about 10. I stared this a little over a year ago. I was making about 300-$400 a month but stopped around June of last last year. I've done two so far this year and want to get back at it.

How do you get the better paying assignments?

I have been mystery shopping since last July. I started with a 4.95 one-month trial with Shadowshopper. At the end of the trial, I cancelled the service because I had the names of several companies and I signed up to be a shopper with those companies directly. Do Not Pay to Shop! Legitimate companies are out there and they don't charge you to shop for them. You have to apply at many companies which takes time. A good place to look for companies is Volition.com. Read any forum on shopping that you can for hints on good companies. I work for about 20 companies and I have NEVER had a problem other than occasionally I mess something up. All my companies bend over backwards to help me fix an error. I have ALWAYS gotten paid for the work that I do. Since I live in a rural area, I sometimes struggle to get jobs that are close enough to offset driving costs. I look through all my companies offerings and try to group them together according to location so that driving expenses are kept under control. In a good week I can make about 300 to 400 dollars and that is out here in the boondocks. Don't give up, mystery shopping is not a scam, it is real, but you do have to be careful what companies you work for. Do Not Pay to Shop!

I would certainly like to know who Sharon W. is signed up with as that sounds
exactly like what I would enjoy doing.

I am in the beggining stages of learning about mystery shopping. I believe it can be advantageous for everyone concerned. My problem is that I understood becoming an agent would not costr anything? Where can I sign up with a reputible company without having to pay? Which one is the best and most profitable? When can I start, and can other members of my family be apart of this business? DayLindell@Hotmail.com

I know that many companies pay for mystery shopper, or guest shoppers, and some of the best in the book are from the company themselves. WalMart, JCPenneys, Sears, SteinMart, Bealls. Well you get the picture. If you think you can get a job as a mystery shopper it will be in the low end of business. I know personally several mystery shoppers, and guess what? They actually work in the upper management of those high end retail stores. What actual opinion of the working class people shopping at their locations are they receiving? I am totally upset everytime I walk into our local WalMart and overhear the working complaining, and using foul language. I wonder whom in our area had a better job offer than our local WalMart? If they had that offer would they stay and work, or are they just there for occupying space to complain out loud around their customers? If the store does not have the time to adjust the attitudes of their employees, why would we need a mystery shopper in the first place. I would encourage all managers to work monthly and advise exactally what "SERVICE" is about.

I am looking for a honest company to work thur. for my assignment that does not cost a arm and leg to join. Also the right way to write up the report.Example:If the store was clean or not? Was the Clerk polite when entering the store?

I have been shopping for the past six months.It started slow for the first week and than the offeres started coming in. I now receive an average of 35 offeres a day. Alot of them are out of the area and some I wont accept for what they want compared to the compensation they offer. I found that Martiz is a good company to do business with. I just finished 15 *** shops which paid $9.50 apiece. Anyway thats just the tip of the iceburg

B.E.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/2007 03:49PM by JacobJ.

I have been mystery shopping for about 6 months. I do it part time and have brought in anywhere from 100-300 a month. I could make more, but I have gotten choosier and have 3 companies I prefer to work with. Recently I got the first "poor report" feedback ever and from a company that I have successfully shopped for on a bimonthly basis. The feedback stated the report was incomplete. I love this shop and immedeiately sent an inquiry followed by a few more but got no response as to what the specific problem was as my form showed it being complete. I got another invitation but was afraid to reply because I was unsure what had happened. Then I got a notification that I had been assigned an upcoming date ( I had not applied). The scheduler was completely different and I have only interacted with this company by email. Should I start looking for other companies? I worry about getting blacklisted in some way. Should I pretend it is okay and continue shopping? I have heard other people develop a relationship with their scheduler. How important is this and what do I need to do? Thanks!

I started mystery shopping at the end of January of this year.I have registered with a lot of different companies and now it seems to be paying off. The offers are starting to pour in,but you have to be quick to respond before the other shoppers apply for the same job. I am starting out slow and gaining confidence each new shop that I do.I have done a pizza place,a couple of fast food restaurants,a paint store,and the best one yet, I got to do a bowling alley.So far I have only gotten paid for one of the shops,but the rest of the checks should be coming in about the same time,that will be cool.I am still nervous about doing the gas stations where you have to get pictures of the pumps.How do you do this with out getting seen?I'm gonna have to try them soon because around my area I can really make alot of money on them if I group them together.Some jobs are low paying some are pretty good paying especailly when the end of the month is coming up,so I do a little of both.I can't complain about the low paying jobs yet,the way I see it I'm getting my experience on these jobs.It is kind of like starting a job for minimum wage and as I gain knowledge then I will start to see more money.I do not think that mystery shopping is a scam you can really make money doing this,it is all up to you and how hard you are willing to work at it. Jacob is right apply to as many mystery shopping companies that you can,it may take a while but you are bound to sign up with some that will have jobs in your area.

For the month of February I made over a thousand dollars and maybe worked two weeks of the month for no more than four hours in total a day. This month so far I have made just over five hundred and certainly haven't worked hard or long. I have been doing this since April and have made over fifteen thousand dollars working very part time; I have another business I run too. I have also gone out for PAID dinners at least four times a month plus a paid stay in a first class hotel around the corner from my home. While at first things seem slow if you make a point of doing detailed reports and being reliable you will find that companies want you first and offer you the best jobs out there. In addition I have never paid a company except for Shadow Shopper in the beginning at a very low cost and MSPA and that was to get certified. Beware of those you pay for as it is unnecessary!!!

i have mystery shopped in the past, it was a good rewarding experience. I would like to start up once again, but having to purchase an item, just so i can restart something i have already done, is what is stalling me from continuing my next step into MYSTERY SHOPPING!

