Mystery shopping is a great way to make some extra cash, and it’s something that anyone can do. However, mystery shopping can be time consuming, particularly if you’re new to it. Since mystery shopping jobs pay a flat fee, the slower your shop, the lower your “hourly rate” will be. Here are some easy ways…
As a mystery shopper, it’s very important that you’re able to remain undetectable. Mystery shopping clients are looking for insight into the real customer experience. If you tip off employees at the shop, you won’t be able to provide an accurate picture of what service is like. As a new mystery shopper, it can be…
If you’re looking to supplement your income while supporting businesses in your area, mystery shopping could be a good option for you. Mystery shopping is often touted as an easy way to make extra money, but what many people don’t realize is that mystery shopping requires certain skills, just like any other job. Here are…
Video has changed the game for both mystery shoppers and the companies that work with them. Video mystery shopping gigs are usually much higher-paying than traditional mystery shopping, and they give companies a much more honest, detailed look at their retail experience. So how can you make the jump to these higher paying video mystery…
Mystery shopping is a fun and easy way to make extra money. However, with so many mystery shopping companies out there, you’ll want to make sure that the ones you work with are trustworthy. There are so many mystery shopping companies out there, and in many cases, it can come down to which ones offer…
Mystery shopping can be a wonderful way to make extra money. Not only can it be very engaging, it can also pay the bills in your spare time. It is a flexible type of work, that can be molded to fit your unique schedule, needs, and desires. Want to travel to luxury resorts? Get paid…
We recently wrote about a company that pays mystery shoppers weekly. Well, here’s one that’s even better. Mystery shoppers on Mystery Shop Forum are reporting that Observa pays in as little as a few hours. Now that is fast. One shopper wrote: “Aren’t they awesome? I did a lot of gas station shops for them,…
Want to go to a store and get paid? If that’s what you want, then mystery shopping is the answer. To become a mystery shopper, you’ll need to sign up with a mystery shopping company. The work typically involves following a specific set of instructions, in order to evaluate customer service, and then filling out…
Mystery shopping can have a lot of hidden costs. The biggest one can be wear and tear on your car. The cost of a car adds up: add together gas, plus ongoing maintenance, as well as the eventual replacement cost of a vehicle, and driving is not cheap. That’s one reason to look for mystery…
The typical American spends about $1,200 on fast food annually according to Credit Donkey.com. That breaks down to $100 a month and roughly $12.50 spent per meal. The Motley Fool clarifies this,“From 2015 to 2016, for the first time in history, Americans spent more money at bars and restaurants ($54.857 billion) than they did on…
Arguably, the most important part of mystery shopping is the final step: getting paid. Some companies take months to pay their shoppers. Some have reputations for occasionally paying the wrong amount, or requiring extra work from shoppers to get paid. Standing in sharp contrast, is Ipsos, who recently announced they will be paying mystery shoppers…
Here’s five mystery shopping companies with jobs for mystery shoppers. If you want to have the most opportunities available to you, it is always good to sign up for more companies. Even if those companies don’t have assignments available, Movie Measure – We should have included this in our previous list of companies that pay…
Summer’s here, so why not get paid to go to the movies? Movie theater’s have long been a place where companies need certain information verified. They especially want to know whether the right trailers are played before a movie starts. These are called “trailer checks.” According to our research, the following companies will pay you…
One of the basic questions that every mystery shopper needs to answer is this: How do you find mystery shopping jobs where you live? Fortunately, there are a lot of resources that can make the job search much easier. But — before I present the resources, let me reframe the question a little bit. Instead…
If you want to get paid to shop – you’ve got to connect with companies that will pay you to shop. Here’s a list of five such companies. All of them are actively accepting applications for new mystery shoppers. Kern Scheduling Services works with a wide variety of mystery shopping companies, scheduling assignments for them….
Have you ever wondered how some mystery shoppers are able to make more than pocket change with mystery shopping? In fact, there are mystery shoppers who regularly make hundreds of dollars with mystery shopping – in a single day. (Example.) While there’s more than one way to make this happen, the most common way is…
The significant thing about mystery shopping is the opportunity to sign up with many companies. It gives you a chance to determine what various companies have to offer. It will allow you to make a determination as to what companies will become your favorite. You will become accustomed to the assignments that are a repeat….
Want to get paid to eat at restaurants such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or Chipotle? Then this article is for you. It’s a list of mystery shopping companies that will pay you to shop at fast food restaurants. There’s a few things to keep in mind with this list. First of all, I recommend signing up…
One of the challenges mystery shoppers face, especially when they’re getting started, is finding enough mystery shops to complete This article will show you how to find enough shops in your area, so you’ll no longer be struggling to find more work as a mystery shopper. The first rule of getting more work as a…
According to Secret Shopper, a reputable mystery company, telephone answering skills are critical for businesses. The telephone is still the primary point of contact for many businesses that service their customers. The customer’s opinion may be created from that initial call. The call will leave some type of impression on the caller, whether it is…
Want to make more money as a mystery shopper? Then you’ve got to find more opportunities. Here are five companies that pay mystery shoppers. I recommend signing up for all of these companies, and seeing what they have to offer, and even if they don’t have any assignments for you now, they may in the…
Mobile apps for mystery shoppers are becoming very popular. Mobile apps are becoming as popular as ridesharing is for transportation. It is changing the way shoppers can make money. Mobile apps are convenient and fun. Mobile apps can sometimes be a pain when the platform is not easy to navigate. I will talk about some…
Shoppers, this is a great opportunity to test drive cars and get paid at a dealership. I love these shops. These shops allow you to test drive and check out the latest automobiles at a variety of dealerships. I live in the Houston area and there are tons of dealerships. I have done these shops…
According to the American Senior Communities (ASC), assisted living communities help promote independence among residents. This offers a chance for those individuals to stay socially active. A senior citizen is generally 65 or older, but some communities recognize seniors as 55 and older. Approximately 47 million seniors in the US live in a senior community,…
Mystery shopping is fun and legitimate. And, just as in most legitimate businesses, someone has decided to create a scam out of it by taking advantage of mystery shoppers. If you have received a check or money order through the mail with instructions to deposit the check and then wire a sum of…
7 Grocery stores $298 Bank account opening $80 Car dealership $50 Motorcycle dealership $75 Total $503 Getting ready for the holidays and all the extra spending involved, makes the avid mystery shopper want to do a little bit of extra work if they can. I want to tell you about a stellar shopping day I…
By Diane Snyder As I celebrate 10 years of mystery shopping, I can count 5,000 shops successfully completed. Of the over 5,000 shops I’ve done over this time, I’ve been ‘outed’ as a shopper twice, flaked once and had ‘technical difficulties’ that prevented me from a successful completion three times. 5,000 shops is not too…
People become mystery shoppers for many reasons. There are those who need the money to supplement their basic living expenses, and others who earmark their mystery shopping income for desperately needed vacations. Some folks on fixed incomes depend on their shop incomes to pay for their medications, and some people simply use the money for…
In the quest for new assignments, shoppers are often attracted to the higher paying shops. In my experience, that list would include apartment mystery shops. These assignments require you to visit apartment communities and pose as a potential renter. This is something that most adults have some experience with, so it seems like an easy…
Let’s make some money in the New Year. First you need to sign up with new or new to you mystery shop companies. Mystery Shop Magazine has a long list of potential companies (Click Here), and I will provide links to companies in this article as well. Programs, like Last Pass, a password manager help…
