I wonder how much time *actually* goes into making $1000/month, which, by the way, would probably qualify you for food stamps. It hardly seems like a goal to reach for, even if you only shop part time. If you worked 20 hrs/week for $1000/month, your salary would be $12.50, about what the better fast food restaurants pay.
But I imagine anyone making $1000/month mystery shopping is working a lot more than 20 hours.
Factor in the time spent hunting for new MSCs, signing up, checking the job boards, checking your emails, reading guidelines, making phone calls, checking maps, traveling, then oh yeah doing the shop, organizing your notes and receipts and photos, writing the report (seldom less than an hour for a decent paying shop, and possibly as long as three hours), following up with any questions or checking your score, checking for payments and possibly chasing unpaid shops, getting paid 1-3 months later and possibly not at all if you messed up one of the above. Then wait another 1-3 months or more between visits before you can repeat that shop, assuming another shopper doesn't snap it up.
Many of us do it for reasons other than money, or are limited by our circumstances and obligations. But we're lucky if it beats minimum wage. And anyone who's working hard enough to make well over $1000/month consistently should probably channel their energies into something more lucrative. They can always leave MS as their hobby.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2017 07:33AM by ShopWhisperer.