@CaliGirl925 wrote:

@bgriffin wrote:

(Also, you're delusional, my ass looks spectacular in these jeans)

Can you post a picture?

My goodness, the OP said in the original question, if you don't feel comfortable, don't answer. The OP was clearly trying to get a feel for what he/she might be able to expect. You guys need to relax! Don't disclose if you don't want to, but just relax! Wow!

@bgriffin wrote:

I'll be honest. I asked this same question when I first started. I did not understand the backlash I got at the time but I do now. Like this thread, I got no concrete numbers from successful full time shoppers. Call it confidence, call it ego, call it determination, but I figured there were other people making a living doing this so I could to, and went with that

Agreed. This thread could have been much more helpful and positive. BUT, there will always be those that have to turn it into a negative.

So far everyone has some good numbers in my opinion. This is part time for me and I tend to make use of the flexibility. I make 350 a month if I am lazy. Otherwise, I have seen the potential for upto 1k a month. These figures are fee + bonus . I hate adding reimburesemnt in order to inflate numbers.

I am not sure your ever gonne be rich doing this job.In the uk im earning about 20.000 a year.However then take off travel,hotels.Yep the earning goes down.So not loads but it keeps me from sinking.However I am nackered,last week I went all around Wales 2000 miles in two weeks,net 1200

In fairness, the original post was edited on May 10, four days after it was first published. I'm not positive, but think the line about not answering if you don't feel comfortable was added at that time. By that time there were also almost two full pages of responses and I doubt anyone who had been participating since the beginning went back to read the original post again.

@EileenS wrote:

My goodness, the OP said in the original question, if you don't feel comfortable, don't answer. The OP was clearly trying to get a feel for what he/she might be able to expect. You guys need to relax! Don't disclose if you don't want to, but just relax! Wow!

I've been with the same house since 1984 and I'm due for a change.

I stick with grocery and fast food shops, locally in a small city. My taxable income is miniscule because of the mileage deduction. But, the practical benefit to my life in terms of paid-for food makes it quite valuable to me. Still, including all perceived value, less than $1700 a year.

My understanding from this forum is that those who make "real" money do video shops and plan routes of shops covering fairly long distances.

Secret shopping is one of the most variable occupations l've heard of. From people who only shop their favorite restaurant to those who work long hours over several states, extremely variable.

Most years I make about $10000 not including reimbursements.

I did 224 shops, made $2,241 and change in fees and $1,405 in reimbursements. A very very small dent in my overall annual income. I had some un-reimbursed expenses to count against the fees on my taxes - so my taxable income from the fees was less. I do this very part-time - mostly for the reimbursements of things I would have purchased anyway - and tax write off of the un-reimbursed expenses of things I would have purchased anyway. Then there is mileage I get to write off for places and areas I would have gone anyway. The travel time is time I would have used to get to that area already. Most of those I accept aren't really long shops, but I do have some time invested that I would have spent at home. Granted, I have a little bit of time in in report writing as well, but nothing to long, and I tend to watch TV while reporting, so 'work" during the commercials instead of watching the commercials. Most shops I accept don't have long reports - and the one I do regularly that does have a longer report I've got down to a science to keep the time on it as short as possible - fortunately they are also reducing the size of that report - so that will go faster too.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2016 12:44AM by goodkitty.

delete



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/14/2016 04:51AM by MDavisnowell.

I agree with you on this. Also to be considered, there is absolutely no way to verify the responses posted. As we all know mystery shoppers are independent contractors who ''pose" as real customers. Posers

I made around 8k last year, may look like a small amount compare with other shoppers but I shop 2 days a week for about 40 weeks a year so I think is a good income (I focus on BIG bonuses).

I don't consider it rude. Some people do it for a hobby, others for a profession. Also, the size of market will equate to how many shops are out there and how many shoppers you're competing with in the marketplace. If someone is just entering mystery shopping for the first time, most people actually wonder how much they can realistically make to determine if it's worth their time and energy. When I first started in a small market, there weren't that many shops, and at the same time, not that many shoppers. So a lot of increased commissions/fees were the norm to get the shops done. At the end of the day, I thought this type of forum was to share information.

I don't consider it rude. Some people do it for a hobby, others for a profession. Also, the size of market will equate to how many shops are out there and how many shoppers you're competing with in the marketplace. If someone is just entering mystery shopping for the first time, most people actually wonder how much they can realistically make to determine if it's worth their time and energy. When I first started in a small market, there weren't that many shops, and at the same time, not that many shoppers. So a lot of increased commissions/fees were the norm to get the shops done. At the end of the day, I thought this type of forum was to share information. If anyone is offended, don't stop on this topic and keep on driving.

I'm with you. 2014 I made around $3000. 2015, probably around the same.

I often see a lot of backlash on this forum especially when new shoppers ask general questions just getting acquainted with the shopping.

I am retired. If it is not fun I ain't gonna do it! Mystery shopping is an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure. I do have integrity and give the client their money's worth, which is not hard given the compensation they offer.

It is not the money that I am concerned about. If the money is too low I do not work for free or even worse have to put my hand in my pocket to support clients that do not offer MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL shops. I will take the free oil change. Going to a restaurant is not really a night out. My partner enjoys the meal and experience, I am working. It is not the same as "going out for dinner" The IRS and other government considerations make me watch carefully the "compensation" and expense.

I enjoy being a thespian. The client applauds with a paycheck. .Still there is the factor that I am good at what I do. I never look at my watch or take a note. or ask questions only a shopper would ask or do things only a shopper would do.

I call schedulers to make sure they understand the guidelines are appropriate.. I was thanked many times by schedulers who did not have to reschedule shops with obvious "I am the mystery shopper" requirements. Many times the employees will know you are shopping and the client will be cheated if I do not speak up as the employees will watch their P's and Q's and get a great score if they do not report they know they are being shopped.

