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Any experience with Secret Hopper?

January 28, 2026 04:34PM
They posted in my local Craigslist gigs section. I love craft beer so this is seemingly up my alley, but also wanted to see if anyone here can tell me about them through past experiences.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
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January 29, 2026 11:59PM
I can't help you. I've never heard of them.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
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January 30, 2026 12:24AM
It's kind of a silly name. I immediately pictured bunnies.
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January 30, 2026 01:11AM
If you mean Secret Shopper, I accepted a pizza delivery shop many years ago and when I read the full guidelines that I could only see after I accepted the shop, I saw that a tip for the delivery driver was prohibited. Not only would I not be reimbursed, I wasn’t allowed to add a tip even out of pocket. I immediately contacted the scheduler and said I didn’t feel comfortable doing that. They cancelled the shop and then I was immediately put on “probation”. They said I would be on “probation” for 3 shops. That’s when I decided this company is not for me.
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January 30, 2026 01:18AM
Nah, it's Hopper. I found a website.
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January 30, 2026 05:00AM
You have to do a fairly in-depth application for them, and also a mock shop report. It doesn't rival a Coyle shop, but it is still a pretty involved process, before you even know if they have anything in your area! As always, YMMV!
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January 30, 2026 06:03AM
For Secret Shopper they were one of my favorite companies years ago. I remember when they had vet shops and for several years I got my dog shots and annual visits reimbursed with a decent fee as well . But it has been years and years since they have had shops in this huge city. Most of the shops here are now in the multiple valleys that make up the surrounding communities of this metro area. Too far to drive for a shop with traffic moving at a snails pace! I wish they would get shops where I live in the city. Oh they have cell phone shops but those require a wait to speak with someone.
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January 30, 2026 08:49PM
@OCyou2 wrote:

You have to do a fairly in-depth application for them, and also a mock shop report. It doesn't rival a Coyle shop, but it is still a pretty involved process, before you even know if they have anything in your area! As always, YMMV!

Thanks for the lowdown. What exactly is involved in doing the mock shop report?

The Craigslist post doesn't have a reply link, so I can't ask them if they already have shops available or will have them in the immediate future. I'm thinking they must have something currently going on or on the horizon if they posted in this specific area.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
Reply
January 30, 2026 09:25PM
You might want to read on Reddit about it. What I saw: Someone said they give flat rate pay that doesn't cover the required purchases and expect a lengthy report for what amounts to a $25-30 discount on beer. A spokesperson for the company seems to confirm that, basically says it's for people who love craft beer. I love the idea of free beer but no thanks on that nonsense.
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January 30, 2026 11:11PM
@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

You might want to read on Reddit about it. What I saw: Someone said they give flat rate pay that doesn't cover the required purchases and expect a lengthy report for what amounts to a $25-30 discount on beer. A spokesperson for the company seems to confirm that, basically says it's for people who love craft beer. I love the idea of free beer but no thanks on that nonsense.

Thanks for the tip. I found a Reddit thread from two years ago which reads much like you describe. I don't do compensation / discount only shops, so I think I'm going to pass on this.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
Reply
January 30, 2026 11:12PM
Duplicate post.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2026 12:15AM by retrodaddy.
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January 31, 2026 06:00AM
IIRC You make up all your own info, but they run you through a regular shop scenario like, "Was the atmosphere comfortable?" You answer yes or no, then provide narrative. Same with food, service, etc. Pretty standard, but they do ask for a "detailed report" and to "let your writing skills shine" The questions seemed to go on longer than I wanted, basically to write a "spec" report for a possibility of a future shop....ultimately, I declined.
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February 06, 2026 09:36PM
I just did a convenience store shop for them today. They just picked up a grocery store client in my area and have several grocery store shops available in my area (it's a regional grocery chain headquartered in Iowa, the official grocery store of Iowa Hawkeyes). I've done 3 or 4 shops for them in the past year. I've also known them years ago as Sights on Service in addition to their current name Secret Shopper.
All shops that I have done for them in the past year (albeit only a few) have involved a purchase, and no purchases were reimbursed. They pay a simple flat fee.
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February 06, 2026 09:56PM
Nope, this is something different. "Secret HOPper' as in hops used to make beer kind of play on words.

@teacherguy wrote:

I just did a convenience store shop for them today. They just picked up a grocery store client in my area and have several grocery store shops available in my area (it's a regional grocery chain headquartered in Iowa, the official grocery store of Iowa Hawkeyes). I've done 3 or 4 shops for them in the past year. I've also known them years ago as Sights on Service in addition to their current name Secret Shopper.
All shops that I have done for them in the past year (albeit only a few) have involved a purchase, and no purchases were reimbursed. They pay a simple flat fee.
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