Do You Really Want to Be a Secret Shopper?

Acting as a secret shopper, or mystery shopper, can be a lot fun and has become tempting to many individuals.

Secret shopping allows the associate to choose the hours they work and the destinations they shop. It promises free shopping, dining, movies, and other activities. The idea of performing secret shopping has infatuated the minds of all kinds of people. However, is this type of work as wonderful as it sounds?

If you search the internet for possible secret shopping opportunities, you will find a plethora of sites pertaining to this subject. At first glance you will believe that you could actually earn a living as a secret shopper but do not let your hopes of financial profits cloud your mind.

You must do your research and make sure that you read all of the print, no matter how small it might be. Beware of companies asking you to pay a membership fee. Asking for a fee is the first sign of a bad affiliation. Make sure you know what compensations the company is offering for each shop you might consider. Is the payment worth the time, cost, and effort needed for you to complete the shop? Take notice of when your compensation will be paid, it will not be as fast as you would expect. Read and understand every word before you decide to send in your secret shopper application.

Some of the things I have learned during my span as a secret shopper are that there are very few available opportunities in my area. Some shops offer only a reimbursement of monies spent without offering any extra compensation. I had to complete numerous hours of unpaid training. Payments for compensation took 30 to 45 days, and any time spent processing your shop information is unpaid.

When weighing the pros and cons of secret shopping, the cons overpower the pros. Think seriously about the following scenario and then decide if the opportunity is worth your while.

You have chosen to mystery shop a Dunkin Donuts establishment that is located 10 miles from your home. The vehicle you drive gets 20 mpg. Besides the requirements of evaluating the staff, landscape, drive thru, and the establishment as a whole, you are also required to purchase a medium hot coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The rate of pay for this shop is $7 plus reimbursement of the cost of your purchase. Now, let me do some calculations (figures used are rounded to the nearest dollar).

Gas = $3/gal, Pay Rate = $7, Purchases = $6

Compensation = Rate + Purchases: $7 + $6 = $13

Expenses = Gas + Purchases: $3 + $6 = $9

Actual Amount Earned = Compensation - Expenses: $13 - $9 = $4

Therefore, as you can see, you have only earned $4 for this shop. Moreover, considering that the total time you have spent doing the shop, processing the gathered information and the wear and tear on your vehicle, it is plain to see that $4 is not really worth a thing. In addition, it will take 30 days or more before you receive your compensation from the company. What do you think? Was this shop worth it? Do you think you could survive on the earnings made as a secret shopper?

My advice to you is to be aware of, and knowledgeable about, all of the aspects of being a secret shopper and the company you have chosen to work with. You may find it is truly not worth your time and effort.