I've been mystery shopping for about a year. I work for 2 companies and I stay pretty busy. It's nice Xtra money.

I want to know how to get started without having to PAY someone for the information.

I have been mystery shopping for only four months now, and sometime I seem to get the same things. Cell phone, and fast foods. I have now started getting some different types of shops, but the highest paid is 9.50. I apply,apply,apply, and some days I don't hear of any shops, and other days, there are ten to fifteen to apply for. Sometime I will get a couple of them, and other times, none of them. Even when it is for a shop you have done before, and got a good score. You never know. I have a list of companies to apply for and now that my vacation is over, I plan to really get going on it so I can plan for another cruise...There was one company whom I did a shop for, the instructions were pretty confusing, so I emailed for clairafacation..It took three days some time to get a response, and some time I never did receive one. I did the shop to the best of my ability, and figured if it wasn't correct, then I would consider it a lesson, and not to accept anymore shops from that company..Otherwise, I haven't had any other problems. I have gotten paid every shop...So far...

I do not know alot about mystery shopping, I have been in the retail business for over 40years and beleive i know what the customer deserves. I did an oil change job a couples months ago for me it was not a good experience after going back and forth about the forms i told them to keep their 32.00 for the change they needed it more than me. I did another one for another company two stores in fact and only got paid for 1 because i laked 1and 1-half minutes being there. I think if you put the effort in and did the job you should get paid.

I know that I can not afford to pay to be a mystery shopper I need to get the assignment first then turn in my report after that you can take out the fee
I need this job to supplement my student status PLEASE

I have been a mystery shopper for the past couple of years and I have done well over 200 shops. I did a lot more when I worked an hour and a half away. I would hit the shops, mostly fast food, on my way to work or coming from work to feed me and make a little extra money. I believe like many, if you search the web, you will find mystery shops and not have to pay for any. I haven't and won't, it seems to defeat the purpose of it. A lot of the companies don't pay much for what information they want. I only do these when I have to go by them anyway. I have done mostly fast foods, shipping services, clothing stores, gas stations, etc. I live in a rural area, so there aren't a lot of shops that might be available in larger areas. I have not tried to fool myself in thinking this would be a full time job, but something to earn a little extra money now and then. The websites that Jacob recommends seemed to have increased my shops in my area. I work in retail management and I have used my experiences from the shops to help make a better customer environment where I work at. It allows me to step back and try to see what the customer is seeing that is good and what is bad.

notathing

I am gradually getting more jobs. I would consider a seminar if it came to my area. Which one has not yet. I do not pay to do jobs.

I have done quite a few mystery shopping jobs. Several do not pay. I have found 2 that do pay but there are not many jobs. One assignment is for an electronic store and a purchase is required for $1.00. Sorry to say there is nothing in there for $1.00. I have stopped shopping because of gas prices and no pay.

I have been doing this since October 2006. Now that I have been doing it longer I am finding more jobs, and the higher paying ones. I like the revealed digital audits best. I would like to know where to find more like this.

I started mystery shopping in April of last year and have found that you can make money but it's important to sign up with as many companies as you can so you have better choices. Yes, some shops pay small but if you schedule 2 or 3 shops in the same area you make up for the gas you spend and the time you spend on the computer filling out the surveys. If you don't where to find these companies there is a book titled "The Mystery Shopper's Manual" by Cathy Stucker that has pages 20 pages of different companies. Again, the more companies you sign up with, the more choices of types of jobs, payments for shops, and lengths of surveys you can choose from. I easily make over $200 a month doing mystery shops and that's because I don't have a second vechile right now so I schedule the shops around my husband's work schedule. And then, he usually goes with me do the shops, especially the restaurant shops, which gives us time together than him in one room watching the TV shows he wants or plays computer games and I'm in another room doing what most wives do, taking care of the household. I have had only problems with 2 companies paying me for services rendered and one apoligized and paid me for the shop I had done. It's also important to be reliable and not canceling shops you signed up for. If for some reason you're not able to complete the shop, I have found the schedulers to be understanding, especially if you don't wait till the last minute, and reassign me the shop for another time. It's also important to be detailed-oriented, check you spelling and be prompt to submit the questionaires and receipts or other forms of proof that you did the shops. Good luck in your endevors and keep mystery shopping.

I have been shopping since Oct'06 and made about 75 to 100 a month. I started slow and thought the same as some of the others who have commented that if you do the lower paying jobs at first, the companies will give more jobs once they know you. Well that hasn't happened and I have got good scores on my reports.
I'm interested to know how Heather C. can make a thousand a month!, get paid for dinners and only work a few hours. Between reading guidelines, printing and scanning receipts, and filling out and copying reports, That's a couple hours not including actually doing the shop. Where do you live Heather C. and what companies are offering this kind of compensation? Share with us. You tease us with the fact that you are making that kind of money, let us in on your secret! I live in Pa, near Harrisburg, and even by travelling the interstates, I can't get enough shops to make that kind of money. Maybe I'm not with the right companies. I have done Kmart, Gander Mt, Dollar Gen. Banks, cell phones. Gas stations around here pay $5.00 and want pictures and ten pages of evaluation, it's not worth it. I did one Friendly's shop and when I try to get others, they are always taken. That makes me mad. I get e-mails about jobs and by the time I get in to apply, I end up with an "I'm sorry its taken e-mail.
I also keep all my reports and recepts because they say to keep them for at least six months. I have purchased probably $15. in copy paper to print the questionaires and invoices. I have a small file box practically full after only five months. I like doing the mystery shops and think its a good marketing tool, but I think that more of these companies should let us tell them what we liked the most or disliked the most about our experience instead of just listing the same questions over and over, like did they greet you? how long before someone helped you? Were the bathrooms clean? do they smell?

I would love for this forum to give specific info like sign up with ShopnCheck to get Mcdonald's shops and sign up with MSI to do Blockbuster.
Can anyone tell me how to get a Ruby Tuesday or Olive Garden, or Red Robin Shop.
What company does Walmart and what do they pay? What company does Giant food store or Food Lion food store, I'd like to shop for them. Has anyone done a Subway, a Quisnos? What about Target, Kohls, CVS drug?
I really could use some more work and I'd really appreciate the help. Thanks in advance to those kind people willing to share their knowlege and experience. I'm poor and pouting in Pennsylvania.

I paid to become a mystery home shopper a long time ago and have yet to hear from anyone or to be assigned a place to be a mystery home shopper for so I have come to a conculsion that the MYSTERY HOME SHOPPER IS JUST WAY TO GET MONEY out of people and not help people make money.
Myrlene Hider

I started mysteryshopping about 6 months ago. I began with shadowshopper for the monthly service and they introduced me to about 50 jobs. I have kept with them and increased my shopping even more. I am earning $500 month on a part-time basis and have eaten at Ruth's, Panera, Cheesecake factory, taken a cruise, fast foods, oil changes, clothes and many others that keep coming in. Don't fall into the scams that charge you money to shop. Some companies pay a flat fee, some food and a shop fee and some just for your shop. I love it and am going skiing free this weekend in Colorado. We should set up a link with all of the good shops to sign-up for.

To mike

How did you get the cruise shop? I really want that!!!!!
Do you pay for the shaddow shpper? how much? is it really worth it?

I know that I asked a question when someone on an online group returned my e-mail and told me that she had to make it short because she had to complete a "Mystery Shop" Report. There were those 2 words again that peaked my interest when I first heard them on Oprah Winfrey. There was this guy in the audience who said that he was a Mystery Shopper. I never heard about Mystery Shopping again until that e-mail. Well, I asked my "new" e-mail buddy about it and my life will never be the same. She had several years of mystery shopping under her belt and she bombarded me with e-mails full of information. I almost told her to stop sending me information because I was becoming overwhelmed. I did not want to hurt her feelings because she was just being helpful.

Somewhere in those early days I also received an e-mail from Jacob suggesting that I register with as many companies as possible. He also provided information about companies that use Sassie. Being curious and teachable, I did just that. The first mystery shop that I performed was on 3/28/06 (Happy Anniversary), I have since completed 403 Mystery Shops and have made $7,187 very part-time around my lifestyle. I have 18 more that need to be completed this month. I don't know how many companies I am signed up with, but I have shopped for 44 companies. Every time I get a little bit of time, I sign up with other companies that I see on some lists that I have. I lost my mind and signed up to complete 6 shops on Monday. Mission accomplished and I don't think that I will do that again. So far this month I am looking at earning $617 and that is for jobs that I am signup up for through 3/20. There are some dates that I don't have shops for #'s in the upper teens, but I will take care of that.

