Make Money Shopping

Who wouldn’t jump at the idea of a free meal, oil change, movie tickets, or even a luxury hotel stay? It may sound too good to be true, but secret shoppers benefit from these and other freebies quite regularly. Mystery shopping is a service provided by marketing agencies for businesses to evaluate their own level of customer service. For example, if you were a restaurant owner, you might want to know how customers evaluate the friendliness and attentiveness of your employees, time spent waiting for service, quality of the food, and the appearance of the restaurant itself. Each of these aspects really adds up and can make or break the overall guest experience. The quality of service that a business provides can be improved substantially by calling on the services of a mystery shopping agency.

Why Become a Secret Shopper?

Any retail company that interacts with the public on a regular basis may use secret shopper services. Restaurants, salons, banks, automobile services, hotels and movie theaters often pay for mystery shopping services, just to name a few. Therefore, a wide variety of legitimate shopper assignments are floating around for the taking. Each assignment varies in difficulty level and payment, with virtually every task including free “stuff”, food, or services in the form of a purchase reimbursement after completion of a job. Many assignments include a base payment on top of the purchase reimbursement received during a shop. Mystery shopper jobs don’t pay by the hour: They do, however, pay a flat rate per assignment that is determined by the difficulty level and length of time that is required for each job. Expect to make anywhere from $5-$10 for a simple assignment, while lengthier assignments pay from $20-$100, and sometimes more.

Aren’t There Scams Out There?

Finding credible mystery shopper jobs is always a concern, but you can easily avoid scams if armed with the right information. Any company that asks for your money is not to be trusted. Reputable mystery shopping agencies would never ask for a fee or try to take your money. The best way to avoid this entirely is to seek out companies approved by the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association). Their website provides a list of trusted secret shopper companies, and easily directs you to each site.

What Does it Take to Be a Secret Shopper?

Getting started is simple and requires no special credentials, although there are a few qualities that will come in handy. Most secret shopper agencies award shops to those who are punctual, honest, highly observant, and able to stay on task. Excellent writing skills are preferred, as most shops require the completion of a short report after the job. The ability to recall and accurately report details is a must, as you may be asked to recall waiting times, lobby appearance, names of employees, and other important, but often overlooked details. When completing a report, it is important to tell it like it is, rather than list things you think one might want to hear about their business. Keep in mind, the employer appointed you as the eyes and ears of the store so that they could improve their business: They want to know what was good about your experience, as well as what was bad or needs improvement. The ability to remain professional and keep from blowing your cover while on location is also a necessity. Once you build up a solid reputation and prove your abilities, you can be granted access to the higher-paying shops on a regular basis.

Mystery Shopping Certifications

Optional MSPA silver or gold mystery shopping certifications may be purchased, although certification is not required in order to be awarded and accept shops. The major benefit of certification is that many MSPA-approved agencies give priority to those with credentials when assigning shops. Every agency issues a “certification” of sorts, in the form of a short test specific to each shop. These tests are free and serve as an evaluation of your understanding of the requirements of an assigned shop.

Finding Mystery Shopper Jobs

The best way to increase your odds of finding more work is by not putting all your eggs in one basket. There is no limit to the amount of secret shopper companies that you may work for at one time, and it’s a great way to keep the cash flowing. There are thousands of mystery shopper jobs worldwide, and many agencies can be contacted via the internet. Most agencies will have you fill out a short application, create an account and take a competency exam to get started. Although full-time work is not likely, mystery shopping is an exciting way to earn money and enjoy free stuff part-time. Happy shopping!