Shopping may be a passion of yours, or perhaps an expensive hobby. It makes you feel good inside to buy new things. But when you look at the amount of money you spend on your little hobby, the guilt creeps in. You don’t have to give up shopping to get rid of that guilt. The trick is to turn that hobby into a job that pays you money.
Mystery shopping is a real job that you can get started with today.
The first step is to locate companies looking for new mystery shoppers. But you’re in luck! Mystery shopping companies are always signing up new shoppers. You can get a list of legitimate mystery shopping companies at the Mystery Shopping Providers Association website (www.mysteryshop.org).
You’ll want to sign up with at least 10 different companies, possibly 20 or more. These companies will not always have shops in your location, and when they do have shops close to you, those shops may quickly be assigned to other shoppers. So to maximize your income potential, sign up with more shops.
Each company has their own application requirements. Some applications are very basic, with your general contact information and personal stats such as your age, income level, and so forth. This information allows the companies the ability to match you up with shops that suit your profile. Other companies have much more in-depth applications, including essay questions such as why you think you would be a good mystery shopper.
Once you’re approved as a mystery shopper for a company, you typically will start receiving email notifications when that company posts new shops for you area. However, you should still check in with the company’s website regularly to ensure you haven’t missed new shop postings, or that shop requirements for already-posted shops haven’t changed. For instance, if nobody requests a shop, the company may offer additional pay to get the shop done.
Review the shop requirements carefully. Pay specific attention to the location, the shop pay, reimbursement details for any required purchases, the return policy on that purchase, and the time period within which the shop should be completed. Some shops also have requirements on who you can (or can’t) shop with. For instance, some shops require you to complete the shop alone, while others require you to complete it with a spouse or friend. If you will have any problems meeting the shop requirements, pass on that shop and look for the next one. Don’t worry, more shops are posted every day.
Some shops are self-assign, meaning as soon as you click the link to request the shop, the shop is instantly assigned to you. For other shops, you have to apply for them by clicking a link on the website. Then you need to wait for the email response telling you if you got that shop or not. New mystery shoppers sometimes have difficulty getting the “apply for” shops, but the self-assign shops are first come, first serve.
So check your email often so you can be the first one to respond to the self-assign shops. Once you’ve got a shop assigned to you, be sure to read through all of the instructions and follow them to the tee.
With a little bit of effort, you’ll soon be turning your expensive pastime into a lucrative side-job.
Thanks for the note! One of the biggest adjustments I am having is actually becoming a shopper!! I never relished going to the store, but when I did, it was short, sweet, and to the point. No remembering who, or what I interacted with, how the displays caught, or repelled, my glance, etc. Now, it’s a whole new ballgame. I am encouraged as my experience chips pile up. I appreciate all the helpful tips you’ve provided thus far, and especially that extensive listing of companies! They certainly have made for a more pleasant experience in finding shops nearby.
I have been shopping for a couple years, and I’ve been very successful at obtaining repeat jobs because I make sure that I complete the jobs on time, accurately, and I write an absolutely wonderful report so that the editors don’t usually have to ask any questions of me. It saves us both time, and I get higher ratings, resulting in more (and better) jobs.
Thanks for the tip I have a better understanding of starting the mystery shopping job.
I’ve been a mystery shopper for one week today. It’s going great!! I got lucky and happened to sign with a shop that does apartment complex shops. Pay is much better than retail. The forms are a little longer but there is nothing to buy. So I have no outflow on the apartment shops just inflow and a little more time invested. And every apartment shop I have done bonus has been added for doing the shop.
I’m also doing grocery store, video and dining shops. Pay isn’t as good and there is an outflow of purchase.
A good thing to do I’ve found is to put money in an envelope to pay for your purchases, including gas. Then when your check comes refund the envelope.
I know I’m not going to get rich but I’ve made quite a bit in one week of mystery shopping. Much more than I expected.
I have been trying to get into this:
Mystery Shopper, But I have been going around in circles, Is there any (non scam)
jobs working at home or Mystery Shopper without having to pay first?
All the interviews I have gone to in my 30 years of working -have never asked me to pay first and then I get an assignment.
Please can anyone out there tell where to look without having to watch my back!!!
Nidia
I have not yet found a shop that pays but I will try this tip out and let you know how it goes.
Thank Cindy
I enjoyed the few assignments I’ve taken.
However,so many times I get requests to shop some distance from my target area, or at a pay that can’t possibly cover both time and expenses.
How does one narrow the field to work exclusively for three or four research groups?
Ideally, the market researchers would get to know me and my professionalism.
This should lead to shops that take in to account the rising costs of the current day economy.
For research groups, this should bring them a “cut-above-the-rest” report.
Quality-driven assignees (there are many of us out here) see mystery shopping research as analytical more so than just filling in a form.
Just a thought.
Loves to window shop, been a consultant or
entrepreneur most of my life & enjoys looking for new products etc. from a marketing eye.
Patricia,
I know where your coming from. Sometimes I think the companies do this to see if you will take the jobs or not. I feel as though that’s how I got bigger jobs. I took the little one’s that led into the bigger ones. Get your rating up high and I think you will see a difference.
I amjust starting out in the Mystery Shopping world and have yet to accept a job. I started to accept a job but I needed to go through a lttle training first and after I finished the training, the job was already taken. I am still trying to get that first job. After that, I think it will get a little easier. I am registered with over 20 companies and after reading some of the coments, I see that I will need to register with more.
please let me know how i can get started without paying first
Jacqueline…
Start with Intelli-Shop, GameFilm, Certified Field Associates, and Corporate Research International. All of these require no payment to join and offer quite a few assignments to get you started. You must have a PayPal account for Intelli-Shop and GameFilm, but CRI and CFA pay via Direct Deposit. Good Luck!!
I am having trouble finding work.I used work for various different companies as a mystery shopping, demonstrator, and merchandiser. I am wondering where the jobs are.And if the story about making money in this area is true according to and article.
Mystery Shoppers beware,
Keep away from Certified Field Associates. They will give you the job but won’t pay you.
http://www.CertifiedFieldAssociatesSCAM.com
Yes i’m looking for a good company to work for,i’m not going to pay to get a job,i dont have money,that’s wy i’m looking for a job.
If you know a good co.and is free,please let me know,i need to take care my family.
Tank you for all,Renato.
I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BECOME A MYSTERY SHOPPER BUT WAS UNAWARE THAT I HAD TO PAY A FEE TO GET STARTED WHICH I DO NOT HAVE AT THIS TIME. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET STARTED AND PAY THE FEE LATER WITH MY EARNINGS? IF NOT, I’LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I GET MY DISABILITY CHECK. THANKS, LAURIE
I AM IN THE SAME BOAT AS RENATO, I JUST DON’T HAVE THE FEE MONEY TO GET STARTED BUT SO WANT TO BE A MYSTERY SHOPPER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. THANK-YOU LAURIE
my region says no to credit, debit and checks. only cash
Want to start a job in secret shopper
Hi everyone! I registered with Shadowshopper.com to get started. The basic plan costs $4.95 per month to cover the cost of the website. Lots of schedulers post there and it led me to lots of jobs within mystery shopping but different than mystery shopping such as trailer checks, audits, merchandising, and fulfillment jobs. Never put all your eggs in one basket. Plus it makes it more interesting to do something besides retail shopping. There are many full time and part time merchandising jobs that will help pay the bills and still do regular mystery shopping too. I mix both to get a steady income. The trailer checks are easy and quick with short reports. Shadowshopper emails the jobs to you and you apply for them online. I have been with Shadowshopper since December and will continue with them. Good luck to you all!