Most people don’t become mystery shoppers just for the fun of it, but rather because it is a convenient, flexible way to earn some money. So it only stands to reason that as a mystery shopper, you want to work on the assignments that make you money. Not all mystery shopping assignments are equally as profitable, and in fact you can even lose money on some assignments if you aren’t careful. Here are some things to look for to ensure you don’t lose money on your next mystery shopping assignments:
Time. Your time is valuable. Mystery shopping assignments don’t typically pay you by the hour, but rather upon completion of an assignment. Often it takes some experience to estimate how long a certain assignment will take you to complete simply by reading the job description posted on the job board. However, you should always make an earnings per hour estimation of not only the time it takes to perform the site visit, but also for travel and the time to complete the report. When you find that you would only be making $5 per hour on an assignment, the impulse may be to move on to other assignments on the job board and skip over that one. However, there are other factors to consider as well, which may add to or subtract from the profitability of the assignment.
Distance. There is a cost to driving to and from your site locations, and there are many different factors that go into your travel cost. These factors include the gas mileage of your car, the cost of gas at the time of your site visit, the mileage deduction offered by the IRS for business miles traveled, and the actual miles traveled to and from the site. You also want to factor in bonus pay you receive for traveling, if any. Some of these factors will fluctuate, such as the price of gas. Other items, such as bonus pay, are negotiable. So there is not necessarily a cut-off point for miles you should or should not travel to do an assignment. However, because distance plays such a major factor in the profitability of an assignment, it should be considered before you accept any assignment. In some cases, you may even find that distance may make a less than attractive assignment a little more attractive because sometimes travel costs actually add to the profitability of an assignment.
Required Purchase. Many assignments have a required purchase, and the requirements vary greatly between assignments. Some assignments will have you make a minimum purchase of $5 at a grocery store while others will require you to spend at least $20 at a retail clothing store. Still others will ask that you return the item later. You will want to pay attention not only to the required purchase, but also if that purchase can be made on something you intended to buy anyway, such as groceries, or if it will be on a frivolous purchase, such as a new purse you don’t really need. At first glance, a required $5 purchase on groceries that is not reimbursed along with shop pay of $5 may make you seem as they you are breaking even. However, since you can buy $5 worth of groceries you needed to buy anyway, this $5 actually can be looked at as coming from your personal budget yet with the ability to write off the purchase as a business expense.
You can see that there are many different factors involved in determining how profitable a mystery shopping assignment is. While the calculations seem a bit complicated at first, with some experience, you may find that you can quickly and easily determine the profitability of an assignment simply by eyeballing the job boards.
I just got done with one. Afier geting home I had 12 pages of questions to fill out. Then checking out on the web site I had to do all these questions all over again. I then found out the Questions I did on paper didn’t have to be sent in they staied with he to throw away
Total time: about 6 hours
$/hr: about $2.25
very enlightening article..
Duane is right…I hate the assignments where you have to fill out 10 pages of paper at the site and then do it all over again on their website. I call these “Double Trouble” for twice the work!
One of the other cost I consider if the shop is in a mall is the time it takes to walk from the front door to the actual shop and then double it for leaving. Sometime I include the cost of time to find the store. Sometime in a very busy mall I consider the time cost of finding a parking space. All of this needs to be considered because the only thing we have is time.
I like to do mystery shopping, but I found that the pay was not worth it. You have to down load the paper work and study it and then go to the stores and get the information that is required and to take the time out to fill in their copies. I found I was spending as much as 8 hour getting this stuff together. Then I like faxing my receipt in and they would not except that, so they would short me money on that. A lot of the time I only made $8 a job and cost of food or merchandise. I did not think it was worth it. The ones I real enjoyed were the movie theater ones they pay off a lot better and don’t take as much to fill out the forms.
