You probably want me to just list out the top twenty mystery shopping providers and call it a day. You’ll have a list to go off of and will start doing more shop assignments and earning more money. Unfortunately, finding the best companies to work for is a personal matter and is not as simple as going off of someone else’s top 20 list. What’s best for you is not necessarily best for the next shopper. But there are things you can do to determine which companies are good for you, so you can make your own customized list.
Where’s The Job? First, you’ll want to research which mystery shopping providers have a lot of shops in your part of the world. There’s little point in spending your time applying with providers that don’t have a lot of shops in you area. Message boards and blogs are great areas to get this information from. If you can’t find the information readily available, go ahead and post a question on the message boards.
What’s The Job? We all have our own unique preferences. What you like doing may not be the type of assignments the next shopper enjoys. It may be the difference between certain types of jobs, such as restaurant shops versus movie theater shops. Or it may be more specific. Perhaps you like doing Target shops over Office Max shops. While you generally won’t know which providers have shops for specific retails until you’re actually signed up, shop providers typically provide the type of shops they do on their website. For instance, a provider may state that they provide shops for the restaurant industry nationwide, specifically for chain restaurants. If you have a lot of chain restaurants in your location and enjoy doing restaurant shops, this may be a company that’s worth your time applying for.
What’s Required? It all boils down to paperwork. Some providers are absolutely notorious for tons of paperwork. Reports are generally customized for each specific company the shop is for (such as Walmart or Cinemark movie theaters.) However, some providers in general require a lot more paperwork than others. While mystery shoppers aren’t allowed to discuss which company they did a shop for, they can (AND DO) talk about the providers. Check the message boards and see what’s being said about a specific provider. If you see a certain provider mentioned repeatedly as having a lot of paperwork with inadequate compensation for it, it may be a good idea to stay away from that provider.
How’s The Pay? Some shops may not pay very well, but they also may have limited requirements and a short report. Other shops may not pay very well, and have a ridiculously long list of requirements followed by an even longer report. In your research on the message, if you see one company mentioned repeatedly for inadequate compensation, that’s a sign to steer clear. If shoppers are complaining about the paperwork on the message boards, it may be worth your time to fire back a question about the pay. If the company is paying well for that extra-long report or adding in extra travel pay, you may want to consider that company. Keep in mind that what may be an insufferable amount of work for one shopper may not be such a hardship for you, especially if the price is right.
It may help to keep in mind that $10 for a shop in New York City doesn’t stretch too far on a New Yorker’s budget. But $10 in Baton Rouge may be another story. So pay attention to the location that mystery shopper is in also.
With a little bit of research combined with a grain of salt about what you learn on your research mission, you can develop a list of the top ten or twenty providers that are best suited for you.
Of course the $4 shops go up when nobody takes them. Other companies increase the fee with bonuses during crunch time at the end of the month. I still need to put gas in my car to do the other shops that pay more money. The economy says that companies are going to cut back where they can cut back and that may be part of the reason why some shop fees have gone down. I know that everything in the supermarket is going up (eggs, dairy, produce). I have a full tank of gas today because I have done some of those gas shops. I have other shops to complete and now I have the gas to run around and do them. If one were to think of the minimum wage and all one has to go to perform a mystery shop, are we really making above minimum wage. You have to go onto the internet, download the guidelines, the shop form, travel to the location, perform the shop and then complete the form. Factor all of that in and $10 is not a lot either.
I always say, “Take what you like and leave the rest.” I turn my nose up at some shops that I have done before because of the ratio or work required to payment received. I will choose shops that I want to do based on the time that I have available and what my needs are at the moment. Gas in my area is well over $4 and I consider those shops to be paying a little over $1 to get gas and something that I would normally buy anyway. I delete shop postings every day because of the pay or the location and I will still continue to do that. Each shopper has to decide for themselves what shops they want to do and which ones they want to delete. I love having someone make a contribution to my always having a full tank of gas so that I have lots of gas to perform the better paying shops. The best companies to shop for are the ones that fit your schedule and that have something that you want or need. I want and need gas and the company pays quickly.
To each his own.
Unfortunately I live out in the country and work even more in the country. The $4 gas shop for me may be a better deal than a $10 shop that I have to drive to. Right now I have a little extra free time, so can work toward putting a few shops together and make things worthwhile, during the school year, I can only do 1 or maybe 2 in a night and stay sane. Anything that needs to be done before 5 pm is pretty much out of me. I am not trying to ruin things for anyone else, just do what works for me.
Actually the next 2 months I wouldn’t do the same job without a bonus because it is out of the way at the moment.
