Shadow Shopper

Hi,

I just went onto Shadow Shopper and they want you to pay for the service(?) that all MSCs give to MShoppers. I saw it listed at the bottom of this forum on an approved list. I have never paid to work for a MSC. Can someone help me out? Thanks so much.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More Discussions About Shadow Shopper (All Companies)

Shadow Shopper is actually more of a job board. It has been helpful to new shoppers who have never been to any of the forums if, and only if, they took the trial membership and canceled without incurring any fees. You have found us making them moot

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

Go with Lisa!!! I did that route, forgot to cancel, got charged $29.95 for a service that I ended up finding for free. Result: twice as many emails to delete!

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Shadow Shopper is actually more of a job board. It
> has been helpful to new shoppers who have never
> been to any of the forums if, and only if, they
> took the trial membership and canceled without
> incurring any fees. You have found us making them
> moot

Thanks Lisa!

Yes, I went the "Shadow Shopper" route to get started, but dropped that membership pretty quickly. I must admit they did help me find a couple of companies looking for help in my area.

Hi, Naval_Retread!

Shadow Shoppers helped you find a couple of companies looking for help in your area?
That was before you dropped your membership, right?
I ask because I got a HUGE list of companies right in my backyard, so to speak.
But I'm afraid to go forward, hearing the horror stories of others.
I wrote to the guy - Johnathon - and voiced (emailed) my concerns.
Fortunately, I have a lawyer to go after this company if I need to, but if
Shadow Shoppers doesn't pay, I don't want to even bother with all that.

What was your experience with them?
Can you share?

Well, I did some research on Shadow Shopper (too late, I'm afraid),
and what I discovered is this:

Their address says they are located at
1894 E. William Street, Carson City, Nevada 80701.
Well, turning on my Google Earth and typing in that address and zip
revealed that that zip is incorrect (89706 is correct).
80701 is actually in Fort Morgan, Colorado. Hmmm.

RED FLAG for me!
I also emailed "Johnathon" about the company's history of
non-payment to shoppers and the address/zip concerns.
Think he'll reply? I'll let you know.
But I'm not holding my breath.

Ok, so I DID get responses from Shadow Shoppers about the concerns.
You guys tell me if they are still full of it.
I am posting my email response from them regarding non-payment
to shoppers:

"The job scheduler will explain the payment procedure they use when you are hired for an assignment. Some companies pay you automatically when you submit your completed report and some will require that you submit an invoice. Once you've submitted your paperwork you'll typically be paid during the company's regular payroll cycle. Normally, you'll be paid between 3 and 5 weeks after you've completed your assignments. Sometimes it'll be quicker and sometimes it'll be slower. Additionally, most companies will pay you by check or PayPal, but a few use direct deposit.

If you have payment inquiries, you will need to contact the company which hired you to complete the assignment. ShadowShopper is not the employer and has no hand in payments or scheduling.

Johnathon
ShadowShopper Customer Service
[www.shadowshopper.com] "

Here is my email and response back from Shadow Shopper:

Hi Johnathon,

I'm confused.
The zip code for ShadowShopper.com is 80701
with the city named as Carson City Nevada.
However, that city's zip code is 89706.
How is this possible?

Thanks!

ShadowShopper
1:00 PM (4 hours ago)

to me

"There are several zip codes in Carson City Nevada much like most every large city.

Johnathon
ShadowShopper Customer Service
[www.shadowshopper.com] "

I don't think I'm satisfied with his answer.
Sure large cities have several zip codes,
but the STATE doesn't change with the zip.
The zip for 80701 Carson City Nevada, which Shadow Shopper says is theirs,
is actually Colorado! Am I nuts?

MILK-n-HONEY- Johnathon is telling it like it is. ShadowShopper does not hire shoppers to complete shops. Therefore, they do not pay shoppers. They are basically a job posting/notification service.

He is 100% truthful and accurate when he states, "If you have payment inquiries, you will need to contact the company which hired you to complete the assignment. ShadowShopper is not the employer and has no hand in payments or scheduling."

