Mystery Shopping

@Joody1 (20)
Canada
November 4, 2009 1:40pm CST
Hello all I thought I would start a discussion on Mystery Shopping. Has anyone been doing this to earn money? Is so, are you making much or just spinning your wheels. I started "shopping" about two years ago and although it is difficult in a small town there is some money to be made. Anyone want to share their experiences.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@cher913 (25781)
• Canada
4 Nov 09
this is something i would like to try but i dont have a car so it would be pretty difficult. the one company that i joined up with wanted you to buy a membership plus had shops outside the city where i live, so it was too difficult to get there.
@Joody1 (20)
• Canada
4 Nov 09
Yes, you would do much better with a car. A lot of the shops I come across are out of my city as well but with lots of research I have been finding companies that hire shoppers in my town.
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
4 Nov 09
I have done some mystery shopping from time to time, but nothing in a while. If I get an email for a mystery shop to do something that is already on my agenda, then I will usually participate. I have also gotten free groceries by mystery shopping and a couple of free dinners, but to be honest nothing extensive. However, like I said, if something good comes along that I am going to do anyway, I will take it. It's great to get paid for something that you were already planning to do. LOL Good luck to you in your mystery shopping and all of your online adventures!
@Joody1 (20)
• Canada
4 Nov 09
Thanks for the good luck wish. I have made a few hundred dollars doing this and am finding more opportunities all the time.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
16 Nov 09
I have checked into it, but did not find any company that really seemed legit or that panned out. I live in a small town, and nothing ever came up.
@diamania (7011)
• Netherlands
4 Nov 09
Could you explain to me what mystery shopping is? I understand it has to do something with shopping but I don't fully understand.
@Joody1 (20)
• Canada
4 Nov 09
A Mystery Shopper basically is a contract employee that visits businesses on the sly...LOL.. and files reports with requested information. I have also been branching out into doing in-store audits (these are called revealed shops) and I think I enjoy them more that the "mystery shops" and they tend to pay better.
• United States
18 Jan 10
I have heard about these, but never tried them out. I always wonder if they are legit.
• United States
15 Nov 09
I really want to get into Mystery Shopping! I just recently got my license [I'm 18] and I'm moving to a bigger city at the end of this month. I have so many questions about it though. Like, do you need money to make money? That's my biggest problem - I know some of them pay you back, but I don't have more than 2 dollars to my name right now. And could I even get a mystery shopping job in my area? Things like that.
@BizzyB (58)
• United States
4 Nov 09
Hi Joody, I've been Mystery Shopping for 2 years now. I only shop part-time, I work another part-time job from home and when I have hours or days off I fill it in with mystery shopping. It get's me out of the house and amongst the public. I've had months that I made good money, then some where I didn't really make anything, but in those months I received free meals at fast food restaurants, might have gotten a free oil change, or some other things free. Different reasons, but I can say I'm not just "spinning my wheels". Sometimes when you live in a small town, you have to branch out and make a days work out of it. I've also found if you wait until close to the end of the month, you can pick up some extra paying shops. Because I am an independent contractor I have to claim my own taxes. Mystery shopping helps with additional write offs, like mileage. I must say I won't ever give it up and I am looking at registering with more companies. Bizzy B say "Happy Shopping"
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
4 Nov 09
I am also a registered mystery shopper, but I haven't done in a while. I still get email alerts for my area. Nowadays, it is mostly phone shops for travel agencies and warehouses. The few that I have done, did not pay enough for the trouble of getting there and writing up the report. There must be other mystery shopping companies out there. I just haven't found one that is worth it.