Best Practices to go Undetected as a Mystery Shopper “It is my last day working here, I honestly don’t care anymore.” This was the first words from an associates mouth as I began a mystery shop for a mattress company. Don’t be distracted; continue to do a mystery shop even when the associate is not…
Hark, the holiday shoppers are descending. Stores are filling up with last minute gift givers and the holiday shopping is hitting its peak. If you hate crowds you might wish someone would pay you to go to the mall to get your Christmas shopping done. Well, maybe someone can pay you to mystery shop! Better…
According to the AARP for Medicare, 44 million beneficiaries are enrolled in the Medicare program under the Social Security Act. When a person reaches 65 a person can qualify for Medicare. If a person is under 65 a person can become eligible if they receive Social Security disability insurance. There are two companies that will…
How often do you hit the convenience store for a quick soda or a snack? Can you spend hours looking down the aisles at your grocery store, or do you travel for work or pleasure often? Over 40 million Americans average about 40 minutes in a grocery store weekly, so why not get paid to…
Many shoppers think that they would love to grab a really great hotel shop but few understand all that is involved. Having done several dozen of them over the years, the most interesting thing about them is that the requirements are all just about the same, and if you are willing to put in the…
Written by Kay Altland Ever wondered how to document for your mystery shopping taxes? Or maybe you wondered how to keep your biggest expense allowed on your taxes? What would you do if you won the lottery, as in the IRS lottery, and was audited? I am going to tell you my story on how…
I tried. I really did. I am a very experienced mystery shopper and have been regularly misrepresenting myself to sales personnel on behalf of dozens of mystery shopping companies for seven years. Yet there I was, on the phone with a car dealership salesman, getting my cover blown. I thought I had pulled it off…
You’ve heard about the mystery shoppers who are making a thousand dollars a month and getting amazing perks, but you’ve been doing mystery shops for years and still average only about 100 dollars a month, if you’re lucky. New Mystery Shoppers! Free Book: The Concise Guide to Mystery Shopping Where are these amazing big money…
With over 86,000 bank branches in the US, according to Bank Branch Locator and over 21,000 credit union branches in the US, according to Monitor Bank Rates, the odds of finding an in-person or phone banking mystery shop are definitely in your favor. When I relished visiting new cities, I would schedule 4 or more…
We are currently seeking profiles from successful mystery shoppers. If you would like to share how you earn over $1,000 a month as a mystery shopper, then please send us an email. We will pay you $30 to write an article that gives tips and advice to other shoppers, as well as shares a bit…
The History Channel is a wonderful resource for historical information. Recently, I was perusing their website and I learned that in 1937, the car company, Volkswagen was established and its name at the time “Volkswagenwerk” translates directly into “The People’s Car Company.” During that time, Adolf Hitler was in power and according to the History…
Getting ahead financially can be difficult, especially as the festive season is fast approaching. Unfortunately, most of us spend too much money this time of year on food, presents, and travel. Why not make this year different from the past and pick up a few mystery shops to cash flow your Christmas spending? Here are…
Did you know that one out of every 11 Americans pays almost $100 per month just to park their extra stuff in a storage unit? According to curbed.com, this is exactly what’s happening all across the country. The article states, “The volume of self-storage units in the country could fill the Hoover Dam with old…
According to the book, The Millionaire Next Door, it states, “we define the threshold level of being wealthy as having a net worth of $1 million or more. Based on this definition, only 3.5 million (3.5 percent) of the 100 million households in America are considered wealthy. About 95 percent of millionaires in America have…
Regardless if you are a rookie or a veteran mystery shopper, Mystery Shopper Magazine is dedicated to providing the latest information for those looking for new shopping opportunities. We’ve been digging around and our team has come up with 5 mystery shopping companies that are now hiring new shoppers, is no particular order. Market…
According to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, “The U.S. tire manufacturing industry bolsters the U.S. economy with well-paying jobs and economic output that ripples across the economy and helps sustain communities.” Did you know that the tire manufacturing industry is responsible for producing $148.4 billion dollars and employs more than 737,000 workers across the United…
Today’s mystery shop is all about home energy, saving money, and earning some fast cash – all at the same time. This assignment does not require a purchase which is always a plus for those shoppers who prefer to not spend any more money than they have to, myself included! Mystery Shop Forum has a…
I get it. We are all so busy and the thought of working even more to earn some extra money seems downright impossible. With our jobs, children, and day to day housework, how can anyone find the time to generate cash from a side hustle? Mystery shopping is the answer and here are 5 new…
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, (NCSL) the organization states “Approximately 134,000 jobs were created in September 2018 and the national unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment increased in professional and business services, health care, and in transportation and warehousing.” This is wonderful news to hear that our economy is…
According to ZipRecruiter, the average full-time mystery shopper earns $44,146 per year in the United States. On the low end, this report states shoppers begin at $11,500 all the way up to $121,500 at the profession’s peak. That’s a lot of money and a hefty income for working as a secret shopper. ZipRecruiter states, “This…
Over the past few months, I have been finding myself browsing some local jewelry stores in search of an expensive watch. As I am getting older, I have a much higher appreciation for “quality over quantity” and one day soon, I would really like to purchase a Rolex. Before I get judged prematurely, let me…
It’s hard to believe that it is already October; summer is officially gone and before we know it, Thanksgiving Day will be here. With these upcoming festivities, it may be a good idea to begin thinking of budgeting for the upcoming holiday season. I encourage you to pick up a few extra mystery shops with…
Due to our digital age, the use of technology and the internet has completely revolutionized the landscape of our working world. More and more people have the ability to work from home thanks to the advanced minds of innovators like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Mystery shopping is certainly included in ways that people can…
A popular extra-curricular outdoor activity that involves a motor, oil, and gasoline is, the world famous “All-Terrain Vehicle” (ATV). Most of us don’t remember this but the ATV first came on the scene in the 1960’s, it was packaged as just a slightly abnormal, six-wheeled, tractor-esque looking vehicle. Off-road enthusiasts could enjoy a nice ride…
How many of us go out of our way to willfully donate the gift of life to plasma banks? I know many people who give back on a regular basis but personally, I have never done it. It is hard enough for me to make it down to the doctor’s office to give a sample…
As we progress our way through September, most of us are experiencing life settling back towards a regular routine of normalcy. Now that the kids are back in school, mystery shoppers across the globe have the chance to focus on the things that are really important – making some extra cash. Here are 5 mystery…
The Crowne Plaza hotel is a hospitality corporation with over 400 properties located in 65 different countries across the globe. It’s no wonder why this company is one of the top luxury vacation destinations in the business. According to their website, “Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is one of the largest upscale brands in the…
Whether you are someone who flies domestically or internationally, traveling by airplane has become an average, every day, and regular part of our lives. With the increasing number of discount airlines popping up across the country, travelers are able to fly easily to another city and enjoy an extra long weekend every now and then….
Millions of hipsters, millennials, and just plain old “regular people” around the world have recognized the importance of having a side hustle – also known as, a part-time job, on top of their normal daytime positions. Whether your gig is walking dogs, building websites, or completing mystery shops, there is something out there for everyone….