Joan Gingras
Senior Project Director~BarStoolie Mystery Shopping

Barstoolie@insideevaluators.com

MILK-n-HONEY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here is my email and response back from Shadow
> Shopper:
>
> Hi Johnathon,
>
> I'm confused.
> The zip code for ShadowShopper.com is 80701
> with the city named as Carson City Nevada.
> However, that city's zip code is 89706.
> How is this possible?
>
> Thanks!
>
> ShadowShopper
> 1:00 PM (4 hours ago)
>
> to me
>
> "There are several zip codes in Carson City Nevada
> much like most every large city.
>
> Johnathon
> ShadowShopper Customer Service
> [www.shadowshopper.com] "
>
> I don't think I'm satisfied with his answer.
> Sure large cities have several zip codes,
> but the STATE doesn't change with the zip.
> The zip for 80701 Carson City Nevada, which Shadow
> Shopper says is theirs,
> is actually Colorado! Am I nuts?

No, you're not nuts. I refuse to deal with Shadow Shopper. However, a simple typo would explain the discrepancy. Instead of 80701, 89701 is one of Carson City's zip codes.

That's what I was thinking. I hit zeros for nines and vice versa quite often.

:
:
==============================================================
I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

Just a humorous side note. I actually got into shopping because of shadow shopper. I filled out ALL THE 47,00000 pages of info and got to the part where the "free" bronze membership was explained. Thats when I learned that bronze members could not request companies, BUT if companies asked for them SS would contact you. I was so exasperated I just closed the webpage. Imagine my surprise when within 48 hours 7 mystery shopping companies emailed me. I was living in a place with VERY few shoppers! After that I started reading and learning about mystery shopping. I never did have to pay for anything but SS doesn't send me companies anymore.
Of course this was almost 5 years ago.
Do the free trials but NEVER pay for companies, just sign up with every company listed in the forum.
It works!
Annie

Hey iam gold standard and the reason bieng if my talleys are right i made 900 the first month 280 the first weekend. therefore the 4.94 is well worth it, look out for Ellis Property, they are not honest. I warn you of that company and you will find them on ss, for the most part Bestmark is absolutely gold standard they pay they help and they will teach you what they want from the customers standpoint which is a different paradign to some of what i see.
You will also find companies that with the right suggestive to rolltechnique you can really start to roll. and do not accept anything less than twenty dollars for any shop you are worth that. And yes you can bargain.
Bryan Froust

froustw Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> therefore the 4.94 is well
> worth it

Perhaps it might be worth it for some. However, there are many, many shop companies (including the two that you mentioned in your post) that do not require a Shadow Shopper membership to register or shop with them.

> do not accept anything less than
> twenty dollars for any shop you are worth that.

Mmm, if a company wants to pay me ten bucks for a five-minute visit and a five-minute report, I'm probably fine with that, if I didn't have to drive out of my way to do it. But, please, feel free to keep unilaterally refusing any shop that doesn't pay at least $20, because I'm happy for the additional opportunities.

When I signed up with Shadow Shopper they helped me get some great early contacts. Now, when I look at their lists, I see the same old listings paying less than advertised. It has been months since they sent me a worthwhile contact.

Advanced Feedback, Inc. uses shadowshopper.com to post jobs if we cannot find anyone in our database to go in, and also to just add new shoppers to our database for future assignments. Shadow Shopper is a good way for us, as a mystery shopping company, to get new shoppers to work for us.

I also believe it is a good way for shoppers (especially new ones) to see what jobs are currently out there, and find new mystery shopping companies to sign up with & work for.

We have never had any issues with Shadow Shopper, they are a real company, connecting mystery shopping companies with mystery shoppers.

-Michella Dresselhuys
Account Manager
Advanced Feedback, Inc.
Office: 858-566-9340
www.advancedfeedback.com
facebook.com/mysteryshops
"Like" us to see new shops & clients

I used Shadow Shopper to find companies when I first got into this field. I am now working with over 65 MSC's and I have also gotten into some focus groups with VERY good pay through them. I do not pay for the memberships and dropped them once the trial period ran out. They send me emails every now and then asking me to come back.

I take $2 and $3 shops all the time. They are phone shops, require very little reporting and I can do 25 to 30 in an hour. It takes more time for me to do the paperwork for my bookkeeping than it does to do these shops. I will do these all day long and not spend the gas in the field.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Shadow Shopper

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine