I started shopping back in the eighties. A company called me and asked me to do trailer checks. A few years later, I attended a class on mystery shopping and eventually moved to full time shopping about 15 years ago. I love shopping because every day is different and I can pick the jobs I want.

I had always wanted to do the "Secret Shop Thing" but never got into it. I think I was about 18 when I sent someone $16 for a list of companies that do mystery shopping. It was not beneficial. Anyway fast forward to 2004, my now husband and I were dating and we would come to the table to discuss finances. He was getting into the insurance business and stressed clearly that I needed to make more money if I wanted this, that and the other. He was trying to get me to sign on with the insurance business to work with him. I started reading a magazine where a young lady stated that she got out of debt by mystery shopping. I soon started doing searches for mystery shopping and then Bestmark emailed me. I did their exit interview thing at the end of 2004. I then started with their restaurants and so on.

As I progressed in my shopping gig, I was in it for the food and reimbursements. I had read on a forum that people used credit cards and then paid them off when they got the reimbursements. I tried it, boosted my credit score and then bought a house.

After having my first child, I read about making $75 a pop for doing video shops. I had dabbled in video for Instant Replays maybe once or twice. Carrie reached out to me and told me this was for real. I bought equipment and took the training and was on my way.

I now do the video shops, grocery stores, some restaurants and apartments. I really try to focus on areas where I don't have to spend out of pocket unless it something I really want to do.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2016 10:04PM by prettygul1.

I had always been one looking for different ways to make some extra money. I received an e-mail from a shopping service; I don't remember which one. This was 6 years ago. I was skeptical, but it was easier than some other things I'd tried. I also knew that the company I worked for employed secret shoppers.
I checked out the jobs that were being offered and began applying to companies. I was impressed that I actually got paid. I had been skeptical about that. I've been doing it part time for 6 years now.
I started when I was 62 so I do a lot fewer now than when I started. I think that some companies prefer not to use us "older shoppers". Some companies even put age limits on some shops and not because they are alcohol or cigarette shops. I have enjoyed most of my work. My niece now does shops.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I shopped banks using paper forms that were mailed to me...I filled them out and mailed them back.

Dang autocorrect.

I sent Resumes snail mail to companies like best mark Intell, shoo n chek, You know the oldies but goodies.

At chart house, High-end restaurant in Monterey. We had shoppers coming in all the time and shopping us. It freaked the hell out of us!! I was about 30 years old. When the reports came back to the restaurant our manager would have a talk with us. As servers, We had to recite an exact greeting when customers came in.. Word for word. I don't know how any shopper could remember what we would say. LOL. To this day I remember what we had to say, "Good evening welcome to the chart house, I interest you in a glass of wine or a mixed beverage?" Then we would have to explain a certain appetizer Word for Word. When we would get a reports back to the restaurant there is no way a shopper could remember exactly what we would say. We would get dinged for a reports when it wasn't perfect.
That is when I thought that I would look into mystery shopping, I found an ad on the back of a newspaper or a pamphlet For a list of mystery shopping companies. $25 bucks. My father said it was a waste of money. But I sent my resume is in because back then it was snail mail. That's where it all began that was over 17 years ago or so.
Don't remember my first shop, Wish I did. But Starbucks was being shop back in the day and I would shop like five of them a day. They were so easy and they paid well.

Oh, yea, I forgot about Charthouse! I use to shop them on Maui when there were three of them. I used a small recorder in those days because, as you said, the wording quoted had better be perfect. Oh, you didn't even really need to eat, the smell of the food alone would make you full, such good food!

@Flash wrote:

I started in the early 1960s as a part time hourly employee when I was a high school student. The lady who owned the company found work from magazine ads, mimeographed off forms for us and sent us out to the field. When I decided to retire early I explored the internet and found that now mystery shopping was done as Independent Contractors rather than employees. And yes, I had questionnaires mailed to me to be filled out and returned, there were reports I faxed, there were reports that were phoned in and wowsers there were a bunch of companies you could enter reports on line and then mail in receipts or fax receipts.

