As a mystery shopper today, you may mention to other people casually that you are a mystery shopper from time to time. On certain occasions, if you are like so many other mystery shoppers, you come across friends, family, and even mere acquaintances who say that they there were once a mystery shopper, too. You may have also noticed on mystery shopping forums that many mystery shoppers seem to become disillusioned with the job over time. While there are several seasoned mystery shoppers who have been working in the field for ten years or longer, there are far more brand new shoppers as well as mystery shoppers who have tried out a few assignments and have decided this just isn’t for them.
There certainly are many benefits that mystery shopping offers. Consider that this is one of the rare jobs available today that allows you to set your own hours, to choose your assignments, and to enjoy various tax deductions, reimbursements on merchandise, and more. So then why do so many mystery shoppers decide to give up on this job?
It’s Not What They Expected.
One reason is that many people have some preconceived notions about mystery shopping that just simply aren’t true. They enter the job thinking they will be provided with the opportunity to take a cruise for free or travel to an exotic location to mystery shopping at a fancy resort. They believe they can spend hours mystery shopping at any location they want in the mall instead of understanding that they only get paid to shop at certain locations. Once some people get a real taste of what the job is about, they decide that it just simply isn’t for them.
The Pay Isn’t High Enough.
There are few jobs that you can enter into today with no experience and without so much as an application process to contend with (as some mystery shopping providers will take on any mystery shoppers who simply fill out the application form). Add this to the many benefits the job provides, and you may think you’ve found a pretty great gig. However, once people start the job and realize that the pay is rather low, they are turned off by it. Realistically, there are some jobs that can pay you the equivalent of $20 or $30 per hour, but most pay closer to the equivalent of unskilled, part-time labor.
They Take a Break.
Many mystery shoppers take a break for one reason or another and just never come back. Some will take a break after a particularly rough assignment. Others will take a break because of personal reasons, too many commitments at their day job, and so on. While some may have had the intention to come back to mystery shopping, they just never get around to it. The fact is that mystery shopping is a job that does not require a commitment at all. Once you have completed the assignments you signed up to do, you can absolutely walk away forever or you can take a break for three months, six months, or longer if you need to.
Mystery shopping really is an ideal job for many people. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Because it does offer so many benefits, it is worth giving it a try and seeing if it is a good fit for you.
I got into this by referral. My friend sent me a $50 oil change shop. Way Cool!! After that, I started signing up at every site I could. I found out that some sites just don’t fit me, so I deleted them. Others, however, pay well and also pay quickly. I don’t do this as a full time job, but I try to do something every week. It is absolutely great to hear my phone go “PING” and check my e-mail to find Paypal just received another $10, $20, or even $75 bucks! That just makes my day.
I don’t know anyone else who mystery shops. When I tell people I do it, they give me a strange look which is great- more work for me! lol If I could make a living at it I would. I don’t see how anyone could make a full time doing this but like Robert its a beautiful thing to get an email saying someone just deposited a few bucks in your account. It does add up and has saved me a couple of times. If you like to write and you like working for yourself on your own time mystery shopping a great part time opportunity. It has also exposed me to merchandising which has really turned out to be a great financial help to me as well.
I have learned a little bit more about Mystery shopping reding this article
I have learned a little bit more about Mystery shopping
This is funny. Just like Robert above, I started in Oil. Well, Oil changes. And at $50 a shop, it may be for the same client! In late 2008, I signed up to learn something at some site. I forgot who they are now. But I did learn that I would not get rich doing this. The problem was, they covered up the name of the contact people unless I paid then $4.95 a month. Sorry, No dice. I figured if they want me so bad, then let them contact me for free. I forgot about the entire thing for 10 months, till I started to get EMails from a scheduler saying she got my name from that company, and they needed a bunch of shoppers in Tulsa for this oil change thing. I kept blowing her off, but the place she wanted me to go was the same one I have used for over 20 years. Then I got a phone call from her. And a second one! What she did not know, was the 2nd call came just after I made a 3000+ mile round-trip from Tulsa to New York and back for the Thanksgiving holiday. I NEEDED an oil change, so I told her I would do it this 1 time, and if I ever did get payed back from her company, then I would contact her to learn more. Did the shop on 12/12/09, got paid back 1/25/2010. I called her on 1/26/2010 and never looked back. Now I have done about 250 shops of different kinds, did go for MSPA Silver, and worked my first video shops yesterday. I love this stuff!! — Ed