I am averaging about 8,000 yearly with fees and reimbursements.

I am a full-time route shopper doing video, audio recorded and written. Last year, I made a little over $24,000 fees and reimbursements. However, that does not include the cost of gasoline, wear and tear on my cars, the equipment I invested in, two PV500's, with extra button cams, extra buttons, backup batteries, three digital cameras, two audio recorders, two new laptops, laser printer, ink jet printer for the road, tablet, car chargers for each electronic device, hot spot, wigs, recorder for home telephone for recorded calls, and of course office supplies and software. I invested every dime back into the business and to pay the expenses of the job. This year, I will make a profit.

I'm curious how the people that are making $20,000 plus dollars shopping. What kind of shops are you doing and how far do you drive to do them?

I make on average 2300 to 2600 a year. I made @6000 three years ago when Castforce was doing well.

@schylarsok wrote:

I think this information is incredibly helpful. It helps me gauge whether or not this type of industry works for me in the end. And I see now difference between that and looking up how much you would get paid in a specific job. I don't want to see everyone's paycheck; but I would like to know what is possible by doing mystery shopping.

My sentiments exactly. It also helps give me a goal to shoot for and explore how I can improve my methods to meet those goals.

@jlux wrote:

I'm curious how the people that are making $20,000 plus dollars shopping. What kind of shops are you doing and how far do you drive to do them?

I almost never drive more than 75 miles to do a shop. I fly quite often though.

I do lots of bar audits (paying $50-$75 in fees for 90 minutes).
I do hotels with $500 fees, usually 2-3 days at most.
I do special projects internationally. I speak 3 languages fluently and a bit of a handful of others in order to get by.
I do shipping shops for 3 companies. I can do these in my sleep. Love them. Food banks and teacher friends of mine are grateful for what I send.
I do gas station mystery shops. I quit doing the audits 4 years ago. They pay the same as they did in 2000.
I do amusement parks. I am good at it. I like them. They are profitable for me. I end up with enough free tickets at the end of the year to send my kids and 20 of their friends for free between Christmas and New Year's.
I do casino audits. Some clients let me keep up to $1199 in winnings.
I will do about 30 easy peasy food shops a month. My OOP food expenses are less than $20 a month on the road.
I do special projects. I get unexpected calls from people to do one-time or ongoing assignments.
anything in an airport. I fly through no less than 30 airports a year. I will watch for anything to make an extra $100 on a trip


Here's what I don't do:

apartment shops
bank shops (except the 30 second deposit a check shop)
I have done exactly ZERO video shops. I have no interest in being a road warrior, downloading video at a motel in BFE, regardless of how much I could make doing it. Not for me.
car buying, test driving, negotiating etc shops. No interest. $200 for a Porsche test drive. Pass.
purchase / return shops
nursing home shops
"fun & easy" shops
any of the new low priced grocery store shops with more than 3 interactions for less than $25

OK .... I did one bank phone shop for a favor, and didn't really even want to get paid for it. Hourly rate ended up being $7/hour. (insert eye roll here) Within 24 hours, I was offered an all expenses paid international job. Pays not to burn bridges or be an ass sometimes. I know that sometimes, there is no margin and a job needs done. Call me. I'll do it. I know you'll call when you have extra money or a great job. It works.

Hope that helps. I'll edit if I think of anything else.

Well, simply put, earnings are based on what the job pays less expenses including mileage. I choose only to accept jobs that pay a minimum of $15 each. The grocery store and restaurants are nice to save on food expenses. If the MSP does not pay a commission or fee, it is not worth doing because I would be losing on time and fuel expenses. Keep good mileage records as business miles are tax deductible. I hope this answer is helpful to the original person who inquired.

I feel that the argumentative dialogue posted is inappropriate for this forum. How does it make us better shoppers?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2016 12:36AM by rhondash21.

I probably make around $200-$300 per month in an average month but I do this only part time and don't take many shops. Once I made $500 in a month but that's not common for me. I work 2 other jobs that are regular jobs - one part time and one full time- so I do mystery shopping only when and where it's convenient for me.

It's 100% legal to ask what people make even at your full-time job. In fact it's protected by law to do so. The reason businesses frown upon it is because when everyone knows what everyone else is making they need to start paying everyone more. Corporate america literally created the stigma that it's rude to ask what people make in order to keep more money in their pockets

Funny because in a work setting I don't feel it is inappropriate, in a social setting I do. Another thing to remember, we are not part of a corporation, we are all independent business owners. I don't know if a painter would ask another painter what they grossed or netted last year and what the reaction would be. I understand why someone would ask, I just don't believe the answers are always going to be useful with so many variables. A more useful question might be, "what does it take to make a living in this business?"

In response to jlux, the answers are probably as varied as the shoppers and regions represented. In my experience it is rare for a shopper making $35,000 to $60,000 a year to be doing it without a great deal of travel and a willingness to perform a wide variety of shops. A lot of us have reached a point where we have guaranteed, ongoing work to build from each month. Video shopping added a lot to my bottom line, but the single biggest game changer was the ongoing projects. For the last six years I have always had at least one and as many as three to count on every month.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2016 01:00PM by LisaSTL.

@deelitefullyme wrote:

@DavePi wrote:

This year I will probably earn around $2,000 (Reim + fees) from mystery shopping.

Reimbursement is not money earned. It's money you paid out of pocket for the shop and the shop paid you back. The money you make is only your fees plus any bonus offered.

I thought this also, but then realized that for people with "regular" jobs, they have to get the money to pay for food, etc. somewhere, so in reality they are reimbursed before they make their purchases, where we are reimbursed afterwards.