Interesting way to earn a few extra dollars for those who need it

Mystery shopping! I do it for tons of different companies. You need to have good writing skills and a GOOD memory, but I have as much work as I can handle. It doesn't pay extra, extra well, but if you need a part-time job where you set your own hours...

www.volition.com/mystery.html

You can also FM me, but I can't post too much info on a public board about it.

Well, retail doesn't actually pay that much, so I don't 'shop' in stores all the time. You can do banks, restaurants, movie theaters, cell phones, supermarkets, etc. Pretty much anywhere where there's someone who interacts with the public.

But sometimes you get to keep stuff. Mostly you return it.

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Posted by nsgraham

Well, retail doesn't actually pay that much, so I don't 'shop' in stores all the time. You can do banks, restaurants, movie theaters, cell phones, supermarkets, etc. Pretty much anywhere where there's someone who interacts with the public.

But sometimes you get to keep stuff. Mostly you return it.

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I put in my email on that site--is that how you got started? Sounds like a fun way to earn some $!

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Posted by nov04LIbride
I put in my email on that site--is that how you got started? Sounds like a fun way to earn some $!

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I did too

It's one of them, and the forums are very good to read to learn tips and stuff.

What you do is sign up with companies- Volition's list is pretty good. I got started with their Daily Checklist. Each company is hired by different clients.

You should apply to many different companies, and then they send you emails with open shops, and you apply for those shops that you can do. Read and follow the instructions, and remember that there are a lot of details to retain. As you shop for each company, you build up a history with them, and the better your history, the more shops you get. You can also visit

http://www.mysteryshop.org/

They're an association of different companies, and you can find a job board there. If you like doing this (after a few shops), I would suggest spending the $15 for silver certification. It helps you stand out a little more.

I have thought in the past about doing this. I am definitely going to check it out.

my friend used to do that -- she did make $ but once they made her rate a CVS' customer service on site and the manager was soo pissed -- he was screaming!!
Other times she just bought something when they told her and then returned it and reported on their service...
Do you have to do it at the times they tell you?

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Posted by darly

my friend used to do that -- she did make $ but once they made her rate a CVS' customer service on site and the manager was soo pissed -- he was screaming!!
Other times she just bought something when they told her and then returned it and reported on their service...
Do you have to do it at the times they tell you?

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Yeah, I don't do revealed shops because of that.

Depending on the company, you have a date or an range of dates, and you may have a time of day as well. I often do purchase and returns.

I signed up for this too. It sounds pretty interesting. I remember when I worked for Fortunoffs in westbury a few years back, they had shoppers come in too. Also Aid Auto Stores in North Babylon, when I was a teenager, working there also had shoppers. I never thought about doing that part time.

What type of money can you make doing that?
Thanks,
Scott

really mostly pocket money - most jobs pay $5-$25 but there are some that pay $75 but you usually have a lot of qualifications like owning a home or a certain age.

The restaurants ones don't pay much (usually around $5) but they do reimburse you up to a certain amount for your meal (they tell you that you can order say one entree each or app, entree and dessert etc)

The catch with it is that some companies limit how many shops you can do for them in a day or month. Once you shop certain places you can't reshop them for anywhere from 60-120 days depending on each's policy. Each company is different.

Sometimes it is easy to get shops other times they are gone before you can apply. You need to keep up with it and constantly check it out if you want to work more often.

Most companies if you sign up with them will email you when a job in your area becomes available. The only problem is often they are gone by the time you get the email.

I have about 50 companies that I am signed up with.

BTW - you do NOT have to pay to get listings - I have never paid and have no trouble finding coupanies to work with. However one friend has paid two companies and has gotten more exciting jobs.

If you go to MSPA - (listed in an above post) for about $15 you can get certified - if you are certified you can work more - some companies will give 'better' or 'offer more' shops to those who are silver certified.

One caveat - IF you do mystery shopping/secret shopping remember you are an independent contractor and NOT an employee so you MUST keep track of what you make and take out your own taxes - only a small amount make you fill out a W2 - 99% have you working as an independent contractor - unless you make more than I think $600 or $900 with ONE company you do NOT receive any tax forms so you need to keep a running tab. Most companies pay either thru pay pal or direct deposit - and they pay only say once every 30-60 days (most will pay you the next month though) some reimburse you quickly - so read your contract with them carefully.


Etd to add also you sign confidentiality agreements that you will not disclose what clients you shop for. You can say you do bridal or restaurant shops but NOT what company you have shopped.

You can do anything from mystery (where they don't know you are shopping you MUST remain annoymous) to reveal shops (where you have them do their job then leave and evaulate them and come back in IF they did what they were supposed to and reveal yourself and give them some sort of reward) and finally merchandising where you set up a display or check a display etc.

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Posted by Rob-luvs-me


You can do anything from mystery (where they don't know you are shopping you MUST remain annoymous) to reveal shops (where you have them do their job then leave and evaulate them and come back in IF they did what they were supposed to and reveal yourself and give them some sort of reward) and finally merchandising where you set up a display or check a display etc.

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I'm confused, the above things are the things you would do FOR the actual company you are shopping for?

I was approached by one of these companies and frankly, the time and effort they required did not make it worth my time. I am sure different companies work different ways, but my free time is much more valuable to me than what they were willing to pay.

It seemed like a good idea for someone who works part-time, or does free lance acting, modeling, or something like that. Just be sure you read the fine fine print and find out exactly where you are required to go (they wanted us to drive to a store an hour away!!) and how many pages of comments you are expected to prepare, how many visits you have to make, etc.

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Posted by QueensBride

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Posted by Rob-luvs-me


You can do anything from mystery (where they don't know you are shopping you MUST remain annoymous) to reveal shops (where you have them do their job then leave and evaulate them and come back in IF they did what they were supposed to and reveal yourself and give them some sort of reward) and finally merchandising where you set up a display or check a display etc.

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I'm confused, the above things are the things you would do FOR the actual company you are shopping for?

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Here's how it works-

A Store (client) will hire a Mystery shopping company. That MS company will send out an email to the shoppers in it's database within a certain distance of that zip code. Shoppers apply for the job. The company picks a shopper and assigns the job to them. Shopper goes to store, does shop, comes home, writes report, submits it. Company reads report, makes sure it's done to specifications, submits to Store. Shopper gets paid about 45 days later.

You are hired by the mystery shopping company.