I know that mystery shopping can entail evaluating a shop for custormer service,sales rep knowledge of their product and the stock of inventory.

I have been shopping for over a year now. I know that it's time consuming signing up for all of the companies, but once you get going it's okay. I dont' have any set goals, but I do enjoy dining out and being reinbursed for it. The shops that only pay $5 to $8 dollars are only worth doing if it's less than a few miles form your home. And remember $5.00 adds up. I did several of these around Christmas and they totaled over $275.00. And all I did was go in K-mart and report rather 6 people greeted me or not. Make sure you read all the details so you know when you check is coming. And I don't beleive in paying to make money. I have paid nothing, all you have to do is put Mystery Shop Companies in Yahoo or Google and they all pop-up for free. Goto MSPA's site and you'll be able to see what's in your area. And I know that these companies look for any reason not to pay you. Follow the guidelines to the letter, keep copies of everthing and have a separate file for each company.

I used to work with a company that was in the Mystery Shopping business. I have also done a bit of mystery shopping myself. I have also introduced it to my mother and she does mystery shopping on a regular basis in her town.

I must say that mystery shopping can pay off, if it’s right for you. I think that Jacob has a perfect guide to getting yourself going and making money. But there are a few things you must apply to you:

1. You can only get a lot of shops if there are lots of shops in your area.

2. You must be committed in finding and applying to as many of the shops in your area.

This means the first part of your Mystery Shopping career should be focused on finding as many companies that conduct mystery shops, and applying to them. I personally have applied to at least 70 different companies. Once you have done this, you just have to read the notifications about shops in your area and apply to them.

SHOPS ARE NOT USUALLY AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGNED TO YOU- and if they are, that means you have built a reputation with that company. You must apply for the shops as if you were applying for a job, and that’s exactly what it is: A Job.

You must also have good writing skills, and you must be detail oriented paying attention to EVERY little detail. It also helps to be organized about your work and your schedule. Taking too many shops in one day may get you confused about what happened where, and make your reports less accurate and this can affect your ability to be rehired

Basically, Mystery shopping is not a scam although there may be some out there. It is a great way to work from home and make your own schedule. But nothing is free; it does cost your time and effort, just like any job.

*A little note on scams: If you see a flashing box on a webpage asking you to enter your email to become a mystery shopper, do not do this…. It will fill your inbox with junk mail. I learned the hard way. Real mystery shopping companies will have you fill out an application, and usually is just like any other job application. You will be asked demographical information, as some shops require you to be of a certain age. If you decline to fill this info out, you may miss out on some jobs.

Happy Mystery Shopping!

Do I have to pay to become a Mystery Shopper????? How do I go about to become a Mystery Shopper??

i havent got assignments from the past 8 months

You should NEVER have to pay to be a mystery shopper.

You can become certified but it is by no means necessary.


from S.B.

I have been Mystery Shopping for about five months now. I started out slow and have built a reputation with the companies for which I shop. I am not currently certified. I have a very busy "other life", so mystery shopping is definetly for me. I am with PayPal and have designated it as my "travel fund".
Yes, there are a lot of scam companies out there. Yes, it takes time to build a solid reputation. But...it has worked well for me.
I am interested in getting certified with MSPA, just haven't had the time.
Thank you Jacob for your great information!

I have mystery shopped for several fast food restaurants and enjoying sharing my findings with whom I am working. Some are good results but others are not so good. I believe these mystery shopping jobs will help restaurants if they will look at the surveys. I would like to be able to do more shops if you would let me work for you. I do these surveys as I see them and do not try to alter my observations in any way. If I work for someone I am going to be honest in my evaluations. I know I am not to let anyone know that I am mystery shopping and that I will report only my findings (not heresay from others) back on my survey.

I have mystery shopped for several fast food restaurants and enjoying sharing my findings with whom I am working. Some are good results but others are not so good. I believe these mystery shopping jobs will help restaurants if they will look at the surveys. I would like to be able to do more shops if you would let me work for you. I do these surveys as I see them and do not try to alter my observations in any way. If I work for someone I am going to be honest in my evaluations. I know I am not to let anyone know that I am mystery shopping and that I will report only my findings (not heresay from others) back on my survey.

I think I left off some pertinent information. The actual Mystery Shopping company does not need to be in your area. So, if you are using this criteria in order to apply to a company, there is no need. Most of the companies are statewide, countrywide and/or worldwide. That is why you sign up with so many. You can narrow down your shop area when you go to your shop log provided by most of the companies.

I have done mystery shopping for over a year. When I began, I signed up for everything. Now, I'm more selective on what I sign up for. Usually, I won't drive more than 10 miles from home, as gas is too expensive. Yet, if they pay me well enough, I will go out of my way to do a shop. I've never paid to do mystery shopping and never would. I write detailed, accurate reports and take pride in high shopper scores. I have found this to be imperative if I want to shop for the same company again. It's important to be very reliable and not to cancel assignments. At least, not at the last minute. An emergency should be truly an emergency and not an excuse to get out of doing a shop. Since the pay is low on most shops, I try to do shops that I'll enjoy. I like the restaurant shops, as I get to try restaurants I might not have gone to otherwise. I've discovered some excellent places to eat by doing mystery shopping. Also, it's nice to be able to get reimbursed for a meal with a friend. I find mystery shopping to be worthwhile, as I'm hoping to improve the quality of customer service.

I would like mystery shopping more if it were higher paying. I would like to learn how to get better paying shops, if they're out there.