If you are a mystery shopper looking for a no-nonsense, “Git ‘Er Done” kind of assignment, look no further, your opportunity has arrived. According to Ellis, a mystery shopping company located in Irving, Texas, “Merchandising jobs usually have set hours and days and involve replacing store products and setting up store displays.” These positions usually…
I am definitely out of the loop when it comes to “the latest and greatest” trends going on around the world. Recently, it has been brought to my attention that there is a novelty candy store chain that is known for selling mega-sized portions of America’s favorite sweet treats to their sugar-loving customers. If the…
For whatever reason, I think that all Mystery Shoppers sometimes get tired of conducting the same old shops after a while on the job. Of course, none of us would actually ever give up entirely on our craft, but the fact of the matter is that sometimes we get “burned out” dealing with life’s stressors…
Have you ever wondered how many domesticated pets there are living in the United States? According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the number of animals owned as pets is listed into the following categories: 20.3 million birds 94.2 million cats 89.7 million dogs 7.6 million horses 139 million freshwater fish 9.4 million reptiles…
We have all been there. It’s Monday at 7 a.m. and the whole family is frantically scurrying around the house having showers, preparing lunches, and trying to get the children dressed for school. A situation like this can be a stressful one but guess what? One of your small children has your smartphone, and he…
The automobile repair business generates billions of dollars each year within the United States. According to IBISWorld Industry Research, “As the average age of vehicles increases, demand for industry services grows, as routine maintenance and repairs are typically necessary to keep vehicles running. Older vehicles require more frequent repairs, supporting industry growth.” The site states…
Children all over the country have just begun another school year and are back into the full swing of the “back to school” routine. The expenses for new clothes, shoes, and supplies is something every parent has encountered this time of year. Here are 5 mystery shopping companies that are hiring so that you can…
We have heard the horror stories of people who have been enticed with a free hotel stay and a free gift just to attend a so-called, “presentation.” Everything usually starts out well and dandy with a well-spoken representative of a timeshare company who just innocently wants to inform their group of listeners about their special…
We live in a day where the aged are living much longer compared to their ancestors, thanks to modern medicine and the advancement of technology. What is alarming is that millions of Americans still “brush” their dental work off to the side, and some skip years of routine cleaning and maintenance due to lack of…
The housing market across the United States did behave as planned according to some industry experts last year. In fact, everything they thought would happen, didn’t. According to Forbes, Skyler Olsen, who serves as the senior economist at Zillow stated, “We thought there would be some things to take the pressure off.” She goes on…
Dogs, cats, birds, ferrets, and even pigs play an active role within the modern day American family. There comes a time in most households where young children desire to take on the responsibility of feeding, walking, and grooming a pet of their own. According to PRN Newswire, the pet industry across the United States is…
According to Pew Research, the Christian population within the United States has dropped from 78.4 percent to 70.6 percent between the year 2007 and 2014. Why is this? Apparently, the Protestants and Catholics are experiencing a decline in their faiths while non-denominational and non-Christian faiths are beginning to increase. Another not-so-common fact about the…
Depending on where you may live across the country, it has been a hot, dry and humid summer. Don’t be like everyone else and kick back into vacation mode, make the best of this time to get ahead and earn some extra cash by mystery shopping. While everyone else is taking it easy, you have…
Underage drinking is a real issue that the hospitality industry faces on a day-to-day basis. In order for brewhouses, pubs, night clubs, and restaurants to stay in business, there are laws that they must follow, or else they will be put out of business. Cracking down on minors trying to purchase alcohol is a part…
One of the basic questions that every mystery shopper needs to answer is this: How do you find mystery shopping jobs where you live? Fortunately, there are a lot of resources that can make the job search much easier. But — before I present the resources, let me reframe the question a little bit. Instead…
Looking for a legitimate way to earn some extra money can be a difficult task with so many “get rich quick” and offers that promise to bring in easy money by working at home, stuffing envelopes five hours a week. It’s no wonder why people get discouraged and think that it is not possible to…
How long has it been since you have last visited the zoo? Maybe you went when you were just a child, and perhaps now you are reliving your childhood through the eyes of your own children. Whatever your answer may be, the zoo is truly a wonderful place for the entire family to spend a…
I have been asked on more than a few occasions by those living in the “Great White North” to provide some mystery shopping assignments offered in Canada. Even though I live and work in the United States, I have a love for this great country. It’s not just because the people are so nice, but…
It is the hottest season of the year, and it is important to take some time out for you and your family to relax and enjoy these “dog days” of summer. While you are at it, check out some of the latest companies who are looking for mystery shoppers to join their team. Here are…
Company Overview: VeriTES is a member of the Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) Company and is dedicated to serving all of their global clients through powerful marketing solutions. A couple of the industries that they serve are film studios and cinemas. They hire field representatives like mystery shoppers and assignment auditors to complete various jobs within…
Happy belated Fourth of July. Millions of Americans have just wrapped up celebrating one of the most important days of the year, Independence Day. This is a time where the people of the United States honor the signing of the Declaration of Independence that took place way back in the year 1776. According to The…
If there are extra ways of making money within the mystery shopping industry, I definitely want to hear about it. Afterall, this is something that we all do on a regular basis, why wouldn’t shoppers want to earn an extra $100 on top of their mystery shopping assignments? Every dollar counts, and if you are…
Did you know that the first licensed pizzeria to sell pizza within the United States was a restaurant named “Lombardi’s” and was located on Spring Street in Manhattan, NY? Well, according to history.com it was, and the popular dish began its reign in the year 1905. Although not currently operating at the original site, today,…
Summer has arrived and depended on where you live, afternoons are hotter, days are getting longer, and the nights are wonderfully comfortable. Everyone has worked hard all year long and you may find yourself enjoying a little bit of downtime during this vacation season. Why not pick up a few extra mystery shops during these…
According to Wikipedia, the countries with the most amount of golf courses from highest to lowest are as follows: Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Wales, United States, Sweden, and England. However, the United States is the only country to send an astronaut to the moon who was actually able to drive a golf ball…
Well, this is a first. Today I was looking through some of the new mystery shopping opportunities listed on the Mystery Shop Forum and I found a very intriguing assignment. It appears that the original payment for this shop began at $25 but is now offering a $10 bonus, so it’s been boosted up to…
Whether you are currently in school, out of school, or have ever been in school, we can all relate to all of the work, effort, and stress that goes into preparing for a test. How would you like to be able to show up to a testing center without a care in the world and…
Have you adopted one of latest methods of paying for goods and services online with using Google Pay yet? Personally, I have not given it a try as of today, however, it appears that this is the way our world of e-commerce is heading whether we like it or not. The Mystery Shop Forum…
Putt-putt, mini golf, par three, pee wee golf, whatever the term is that you use to reference this family-friendly game, it has provided good clean fun for the past 60 years. According to USA Today Sports, in 1954, a man named Don Clayton opened the first mini golf course in Fayetteville, North Carolina and within…
Parents everywhere have almost made it through another school year as we approach the summer break. This means that children everywhere will be enjoying their time off of school and we parents need to keep them productively occupied and mystery shopping is a great way to help pay for those extracurricular activities. Here are 5…
It appears that the folks over at KSS International are at it again, as they are currently recruiting mystery shoppers to perform assignments in the financial sector. These kind of shops are some of the best paying gigs around, and this one is certainly no different. Mystery Shoppers are needed to open up checking accounts…
One of the most precious items that we all feel the need to take with us before we leave the house, is our hallowed cell phones. It doesn’t matter if you are sporting an old-school flip, candy bar, or smartphone, this is the one thing that most of us can’t live without. Heavens to Betsy,…
Company Overview: FreeEats is a fun way to make some extra money by clicking on links sent to members via text messages. According to their website, “We pay registered members to respond to surveys and view our clients’ advertising and other content on registered mobile devices. If you register, you’ll get paid to receive messages…
Are you the type of person who is always on the lookout for additional money-making opportunities to help supplement your income? Me too, and I get very excited when I learn about these kinds of jobs. Mystery shopping is a wonderful way to earn extra cash but there are additional ways shoppers can get ahead…
Seasoned mystery shoppers that have been working in the industry for a while are great at figuring out the kinds of assignments that work for the best for them. Personally, I get a little tired of having to shell out money in order to complete a mystery shop. So, when I find a job that…
Company Overview: Observa is an app-based company that provides “real-time insight into your retail sales and marketing efforts. You will see what your customers see as they make their decision.” In this case, the customer would be you, the mystery shopper, who will accept assignments from their smartphone and report on specific products and merchandise….