WOW! 1960's? That's crazy! What were the fees then? I'm sure you've seen a lot change?

@spicy1 wrote:

Oh, yea, I forgot about Charthouse! I use to shop them on Maui when there were three of them. I used a small recorder in those days because, as you said, the wording quoted had better be perfect. Oh, you didn't even really need to eat, the smell of the food alone would make you full, such good food!

As servers at chart house , We always thought secret shoppers were mean and cruel beast! And here I am several years later, a shopper.
Yes, I knew if the shoppers were coming in getting reimbursed $100 I could do it too! I love restaurant shops! I eat out a lot so I might as will just do a little report and get reimbursed. Had some good pizza and salad today And got a text to do in and out burger on Thursday.

@MScat wrote:

WOW! 1960's? That's crazy! What were the fees then? I'm sure you've seen a lot change?

In those days it was not Independent Contractor fee per shop but rather we were part-time hourly employees at somewhat better than minimum wage. Shops were indeed very different than what we do today. We did door-to-door surveys, targeted surveys of folks who had mailed in their box top for some free item or other, visits to shops to ascertain that the number of 'faces' of product the manufacturer was paying for on the shelf were indeed being provided and lots of other odd things.

I found out about MSC when I replied to a survey from car maintenance place. I went to McDonald's for my first MS. It was a couple of years ago.

I started October 2013. I needed additional income desperately. I applied online and as "they say" the rest is history. I took some really low paying jobs and learned many a lesson. Still learning lessons. Just when I think I got it down pat...something comes along to prove me wrong. I can truly say I love what we do. I believe we provide a true service for our companies. I would like to also take a moment and thank the Forum. I appreciate you all so much. It is nice to know others are out there too. It has been great to laugh at the mistakes ( boy I have made them too) and so appreciate the helpful tips too. I have come to appreciate some incredible schedulers and their hard work on my behalf. Thank you Theresa from Market Force. To the newbies, do your best and be honorable. I love the variety of assignments. I love not being tied down to a single desk 9 to 5. I love getting out of my comfort zone and going to new areas. I also love being able to pay my bills and have a little extra for the niceties as well.

I got tired of borrowing money and having to pay it back. (I'm on a fixed income), said to myself I'm going to find a way to earn a few dollars without having to take a real job. So, browsing the internet I saw the advertisement "Get paid to eat and shop". Shadow Shopper really help out in the beginning. So, I start signing up in 2005.

Timothy L. Northen Assignment from mailbox, Walgreens & Walmart, waiting for email with a check of $915 send Survey Report to tomjohnn.1@aol.com and Alain@shoppingexperience.org

If you got a check before completing a shop and submitting the report that is a SCAM! DO NOT deposit the check. It will be found, in about 2 weeks, to be worthless and YOU will owe every cent to your bank!

Hello
I have been doing Mystery shopping for 5 months now and at first I was doing ok. I was using another program to help out with the spelling, correcting sentences etc. not a problem.But now all of a sudden it seems like I can't do anything right on my reports.Spelling is wrong format is wrong and on and on. Has anyone had this problem. I don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be appricated.

When you are a mystery shopper you never get a big check before you do a shop, This is a scam please do not cash the check you will have to pay it all back, When you get the check take it to the bank that it was drawn on and let them have it. They can tell you if it's real. don't cash it.

I was solicited by the manufacturer of my vehicle to do a vehicle service shop.

Just before my very first shop, I was involved in a car accident and broke some ribs. Called off the shop and a couple of other jobs. Then got a call from the MS company telling me that someone had cancelled my assigned job and asked me to pick it up. Told them no.

Retirement was not busy enough for my life style. I worked at a job away from home for 30 years, along with doing office work for my husbands construction company and being a mom with all the kids activities. When I retired I remembered customers coming in to mail their shops information. I googled secret shops and found quite a few. The scams wanted me to pay for their information. I applied at 2 or 3 of the ones not asking for a few and from there became a shopper. My first shops were mostly restaurant shops to report on cleanliness, employees cleanliness, manner, and how attentive they were. At the present time my health won't let me do all that I want but I still read the job board and occasionally will apply.

