Getting paid can be one of the most frustrating aspects of mystery shopping. While there are a select few mystery shopping providers who pay via PayPal or mail you a check within a few days to a week of completing an assignment, there are far more mystery shopping providers who take far longer to process your payment. Here are some top strategies for getting a slow-paying mystery shopping provider to…
How Mystery Shoppers Can Avoid Falling Victim To Identity Theft
There are a large number of benefits associated with mystery shopping, including a flexible schedule, the ability to choose the assignments you want to work on, the option to take your family or a friend “to work” with you, and many more. With a job with so many pros going for it, it’s not surprising to find that the job has a few drawbacks as well. While mystery shoppers may…
Top Strategies For Increasing Your Mystery Shopping Income This Year
While many experts still have high hopes that the economy will pull itself out of its slump by the end of this year, the fact remains that many family’s pocketbooks continue to be strapped for cash. Many mystery shoppers are looking for new ways to increase their income from mystery shopping and line their wallets with a little extra dough. There are a few key ways you can make more…
What Mystery Shoppers Should Expect for 2010
There is no denying 2009 was a rough year. The crash of the real estate and financial markets in mid and late 2008 created massive layoffs and the elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs around the globe. The stock market dropped almost 8,000 points at its lowest level, and still has not fully rebounded. This resulted in, among other things, the elimination of many people’s investment accounts. These events,…
Keep the Winter Chill Away With These HOT Mystery Shopping Assignments
On cold winter days, it can be difficult to drag yourself out of your warm, cozy house and head out into the biting chill of winter to do a mystery shopping assignment or two. You can warm up your long winter months of mystery shopping by selecting a few hot assignments this year. A Cup of Joe. There are dozens of mystery shopping assignments on many providers’ job boards that…
Get Your New Year As A Mystery Shopper Off To A Great Start
The New Year is a time to make positive changes in your life, above and beyond resolutions for the new year. As 2009 rolls into 2010, it is the perfect time to analyze what hasn’t been working for you in your mystery shopping business and make changes for the future. Look At The Past. There are likely certain aspects of mystery shopping that you like and don’t like, and with…
How Mystery Shopping Can Help Your Ailing Retirement Fund
If you have a 401K, IRA, or any money invested in the stock market, you’ve likely watched it lose a large chunk of its value in recent months. If you are close to retirement or are currently retired, that decrease in your retirement account balance can be detrimental to your future security. The good news is that, as a mystery shopper, you have a convenient and relatively easy way to…
What To Do With Your Mystery Shopping Assignment Paperwork
Most mystery shoppers print out their mystery shop assignment’s guidelines and report questionnaire to make completion of an assignment easier. Printing out the guidelines and questionnaire allows you to read the fine print more carefully, as well as to take the info with you and review before you walk into the assignment location. After you complete your assignment, however, you may be tempted to toss your papers in the recycle…
Is Your Paycheck Worth Its Weight in Gold or Silver (Certifications)?
If you ask one mystery shopper if a Gold or Silver certification will earn them more money, you may get a completely different answer than what another mystery shopper will tell you. The confusion on certifications is rampant among mystery shoppers. Here’s the lowdown on what you need to know about certifications and your paycheck. More Mystery Shop Assignments? The answer is yes and no. Some providers don’t consider certifications…
Revealing the Secrets of Mystery Shopping: Know Your Legal Obligations
Some mystery shoppers love to “talk shop.” Mystery shopping is, after all, a unique job and one that makes a great conversation topic at parties and social events. Even mentioning the words “mystery shopping” to anyone within earshot will typically draw an audience right to you. Everyone wants to know if mystery shopping is legit, how to get started, what you actually do, and how much money you can make….