I have been doing mystery shops for a year now. I too have figured out that the restaurant shops just reimburse you for a very long detailed report. (Not worth it to me). I used to do a lot of bank shops but will not do those now unless they are within a short driving distance. (10 miles or less). I am lucky to live in an area Greenville, SC that has a lot of shops available. I am now only contracting with two MSC that pay very decent pay. I love to do audits and inspections. These are the only jobs I will take now that I have some experience under my belt.

I do my assignments on time, send in all the required photos and information, and quickly respond to any emails that I receive from the MSC. After schedulers see that you are cabable of doing the job quickly and accurately, they will seek you out for the better paying jobs.

One MSC who needed me to drive down to Georgia for an audit emailed me and asked if I would be interested in the job. I replied that since this would be a 90 minute drive I would require PAD. She quickly emailed me back and offered $45.00 distance pay. Needless to say I earned and very easy $100 for a 3 hour job. I have also been paid PAD from the other MSC company. Usually $12 - $20 depending on distance.

Ok I will admit that I will do a Jack-in-the Box or and Arby's for reimbursement and a small shopper fee. But I live less that 5 minutes from those locations.

The most important thing for new shoppers is to take a variety of jobs (yes even the low paying ones) just so you can get the experience. I have done them all I think!

Good luck in your endeavors and thank you for listening.

Can you provide some advice on how to identify higher paying MSCs?

Each shopper has their favorite target market due to personal circumstance. There is no right and no wrong. This is one of the wonderful things about mystery shopping and being an independent contractor. And just because a shopper takes the dining shops, it does not mean they are not serious about the job at hand. I take each shop seriously and professionally because I know that while I might not need to make a living shopping, somebody on the other end of the telephone or internet may need the job.

I started shopping in 2011 just to do something different. Admittedly I do not shop for a living. I prefer fine dining, hotel shops and high-end retail if there is a re-imbursement for purchases. If my expenses are covered, I am good. Of course since my husband and I run a business (totally unrelated to shopping), we have an accountant and do write off all our business expenses. Shopping helps reduce our taxable income and we enjoy ourselves on someone else’s dime. If there are additional costs because we want two desserts or desserts and appetizers it is still a cost of doing business and tax deductable. How is that bad?

So, bottom line, as long as the MSC covers most of the cost and still offer shops where I want to eat, sleep or shop, I will keep doing it. I will almost never ask for a bonus but I do ask to be pre-assigned! I will continue to delete the offers of IKEA shops no matter how high the bonus gets, so someone else can have it. I will not step into a McDonalds if I have to go by myself and then go through the drive thru as well. And no, I will not ask a bunch of questions in a grocery store so someone else will pay for a half pound of cheese and a gallon of milk. I might do a series of telephone shops if the inquiry is about something I find interesting and I will negotiate a deal on a new car, if I am in the market for one again. For the sake of full disclosure, I will be looking for another new car in about two years so those shops will have to wait.

In summary, please do not bad mouth other shoppers just because they do not have the same circumstances you have. Do not continue to think other shoppers are stupid because they do not fall in line with your way of looking at shops. Just thank the shop gods that they are different and you can have a job or hobby, whichever suits your circumstance. Also understand that free enterprise is just that! And you are free to go find something else to do.

I usually do the majority of my shopping the last week of the month and grab as many bonus shops as I can. Yes it is a very busy week; however, I still average the same per month, save on gas by not shopping for nickels and dimes, and have time to spend doing other fun things.

I just canceled two jobs because of this. When I downloaded my paperwork I saw that a lot had been added to the requirements without any corresponding increase in the fee paid. I sent the scheduler an email canceling the shops and the reason for the cancellation.

Part of the problem is that clients are cutting their rates.

EASIER REPORT = you will get less money and have to answer more questions - and the paperwork we want you to print out is now 40 pages.

