This is the story of how Barbara P. became a successful mystery shopper, starting from scratch. She shares how she got started, what her favorite shops are, what her bread and butter shops are, and how mystery shopping has become an irreplaceable part of her life. Here’s Barbara, in her own words:
In May 2009, my husband had been out of work for a few months and I was getting desperate looking for some extra income as the bills piled up. No one was hiring so I began to look online. I didn’t really know what I was really looking for…just something that I could possibly do from home, something flexible and with no start-up fees. I just knew that if you had to pay to find work, then it’s fairly obvious that it’s a scam.
In my searches, I came across a website called “Shadowshopper.” They had a free membership as well as a paid subscription. I decided that since they didn’t ask for too much personal information, I’d take my chances and fill out their application for the free membership. The free membership only posted job descriptions and locations but didn’t give complete details on any of the companies or how to go about applying. Then I got a call from a woman out in Utah that was looking for a shopper for a local cinema. She had found my name on the “Shadowshopper” website! I told her that I had never shopped before and she said that was okay as it was the end of the month, her regular shopper vanished, and she was desperate as she might lose this client if she didn’t come through. She faxed me the forms and the next thing I knew, I was watching a movie of my choice for free.
With one shop under my belt, I felt a bit more confident. I found a newsletter online that listed secret shopping companies – even a way to sign up with 36 of them in one shot because these 36 all used the same software. Now I was on my way and working anywhere between 5 and 35 shops a month. I realized quickly that I had a talent for this kind of job. I have a great memory for detail and I can write in clear and concise sentences while remaining totally objective. I became so good at it that schedulers were calling me all of the time to fill in last minute positions.
I find that the bread and butter of mystery shopping is the quick easy shops where you can be in and out in a matter of minutes with an easy check-off and limited narrative-type form to be filled out on line. These are mostly convenience stores, gas stations, etc. They don’t usually pay a lot but they reimburse completely and have a shop fee to boot. They’re easy to schedule and I can usually shop a bunch in the same area making it really worthwhile.
Retail assignments are fun too as long as the store you visit has something that you actually want to purchase because they usually only reimburse $2-$5 and the items in the store are naturally more expensive. There are retail shops where you can do a purchase and return but usually the purchase has to be a certain sum and you have to use a credit card. Since you’re not really keeping anything, you don’t get reimbursed for anything and it’s strictly a shop fee. I personally don’t like to have to return things so I tend to avoid these shops.
Banking seems to be a very popular shop as I constantly get emails begging for shoppers. Of course, you either have to be a great actress as they give you a scenario to follow, or you have to be a member of that bank and make observations during your normal visits. These shops usually pay fairly so I try to schedule one or two per month.
My absolute favorite type of shop is a restaurant, and I’m not talking fast-food. What can be better than eating out for free? An added incentive is the possibility of trying new places. The forms require a lot of detail and timings are mandatory but since restrooms need to be visited as part of the shop, it’s a great place to make a few notes.
The funny thing about mystery shopping is that it’s such a big secret. Sometimes when applying for local shops I’m surprised that someone else grabbed them first. I don’t know anyone else that shops yet they’re out there and probably live right next door. The only person outside of my family that knows I shop is my hairdresser. However, when I was discussing with her one of my shops which happened to be taking my dog to the vet (she was due for shots anyway), another customer in the salon perked up her ears and started asking all sorts of questions. I was reluctant to give away any of my secrets, especially knowing that so many companies offer referral fees.
I don’t think I’ve made much money while mystery shopping and sometimes I feel I should just continue my search for a stable part-time job but I have so much fun that I don’t think I could ever give it up completely. I find shopping to be such a part of my every day routine that even when I’m not on assignment, I find myself looking for name tags and looking at my watch a lot. Every job is a new challenge, even if you’ve shopped the same location dozens of times in the past. It’s something that I can fit into any schedule of mine for the rest of my life.
Are you a successful mystery shopper? Share your experience below.
I have been shopping since October,2001 and have had a variety of shops. My husband loves the casual sitdown restaurant shops,of course. When we do eat out and not on a shop and I critique,he tells me this is not a mystery shop. Guess it’s in the blood now.
Hello; First I want to say a big, enormous THAK YOU VERY MUCH for being the light at the end of a tunnel. You have educated me, suprised me, and been an enoumous asset in my little area in shopping.
Janie said it all! I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS ABOUT A SHOPPING. I did a restaurane review before Thanksgiving for Mystic Shoppers. I was to get a $40 gift certificate. Low and behold, they lied…no money no certif. I have emailed them twice and they said they paid paypal with my web address….they lied no money there. What is the recourse for me to try and get my money because the restaurant really sucked (sorry) but it did. I got an email about 3 days after I sent my paperwork, I got an email which said I got a 9 instead of a 10 because of a misspell- angle should be angel. Can I help it when spell check misses it.
