Mystery Shopping is something I've recently gotten into. I'm making some money here and there. On average, I'm making probably an additional $500 (+free items/reimbursements for purchases) a month for just evaluating services at gas stations, cellphone stores, and small stores (like Hot Topic) like what you find in Malls. I generally take jobs that are on the way to or from my current full-time job, and the mystery shops c usually only take 10-15 minutes to complete. It works well for me since I live near a big city, but I've seen payments go really high for shops near small towns are in the middle of nowhere that are difficult to find shoppers to complete them (I saw a popular burger shop go up to $60 for a simple meal purchase and service evaluation) It's pretty cool, and unlike the advertisements you hear on the radio and see on certain websites, you do not have to PAY to get started. That's a complete scam, so never do that. Are any of you involved in Mystery Shopping or Audits? (This is by no means an advertisement). I can answer most questions you might have from my experiences. This is just a fun topic, and I'm sure some of you out there are curious about the world of Mystery Shopping. -Sora
I was going to do that, but I get really nervous.. I had an assignment to do mystery shopping at BK but I worked there previously so they took back their offer.. hmph.. I did a couple of movie checks! and I do surveys
Sounds very interesting and fun... What exactly do you do? Just go in there and tell them about it? But like, what do you tell them? Their prices are too high, or something like that? lol
You basically do it anonymously and you judge them on how they service you and stuff.. it's like a secret rating for the shop to make sure people are dealt with correctly.
I want to be a mystery shopper!! At the restaurant I used to work at, we used to get mystery shopper people come in, and like, we'd get points docked from us if we brought their water with lemon like.. if they didn't ask for it that way, and stuff. They have this like big checklist of stuff that they have to dock points on if you don't do it correctly or say the wrong thing (or say nothing for that matter)... Just wondering, how'd you get into mystery shopping? Because I'd love to do that on the side... on top of my other job.
That actually seemed like a great thing to do... I hear most employers can have you go around, spend x dollars (anywhere from 5 to 200), and then you get paid /and/ get to keep the items!! that would be pretty sweet! I actually saw a 2 hour infomercial on it, it was crazy!
I think it's fun, but there are so many companies out there that sometimes you have to sign up with dozen of them to find the kinds of mystery shops you're looking for. It's hard to make a full-time living of it, that's for sure. Volition.com is a Mystery Shopper community with a list of shops. You can view the boards and look for members in your location and see what companies they sign up with, that can help find some. It's pretty easy. I've been doing Cellphone shops. Basically I go in and ask about their rates and phones, and they give me their sales pitch. Then I decline the offer nicely (say that I'd better take it up with my significant other), and leave the store. I fill out a 20 - 30 question survey on the service and sales pitch I was offered, then I get paid $15. It's not so bad because I pick up shops for locations on my way to and from my current job, so I don't affect any gas expenses. So $15 for about 1/2 hour of work or less doesn't seem so bad to me. I pick up 3 - 10 a week, and get paid a lump sum around the middle of the following month. It's a nice random check that I didn't count on before... good for things like my savings account or a shopping spree. Anyhow, now you guys know what I've been up to in my absence. =p
Hmmm I will have to look into that. That'd be a nice paycheck on the side. And something that wouldn't be half bad to do! Thanks! -- By the way, do you live in a large city? I don't... so I don't know how I'd mystery shop. I mean I KNOW we have them around here, both my jobs were like.... WARNING me about the mystery shoppers... Hmph.
Thanks for giving a little more information on what it's like. I always see scam advertisements for mystery shoppers and I always wondered if the jobs really existed.
Ha I'd really love to do this. I work in a clothes shop in the school holidays and we get mystery shopped once every 3 months. I'd love to go into my own store and put in my two cents about how crap it is! I've just been on googled and signed up to one in my area, bring on the cash! Though I must say some of the ones on google look a bit dodgy, re: having to pay to sign up.
I work in a Market Research centre and sometimes I do punching if there is no phone work. (Punching is entering Data from street interviewers into the system.) So whatever you write down in your booklets, I enter into the computers! Some of you people have real bad handwriting. D:
Oh yes i had signed in also to be a mystery-shopper, but that was before i moved into my new house. Need to sign in again. I never heard something about it Never got an shop where i needed to go.....