I agree with most of what you said. Thank you for entering the discussion. Like you, one of the reasons I began mystery shopping was the flexibility it brings. After many years of being self-employed, I think that I am happier when I am responsible for my own destiny. Being self employed has its challenges, but for me, the benefits far outweigh the frustrations.

I find it interesting that you, as well as others who have posted, seem to believe I put down other shoppers (beginning shoppers, maybe?) for choosing lower paying assignments. Let me make this very clear---I pass judgment on no one. Mystery shoppers choose this work because they can choose the types of assignments they want to do. All I ever meant to do was state what I choose to do and say why I make those choices. That is not saying that beginning (or established) shoppers should be relegated to taking lower paying jobs. All I said was that I had reached a point in my business that my business plan was followed better when I chose not to accept the jobs I was offered that paid below a certain amount, and that some of the MSC's I work for offered me more to work for them when they understood why I didn't accept their assignments. I support the right of every Mystery Shopper to choose what types of jobs they will do and how much they will be paid. If a job that pays a low fee or only reimburses expenses without paying a fee is a good fit for you, more power to you. Those types of jobs just no longer fit for me.

Happy shopping!

I hope I am doing this in the right forum. I am looking for answers about something I know little about and I admit it. I have read for months regarding mystery shopping. It looks like something I would love to start a new business at. I am the kind of person that likes to be very good at what I do, no matter what it is!

However, the only company that I have been contacted by for job lists is shadow shoppers. They charge $29.95 per month for this list. I have only seen one other mystery shop web site called sassy shop. But the list for my area anyway was no where as good as shadow shopper. I read on here to never pay to mystery shop! I am short on cash to start up but, I want to start up right!

How much should a newbie expect to have to have to put out in cash? And how long are most reimbursements. I also was wondering if anyone has heard of NGM? And, one last thing where is the best way or place to read and become as knowledgeable as one can be? I have learned a lot reading here from some very intelligent people on here. I hope to learn much more from all of you! Thank you for your time and excuse my typos as I just have my smartphone for now.

Flirt

Never pay for jobs! Shadow Shopper may have a list, but the odds of you even getting any of the jobs on that list is slim!
You have to be registered with a company before you can even apply for jobs. Do a Google search for mystery shopping jobs with your city named in the search. You will see many companies pop up. Apply with all of them. Then check your email often as most will send you open assignment notices. You should check the individual MSC's job board frequently.
You need to spend a day or two reading the forum and then you will have all reveled to you. Some have quick turn around, some are 60 days or more.
Apply, apply, apply to every company on the MSC list on the bottom of the page when you have made your list of who sounds like a good place to work for and with. Most people on the forum are listed with 100+
You will not realistically be getting the $30 fast food shop with a $20 bonus. You have no experience, so you will be at the bottom of the food chain. There is no quick way to make lots of money in this field as a shopper.
Good Luck

Hi Carol,

I have just completed my first month and I feel that the startup is expensive (for me anyway) but worth it. I intend to do this pretty much full time.

This last month, my purchase requirements for 23 shops cost me a little over $60. All of that will be reimbursed. My challenge has been waiting the 6 to 10 weeks for my first pay to come in. As independent contractors working for subcontractors it's to be expected. I also needed to buy computer ink & paper. While I'm still learning I print all of my jobs to take with me for reference. I also use a notepad on my smart phone for cheat sheets. The store employees think I'm texting, I'm really checking my list and taking notes! Works great!

The Mystery Shopping Companies I have had the most success with have been Confero, Market Force, and Bare. They have been my meat and potatoes for June. I have shopped for 9 or 10 different companies though.

Sign up at Jobslinger.com That will give you an idea of how many jobs are in your area! I have never paid for a list, nor will I. Why pay for something that's free to do yourself!?

Tracey

If money is an issue look at shops that don't require a purchase to build up your funds, there are plenty of audits from Comcast to Apartments, or look at ones for things you would have purchased anyways like an oil change.

Jobslinger is the best place to start I am signed up with 18 companies and I have more shops than I can actually do. There are a ton of bowling ones right now if you have kids they could be really fun.