What do I do??? I wrote them 3 times, a blatent no reply.
Puts a bad taste in my mouth and my husband said we are NEVER going to go do that again. Guess I got ripped off.
Yes I am very mad. This has happened to me 2 times with the same company. Do I report to BBB? Please, if you have a way to get me what I earned and lost. yes I am really MAD.
With warm regards and thanks,
Diane Heslin
Diane,
have you asked about this on MysteryShopForum.com?
I agree that contacting the BBB is a good idea. They’ll have good advice on the forum.
Contact the scheduler, if you haven’t don so already. Then go to MysteryShopForum.com,become member and write about this experience in the Mystery Shopping Company Discussion section. Some other shopper in the discussion group may have other ideas on how to help you. Finally, don’t let one bad experience “knock you out” of this flexible money making business.
I only do a few mystery shops, for a little extra money and for fun and entertainment. I am bored sometime and this get me out of the house, with something on my mind that I have got to do. It helps keep my sanity except for all the on line paper work, that is the bummer.
I have been doing mystery shopping for about 7 years. I enjoy doing a variety of shops but have found in the last few years that I am very particular about the types of shops that I will do. I will only do those that pay decent for the amount of time to do the shop and the online form. Some shops are quick while others are more time consuming. Sometimes the online form takes longer to do than the shop itself.
My bigges complaint is that the companies want your report within 12-24 hours of completion of the shop but take 6-8 weeks to pay you. I have had only a few shops that pay within 2 weeks. I am still waiting for payment of a shop that I did in Oct. Yet all of my November shops have been paid for except for one. The Oct shop doesn’t pay until 90 days are up. I get emails all the time for more shops but refuse to do right now because I think its ridiculous to wait 90 days for payment. Plus they only give you about 6 hours to get the report in. I emailed the company. The scheduler was supposed to let the President of the client know about this. I am still waiting for a reply. I’m not sure I will get it.
I started mystery shopping in 2008. We moved and my husband got a low paying job so it was just to pick up the slack in our budget. I ended up matching his salary most weeks. Anybody who tells you that you can’t make a full time salary with mystery shopping isn’t doing it right.
After a while my husband worked himself up to a promotion and we didn’t need the money, but I don’t think I’ll ever quit. I only do it when I want to now. I do fun shops, like clothes, and clothes, and more clothes. Almost my entire wardrobe is from mystery shopping. My husband loves doing restaurants with me, so I schedule a few each month. If we are ever in a bind financially, I know just what to do to start earning real money again, so it really is a safety net for us as well as a hobby.
Diane, when you sign up for companies make sure they are MSPA certified. These are the loyal companies and there are plenty. I have been shopping over 5 years and never missed a payment.
I haven’t done a job yet because the one company I signed with
needs me to download receipts . I just can’t figure it out are
there any places that don’t require this?
Diane,
Don’t feel so bad, I also have messed up on a report by ordering an appetizer at the Restaurant when it wasn’t required. It was a sort of shop I have done many times and after awhile they all seem to run together. This shop paid $52.00 so I got nothing for it. Well, it was after all my oversight but I continue to shop for this Company because they pay so well and we can go at least 3-4 times to a great Restaurant for my Daughter and friends for free.My scheduler felt so bad she gave me another opportunity to make up for my loss. I thought that was very nice. Its a great way to entertain teenagers in high school and doesn’t cost more than about $10.00 for the overage and you really don’t need to go over. (I think it was the $6.00 desert.) That’s a deal! I would not otherwise be able to go out to eat because I also have just a part-time job income and I take Mystery Shopping very seriously since I lost my full time job 2 years ago.
I have worked for great compaanies that pay every 2 weeks religiously so I have to be very careful and correct on details. This, as you know, is a very important part of the shop if not, THE most important part of a shop. There are Companies that pay $5.00 per shop and others $90.00 so it is worth the time to be accurate and rate as a “10” as often as possible. Yes, that rating, makes me crazy, its always in the back of your mind when you complete those last 2 sentences. Am I right or what? My Daughter even participates in shops and she is requested by ALL the schedulers. Funny, huh? She is learning alot from it too. She will say” Mother you forgot to add THIS detail didn’t you?” Thank you so much for watching my back! It great to have someone help at times, she knows I don’t get paid if I’m not paying attention.
I’m looking for more Companies out there but to be quite honest, I overlook the $2.00 & $4.00 ones. Gas is not worth it unless I am already going there. I drive SUV at times so a gallon of gas @ $3.00, well, you do the math.
Great Shopping to all!!
The part I cannot get over is when she said she has done 35 shops a day. If she does that then that is wonderful.
It was per month, not per day.