Mystery shopping is arguably one of the most fun ways to earn money today. A secret shopper, as it is sometimes called, visits a retail establishment, discreetly gathers information or engages with an employee, sometimes makes a purchase, and reports all findings back to a third party market research company in exchange for a refund of the purchase and an additional sum of cash in hand. Mystery shopping is a fun way to earn extra money and get a host of free items, meals, movies, hotel stays, and other services. Some enjoy mystery shopper jobs for the quick and easy pay, while others enjoy mystery shopping for the gifts and the chance to try new products and services on someone else’s dime. There are a growing number of people in the United States, especially those in larger metropolitan areas, which are turning secret shopper jobs into part-time and even full-time income.
If you are interested in mystery shopper jobs, many of them can be found online on classified advertisement sites, online job boards, and on forums that cater to those that work from home. It is important to mention that there are many mystery shopper scams on the internet. As a word of caution, anyone asking you for money to cover a placement or shopper fee is definitely a scammer. You do not have to pay to become a mystery shopper under any circumstance. Other websites asking for in-depth personal or financial information or sites that offer inflated claims as to your earning potential are also signs of scams. If it sounds too good to be true when it comes to mystery shopping, it probably is. You will not get rich from mystery shopping; even those seasoned in the field earn a competitive hourly wage, at best.
To be a successful secret shopper you must have an eye for detail, a great memory, a discreet personality, an ability to be on time and meet strict deadlines, and not be afraid to channel your inner actor or actress to gather the necessary pieces of information.
There is no limit to the types of shops one can perform in his or her city. Restaurants, retail establishments, department stores, boutiques, chain stores, hotels, banks, financial institutions, movie theaters, and even hospitals and doctor’s offices can be subject to mystery shoppers. Businesses and market research companies rely on the services of mystery shoppers to determine the efficiency and compliance of their business. Based on the information gathered, a company can choose to implement new marketing and sales strategies, re-train staff, add or remove products and services, or continue business as they see fit. Mystery shoppers act as the eyes and ears of a company and are a critical part of any company’s success.
There are a vast number of training and certification programs that you can join as a mystery shopper. These tests and assessments do cost a small fee, but can open many more doors of opportunity to new and higher-paying mystery shopper jobs. Always check your references, resources, and research mystery shopping certification companies online before handing out any financial information. A small percentage of these companies are actually scam artists that prey upon unsuspecting individuals looking to acquire their shop certification license.
Sign up for as many legitimate market research and mystery shopping companies as possible. The more sites you sign up with, the more secret shopper jobs or invitations you can expect to receive. Mystery shopping sites do go through dry spells from time to time. If you are serious about earning good money as a secret shopper, having a large database of go-to shopping sites can ensure a steady stream of work opportunities.
Within a few months, you can begin earning tons of money as a mystery shopper. You can look forward to the satisfaction of providing companies with invaluable information about how their business is operating and can enjoy getting paid good money for your time and effort. Keeping detailed records, submitting all necessary paperwork, gathering all of the key points of data on your shop assignment, and providing detailed records and reports will yield a high rate of pay and many more shop assignments in the future.