Are you a person who frequently enjoys the luxury of air travel? These days, flying by airplane really isn’t only for the rich and elite anymore, but has actually become a regular way of life for millions of people around the world. Who would have thought that mystery shopping companies would be offering these kinds…
Supplementing incomes in addition to “regular” jobs can be accomplished in a variety of ways such as mystery shopping, delivering pizzas, cleaning houses, designing artwork, or any other kind of side hustle that one may be interested in doing. Along with mystery shopping, a money-making opportunity that we often hear about in the industry is…
Do you realize that Mother’s Day is right around the corner? I know, it snuck up on me too. However, this special day to honor mommies everywhere is arriving on Sunday, May 13, 2018. This means that you only have a little over a week to splurge and show her how much she means to…
We live in a fast-paced and technology-driven world and the mystery shopping industry is certainly no different. I am discovering more and more mystery shopping smartphone applications that are simple to navigate, offer easy and quick assignments, and pays shoppers that same day. These new companies are “raising the bar” for industry’s standards and are…
Visiting a hotel is always a fun experience and depending on the chain, mystery shoppers have an opportunity to capitalize on not only making a cool $25, but on free stuff as well. If you were complete this hotel shop before 10 a.m. the chances are good that they will be serving a complimentary breakfast…
One of the things that I personally look for when choosing a mystery shop is, of course, the money, but what else is important to me is the amount of time it should take to complete the assignment. Quickly, I will figure out the dollar to time ratio and if I don’t feel that it…
Finding the time to make some extra money is sometimes a difficult task for some people to accomplish, especially if you already work a full-time job, have a spouse, and have children to care for. That’s why mystery shopping is such a great option for those who find themselves to be regularly “on the move.”…
In my opinion, mystery shopping is the best way to make some extra money because there are no set obligations to take on an assignment. If you see a job that you like, you can just sign up for it but if you see one you don’t like, simply move on to the next opportunity…
Company Overview: Hendrickson Business Advisors is a market research company specializing in mystery shopping, focus groups, and other marketing planning services. A unique aspect of their company is that they offer church mystery shopping opportunities for those who enjoy visiting different places of worship. How to Sign Up and Get Assignments: Becoming a mystery…
Whenever I learn about a highly profitable mystery shop, thoughts of excitement, joy, and of course, dollar signs enters into my mind. Work from home Mystery Shopping assignments is especially motivating because of the high level of profitability. Knowing that a shop can be completed from the comfort of your own home is invigorating because…
Mystery Shopping has given the average American family the ability to become wealthy. Some of you might say, “yeah right” to this bold statement but before you begin posting comments that you would never have the nerve to say face to face, please hear me out before deciding on burning me at the stake. …
Mystery shopping gives independent contractors the ability to not only make some extra money but to also reap the rewards of receiving free goods and services also. I think all of our fellow mystery shoppers can agree that we rely heavily on the use of our personal vehicles to get us to work, school, and…
Mystery Shopping is one of the best part-time (or full-time) jobs for those who embrace convenience, flexibility, and freedom. Not only can shoppers pick and choose the type of assignments they want but they can do them almost any time of the day. Here are 5 more mystery shopping companies to consider in no particular…
According to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), the home improvement industry is projected to produce “healthy and stable growth” and is expected to continue growing in 2018. It’s no wonder why this area of business is seeking the help of mystery shopping companies across the country – home improvement is a booming trade!…
Mystery shopping is unique because it is one of the few occupations that encompasses such a wide variety of assignments. This is a good thing because it is the type of job that can be appealing to anyone wishing to make some extra cash. Whether you enjoy performing shops in retail, automotive, banking or food…
Finding a legitimate way to earn some extra money can be difficult and that’s why mystery shopping is the perfect side hustle. There are plenty of great companies that offer mystery shoppers a way to get ahead in this sometimes “dog eat dog” world that we live in. Here are 5 new mystery shopping companies…
Mystery Shopping is a great way to make some extra cash in a relatively short period of time. It is a flexible, convenient and fun environment where shoppers can pick and choose the types of shops specific to their personal interests. If you enjoy heading out to the car lot and checking out some new…
One of the latest trends that I have noticed in the financial industry are institutions paying new potential customers hundreds of dollars just to open up a bank account. This tells me that these banks have entirely way too much money, but that is a discussion for another day. The positive aspects of these kinds…
Health, fitness, and staying in shape is probably more popular now than it’s been ever before. Everywhere you look we are bombarded with television commercials, radio advertisements and billboards promising you a rock hard body by simply signing up for a gym membership. I mean it’s really that easy to turn your physique into one…
Mystery Shopping is the kind of part-time side hustle that can be very profitable. Today, I have found that easy, quick, and lucrative opportunity and would like to share it with all of you. The opportunity was posted on the Mystery Shop Forum; a tremendous resource for mystery shoppers all over the United States and…
Life can get very hectic juggling children, relationships, and careers that it can become difficult to find the extra time to dedicate to mystery shopping. However, with a little bit of planning and organizing, you may be surprised how much extra money you can make by doing some of the things you love. Here are…
Company Overview: SeeLevel Human Experience (HX) is a research company dedicated to offering mystery shops in virtually every industry. Restaurants, banks, automotive and retail are just a few of the areas they serve. On a yearly basis, SeeLevel HX completes more than 250,000 mystery shopping opportunities thanks to their independent contractors. How to Sign…
If you or someone you know has children then you recognize the importance of finding a reputable, trustworthy and educational facility. There are so many variables involved in discovering a high-quality early learning environment. It is like locating a hidden treasure when you come across one that you would actually agree to enroll your kids…
Most of us living in the United States have an excessive accumulation of “stuff” hiding in our basements, closets, spare bedrooms, garages and sheds that need a good spring cleaning. It is so easy to go by the motto “out of sight, out of mind” when it comes to storing all of our belongings that…
Millions of Americans spent a small fortune this week expressing their love through purchasing flowers, chocolate and gourmet meals for that special loved one. Unfortunately, these things come at a cost and we all know Valentine’s Day can be a very expensive day. That’s why I’m recommending to check out 5 new mystery shops and…
I have personally conducted many new car mystery shopping assignments at automobile dealerships which have usually paid between $14 and $18. Interestingly enough, there is an exciting job available for shoppers looking to take a new car out for a spin that is paying an impressive $50 which has been recently posted on the Mystery…
If you live in a home that has wall-to-wall carpeting, then you know how quickly this kind of flooring can get dirty. All it takes is a couple pet stains, coffee spills, or markers to stain your carpets and it is time for a deep professional cleaning. The Mystery Shop Forum has a new mystery…
A very large mattress company is currently looking for mystery shoppers to conduct a fast and simple assignment available all over the United States. This job was posted earlier this week on the Mystery Shop Forum and states, “This is a very easy shop with a short form and no comments!” If you enjoy…
February has fallen upon us and you know what that means – it’s almost Valentine’s Day! This special day of celebrating love can also be a pricey one; especially when you add in flowers, chocolate, and going out to dine at a quaint restaurant. Mystery Shopping can help pad your wallet to make this Valentine’s…
Finding new ways to earn extra money is something that I am always consciously aware of and when I find a unique opportunity, I like to “spread the word” to as many people as possible. Today, I have found a really cool way to make some extra cash and it’s not your typical mystery…
Company Overview: According to their website, Amusement Advantage has been the “Exclusive member to the attractions industry since 1996.” The mystery shopping company was founded by Scot and Christine Carson out of their passion for the amusement park industry. Amusement Advantage is based out of Arvada, Colorado but has mystery shoppers and accounts located all…
If you are like me, I love discovering fast, easy, and high paying mystery shops to perform. Today’s mystery shopping opportunity may just be one of the easiest shops I’ve ever stumbled across and it was recently posted on the Mystery Shop Forum. Today’s mystery shop involves shoppers to be paid $15 just to…
Let’s face it, most people who make new year resolutions never see them through to the end so why not make one that you will actually accomplish? There are numerous new mystery shopping opportunities available all over the United States. Check out 5 new companies that are hiring shoppers right now in no particular order….
