I went into mystery shopping to offset my social expenses (eating, hotels, traveling, entertainment, etc).

Now, after maybe 100 shops since October 2021, I have a better understanding of shops that aren’t worth my time or the payment (whether compensation, reimbursement or both). I also know that I’m not doing it for the cash, but to simply subsidize my life. I introduced a friend to it and she drives me crazy sometimes by trying to stay under, but I understand that different people shop for different reasons.

Why do you shop?

Dollar per hour, expensive experiences I don’t mind trading my time for and wouldn’t pay out of pocket for.

@Tarantado wrote:

Dollar per hour, expensive experiences I don’t mind trading my time for and wouldn’t pay out of pocket for.

Ditto to the expensive experiences!

Three reasons:

1-Money! I opened a checking account this past Tues., at a bank I was passing on non-shopping business, that paid $130.
2-To defray travel expenses for non-shopping matters.
3-To reciprocate courtesies.

I started mystery shopping as a way to learn my way around a new area. I stuck with it and did every shop available until I found my niche.

Not so much for cash as for payment and/or reimbursement of staples that I would buy anyway, such as groceries, gas, and dining out.

You learned faster than me. I have a spreadsheet that goes back to 2003 when I first started logging my shops. I'm a cheapskate, so I was a shopperwhore and took anything and everything i could get my hands on (within reason). It took me many years to finally raise my standards, but as my standard of living has increased thru my career, so have my shop standards. But sometimes old habits die hard and I'm tempted to take some okay shops for below what is fair pay and I have to fight that instinct.

My main reason for shopping is to pay for things that I'm already doing (dining out). I'm not interested in faking interest in fancy watches, apartments, cell phones, big screen TVs, or storage facilities. I will open accounts at banks and investment firms because I like $ and that interests me anyways, so moving $5k into an investment account that will pay me $300 or more for 1 hour is a non-issue to me.

I have done 2 storage facility shops in nearly 20 years and BOTH were THIS year. Only because they paid $80 and $90. I figured at that point, it was worth it for the 1 hour or less of work and the fact there was no added benefit (like food or worthwhile knowledge gained). I did 1 big screen TV shop in 2021 to gain knowledge and make a purchase of Sony instead of the client brand being shopped. But now with a 77" oled 4k tv, i do not need to go look at TVs and act interested when I won't be. I see these car shops and I don't care. i have a 2021 tesla model Y performance, so acting interested in these other vehicles would be hard to pull off. I can imagine my face when they are telling me things as I'm thinking to myself what the phook do I really care. I have no interest in the car negotiation shops for a car I won't buy. I really can't understand who wants that headache.

@jessicad231 wrote:

I went into mystery shopping to offset my social expenses (eating, hotels, traveling, entertainment, etc).

Now, after maybe 100 shops since October 2021, I have a better understanding of shops that aren’t worth my time or the payment (whether compensation, reimbursement or both). I also know that I’m not doing it for the cash, but to simply subsidize my life. I introduced a friend to it and she drives me crazy sometimes by trying to stay under, but I understand that different people shop for different reasons.

Why do you shop?

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

@jessicad231 wrote:

I went into mystery shopping to offset my social expenses (eating, hotels, traveling, entertainment, etc).

Now, after maybe 100 shops since October 2021, I have a better understanding of shops that aren’t worth my time or the payment (whether compensation, reimbursement or both). I also know that I’m not doing it for the cash, but to simply subsidize my life. I introduced a friend to it and she drives me crazy sometimes by trying to stay under, but I understand that different people shop for different reasons.

Why do you shop?

I dunno... I made over $1,000 last month mystery shopping. Of that--mostly from restaurant shops--I spent about $300. Likely another $50 on gasoline. But I likely would have eaten out anyway. Today was a good example. I was out Ubering and Lyfting and needed to go home to get ready for my "real" job--I work overnight. Anyway, on the way home, I passed a place that was being Mystery Shopped...Asian restaurant with a bear on the sign. I stopped in there and assigned myself a shop. It pays $10, reimburses $8. I spent $12.02. So I made about $6 on the shop. But I was going to get something to eat anyway. So I could have spent the $12.02 at Taco Bell and made nothing. It just made sense to stop at the Aisan joint.

