Car service mystery shop - to take or not to take?

There is a high paying mystery shop paying to have work done on a car in my area.

My question is - would it be a bad idea for me to take it on? I know next to nothing about my cars, and would be taking a family member's car to get serviced on. Is this even allowed when doing repair work?

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More About Oil Change & Car Service Mystery Shopping

It depends on the company but they will usually specify whether you need to be the owner. Email the scheduler if you're not sure.
These shops are usually not too hard. I like doing them for family and friends... even better if the fee is lucrative! If you have time I say give it a try.

Shopping since 2009
MSPA Gold

I have done it for my car. Needed an oil change and tires rotated and the shop came up. It was very easy. I was able to write notes while in the waiting room. I am getting ready to do my next one soon. I too say give it a try.

I've been doing oil changes for years, one of my favorites, two companies do them, I prefer one over the other.
You may be talking about actual car repair where you need a specific brand car, I never fit the bill having a Honda Accord, most of their's are American cars....Chevy, Ford, etc. I couldn't advise on that.

Live consciously....

Take it! They are doing the work on the car, not you. Seriously, this is why people pay other people to do things.

I personally am waiting with bated breath for these shops. My car is still under warranty, so I need to be careful. Once it's out of warranty; I will say so long Subaru with your inflated prices!

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!

MA Smith - I have seen mystery shops for Suburu dealer service visits. It comes with a $50 fee plus a $75 (I think) reimbursement). and if you get something done by the dealer under warranty for free, you still get the $50 fee. I have seen a number of different brands, but since I have none of them, I have been doing the ones which reimburse up to $35 for any single service on any model car and pay $15 to $20 as a fee. Those are not at dealers, but at reputable national "tire" stores.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

I haven't found the MSC in my area of TX.

But thank you for trying to help.

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!

Since you haven't shared the company, how about the car type? We could give better insight. If it's Chevy/GMC/Buick do it! Easy peasy. Best to go for oil change, tire rotation, engine air filter, or in-cabin air filters. Those are typically under the reimbursement and they're great things to get maintenance on! Also, you can borrow cars for those.

MegglesKat

I did a shop at a nationwide auto shop (as opposed to a dealer. It was one of the few reimbursement shops I have done, and completely worth it. I would do another in a heartbeat.

For the shop you are referring to, make sure the work that you have done is covered by the reimbursement so it won't eat up your fee.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Thanks! The replies so far have been very encouraging. I think I will sign up soon.

It would be for an Acura. I'd be taking in my brother's car to do repairs covered by the car company - he's been getting notices in the mail about the need to have the car brought in for recall work, specifically to have the airbag inflators replaced. I e-mailed the scheduler, and from both the post and the e-mail it seems like the work qualifies.

The shop pay is over $100. It will be the highest paid shop I'd ever done.

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Car service mystery shop - to take or not to take?

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