Today is a very important day in United States history – it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and it is a time to celebrate a great life who fought for the equality for all of mankind. Do you know what else I am thankful for? The opportunity to earn as much (or as little)…
Mystery Shopping is an interesting occupation mostly because of the wide variety of industries it encompasses. Virtually every organization on the planet can benefit from having mystery shoppers visit their place of business to make sure that customers are greeted with a smile, asked important questions, and are treated according to the highest of company…
Company Overview: Clear Evaluations is a mystery shopping company dedicated to serving the following industries: apartments, new home builders, automotive services, sales, banks, hotels, retail, and restaurants. The organization has been specializing in the video mystery shopping field for over 15 years and is located in Houston, Texas. How to Sign up and Get…
Entering a new year is a fresh and new beginning but it can also bring in some not so desirable parts with it – holiday debt. At Mystery Shopper Magazine, we are always in search of finding interesting, fun, and high paying assignments for our readers to take advantage of. Today we have found a…
The new year has officially fallen upon us and perhaps you have a brand new resolution to earn more money in 2018. A great way to accomplish this goal is to add some mystery shopping companies to your portfolio. If you start now, you will be financially ready to pay off that annoying credit card…
It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone and the new year is only a couple of days away. I cannot think of a better way to ring in 2018 than with indulging in a fresh, tasty, and delicious pizza. Papa John’s is one of the most recognizable pizza restaurant companies in…
A part of my weekly routine consists of frequenting various mystery shopping websites in search of the latest assignments and information that you the shopper may find useful to know. I came across an interesting job assignment on the Mystery Shop Forum that goes hand in hand with the profession of mystery shopping itself. …
As the saying goes, “The greatest things in life are free” and this mystery shopping assignment is certainly that and more. Not only does this shop offer a free dental cleaning but you will also receive free x-rays along with an additional $8.00 for your time. Where else can you go and get paid to…
One of my favorite parts about researching mystery shopping opportunities is finding a wide variety of some of the most unique and interesting jobs out there. Today’s mystery shopping assignment may just be the front-runner on my list of all-time greats. Mystery Shop Forum, the number one source for all things mystery shopping, has a…
Company Overview: Mystery Shopper Pros (MSP) is a mystery shopping company based in the city of Jacksonville, Florida with the motto, “Coming Together is a Beginning, Keeping Together is Progress and Working Together is Success.” They are currently hiring mystery shoppers for the upcoming Christmas season. Some of the kinds of assignments offered are in the…
A tremendous mystery shopping opportunity awaits for the readers of our industry’s premium source for information – the Mystery Shop Forum. Currently, there is an interesting childcare facility tour assignment for those who have children five years old or younger. Actually, you do not even have to be a real parent; this shop states that…
It is hard to believe that in only a few short weeks we will be entering the Christmas season. Families across the world will be traveling and gathering together to celebrate this special time of year. With this festive time filled with food, presents, and fun also brings with it a lot of additional expenses….
Company Overview: Primo Solutions LLC is a full-service Mystery Shopping and marketing company that provides assignments in the senior living industry. Primo Solutions offers shops within an independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, home health, and rehabilitation environment. This company prides themselves on being “the largest provider of mystery shops in the senior living space.”…
Every Sunday morning, millions of people across the country come together to attend church services or other religious gatherings. Do you fit into this category? If so, you will love this new mystery shopping opportunity found on the Mystery Shop Forum. This mystery shop is not just for those who attend church, in fact, this…
Company Overview: Reality Based Group (RBG) has been rooted in the mystery shopping industry for over 22 years. According to their website it states, “Reality Based Group offers every form of mystery shopping imaginable to fit your needs. From video, written, phone, and online mystery shopping to manufacturer and competitive mystery shopping, RBG has you…
Today is Thanksgiving, and I would like to wish each and every person a wonderful holiday. We all have a lot to be thankful for and one thing that comes to mind is having the ability to make extra money through jobs like mystery shopping. These opportunities truly give shoppers the freedom of supplementing their…
In case you were unaware, Mystery Shop Forum is the premier online resource for mystery shoppers all over the world. Recently, I found an investment assignment listed under the “Mystery Shopping Job Board” that pays $40 dollars for an hour of your time. These shops are available all over the United States and they do…
We are approaching two of the busiest times of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas. As everyone knows, the holidays also bring a lot of fun, food, and the need for some extra funds. Having extra cash on hand is a necessity this time of year so why not begin to pick up a few extra…
Company Overview: GfK is a large international company with employees working all over the world. In 2016, they reported a total of 13,069 workers globally in areas like Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia. GfK offers mystery shopping assignments in a ton of areas such as automotive, energy, fashion, financial services, health, travel, retail,…
The holidays are fast approaching, and we could all use some well-paying mystery shopping assignments in preparation for this potentially expensive time of year. Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas are all coming very quickly and if we’re not careful with our money, we could find ourselves in the red. So, let’s get ready for…
In case you didn’t know, Mystery Shop Forum holds a wealth of information for everything mystery shopping related. There is a section on the forum titled, “Mystery Shopping Job Board,” where aspiring and seasoned mystery shoppers can go to find out the latest and greatest mystery shopping jobs around. As it turns out, there is…
Whether you love or loathe technology, today’s marketplace is moving towards an online era, and mystery shopping is definitely included. The nice aspect of this trend is that it is mystery shopping is becoming a quicker, time efficient, and convenient way to complete shopping assignments through our smartphones which translates into getting paid even faster….
Telephone mystery shops are some of the most time-efficient, stress-free, and profitable ways to make extra money. One of the best things about completing these types of assignments is that they can be done anywhere. Shops can be accomplished at home, in the car, or even on your lunch break. Check out these 5 new…
One of the latest trends in mystery shopping is completing video shopping assignments. These kinds of shops can vary from company to company, but they all have one thing in common – taking a video of your shopping experience. Video mystery shopping assignments typically pay very well, and I recently stumbled across a posting from…
The mystery shopping industry is flooded with companies that require their shoppers to conduct assignments away from home, in the field. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way for mystery shoppers to complete jobs from the comfort of their own home? Well, there are certainly options for those wishing they could perform assignments…
We live in a digital era where more companies are quickly transitioning their business models online and mystery shopping is certainly no exception. There will always be a need for face-to-face assignments however, online mystery shopping is gaining a lot of traction and companies realize that most Americans can’t go anywhere without a smartphone in…
One of my favorite mystery shopping assignments are at name brand car dealerships. One company in particular has quite a few brand-name auto dealership assignments from one of the largest car companies in North America. That company is Bestmark. I’ve personally conducted several of these mystery shopping assignments and have enjoyed them very much. …
Dental mystery shops are assignments that are very new to me. Believe it or not, there is a company out there that specializes in providing their shoppers with free dental exams, x-rays, and treatment plan and will also pay you up to $150 on top of that. That’s well over $250 worth of cash and…
Ikea is one of the top home furnishing retail giants and if you’ve ever shopped there, you know why. They have everything from beds to ladle spoons and offer terrific storage ideas suited to a wide demographic. Have you ever wondered if there are mystery shopping opportunities at IKEA? Well, I’m happy to inform you…
Have you ever wondered how to become a mystery shopper exclusively at Walmart? Unfortunately, there have been some Walmart scams floating around the internet, but Mystery Shopping Magazine has found a legitimate company who offers quality assignments with the mega, retail giant. Interested? Keep reading to learn how to sign up for these exciting shopping…
Company Overview: Mercantile Systems, Inc. is a mystery shopping company located in Brentwood, CA and promises to “give business owners and management peace of mind by providing accurate, customized products that show you the truth about what is happening throughout your company.” This organization is proudly affiliated with the Mystery Shoppers Providers Association, (MSPA) California…
Mystery shopping is not only a flexible, convenient, and easy way to make extra money, it is something that can be completed at any time during the year. Autumn is the perfect season to begin mystery shopping and start earning cash for the holiday season. Here are 5 mystery shopping companies hiring right now. …