You have to do what works best for you as with all of life's endeavors. MS-ing works for me. But it only works as a component of an overall earnings profile...."real job", Uber/Lyft, Merchandising, MS-ing, Freelancing. I found a book the other day at a resale shop. Amazon was listing it for over $100. It was in so-so shape but good condition. I bought it for $30. I listed it on Amazon and made $85 and some change on it. Was it worth the time and trouble to do this--I must have looked at 50 different books and found the price on 'Zon lower than the price at the resale shop. $85+ for 2 hours or so of work... I'm okay with it.

Again...do what's best for you.

@Morledzep wrote:

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

I really don't know how MS-ing could be anyone's main source of income. I tip my hat to you though. You must have some great shops in your neighborhood.

I first started MSing in 2005, doing movie theater shops just for fun. I remember faxing my ticket stubs to the MSC (does anyone remember Charles at QualityWorks? Sweet man.). I shopped sporadically for about four years to make a little extra money or get reimbursed for stuff, as a side hustle to my full-time job. Then I took a break from it for a while.

I jumped back into MSing again in 2011 after my ex and I split up. I wasn't working at the time and needed the money, so got back on the horse. Tried to do it f/t for another two years or so, along with another completely different side hustle, and it almost worked out. I always sought shops that pay a fee rather than shops that reimburse because I often could not afford to outlay any money to perform a shop. Eventually, the cost of living in NYC was too high for me to support myself with unpredictable piecemeal work. Got a f/t job and did the MSing and other side hustle part-time until they both sort of petered out again as my f/t job demanded more of my attention.

In 2019, I moved out of NYC to a different state and I knew I didn't want a regular job. I do so much better when I have variety and a flexible schedule. Your basic rebel and non-conformist here. So, I began trying to develop multiple income streams. Tested some ideas that didn't work, but kept on going until I found one that did. Then started another that is much more passive. I picked up MSing again this year as a third income stream.

Shopping is not my main focus but, so far, it seems to augment my other ventures well enough. I shift my time and attention between the three as needed. Juggling more than one microbusiness is a challenge, but also an adventure that I hope will establish its own rhythm and support me as well as a full-time job can. It helps that my COL is much lower here than it was in NYC.

.

Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2022 06:02PM by shopnyc.

I shop strictly for a profit. I care nothing about reimbursement only shops.

I do it to offset everyday expenses and because some are so damn easy.

I do the Whole Foods shops because I shop there anyway, why not get some of them delivered?

The USPS shops because I am mailing items I sell on eBay and post offices around me in North Jersey are a dime a dozen.

5G? I only take them at $30+ and there are a ton near me that sit on the board forever.

Nike shops? Quick, easy and I do it in my sleep. I like the scheduler. I also like seeing the new stuff they have.

United gate/club shops? I’m at airports 14 days a month traveling for work, I can pick up quick $ for a total of 5 minutes of “work”.

The list goes on and on. I do not go out of my way to conduct shops, but if it’s quick, easy and something I’m already doing, I don’t see why I wouldn’t.

I started over 30 years ago with the MSC that had the ollder ladies, from an ad in the newspaper. I was doing their post office and gas station audits. I was a single mother trying too make ends meet.

I eventually added lots of other MSCs and did a big variety of shops, including high end restaurants. I am now retired and do mainly gas station audits and grocery stores. I do some fast food, restaurant and bank shops. I do it now for extra cash and free food and gas.

For much of my career, I have been an editor and writer, most but not all technically focused. Word flipping was mostly work from home before working from home was trendy. When I first started mystery shopping, it was to get away from my home office doing something productive (instead of spending money to do something) between assignments or when work was slow. At that time, I mostly took restaurants, retail and hotel shops. That was about as good as you could do in our area at the time. I had a lot of fun though, ate a lot of good food and took frequent weekend road trips.

I starting shopping again and got a lot more regular about it during the pandemic. Now, it is a pretty solid side hustle. Being real though, the population and economy in my area have both grown tremendously since I first started, so there are a whole lot more opportunities, which has made a tremendous difference, and I am loving the work. It is a real side hustle these days.

I started doing this in 2005, and worked it as a part-time job back then, earning between $800-$1200/month. I did this for about 8 years. Then some medical issues arose, and after that retirement age hit! So now I do it mainly as a hobby instead of a part-time job, and I'm content to earn $200-$400/month.

