In a few months I will be moving from Florida to southern Utah. And While I don't expect a lot of shops in Utah, Vegas will only be a 90 minute drive from me. The last time I checked, secret shoppers needed a private investigator license and background check in order to perform shops. Does anyone know if shops in Nevada pay more just because of the added expenses that shoppers must pay on their own for the background check and license ? Also does anyone know how to start the process of getting the license or getting a PI company to sponsor you ? Thanks !

NV shoppers DO NOT need a PI license. The need to be employed by the MSCs in NV that have PI licenses. The shopper does need a background check, fingerprints and a special ID card. However, the process is simple and the small fees are definitely worth it if you plan to hit Las Vegas regularly!

That ID card also makes you eligible to work at major event in NV that pay well enough to justify travel costs. .

I cannot immediately find my links to the relevant NV state agency for you but I am sure that other forum members will post that information.

1. I don't know where in Utah you will be coming from, but St. George is the nearest major city to Las Vegas. It is 120 miles to the LV North Outlets mall and still further to The Strip. It is a 144 minute commute each way with no traffic, but you're bound to get traffic on at least one leg of your commute. The pay does not justify the 3 1/2 hour (minimum) round trip unless you are paid enough bonus for travel expenses and time spent.

2. Yes, Nevada (written and some video) shops usually pay more than the same shops in other states.

3. It is quite expensive, time-consuming, and you must meet legal requirements to become a Nevada PI. To become a NV mystery shopper, you only need to be sponsored by one of the NV mystery shopping companies that has its PI license for mystery shopping. To mystery shop in NV, you need a referral from one of the NV mystery shopping companies. You pay $115 for the PILB work card, which requires passing a test, a background check, and fingerprinting. The work card is good for five years.

4. A referral from a licensed NV mystery shopping company is all you need to start the process. I chose to work with only three of the NV companies: HS Brands, Private Investigation, QSI (alphabetical order).

I have been a full-time Nevada shopper (my only job) since 2008, although I also shop AZ and CA, and occasionally routes in other states if the price and timing are right.

Correction: you need to meet legal requirements to WORK for a Nevada MSC; you DO NOT need to qualify to be a PI. Two entirely different things.

I think it's absolutely worth it. I live on the east coast but I was able to get my application done (fingerprinting and badge) in one day while out there for other stuff. It's a lot of paperwork but none of it was hard. Yes it costs around $100 but there's always shops that pay $40+ to visit a luxury handbag store. So you make back the $ in one day. It also makes you eligible to do the airport shops at LAS, if they ever restart them, and those pay very well.

Even though it may not be worth it for a 3 hr round trip drive to only do shops, if you're already planning a trip there for fun you will be able to recoup some cash.

Great thread! On my most recent trip to Nevada, I had looked on the different MSCs and could not find anything listed. I guess this may be the reason why. Or are there next to none currently posted?

If you were referred by HS Brands (pulled from AZwolfman's post), is HS Brands the only MSC you are eligible to shop for in the state of Nevada? Or as soon as you are referred and go through the work card process, you can work for any MSC in the state of Nevada?

I live in California and before this mess, I traveled to Vegas once a month. The jobs pay higher there than in other states. When overnight hotel stays start up again it will be worth it for you to go and stay the night to get a couple days of work. You can usually stay and eat with work to cover those expenses.

There are 4 or 5 MSCs licensed to do MS work in NV. All other MSCs wanting to have jobs done in NV must sub-contract with one of those to handle their clients in NV. Once you have the card (NOT PI license) for NV, you can sign up with all of those few MSCs that assign shops there.

@FineAndDandy wrote:

Great thread! On my most recent trip to Nevada, I had looked on the different MSCs and could not find anything listed. I guess this may be the reason why. Or are there next to none currently posted?

If you were referred by HS Brands (pulled from AZwolfman's post), is HS Brands the only MSC you are eligible to shop for in the state of Nevada? Or as soon as you are referred and go through the work card process, you can work for any MSC in the state of Nevada?

Hopefully this will clarify. MSC (mystery shopping company) in NV refers to a private investigator company licensed to mystery shop, and there are only about 5 or 6 in the state. The companies we shop for (for example, Ipsos/Maritz, TrendSource, Albatross, MarketForce, etc.) are what we refer to as clients.

For NV shops, you do not (and are generally prohibited from) contacting the different clients directly. Don't do it! Each licensed NV MS company has competed for contracts with a number of clients, which you probably have shopped for in other states. You must be assigned shops from those clients by the licensed MS company (for example. HS Brands, PI, or QSI). So instead of signing up with "hundreds of clients," you only sign up with 3 licensed companies that have access to those "hundreds of client."

To use your example of being referred by HS Brands:
No, you may work for any of the NV licensed MS companies, but you need to let HS Brands know first. Then you may sign up with Private Investigation, and you will also have access a job board listing shops for their clients. Let Private Investigaions and HS Brands know you are going to also sign up with QSI. Then sign up with QSI, and you will be able to access QSI job board and shop their clients. You use the same work card for each NV mystery shopping company.

Sometimes food is a perk when NV mystery shopping, but. . .
In Nevada we do not mystery shop for food; We mystery shop for cash.