Company Overview: Informa Research Services Inc., is a mystery shopping company that is located in Calabasas, CA. They specialize in providing assignments in the banking, credit union, credit card companies, law firms, lenders, brokers, insurance companies, corporations, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to name a few. Informa is a complete and comprehensive research firm…
It is simple to find ways to make an extra $300 a month. Easy for me to say right? Yes, but, these are things that I have applied in my own life and try to “practice what I preach.” Mystery Shopping is a great way to help you reach your $300 a month goal…
Company Overview: Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers, (QAMS) are currently looking for newly qualified mystery shoppers to join their company. They are offering shopping assignments in every state within the United States, (except Nevada) and also provide shops in every province in Canada. Having been in operation for over 25 years, QAMS is a veteran company…
It is possible to make an extra $100 a week on your commute home from work. By signing up for just one mystery shopping assignment a day, you can make an additional $20 a day, $100 a week, or $5,200 a year just by completing one quick shop either on your way to work, during…
Company Overview: Albatross CX is a mystery shopping company that offers assignments all over the world including the United States and Canada. Their website states that they are, “proud to be a genuinely diverse company, with a staff that is over 50% women and represents over 26 different nationalities.” Albatross CX represents 200 clients and…
Finding ways to earn extra money is hard, that’s why we love the mystery shopping industry. It gives shoppers like you and I a fun, interactive, and honest way to make money on the side. At Mystery Shopper Magazine, we are passionate about our craft, and we’re always looking for the best mystery shopping companies…
Mystery shopping is a convenient and legitimate way to make $100 in less than half a week. Shoppers have the unique opportunity to complete assignments around their schedules and on their terms. Mystery shops can be done in the morning, afternoon, and evening as well as every day of the week. Does your employer allow…
Our mission is to give shoppers the best mystery shopping companies for new and seasoned shoppers. We take the guesswork out of wondering, “is this mystery shopping company legitimate?” At Mystery Shopper Magazine, we pride ourselves in finding high-quality companies for shoppers to make extra money with. Here are 5 of them looking for new…
It is possible to make a lot of money mystery shopping. How? Well, for this shopper it all began with receiving an email titled, “Sign up and Become a Mystery Shopper!” At this time, the shopper was a 30-year-old law school graduate with nothing but $45,000 of debt under his belt. In the beginning of…
Are you looking for a simple way to make some extra money without having to get another job? Mystery shopping is a great way to increase your income without being away from your family. Better yet, let them browse around the store while you complete your assignment. Here are 5 mystery shopping companies that are…
Company Overview: Reality Check has been assisting companies by providing mystery shopping, satisfaction surveys, and audits for over 20 years. Based out of Seattle, WA, the industries of expertise range from retail, property management, casinos, restaurants, grocery as well as various specialty fields as well. How to Sign Up and Get Assignments: Reality Check’s…
As the summer is closing in, it is time for the children to go back to school all across the United States. This means parents will be forking out cash for supplies, lunches, and field trips. A great way to supplement your income is by completing some mystery shopping assignments in your spare time. Here…
Company Overview: Service Sleuth (an HS Brands company) is an international mystery shopping organization with offices located in Switzerland, India, Las Vegas, and Boston. Mystery shoppers can work from virtually anywhere in the world they and serve the North America, Latin America, Middle East, Europe and Asian markets. This company is one of the few…
Becoming a mystery shopper is easier to get into now, more than ever before. There are hundreds of companies that can provide you with a ton of opportunities to start earning some extra money. It’s a flexible, convenient, and a fun way to work without feeling like it’s a typical job. Here are 5 more…
I get it, you’re busy, and you hardly have enough time in the day to get everything done as it is, never mind try to go mystery shopping to earn some extra money. There are ways, but it may require a little extra planning and effort. Here are 5 ways to fit mystery shopping into…
Back to school time is almost here and it’s time to prepare for the upcoming year. The student in your life needs new shoes, clothes, and school supplies and we all could use some extra cash right about now. Mystery shopping is a great way to pay for those hefty expenses. Here are 5 more…
According to CNBC, The average American family owes $8,377 in credit card debt. In fact, the United States as a whole owes over $1 trillion in credit card debt alone. This is a scary place to be and I want to help you change your life for the better and escape the trap of financial…
If you have ever thought about giving mystery shopping a try, now is the perfect time to earn some extra money on a regular basis. Why not get paid for shopping at stores that you know and love? It’s a great excuse to get out of the house, browse your favorite stores, and get paid…
If you are enjoying the slow pace of summer, it may be time to start thinking about squeezing in some mystery shopping assignments before the busy fall season begins. There are a lot of extra shops available this time of year, so why not be proactive and make some extra cash? Here are 5 more…
Company Overview: A Closer Look (ACL) is a mystery shopping company located in Norcross, GA and they have been in operation for over 20 years. The organization is one of the few licensed to schedule and perform mystery shopping assignments in the state of Nevada. According to their website, they make sure their mystery shoppers…
Finding a legitimate way to make extra cash doesn’t have to be difficult. The good news is that we have already “been there, done that” so we know there are really great mystery shopping companies worth signing up with and working for. Here are 5 new mystery shopping companies to check out in no particular…
Have you been looking for a way to make some extra money that’s real, honest and legitimate? Becoming a mystery shopper may be the answer that you have been looking for. There are tons of reputable mystery shopping companies that are looking for everyday people to review local businesses in their community. Here are five…
If you want to make a few extra dollars, mystery shopping can be a great way to supplement your income. There are many advantages to mystery shopping. There isn’t a set number of hours you must work, in fact, you may work as much or as little as you want. Here are 5 new mystery…
Mystery Shopping is a fun way to make money this time of year. On top of getting a possible tax benefit, in the form of deductions, you can also make some extra coin to spend any way you want. Who doesn’t like some extra jingle in their pockets to buy that item that you’ve been…
Have you ever wanted a great way to make some extra cash that fit into your own schedule? If you have, then becoming a Mystery Shopper is something you will want to do. It’s a lot of fun and the best part is that you get paid to shop! Here are 5 mystery shopping companies…
It is never too late to start earning a little extra jingle in your pockets. If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, here are 5 companies you should check out. 1. About Face states that they hire independent contractors, not employees. They pay only through PayPal so if you don’t…
A great way to supplement your income is by becoming a mystery shopper. Not only can you make some extra money, it’s free and easy to get involved. Be cautious of any company that requires a payment to join their team, it is likely, not legit. Mystery Shopper Magazine finds legitimate mystery shopping companies, and…
Written by an Anonymous Mystery Shopper Everyone thinks that nurses make money. They lied. In reality it’s the convenience of working a traditional twelve hour shift three days a week that makes it easier to pick up extra shifts or another job. I’ve always worked per diem or did overtime, until I had my daughter….
Mystery Shopping is a great way to make extra money and can fit around anyone’s schedule. It can be done part-time to earn extra money for a special occasion, and if you’re looking to make up to $1,000 a month – it’s definitely possible. It’s a good idea to be proactive and be on the…
Making a few extra bucks can be a good thing at this time of year when our holiday bill comes in the credit cards have been used. I have personally used all these companies and can vouch that they are legitimate and do pay for accepted shops. For the purpose of this article, I consider a…
How are your new year’s resolutions coming along? Don’t fret! there is still plenty of time left to earn extra money in 2017 as a mystery shopper. We have some exciting opportunities for you to earn up to $1,000 a month doing the things you love – shopping! It’s always a good idea to add…
Written By Just for You (An Anonymous Mystery Shopper) I started off mystery shopping when my children were younger and at home. I had 3 children and did not want to work a full time job but wanted to supplement my income. As they grew older I had a job and wanted to supplement that job…
This guide shows you how to get the most luxurious mystery shopping assignments around, even if you’re starting from scratch. These 14 steps will get you started as a mystery shopper, and end up with you getting paid to stay at 5 star hotels. Step 1: Set up a Mystery Shopper email for yourself. Mystery…
Whether you want to earn $1,000 a month as a mystery shopper, or just a few extra dollars for the holidays, it always helps to sign up for more mystery shopping companies. You’ll get more opportunities that you can pick and choose from. Keep in mind that some of these companies might not have any…
Here at mystery shopper magazine we have published a lot of information about how to become a successful mystery shopper. If you want to know what it takes to earn $1,000 in one month as a mystery shopper, this post is for you. Before I go into details, let me cover a few basic points….