There may be hoops to jump through to submit a shop, however my experience proves that by becoming familiar with a shop and a provider’s requirements, one becomes also familiar with the method of submitting subsequent reports. Applying for and submitting such shops thus becomes easier due to familiarity. The paperwork or details for a shop will also reveal its complexity. If it is complex, don’t accept it. If because it is relatively easy or easy because of it’s familiarity, then go for it. Remember too that a new shop may seem difficult simply because it is not so familiar. Give it a chance.
Josie has it right on ! Most of this stuff is a hobby, it sure isn’t a job. These companies who hire us are all about cash.
I did a cinema and paid $22. to get in. I asked for ticket stubs but they don’t give them out. They ‘trust’ you. There were 39 people at the show ! The money taker was the popcorn man and the projectionist. I told them that but they said “Tough Tootsie” no ticket stub= no money. I drove 1 1/2 hours (they called me and asked me to do this Saturday nite show as a favour, they couldn’t get anyone close by) So I was angry and frustrated as I finished the report at 3 AM and got up for church at 8AM. I had to go for my bad thoughts to be forgiven.
I did a shoe store (rockport)and there was one person there and he was busy on cash. Who was I to ask for assistance/where is the change room/ make a complaint to/ carry my purchase to the front. NO one ! They told me I should have waited….they were closing at 5 and I was there for 1/2 hour. They said no money for a week and then finally paid me. Arguing took me 5 hours and the job paid $15. Report took nearly 2 hours and then fax cost me $2. and gas (30kms.) Broke even !!
I didn’t get the name at a CIBC bank and never got paid.
I asked the wrong questions on my first assignment at a jewellery store and never got paid.
I’m laughing as I type this. I’m also crying cuz I’m so stupid….geez…don
P.S. Just got offered a Chinese food assignment. Pay,$2.50 !
NO BLOODY WAY !!!
It only makes good sense to factor in all the costs associated with a shop. Time in the form of frustration somehow doesn’t add in until the fact.after
It is very anoying when you get called to help them out when they can’t find anyone and then the theater or other company won’t comply or changes something at the last minute and then you need an extra body or something. There was one blind check I did and they were supposed to pay me I sent everything in and still no pay so I won’t do the blind checks anymore. They are having a hard time because no one wants to shell out $100 or more and take the chance of not getting paid.
Most shops are good and the requirements are reasonable. What I have a problem with is the mystery shop companies want to to agree/accept or decline a shop without an opportunity to see the “many pages of paperwork” or declaration what company or type of company you are doing the shop for. I agree with some of the others, the lowest paying shops, tend to have the most work involved. Remember to cut your interest in half when a return purchase is required!
Study your requirements and companies. Know which ones have easy forms. You can make money but, you have to be positive and work with your schedulers. Also, being certified will help.
After not being paid a few times for things that were out of my control, I began using a checklist when I talk to a scheduler, with some of the important questions being: What if a receipt is taken and not returned, or a receipt not given but I’m not supposed to ask for one? What if a store only has one employee but I need to look at more than one department. Do I wait? Or do I come back another day. I write down the question, answer, time of call and scheduler’s name. I have also left a theatre, made copies of my stubs and returned a short time later. If I forget a name I call back to the place and describe the person, then ask if I can speak to them about my transaction. If they give me their name and tell me they are not available, ask them to help me so it looks legitimate. We as shoppers have to protect ourselves because we work for ourselves. No one is going to bat for us, and we end up losing the report, and they often get paid because we did most of the work. Protect yourself, but be true to the shopping company.
FYI…when they don’t show the paperwork, I accept the shop, read the paperwork, then if it’s way too much for too little, I call them and tell them I am sorry but I cannot do the assignment. Also, some companies if you call will send you the questionnaire.
I like grocerty store shops. I bundle four or five in a day. That is the only real way to make it worth your while. I have been doing this for seven years. I rarely pay to go out to eat. There is always a shop available somewhere. I work for 28 differant shopper sites so I can always find something in that direction to make it worth while.