Get Paid to Shop: Mystery Shopping Tips from a Pro

If you are looking for a solid money making opportunity, but were afraid to be scammed, then read this article. I am an insider, ready to debunk a few myths and provide some insight into the industry. Find out how you can make money as a mystery shopper.

Forget about those Internet ads promising you $100 an hour. Oh, please - get real. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is a scam. Mystery Shopping is mostly hard work and the pay is anything but stellar. On the bright side, you can generally expect to see a nice part-time income rolling in every month. If you happen to be one of those highly organized, laptop carrying, workaholic overachievers, willing to work 24/7 you might even make a living at it.

Your income will vary from month to month. There are shoppers who make $300-$500 a day - a few times a month. Their secret? They manage to schedule a route of assignments for themselves, shopping for several different companies. They might start out at say 6:00AM and may not return home until say 11:00PM or later, then they will enter their on-line reports for each location. Exhausting and profitable, but not my cup of tea.

College students and single young moms who practically live on the 'gotta eat' type of burger shops. Their strategy to make money: Performing age compliance audits. They are paid to check if stores, bars and restaurants really do ask for your ID, before allowing you to purchase alcohol or cigarettes. You might even say MSing is a way to become a popular student by treating your friends to a free meal. I use the term free meal loosely here, since it is an assignment that has to be completed as instructed and be submitted on time.

A friend of mine prefers shopping only casual restaurants and grocery stores to support the family budget. She works full time and shops on the way home from work. She takes her husband out for a steak dinner or to a wing place at least once or twice a week. $200-$300 income, which would mean fees and reimbursement, often reimbursement only without a fee. It works for her and compliments her lifestyle.

Mystery shopping is one of the few opportunities left where no investment is required to start your own business. Basically you need a fully functioning home office, which could be your kitchen table and you in your PJs entering reports. Once you are signed up with a company they will send you shop offers by e-mail, look them over and accept or apply if you like the offer. If not, delete the e-mail. If anyone asks you for money - walk away. Do make the time to sign up with as many companies as possible. Think more companies - more opportunities. You never know which company may land a new client in your neighborhood. You will spend time driving to get to the shop location, so think about combining this with a personal errand, or while you go to and from work. There are many strategies to employ to become successful and there are web shops and phone shops where you do not even have to leave your home. Experiment with whatever works for you - it is your business and your rules. If you live in the middle of nowhere - maybe you can pick a day or two to go to the next big city and work all day.
It is not a get rich scheme but it can pay your bills. Most of the shoppers I know personally bring in between $600 and $1500 a month, working part time and have been shopping for years.
Mystery shopping is designed to give corporate headquarters accurate information as to how their local branches perform and it they follow the corporate guidelines. It is meant to identify areas in need of training such as poor customer service and at it's best may be used to identify employees for a performance bonus.

Mystery shopping is big business. We are talking millions of dollars with hundreds of companies in the US alone. ShopnChek, GFK and Bare International to name just three, are companies with a global presence. Once you start shopping you will find yourself doing business on the Internet with companies based in California, New York and Florida, while you may reside in Texas. Who are the clients? Fast food franchises, department stores, gas stations, grocery stores, coffee shops, hotels and resorts, the USP, shipping companies, movie theatres, jewelry stores, apartments and banks across the US.

How do I start? You complete an on-line application at any MSC (Mystery Shopping Company) website (see website info) and within minutes you will receive an acceptance e-mail. Now you have access to their on line job board where you can accept the shop of your choice. Some companies have a long approval process or only respond if they have work in your area.
Your obligation: Once you clicked on accept you are expected to complete the shop according to the company guidelines, otherwise, the company has the right to decline your shop, which means you will not be paid. It is like any other business you are expected to fulfill your obligation as promised and meet your given deadline.

The shop itself: To give you an idea of what you might be asked to do:
For a restaurant visit you might be asked to arrive between six and eight o'clock, for a dinner for two. How were you greeted and treated, did they go out of their way to make you feel welcome, tell you with enthusiasm about the wonderful dishes... cleanliness of restroom and timings for everything from your arrival, to drinks, to entrée, dessert, accuracy of your bill, payment procedures...
Usually the report will ask you to rate the food in detail including the presentation, so pay attention. At the end of your meal be sure you have an itemized receipt to submit as proof of shop and for your reimbursement payment.

A bank shop may involve evaluating the level of service you received while making a deposit at the teller counter. You may be required to speak to a representative about opening a new account, obtain a name and a business card and objectively rate their presentation.

The next step is submitting your report on line. Remember to be objective in your reports.

Payment will be either by Pay Pal, or it may arrive by check or it might be a direct deposit into your checking account. Be prepared and open a free account at the Pay Pal website for companies to send your shop payments to. Decide which e-mail account you will use to conduct all of your mystery shopping business. Each company has their own payment cycle, usually stated in the FAQ on their website. Payment can be as fast as a week or two, but the norm is once a month with several companies taking six weeks. There are a few lightning fast payers and others that take two months or more to pay.

While most shops are not glamorous and have modest to low fees, there is the occasional lucrative offer, a luscious spa shop, all those truly fine dining shops, tickets to an amusement park shop the whole family will enjoy. Always remember that this is a business and if you would like to see more offers and gain access or better yet receive a referral for a particularly well paying shop then do a good job every time.
In order to paint a true picture of what you can expect to see, I have to say that there are a lot of shops paying in the neighborhood of $5 and $15. These might include a chain of gas stations where you will be asked to take a picture of their restroom, make a purchase at the pump (usually reimbursed but read your guidelines) and rate the condition of the premises, their customer service including another purchase in the convenience store.

So where do you find those companies that pay for your services and where do you go to discuss your questions and concerns?
The 411: Websites
The mystery-shopping forum at volition.com is a great starting point. This is the place to go for feedback on a company and to look for the free list of companies to sign up with. Another site with a good list of companies and a forum to discuss your newbie adventures is Msfreedom.org. Then there is the MSPA an organization for and by MS companies, to promote the industry, set ethical standards and offer certification for shoppers, found at mysteryshop.org.

TIP: You will be an Independent Contractor and companies are required to send you a 1099 for your tax return, once you reach $600 income with them. Keep good records.
As an experienced MSPA certified Gold shopper I network with other shoppers and have established a good reputation with several companies. I find networking essential to be a successful shopper and believe the mystery shopping forums play an important part in keeping shoppers motivated, on track and informed. The good news is you are an Independent Contractor and you can pick and choose your assignments and have fun along the way, have a nice part-time income or decide to walk away at any time.