And for those who wonder, yes, there ARE some very HARD-WORKING MS'ers who do this full-time and make a living at it. But they work their tails off at it, and my hat goes off to them!!

I first began mystery shopping, because it was the first profitable way to earn make money after I recovered from throat cancer in late 2008. The real estate investment marked had crashed, and bankruptcy and divorce were looming in my near future. There was no way I was going to risk my life again by working in the smoky casinos. I was still physically weak (only 2 months after final radiation session) and could not stand for more than a couple hours, so Walmart greeter was definitely out of the question. I searched online for work I could do at home with my skills. I always fancied being a writer, so I began looking into that and literally stumbled onto mystery shopping from there.

Mystery shopping grew on me very quickly. I liked making my own schedule. I liked getting paid for working in different places instead of being stuck inside one place for 8 hours a day. I really liked the people I worked for and my schedulers. I got to know a lot about things that I never thought about before. I became knowledgeable of designer labels, high-end watches, the latest cell phone features and specials, and many other things. I learned a lot about bartending procedures and integrity. Then there were the perks. I have stayed in every major hotel resort on the Las Vegas Strip at least once, ate at their fine dining restaurants, and even gambled with their money, and all this was comped. I was able to travel to other towns and states and get paid for it. It was interesting and exciting work, and it still is.

Mystery shopping is only the second job in my life in which I have regularly received and continue to receive expressions of appreciation for my work. I felt some pride at being part of a mystery shopping team that helped a top LV hotel/casino resort become a 5-star rating and increase their revenue by providing a better customer experience. I help make service and products better for customers. That is in stark contrast to when I used to take their money when I worked behind the casino tables.

Those are the main reasons why I mystery shopped. I could have retired in 2020 during the pandemic, but I saw no reason to stop. I may eventually desire or need to slow down, but this job keeps my mind and body sharp and active. So, I see no reason to ever retire from mystery shopping as long as I am physically able to continue working.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2022 06:09PM by AZwolfman.

I started mystery shopping in 2003 after my husband passed away suddenly. I was already working 40+ hours a week as a merchandiser. But I needed something to make up for my husbands paycheck. Most of the jobs that I took were in stores or were places that I would be passing by on my merchandising job anyway. I semi- retired in 2019 due to health reasons and because of the pandemic almost all of my merchandising jobs disappeared, but still do mystery shopping for groceries,gas, post office shops, some fast food, to help supplement my social security, along with selling on ebay and mercari.

I like working for my meal with little effort when I'm out and about so I needed to eat anyway. I get to go to some breweries and spend more money than I usually would. I also do some hotels. I enjoy the get away and rack up reward points to stay for free in the future. So for me it's the stuff get during the shop and/or the experience.

@condorchristi wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

I really don't know how MS-ing could be anyone's main source of income. I tip my hat to you though. You must have some great shops in your neighborhood.

It's my main source as well. Like hbbigdaddy, I am a cheapskate. Unlike daddy, I don't have a Tesla or fancy TV. My living expenses could only be less if I lived in a tent, hunted my own food with a big club and walked everywhere.

Well, @sestrahelena.... I sacrificed for many years while my homies would get the latest phones and cars. I still have my 22 year old Honda CRV with 250K miles on it. But my investing and being smart with my money has allowed me to be a bigger baller now. I had a 17 year old HD TV i paid $5K for back in 2004 when HD was new and expensive. So i rewarded myself with the Sony 77" oled just in time for Superbowl 2022. I watched that price change at Best Buy/Costco every couple weeks and wouldn't bite.

I still won't pay full price for most things. I certainly will not pay full price at places i know have coupons (Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr, etc). I also won't spend my own money at places I can shop. The 1 exception might be In N Out. But if there is a place that is shopped, the family knows we won't go unless I have a shop for it. We have to find a non-shopped place that is not going to be a rip-off.

I think many live beyond their means (natural habit for humans). That will just get you into trouble and you won't have more later in life. I was willing to go without when I was younger.

@sestrahelena wrote:

@condorchristi wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

I really don't know how MS-ing could be anyone's main source of income. I tip my hat to you though. You must have some great shops in your neighborhood.

It's my main source as well. Like hbbigdaddy, I am a cheapskate. Unlike daddy, I don't have a Tesla or fancy TV. My living expenses could only be less if I lived in a tent, hunted my own food with a big club and walked everywhere.

