As mystery shoppers get more involved in their new job as a mystery shopper, the thrill of working undercover soon turns to disillusion as the realization of hard work and fairly average pay sets in. Some mystery shoppers soon decide this job is not for them. Yet many others decide to keep working at the job and turn to it for a longterm career option.
Mystery shopping is ideally suited for so many different people. The flexibility of choosing which hours and days you want to work, as well as working more or less during certain times of the year without the hassle of revising your work schedule with your boss, and even bringing kids and your spouse along on your job all make mystery shopping a popular job. With these benefits, mystery shopping is well-suited for students, retirees, stay-at-home moms, working professionals in need of supplemental income, and more. While mystery shopping is largely a part-time job, some devoted mystery shoppers have turned this into a full-time job.
Often new mystery shoppers complain that they could make as much money working in retail or fast food as they make as a mystery shopper. While this may be at least partly true, most retail and other traditional part-time jobs don’t offer the same flexibility as mystery shopper, making them ill-suited for the many types of people drawn to mystery shopping.
While the take-home pay of a mystery shopper may seem at face value to be equivalent to that of any other typical part-time job, there are a number of hidden benefits that you can enjoy from mystery shopping. For instance, you can write off all business-related expenses you incur as a mystery shopper since mystery shopping is a contractor position. So you can write off your travel expenses, office supplies, and so on. Whereas with a typical hourly, part-time position in retail or another similar field, you simply receive your take-home pay. While the tax write-offs are not immediately tangible, on tax day you would see a big difference between the two jobs/
There are other perks as well. For instance, many mystery shopping assignments require you to make a small purchase and will reimburse you for that purchase. The result is “free” or otherwise largely reimbursed items. Some of the items you can get reimbursed for include gas for your vehicle, groceries, clothing, movies, a meal at a restaurant, and much more. The more you work as a mystery shopper, the more perks you get!
Another bonus is that no day on the job is like any previous day before it. With each job assignment you complete and each job site you visit, you will enjoy a great change of scenery, get the chance to meet new people, and encounter new and exciting situations. If you’ve been looking for a change of pace from a cubicle or spot behind the cash register, mystery shopping is the answer.
The bottom line is that mystery shopping is not for everyone, but it definitely has its major advantages over a traditional part-time job.
Your all excited to begin with.But then you don’t get as many jobs as you had hoped for especially if you need the extra income.
Cheryl
I can make about $10/hour mystery shopping, which is better than I did at any other job. But the flexibility is what I love about mystery shopping. As a stay home mom of young kids, I hate to work, and only will when I have to. So, I can work for a few weeks, then take six months off. No employer woud let me do that. And the perks are real nice. It’s my husband’s birthday tomorrow, and we are going out to a nice sit down restaurant for free.
I just want to make enough for some little extras.This is ideal as I can pick and choose which jobs I want and the hours.
It certainely beats punching a clock! Flexibility! You are in control! Just keep working it, doing your best work on every assignment and before you know it, a scheduler will call you up to do a special job that doesn’t even get posted, because another scheduler made a positive comment about some previous work that you did for them. You’re not out just to make a buck. You’re out to make a name for yourself. Any reputation usually takes some time to establish. As mentioned above, there are many dividends to consider. Little perks add up! More cash will come if you keep up with the blogs, apply the suggestions that work for you, learn to love your work, and hone your skills!!