In the early days I checked companies to locate shops, now I don't have the time and I usually respond to the postings and dign up for shops. Some companies allow a person to self-assign, others will send a confirmation e-mail once a person had applied and be assigned a shop. The highest paying shops I have done have been Real Estate shops. I have also done Bank shops that have paid $30-$50. If a company is in a bind, they may pay more by way of a bonus if a shopper helps them to meet their client deadline.

Someone wrote an e-mail about having to be organized. I am organized and I still want to choke the person who decided to make parchment. That is the one think that makes me nuts. I can't file the paperwork quick enough. One thing tht I decided to do in the early days is to make cheat notes. Between printing the guidelines and the shop forms, I found myself runing through paper and ink cartridges at a crazy rate. Now what I do if I have a shop that comes in that is something that I have not done before I type up cheat notes. I have a whole folder in my Mystery Shopping main founder that has over 90 cheat notes. The company name appears on the word document with the name of the company to be shopped. The cheat notes are my little way of summarizing the guidelines of the shop. I love reading but I don't want to spend the time to rint and read the guidelines for shops that are the same over and over again. Never mind havign to print the guidelines again. Now I read the guidelines on the company, pull out my hard copy of the cheat sheet and will pencil in little changes that may be new to the shop. The schedulers will more often then not advise if the guidelines have changes. I will take my cheat notes with me and even make up a little postcard with highlights to jot down. My cheat notes are kept in a 3-ring binder with alphabetical tabs where the notes are filed by company shopped. For example McDonalds is filled under Mc. If I have done a McDonalds for more then one company, I break down McDonald's by company. Did you get that, well it works for me.

I know that Mystery shopping is hard work. The amount that a person makes depends on how much effort they are willing to expend. Because I am registered with so many company, I have to, if I can check my e-mail a few times daily. Last night before I went to sleep I had to clear off 82 e-mails.

I have never paid to Mystery Shop and I have no intention of paying to Mystery Shop. I think that Shadow Shopper has me on their mailing list to send out a monthly "We are really desperate!" email They can stay desperate because I am not.

Well, I have to go and clean out my e-mail and I did not edit this prior to submitting it. I hope that I get a 10 grade on this one. I hope that is not sent back for more information or editing, that is also a Mystery Shopping reality.

Happy Shopping

I have been trying for about 6 months to land a shopping job. I have not done one yet. i have applied but never get the job. I really would like to be a mystery shopper but in my area the jobs are gone by the time i apply.

I have signed up with over 60 companies since I started in August 06. I check job boards regularly for assignments in my area. The first few months, I tried to take jobs with as many different companies as possible, to establish myself with them. In the last couple months I have had companies find me (mostly through my free bronze shadowshopper membership). I make $100 - $200 a month, for no more than 10 jobs, in a rural area. I do not travel, unless I can get several shops lined up on the way. I do not take purchase shops unless there is a reimbursement and/or it will be something I NEED anyway. I do not take shops that do not pay "enough" to be worth my time - that varies. I try to pick up every "emergency" job I am offered, to gain favor and hopefully better assignments from that company in the future.

What I need to know is if there is a trick to getting in on the regular rotations with schedulers, so I don't have to rely on job boards at all...

I really need to know how to get started with good paying companies, I continually get mail from companies you have to pay to join, that may be all well and good, however I was really scamed from joining a survey company, that sent me no jobs. I think there are a number of companies that you can join for free, and really get jobs and good paying jobs, could you help me with a list of these companies.
I look forward to your emails each week, and I would like to be a mystery shopper on a full time basis by April, as my present job will be over.
I again look forward to hearing from you on the list of good paying jobs, and how to be a great mystery shopper.
Thanks for you help.
Cat

I started mystery shopping last fall and have enjoyed it so far. I've earned some nice extra money. My spouse doesn't like to spend money on extra things, so he is more than willing to "Be my guest" at my restaurant shops. I like being reimbursed for an evening out! I feel that I am contributing to the quality of customer service in the businesses I shop by reporting accurately, in detail, and on time. I try to double up or triple up on shops, so that I shop only 2 or 3 days a week and still get those nice extra dollars! As for PayPal, I consider that an excellent way to be paid. I can transfer my earnings into my own checking account. This gives me my "own" money to spend.

