Mystery Shopping

Mystery Shopping: A great job if you enjoy being out,driving, and being a Snoop. Some companies work with you and their scheduling is flexible. I have been working as a shopper part-time since 2004. This job works for me because I substitute teach. I wish I could get more jobs or work for a company that would have a route in my area because I do enjoy the work.

The big draw back is the pay. With the price of gas going up the pay is too low. $4.00 to shop a gas stattion that is 10 miles away, and not only driving, doing the shop, scanning the picture, and doing the computer work, you are working for nothing. I tey to schedule at least 3 jobs in an area for a day.

There is also another factor, if a company calls you to do a shop make sure you know exactly how many miles away that shop is and approximate time it will take, before you answer yes. Never give a yes answer before knowing your facts. Beware, you could loose $$, and the company could be making out. Some schedulers are only worried about getting their part of the job done and saving the company $$$$.

And save all slips, dock time and miles for income tax time.

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I enjoy it. I've only been shopping since November 06. I also do in store demos which is fun and they pay between $9 and $15/hr.

I've self assigned many of my own shops and CSE surprised me with a check within a week which was very nice.

I never take shops that are 25 miles or more from home, just isn't worth it.

Hello Mr Jan,

I began applying to Mystery Shops since Oct. 06, and presently I've applied to fifteen shops and have heard from 3 regularly to work. However, I have not signed up to work at this time and before I sign up to work, I will continue to research shops to learn more about their culture, requirements, policies, and their expectations for shoppers, how one could obtain a consistent work schedule, companies involved payment history,and any data that may assist me in becoming a great shopper.

Lastly, I must include that had it not been for Mr Jan's consistent assistance with emailing me, providing written, on going pertinent tips on mystery shopping, many web sites, and just good solid advice, that truely helped me along the way to get started. Thank You Mr Jan !

I have been a shopper for 22 years. Once I got a computer, I got a lot more work. I average about 6 shops a day. I can't make a living at it because they pay so cheap. Once in a while, I get a good paying job so I can get something extra. Otherwise, it's a real struggle. At least I get a small Social Security check. I do work hard, but sometimes I feel like I'm on a treadmill. The most difficult shops are when they want you to bring someone else to eat out. I have a hard time finding someone, because my friends feel like I am trying to rope them into something. The problem is that the company doesn't pay them and I can't afford to pay them especially if it is a reimbursement only. I figure I'm the one that has to spend hours on a long narrative, not them.

The other problem is when they ask you to buy something and then return it. When you use a credit card, which some jobs require, they take the purchase out right away. Then it takes a few days for the return to process. I try to do several shops in the same area of town, but it doesn't always work out that way.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to make this more profitable, I'm all ears!

I started mystery shopping in August. It's true it doesn't make you alot of money but I use it to eat quite often so I am saving money on groceries and I am going to restaurants I would never think of going to. I have a full time job that is 58 miles from home so I try to do the shops on the way home which saves money and the miles are a tax deduction when you do the Schdule C for the income. I have also gotten a couple of Merchandising jobs that are continuous and you don't have to "snoop".

Susan,

Can you tell me the companies website to sign up?

Tom

I have been doing the mystry shopping for a little over a year now. I like the work but the pay is something else, specially when one needs to but something and wait for rembruisement.

Can anyone tell me what the name of the mystery shopping company with the initials CSE.

Thanks
tom

I am, as Susan B, trying to find out about the different demo companies. I like to interact with people and that is a definately a good way--just finished up one today. It was great over the holidays, but is very slow now!

I would like to say that it sounds interesting,but the pay sounds so cheap. any suggestions? Thanks Tom

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