Have you ever read on the Internet about how you can get paid to eat out or shop at your favorite store or even go to the movies? Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not because there are companies that will really pay you to be a mystery shopper.
I am signed up with a couple of companies and have done mystery shopping assignments before. I think it can be a great way to get rewarded for your time. If you have ever wondered about mystery shopping this post will explain how it works and how you can be a mystery shopper yourself.
What is mystery shopping?
Mystery shopping is basically a simple way for you to earn extra money to visit retail establishments and rate them in customer service, professionalism, cleanliness, and more. Companies will pay you cash for your opinion as a mystery shopper.
What kind of mystery shops can I do?
You can do restaurant shops, retail shops, grocery shops, fast food shops, bank shops, gas station shops, cell phone shops, movie theater shops, apartment shops, and more. A lot of mystery shopping companies are now offering merchandising shop assignments also. This will require you to set up displays, stock products, give rid of outdated products, and so forth.
Do I need any experience to be a mystery shopper?
No. You are not required to have any training to be a mystery shopper. Anyone can do this. Some choose to get certified as a mystery shopper but this is not a requirement. This is optional. You can complete shops without being certified and get paid.
What are the requirements?
You will need to be at least 18 years of age, have a valid email address, and have transportation to get to and from the shop locations.
Will I have to pay any fees?
No. A legitimate mystery shopping company will not ask you to pay any fees for information about mystery shopping companies or for you to sign up to be a mystery shopper.
What are the hours?
Typically, mystery shops only last an hour but depending upon how many shops you decide to do in a day, you could do this part-time or more. You get to decide which shops you would like to complete based on the hours that are convenient for your personal schedule. Some shops are done during the day, during the late afternoon, or during evening hours. There are also weekend shops as well.
How much will I earn?
You can earn a few extra dollars a month to pay for gas, groceries, buy diapers, for a day trip, pay your cell phone bill, or whatever you want to spend it on. On average most shops pay an average of $10. Apartment shops can pay on average $40 for less than an hour of your time, so it is very possible for you to earn a few hundred extra dollars per month. This will depend on the types of shops you complete and how often you do them.
What will I need for a Mystery shop?
You will need a digital camera, printer, fax machine, access to a computer, and possibly a Paypal account. Some companies will pay you with a check so Paypal may be optional.
How do I sign up to become a Mystery Shopper?
Go to a legitimate Mystery Shopping company and sign up to be a shopper online. Fill out all your information online including the state and city you live in and the areas you would be available to do shops in and you are ready to start your first assignment.
What will I do in my shop?
Every shop is different. Some may require you to visit a store and talk with a salesperson about a product, order a meal from a menu at a restaurant, audit, go to the movies and watch the trailers, and various things. You will get detailed instructions about each shop that you can read over and print online. Read over this before you accept any mystery shopping assignments to make sure you will be able to participate in them.
How can I find legit Mystery Shopping companies?
You can download the Field Agent app to do mystery shopping gigs from your smartphone. You can start working on them right away. You can get paid to visit amusements at Amusement Advantage as a mystery shopper by clicking here.
Please visit the mystery shopping page on Workersonboard.com for more mystery shopping companies that you can sign up for.
2 Comments
Michael Ryerse · April 5, 2013 at 8:22 pm
i’ve found good resources through the mspa as well as a company called BestMark http://www.bestmark.com
ALICIA · April 7, 2013 at 4:26 am
Hi Michael. Thank you for this information. I really appreciate it very much.