I heard about mystery shopping a few times the past few years. I typed it into google and started with a company called Second to None. The first few ones I did were at gas stations.

I started a little over four years ago. My first shop was to seek out a certain model of vacuum and have an interaction with a sales person. I think I had to take a photo, too, of the display model. I like shopping for the variety of work, and the convenience of scrolling through the job boards, deciding what jobs I want to do and setting my own schedule.

I started in 1999. In May of that year, I had broken my foot doing the extreme sport of sidewalk sweeping and was pretty much stuck to the chair and the computer. I had run through to the end of the internet I thought when I happened upon a mystery shopping board...not like the boards of today. Anyway, I knew about mystery shopping back from when I was in high school working at Arby's (1974) and we had been told about them. I clearly remember I had to recommend that month's sandwich and I was to never say, "is that all?" I should end with, "can I get you something else?" Oh well, I digress.

So, in May of 1999 late at night on a Friday I started applying to companies. On Saturday I got my first call from Jancyn and did a Mexican restaurant. On Monday I got several more calls and from then it just kept going. I did the mail in reports, the fax in reports, the computer and now the apps. It's been great for us. My husband lost his job twice in his 50s and each time I would kick it up a notch. Sometimes I get a bit burnt and dial it down. I do have my bread and butter shops I pretty much always do and then supplement from there depending on my interests and goals.

Liz

I started in 2001, in the days of faxed/mailed reports. I had been a stringer for several reality-style courtroom shows, like Judge Judy, Judge Alex, etc. so I was used to the IC part and finding my own assignments. When the internet became mainstream need for stringers to actually go to the local courthouses to find potential cases petered out. I took a temp job teaching until I could find another IC situation. I found the MSPA on one of my first ever web searches, and signed up for a few MSCs. I haven't looked back!

Most of my early jobs were banks and gas stations.

I believe I found out through some thing that my Dad sent. He sends me emails because he trusts the info from the chick. He's over 95 so he doesn't remember he sent me the info and MS is one huge scam now.

I signed up with something that started with Shopper. I believe the site was free but said I could get better contacts if I gave them money. I didn't give them any money. I signed up with a couple of companies and never really thought about it.

Then there came the email from a scheduler who found me on that site. She gave her phone number and I called. She held my hand forever. She disciplined me after I called in a 3 yr old meltdown and then allowed me to start all over again. She helped me write my reports when I didn't have a clue and when I needed to say bad stuff but in an objective voice. I will be forever thankful for her. She also made a point of telling me to spread my wings and never tell any other scheduler that she was paying me big bucks., She also told me never be afraid to ask for a bonus. But don't get stupid with the request.

She was paying me big bucks. I got a fee, reimbursement and special expenses. It was a sweet deal and I was to new to understand how fabulous the deal was.

Because of her, I work with some great schedulers. I have 2 favorite schedulers that I do my best to help them out to the max every month.

I'm totally dazed!!

I read your other post and its so true in 50 years we have advanced so much in technology and yet gone back in sociability.

I started as a shopper for the Safeway Corporation in the late 90's. I was an hourly employee and only shopped Safeway stores and was reimbursed for mileage and a small amount for purchases.. They also had like a week or two long paid training class before you started shopping.

Oh, my. I moved a little more than 2 years ago and there is no Safeway anywhere around me. I just LOVE Safeway!!!

@spicy1 wrote:

Oh, my. I moved a little more than 2 years ago and there is no Safeway anywhere around me. I just LOVE Safeway!!!

Safeway's all closed here, but are the main supermarket in San Francisco. Ralph's is better, do you have them?

Well, the Safeway on the Big Island, Hilo side is the best. No, no Ralph's here. There is Albertson's and Smith's and there are Whole Foods and Sprouts. They aren't very friendly. Love Trader Joe's coffee and there are some mom and pop ethnic itty-bitty stores I adore. There's actually a couple of Walmart Neighborhood Markets that are very nice. I don't buy a lot of much anymore because my daughter's are adults now and I have so many mystery shops and do many "belly up to the bar" shops and I grow and store much of my own food.