Mystery Shopping: A Way to Earn Cash

Mystery shopping is a part-time job that thousands of people do around the world.

If you work in a service position, you may have been "shopped" by a mystery shopper, who evaluated your performance and submitted a report to the shopping company for a fee.

The benefits are many for those who pursue mystery shopping as a part-time job: You make your own hours, you can pick and choose the assignments you want. The pay can be lucrative if you're a shopper who gets the plummiest assignments. A professional attitude is imperative, but there's no experience required.

Also, if you're an offender, mystery shopping is something you can do without worrying about answering questions about your record.

How you start mystery shopping

There are scores of mystery shopping companies, and you only need to do an online search for them.

Beware of any companies that ask you to pay upfront to register or to receive assignments. These are scams. Reputable mystery shopping companies will never require a fee.

The only fee you may wish to pay is to receive credentials from the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), a trade association that provides testing and establishes ethical standards for those in the mystery shopping business. To receive a silver certification, there is a test and a small fee. A gold certification is conducted as a seminar, costs much more and is given in different cities.

It has been said that silver- and gold-certified shoppers receive the better assignments and are tapped first, but this debatable among mystery shoppers, and certification is strictly optional.

What types of assignments might you receive?

Mystery shoppers receive assignments across the consumer spectrum - including banks, fast food restaurants, hotels, tax preparation services and senior housing. Shoppers tend to sign up with many different companies in order to keep busy and receive a diverse list of assignments.

Shoppers are expected to give the assigning company an accurate profile when they sign up, so the schedulers can determine which kinds of shops they would be able to do. Many shoppers specialize in bank visits which often pay well, and give feedback on their experience with the teller and the employee who sells banking products (a term they use for accounts).

Other shoppers do restaurant assignments that pay a small fee or reimbursement only; other visit retail locations and receive a shopping stipend.

Tip: End of the month shops are often bonused by desperate schedulers, which may double your fee (or more).

Tip: There is a great demand for mystery shoppers behind security at airports, so if you have security credentials, the schedulers want to hear from you.

You would be expected to perform your assignment on time and according to the guidelines they give you, or you may not be paid. Once shoppers have completed their task, they are expected to give the shopping company an online report, and scan or photograph receipts and business cards as a verification.

How shoppers get paid

Most shopping companies prefer paying their shoppers using Paypal, although a few still do direct bank deposit or issue paper checks. Shoppers generally get paid three to four weeks after performing the assignment. Your mileage will vary.

Many people who began mystery shopping started when they were between jobs, but continued shopping even after they were fully employed. Some people find it fun.

Further information about mystery shopping is available all over the Internet, but the premier source of mystery shopping information is the Volition.Com forums.