The following is a list of 5 companies with jobs available for mystery shoppers. The more companies you register with, the more assignments you’ll have available to you. Even if these companies don’t have jobs available right now in your area, they may in the future. For mystery shoppers who want to make the most…
If you’re a mystery shopper, you want to work with companies that respect you and respect your time. As a mystery shopper, you are doing a job that involves coordinating quite a bit of moving parts. You have to memorize instructions for each assignment, accurately recall important details, complete the assignment during the scheduled time,…
Written By Sandcastle808 To round out your shopping portfolio, it’s fun to shop for some companies that have apps. I enjoy performing shops on the apps because they are usually pretty easy to enter. I can sit down for coffee and whip out a few reports before even I get home. I absolutely love not…
As shoppers, we are always on the look-out for great mystery shopping companies. I have worked with a few of these companies below and I can attest to the fact that they are great companies, paying in a reasonable amount of time, with excellent schedulers. While I have not worked with all these companies, my…
Sometimes mystery shoppers are just plain obvious. And it is not their fault. The assignments they are given simply scream out the fact that they are a mystery shopper. The following is a list of 10 such assignments. It is the final list in our series of assignments that scream “mystery shopper”. Part 1. Part…
This week, we talk about 5 new mystery shopping companies. You may already be a part of most or all of them. Some of you might not know much about a particular one listed here. Hopefully, this article will shed some light on some of the facts about each mystery shopping company. Remember, the…
This week, we talk about some popular and some lesser known mystery shopping companies. A few of these companies you will recognize and a few you might not be signed up with yet. As we talked about before, sign up with as many MSC’s as you can! This will help you to have diversity with…
We’ve all had shops that made us question our sanity for taking them because of the “undeniably-obvious -you- must-be-a-mystery-shopper-factor.” As a followup to our recent article, 10 Assignments that Scream “Mystery Shopper,” here are 10 more assignments that drive shoppers bonkers. 1) You give a fake name as instructed.. You did exactly as they told…
Note: In order to protect their identity as a mystery shopper, the author of this article has chosen to remain anonymous. I am a part-time shopper and a full-time employee of a hotel. I have been a shopper since 2010. I like this job because I can enjoy shopping and traveling to a lot of…
Note: The author of this article has chosen to remain anonymous. I am a full time mystery shopper (due to necessity and health) in addition to being a merchandiser and an occasional demo person. In the month of July, 2015, I earned a total of $1,031.12 for mystery shopping alone. Yes, I do mystery shopping…
There are always new and exciting shops offered by some great mystery shopping companies. Some of our shoppers have never heard of a few of these companies and we try to introduce some lesser known mystery shopping companies. Many shoppers will recognize these mystery shopping companies, but in case you have not signed up with…
Note: Due to the personal nature of posting exact income, the author of this article has chosen to be anonymous. As a mystery shopper my life is different from day to day, week to week, and month to month. I mystery shop as my full time job and it is my only source of income….
We recently reached out to the folks at SurfMerchants, and asked them to send us a compilation of mystery shopping assignments that seem particularly interesting. Why? They’ve created the scheduling software that powers many of the very best mystery shopping companies. Below is their first submission – 3 assignments, from 3 companies. We’ve linked to…
We’ve all had shops that made us question our sanity for taking them because of the “undeniably-obvious -you- must-be-a-mystery-shopper-factor.” If clients could rotate the questions and we did not have to ask for strange requests in hotels, our risk factor at being spotted as a mystery shopper might likely decrease. Here are a list of…
As a follow up to our recent post, 13 assignments that shoppers love to hate, here is a list of 12 more shops that many shoppers avoid like the plague. Oddly, some shoppers love these assignments. It goes to show, mystery shoppers are a very diverse group of people. Are these shops on your 10-fooot-pole…
You hear a lot about mystery shopping schedulers and editors who work quietly behind the scenes in the background, tirelessly posting new assignments at all hours, answering emails long after they have gone home, making sure to get projects up on the board, juggling emails, phone calls, dealing with thousands of shoppers daily (calls and…
Mystery shoppers should always be on the look out for new companies with good opportunities. The more companies you register with, the more opportunities you’ll have. Here are five companies with jobs available for shoppers. They cover a very wide range of industries and regions. Most shoppers are probably signed up with one of these…
From breaking ankles to buildings literally falling apart, mystery shoppers sure have some stories to tell! Shootouts and stolen pizzas, a frightening experience with a cold, a dead body found in the bushes. Here are some of Mystery Shop Forum’s member’s own stories of a “not-so-typical-day” with mystery shopping. 1. “Silence is Golden” by WillShopForFood….
Eeek! It’s never fun to screw up an assignment. But, it is always fun to get paid for good work. That’s why I wrote this article, to help shoppers have more fun by avoiding the common errors. For new shoppers, some of these might be rather surprising. Forgetting to check the restroom. Many times the…
The following is a list of five companies with jobs for mystery shoppers. All of these companies have good reputations on Mystery Shop Forum, the community for mystery shoppers. I’ve link to their page on the forum, so you can learn more about them. The companies are listed in no particular order. If you want…
I thought for sure I was having deja vu or something when doing a recent gas station shop. I pumped my gas, made the inside purchase and then went back to the car to get my gear for the usual round of photos and observations. That’s when things definitely got interesting. The store clerk gave…
Today the Grammar Geek looks at perplexing word pairs. Some are homonyms or homophones—words that sound alike but mean different things, and which may or may not be spelled the same. I’m also including words and phrases that sound “almost” alike and which are very often confused with one another. The following are just a…
As mystery shoppers, we all make mistakes. Hopefully we can minimize those mistakes and learn from them. These are a few of the mistakes that shoppers commonly make. Hopefully this list will help my fellow shoppers succeed in their future endeavors. Forgetting to Check the Restroom. Many times the restroom is required to be checked…
What makes a great shopping assignment? What excites most shoppers when they see a plum assignment on the boards? Airport Shops? Casino Shops? What gets the shoppers blood pumping? Here are 10 mystery shopping assignments that shoppers love. Do you agree or disagree with this list? How many of these assignments have you completed? Read…
We all have our pet peeves in mystery shopping. Things that make the job harder, more exasperating, and leave a bundle of nerves because something has happened on the shop and we need HELP! Below are the top offenders that make mystery shoppers scratch their heads in wonderment… “URGENT! We are desperate and we need…
What makes a great shopping assignment? What excites most shoppers when they see a plum assignment on the boards? Airport Shops? Casino Shops? What gets the shoppers blood pumping? Here are a list of the Top 10 mystery shopping assignments that shoppers love. Cruise Shops: A dream come true for most shoppers! They are hard…
Written by Mister Mike Many shoppers are earning $1,000 and even more a month, which surprises many people. Why? Because most shopping assignments pay less than $20.00. I’m often asked “how do you do it?” Keep reading to find out. The answer is not always easy and due to the nature of the work you…
What makes a great mystery shopping company? Some say the good pay, while others care about the “easy” aspect of the shop. Some cringe at the complexity and difficulty level of the shop. The more difficult the shop, the higher the expected pay. Some shoppers care about the schedulers. They want good communication and good…
As mystery shoppers, we need to write well. Whether we’re giving a two-sentence response to a question or writing a narrative of several paragraphs, our grammar, spelling, and punctuation should be impeccable. But, too often we find that common errors made by those who don’t “write for pay” have crept into our own writing. Maybe…
Companies that shop furniture stores: Some of the mystery shopping companies that do furniture shops: Bare, Customer Impact, Reality Based Group, Shoppers View and Service Check. The Pay: For those interested in furniture shops, the pay always seems to have a bonus attached. The base pay is usually $10 with a $5 to $10 bonus….
