Mystery Shopper Jobs.  Are they for real?

One mom tells it the way it is.

By Tracy Hayes for Work-from-Home.org

People that have seen all the scams and have never really had a “REAL” mystery shopper job from home always wonder if it’s for “real”. I’m a REAL mystery shopper and I can tell you it really exists.

I can tell you more about it, too.

REAL Mystery shopping.

Mystery shopping is a real way to make extra money and work mostly from home. It's not completely from home but the time spent doing the actual shopping is usually flexible and often you can take your kids if that's an issue. It’s great for moms and it’s a way for stay at home moms to have fun and earn their own money. Businesses pay these companies to send shoppers to rate their employees. There are several industries which use mystery shoppers… Apartment and real estate communities like to have their staff graded by mystery shoppers. Restaurants and retail shops use this method to rate their employees on their customer service skills. Food service and other hospitality companies also use mystery shoppers. This article will inform you on what you need to know to break into this industry.

How Mystery Shopping works

Shops (the industry word for projects or contracts) are all different. You may purchase and eat a meal. You may go to a movie. You may buy something and then return it. Assignments vary greatly. Then you submit the receipt along with your report to be reimbursed. The shopper can sign up for shops they are interested in. These are called self-assignments. Some companies prefer to have agents call to schedule shops. Some companies don’t have the self assign option. All companies are very detail oriented. They give you very specific instructions which have to be followed completely. Then submit your report by the designated time. Your report has to be specific to time, date and the smallest details. If you don’t have a watch with a second timer then you should probably invest in one. Sometimes it is hard to remember everything. You don’t want to write down details in front of the store personnel. What I do is jot every detail down in my notebook. I do this when I have completed the shop and get to my vehicle. I also go home and write my report as soon as I get the chance. As a work at home mom I wait until the kids are tucked away quietly in their beds and then I submit my report.

Getting Paid to be a Mystery Shopper

Mystery shopping companies are not quick to pay. I found this out the hard way. It usually takes sixty days to get paid for your assignments. This can be hard for the first two months, but once you get going it’s fun finding checks in your mail box or PayPal account! When you do get paid you can reinvest your earnings. Most companies require that you have a Paypal account. Your money will be deposited into that account. Sometimes you have to put the money out first. For example, you may have to spend $5.00 on a meal. You get paid $8.00 to write the report. When you send in your receipt and get paid for your report they will pay you $13.00. I prefer to look at it as $8.00 and a free meal.

Mystery Shopper Considerations

Time and gas expenses. Being a mystery shopper pays modestly, so you’ll want to be mindful of your gas costs. The price of gas is a concern to everybody these days. As a work at home mom it is important not to spend too much putting gas in your vehicle. In the beginning I was taking any assignments I was offered. I came up with this method. I would take assignments where I would shop for things that I needed anyway. If the kids needed shoes then I would look for shoe store shops. That way I didn’t buy things that I didn’t need. That was time and gas I was coming out of anyway. If I needed a haircut then I would look for a salon shop. It can be a wonderful reward for a hard working wife and mother.

How to get started as a Mystery Shopper

When you’re a mystery shopper, mystery shopping companies and third-party companies act as your staffing agent, free. As a mystery shopper registrant you will submit your information much as you would on a job site . These sites will require you to first register. You will set up your login information. You will submit all of your demographic information. Always remember that a legitimate company will not require you to pay for assignments.

Mystery Shopping Tips

Always make sure that you keep your receipt! You need to purchase either a scanner or a fax machine. This will enable you to send your receipt for reimbursement. I actually got my receipt jammed in my fax machine one time. I tried to salvage it but I couldn’t. I ended up having to do the shop again. Now I am very careful to tape my receipt to a piece of paper. Being organized will help you keep track of details and getting paid, and a watch with a second hand will help you time specific assignments when requested to do so.

Finding reputable mystery shopping companies

Always look for companies who belong to the Mystery Shopping Provider’s Association (http://www.mysteryshop.org/ ) (MSPA). The MSPA is a group of companies involved in providing standards to shoppers and employers. They are committed to upholding the image of the industry. Affiliated companies have to abide by the MSPA Code of Professional Standards. You can find all of this information at their website.

Remember that a REAL mystery shopping job will never charge you a fee to work for them.

Mystery Shopper Certification

The Mystery Shopping Provider’s Association (MSPA) offers certification courses. This is where you find the information on Silver and Gold Certifications. Companies will hire you if you do not hold these certifications, but some companies prefer to hire certified shoppers. This ensures that their employees know the MSPA guidelines. Certified shoppers are considered to be more professional. They also get higher paid assignments. I am considering receiving one of these certifications. The certifications take your work at home job to a higher level. The certifications give you the credibility that you deserve. The MSPA website has all of the information for these certifications. The Silver Certification program is $15 to take the exam. The MSPA has introduced a DVD series to prepare shoppers for the Gold Certification exam. The DVD acts as a workshop set in a theater setting. The shoppers are the audience. The cost is $99 plus tax and shipping.

Great things about mystery shopping jobs

You can work as much or as little as you like. Get paid to write reports and evaluate businesses. It gives you a voice as a consumer. That can be empowering. You can get paid to purchase things you need. You can work flexible hours in most cases and often, you can take your kids with you to ‘work’. You can receive free meals for your time. The MSPA website has all of the essentials you need to get started.

You’ll never get rich being a mystery shopper but it’s fun and it’s extra cash.

Tracy Hayes is a wife and mom of four kids. She’s been a work at home mom for almost a year. She’s a mystery shopper, survey taker, blogger, social networker, and contributing writer. You can reach her at http://r.yuwie.com/thayes1106.

Resources: Free mystery shopping site: jobslinger.com. Mystery shopping and over 1000 other scam-free work at home jobs: jobsformoms.com

Please note that this information is not intended to give financial, tax or legal advice. Please consult a competent professional with questions about tax, finances or other such issues.