I recommend mystery shopping if you like people, like trying new things, are detail oriented and have high customer service standards.

I know very little about Mystery shopping. what i need to know is the address of as many people who need shoppers.

what is the best way to fill out the on line app.

what is the best way to fill thr information out so the people will keep coming back to me.

Honestly, I know nothing about mystery shopping. However, the thought of getting paid to do my favorite thing appeals to me! I am a professional shopper, and so is my husband, and I am positive that this is something that I could do and would love to do. Any information regarding mystery shopping and what it involves would be beneficial.

I know that it is a violation of the ICA I sign with each company to come on this board and tell you which companies shop which clients. I know this because when I was new I tried to go on the boards and get other shoppers to give me that information. I didn't want to have to sign up with a bunch of companies. Lets face it, after about 10 registrations signing up loses it's luster.
I know in the beginning the paperwork and printing seems endless for the pay. I learned to read the guidelines and just print the questionnaire. The questionnaire asks me everything I need to know. I also know MSing gets easier with time, time spent doing all the footwork to be connected to the companies that shop my area the most.
I know you won't know whether you love a shop or a MS company until you do one. I also know you can't get rich quick because most companies pay 30 to 90 days after a shop is completed. I also know to never invest more than I can afford to lose. There are a few companies that pay the same time every month but I never know how much work I'll get from them from month to month. So this business is not something I can use for reliable income. I have earned as little as 450 a month and as high as 1050 a month depending on whats out there.
Good luck to all the new shoppers and if your looking for easy money you might as well look elsewhere.

i want to know how to get more of them,i only seem to get mystery shops for banks, i want to do clothes shop, resturants, etc,.
i am more than happy with what i make from my mystery shops, but the more the better.
I have found it to be a great way to make money, as i have a small daughter at nursery for a few hours a day, i can work around her.

This job require a mind for details, good people skills and good communication skills. This is done without the business knowing who you are. I need to know how can get started.

I have been involved in Mystery Shopping at motorcycle shops, car washes etc and have to fill out surveys in the end. I have truly enjoyed the experience and would like to get more involved to earn approx. $500+ per month. Please let me know of more shops.

Jacob, in the e-mail that you sent me the other day regarding the message "a question & an apology" You stated that the more companies we apply to the more job offers you get. That is not so, I have applied to over 75 companies and still get the crabby shops. I have applies for the same shop each and every time for the same shop and is always given to someone else. I am not going out there for $7.00 and have to deal with all the requirements and expectation of a shop that is worth no less than $25.00. You also stated that if we get 30 assignments offers a day we can chose that high paying one but it doesn't work that way. The amount and quality of work these companies expect you to do are ridiculous for the amount of money they are willing to pay. The only reason they have Mystery Shoppers is because if these companies would hire an individual to do Quality Control Inspection or someone within the similar job duties, the companies would have to pay them a substantial salary and they don't want to do that.

I really like mystery shopping and I have worked for two companies that shop food restaurants like Sonic and McDonalds. However, for the money they pay it is not really profitable. By the time you buy gas, buy a meal, and make the trip out, the profit is only $4 or $5 and sometimes not that much. Can't these companies pay more for a shop. I am sure the companies that hire them pay more for the satisfaction of getting there companies shopped. I would like to work for a company that realizes the benefits of a good shopper and be willing to pay for that service. I don't look to get rich doing this, but I would like to make a profit of some amount. Thanks for listening.

I want to do the mystery shopping thing but they ask you for money and then you never hear another word from the company. How can I get started? I am tired of sending money orders and then you never get anything for it . Isn;t there a way you can get started without paying someone. If I hath to pay again, I guess I will forget the whole idea. Mary

I would like a list of companies that offer mystery shopping. I mean companies that hire you to do the shop. I don't like companies or websites that I have to pay to mystery shop. I have mystery shopped for 4 companies and I have been paid on all of them. Only one pays within a month. Where I live these companies offer a shops to me every month but because I live in an area where there is not enough work. I need more companies that pay mystery shoppers so that I can earn more money. If I lived in the big city I wouldn't have a problem with getting shops. I live in an area where there are not many shops per company. We do have most of the major chains here. I don't know where to go for them.