I agree with Theresa…
I used to shop the gas assignments when they paid upwards of $15 each +. However, they now pay $4 each (minimum). I keep a full tank of gas, too because I use the $4 gas assignments (as a supplement). I would normally have to buy the gas anyway. Today, I have four gas assignments that are paying $10 + $4 gas + $1 inside purchase reimbursement. Even though that is only $16 worth of gas (which is less than 4 gallons – since gas is currently $4.27 per gallon… EVERY BIT HELPS! So, after today I will be driving around with a full tank of gas. By the way, the locations are near my home (I wouldn’t drive across the city for a nominal gas shop). Stay organized, check the web sites daily and shop only where it is convenient.
Hey, guys…
I am still looking for companies that shop Albertsons (Acme), Pathmark, and SuperFresh. Can anybody help???
Hi Robin,
This company does Albertsons I did one a few weeks ago. hope this helps.
http://www2.ssanet.com/ShoppersCorner/index.cfm?eqs=362E060D5B5F5E7E217654
Gin
Hi,
I am fairly new to mystery shopping, but already realize that not all jobs are worth the effort involved. My biggest complaint is the downloading of paperwork. My printer goes through ink like water. That is a big expense. Fast food with all the stopwatch timing is really a pain and I avoid those. Other than that, I am enjoying this business. It is all voluntary, so choose what is best for you.
Barbie
please send me your list of best companies to shop for. I need some help.thanks.
I had an email yesterday from one of the company’s with a list a mile long of shops in my area. When I went to check the pay was $5 and each had to be an interaction with 5 employees, a required purchase. Then to top it off there’s a 7 page test to take before you can sign up for a job. I said to myself “Forget this!”
How do they expect to get these shops done for their client with so much “rig-a-mo-row”
Makes me wonder if the clients for these company’s know what they are asking of people.
Has anyone actually checked into what the companies are being paid to perform the Mystery shop? Even with overhead I think they can afford to pay the backbone of the operation, the shoppers, a little more than $5.00. Personally I do not accept a shop for less than $15 in my home town. I have bundled several shops together (and drove out of town) for $25 each. I am paid $50 plus meal reimbursement to eat out. If you are doing this as a hobby, then fine, accept the $5 jobs. Due to rotation I will be “well paid” for the same job the next time it comes available. Of course My companies know I will do the job correctly and on time. You are either an amateur or a professional. You may decide.
I am new to mystery shopping and have not done my first assignment. I am having trouble finding any jobs in Baton Rouge Louisiana. Does anyone know of any good companies to work for in Baton Rouge? I also think I am a little skeptical about doing my first job! advice?
Thanks,
Julie
Does anyone have a history with Shadow Shopper? They tempt with a lot of assignments- more than 50 on a page. But you have to pay to be a Gold Member to actually see the assignments, and/or apply.
I just signed up with Corporate Research. $6 (or was it $8)shop in Target to find and count locks, or if not on sales floor find them in strorage and bring to floor. Hell, it’s 10 minutes from the parking lot to the hardware section! Oh yeah, find manager and have him verify. Maybe they aren’t nuts for offering it, but I sure would be for taking it. That’s minumum of 1/2 hour in the store, 1/2 hour to report. $3-$4 hour??
But who are the good ones?
Robin,
I recently shopped an Albertson’s. I got the assignment from Sinclair. It paid $14 and wasn’t too bad, other than trying to get the associates name from a tiny, tiny,(did I mention tiny?) name tag. Have fun!
Yeah whats up with shadow shoppers? Has anyone shopeed for them, The offer me alot of jobs but want to be paid to actually veiw them or accept them, sounds fishy to me. I shope for others and have never paid them for a job. Any info on shadow shopper wopuld be apreciated. Thanks
hi Linda with Shadow Shopper they are RIP OFFS I am still dealing with this on my cc they charge you after 30days no reminders when you trial is up i did pay $4 for 30days but they will have you do it for 1year after the 30days is up per there e-mail says your account will expire in 30days,I dont know what to do they say they dont refund,,
When you signed up with shadow shopper and upgraded to a paid account you should have gone to your profile and changed the option on how you would pay. You could have turned off the automatic renewal and then your cc would not have been charged again.
Shadow shopper is just a listing agency. If you sign up for one month or if you are offered a free week this gives you a chance to see which companies are scheduling specifically in your area. You can find this out without having to pay anyone but that requires that you apply to a lot of companies then check their job boards to see if they have shops in your area. So if you can afford a short membership it narrows down the forms you have to fill in.