Curious--which experiences are those?

@Tarantado wrote:

Dollar per hour, expensive experiences I don’t mind trading my time for and wouldn’t pay out of pocket for.

Where are these shops?

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I will open accounts at banks and investment firms because I like $ and that interests me anyways, so moving $5k into an investment account that will pay me $300 or more for 1 hour is a non-issue to me.

I'm not willing to give those up. You would be competition for that :-P. They only do so 1 account onboarding per institution and these are gold, so I can't help you with that one.

I will say you can open bank accounts (checking/saving/credit card) with Ipsos (shopmetrics side) and with ATH Power and get paid decently.

@MSF wrote:

Where are these shops?

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I will open accounts at banks and investment firms because I like $ and that interests me anyways, so moving $5k into an investment account that will pay me $300 or more for 1 hour is a non-issue to me.

@condorchristi wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

I really don't know how MS-ing could be anyone's main source of income. I tip my hat to you though. You must have some great shops in your neighborhood.

There are exactly 0 mystery shops in my neighborhood. I am 10 miles out of the nearest town, and I am 30 miles from the closest mystery shop. I own my land and my home outright, I never pay with credit, if I can't pay for it I do without. I get 90% of my groceries for free either either through mystery shopping or other means. My regular monthly payments are electricity, cellphone service, and water.

Right now most of my spare cash is going into my Jeep, that has become less than dependable in the year that I have owned it. But before it's over, it will be dependable and it will go straight down the road and it won't try and leave me places anymore (I was an automotive technician in another life). Either that or I will find a different vehicle that is more dependable.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2022 02:39AM by Morledzep.

@sestrahelena wrote:

@condorchristi wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

I really don't know how MS-ing could be anyone's main source of income. I tip my hat to you though. You must have some great shops in your neighborhood.

It's my main source as well. Like hbbigdaddy, I am a cheapskate. Unlike daddy, I don't have a Tesla or fancy TV. My living expenses could only be less if I lived in a tent, hunted my own food with a big club and walked everywhere.

If you don't mind my asking....do you have a system to where you do X number of shops a day? How many shops do you do a day on average?

One day I had six shops and my head was swimming from all of the details and driving.

@metro25782 wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

@condorchristi wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

I really don't know how MS-ing could be anyone's main source of income. I tip my hat to you though. You must have some great shops in your neighborhood.

It's my main source as well. Like hbbigdaddy, I am a cheapskate. Unlike daddy, I don't have a Tesla or fancy TV. My living expenses could only be less if I lived in a tent, hunted my own food with a big club and walked everywhere.

If you don't mind my asking....do you have a system to where you do X number of shops a day? How many shops do you do a day on average?

One day I had six shops and my head was swimming from all of the details and driving.

metro, if you don't mind, I'll PM you. I don't like talking openly about my personal life on the forum.

I shop for profit and to keep down my own costs. Mystery shopping covers all my groceries and eating out. Although it is not all of my income, I do depend on it. I live in a metro area, so I can make quite a bit within a 15 mile radius.

@metro25782 wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

@condorchristi wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

Mystery shopping is my main source of income. I do it for money and free food. I do not work for free or just for reimbursement.

I really don't know how MS-ing could be anyone's main source of income. I tip my hat to you though. You must have some great shops in your neighborhood.

It's my main source as well. Like hbbigdaddy, I am a cheapskate. Unlike daddy, I don't have a Tesla or fancy TV. My living expenses could only be less if I lived in a tent, hunted my own food with a big club and walked everywhere.

If you don't mind my asking....do you have a system to where you do X number of shops a day? How many shops do you do a day on average?

One day I had six shops and my head was swimming from all of the details and driving.

I consider six shops in a day is a normal day. Anything less would probably not be worth the trip with today's gas prices. Why interrupt my day for a special trip to do only one or two shops, unless of course they are local and pay $100?

@MSF wrote:

Where are these shops?

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I will open accounts at banks and investment firms because I like $ and that interests me anyways, so moving $5k into an investment account that will pay me $300 or more for 1 hour is a non-issue to me.

You can save time and writing by not even doing it as a shop. Check nerd wallet for investment rewards. Most large Banks offer incentives for opening new accounts and the bigger the money the bigger the reward.