Overview: Business verifications, also known as on-site inspections, are conducted for the purpose of determining the legitimacy of a business and to prevent fraud. The clients are typically credit reporting agencies and resellers, background check suppliers and financial institutions. The in-depth inspections are all revealed; the photos-only assignments are usually unrevealed. Since 2007, credit reporting…
You finally did it! You accepted your first McDonald’s shop. You wonder what happens now? Will you perform it smoothly like all the “other shoppers” with 100’s and 100’s of McD’s shops under their belts? What should you wear? A dark hat, glasses, a blond wig, a not-so-obvious plain looking shirt, so you won’t be…
By lrjonesmshopper You may ask yourself, “Why should I have goals?” In my lifetime I have started and operated several small businesses. The first one I started was a home day care business when my children were young and I wanted to work at home. During this time I took a course on how to…
I recently attended a day long video shopping workshop presented by Jeff Crozier and Kathy McCord of Video Shopping Pros (VSP). First, here is some background on this company. Jeff and Kathy are longtime video and non-video shoppers. When a similar company they were working for folded, they set up Video Shopping Pros as, “A…
Written by L.J. Millard On Mystery Shop Forum, there has been some discussion of shoppers finding themselves in some angry and even dangerous confrontations. As a police officer and crisis-hostage negotiator, I utilized some specific techniques to de-escalate and extract myself from hostile situations on a daily basis. I taught fellow officers as well as…
Market Force is one of the largest mystery shopping companies in the world. They came to prominence last decade after purchasing several mystery shopping companies, and making quick inroads into the industry. Market Force considers mystery shopping “Market Research” and pay shoppers as an independent contractors. You are paid to visit and interact with the…
I think it safe to say that members make the forum. Any forum. Years of reading Mystery Shop Forum have shown me it is used in many different ways. Some people read the forum with little or no interest in posting. Some sign up, but many do not and are evidenced by the large number…
Back in 1993 my son and I were driving to school and that’s the last thing I remember that day. I “woke up” at 4 p.m. and noticed a hospital bracelet on my right arm and sensed something had happened. I was in my own bed, so I was perplexed as to why I had…
One of the most important questions that any mystery shopper will ask is this: When do I get paid? Some mystery shopping companies take a lot of time to pay, while others pay very quickly. Some mystery shoppers need to get paid right away, while other shoppers don’t mind waiting a few months for their…
How long have you been mystery shopping? I have been shopping since May 2013. Where are you shopping? I mainly shop in Denver, CO and its surrounding area. On occasion, I shop in the cities south of Denver, such as Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Whenever I travel, I also find shops that are convenient and…
Sometimes a mystery shopping company will accidentally pay a mystery shopper less than they’re owed. Other times you will have an opportunity to ask for a bonus. Very rarely a company will simply not pay a mystery shopper, or pay them quite late. Here is some advice for getting the best outcome possible in each…
Throughout my 4 1/2 years mystery shopping, I have had some funny and strange and wonderful experiences. Today, I would like to share some of them with you. Enjoy! Most Humbling: I had just visited a famous fast food restaurant drive-thru and I had a bag of food on the seat. I was driving down…
Company Overview: JM Ridgway has been in business since 1924! While they don’t claim to be the oldest mystery shopping company, if they’re not, they’ve got to be right up there. According to the company’s “About JM Ridgway,” the “core management team” of CEO Frank Kneisley and President/Sales Manager Scott Ridgway have a combined 80-plus…
Mystery Shopper Magazine is currently calling for applications for new contributors. If you love mystery shopping and want to help your fellow mystery shoppers succeed, then this could be the right opportunity for you. We are currently in need of a new contributor able to write a weekly article for the magazine. This could include…
Company Overview: KSS International (KSS) is a privately owned company, headquartered in Boston, MA. They schedule, recruit and edit for the mystery shopping, merchandising and demonstration industries. Currently, KSS has the resources to provide contractors throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico. KSS enjoys an A+ rating…
Company Overview: This is a smaller mystery shopping company founded in 1986 that manages to fly largely under the radar. It focuses on mystery shopping, surveys, inspections, and compliance audits for hospitals, healthcare organizations, hotels, and restaurants in the United States. A list of clients and testimonials are located on their website. The location of…
Company Overview: Founded in 1994 in Wisconsin by registered nurse Kristin Baird, this company specializes in the healthcare industry in the United States. For clients it “seeks to help transform your culture and shape the patient experience.” To improve the delivery of healthcare services it offers training and seminars in addition to mystery shopping. Shops…
Fixed Link: AboutFace Mystery Shopping Company Overview: This MSPA member company was founded in 2005 and is based in New Jersey. The stated aim of Mystery Shopper Pros is to help clients improve their business by providing feedback about their business from shoppers. It serves the automotive, retail and restaurant industries in the United…
Grass Roots America filed for bankruptcy on April 23rd, 2015. Meanwhile, their parent company, the Grass Roots Group announced the opening of a new office in Spain. The Grass Roots Group claims nearly $500 million in annual revenue. They are in turn largely owned by the publicly traded company WPP, which paid $66 million to…
Company Overview: ICU Associates is based in Milford, Massachusetts. Information about the history of this company on the internet is sparse. The earliest reference found was in 2003. In 2005 it was purchased by LP Innovations, Inc., a loss prevention company. Since then, ICU has operated as the mystery shopping division of LP Innovations. ICU…
The Grass Roots Group closed their Grass Roots America division on March 31st, 2015, leaving mystery shoppers wondering if they will be paid. Since that time, many mystery shoppers have received payment for their assignments. However, shoppers are still reporting they are owed money. The Grass Roots Group has not sent official communication to these…
Overview: Presto Insta-Shops was created by the makers of SASSIE with the goal of providing shops, which were faster, easier and simpler for everyone involved. Just as the name implies, it allows for instant program creation, instant shopper sign-up, instant self-assign, instant surveys, instant review and almost instant payment (within days). John Hsu, Co-Founder of…
I had an epiphany while reading this post on Mystery Shop Forum. It is so easy to picture the scene: A jaded and bored employee being led into proper behavior by the frustrated shopper who just wanted to follow her script I’ve worked for corporations before. The headquarters are staffed with brilliant people who come…
One of the easiest ways to find companies that have mystery shopping assignments in your area is to search the largest mystery shopping job boards. The following is a list of job boards that every shopper should be aware of. To make the best use of these job boards, don’t think if them just in…
If you want to write high quality mystery shopping reports, one of the best skills to develop is the ability to communicate factual information, while keeping opinions out of the report. On Mystery Shop Forum, members frequently ask about a certain type feedback from a shop: The editor stated their report was opinionated. In other…
Company Overview: According to the company website, “The word ‘Kinesis’ is Greek in origin and means both ‘motion or change’ and, in the philosophy of Aristotle, ‘the actualization of potential.’” Founded in 2001, the company’s philosophy is to better align client’s service execution with their customer’s expectations. It does this by offering customer surveys, employee…
Mystery shopping scams are a frequent topic of discussion on Mystery Shop Forum. Often it starts with a post asking, “Is this a scam?” The poster is sometimes posing the question a little too late—after they have deposited the fraudulent check. To those who are familiar with the scammers’ typical modus operandi, it appears obvious;…
Grassroots America, a division of Grass Roots Group, recently announced that it has ceased operations as of March 31st, 2015. The change follows less than one month after a change in leadership in the parent company. All signs currently show that mystery shoppers should expect payment for the assignments they completed while the division was…
Over the past several months or so, there have been a few discussions, or mentions in various threads, about the difficulties in being able to contact schedulers or mystery shopping companies (MSCs) after hours or on weekends, as well as a couple of other pet peeves. I’m not going to reference the specific threads, but…
Most shoppers have seen, or have some degree of familiarity with, the Planet Fitness shops. The ones where you go to the gym to inquire about a membership and, between the tour and the free trial, you’ll spend anywhere from 30-60 minutes there. This isn’t that shop. This shop tracks the progress of construction prior…
Mystery shopping is extremely time-consuming. So how does a mystery shopper handle the burden of housekeeping, laundry, auto maintenance, yard maintenance, and pet care in addition to their shopping? It’s not easy. It helps to be sure your priorities are straight. The biggest thing is to prioritize the use of one’s time. It doesn’t pay…
The winter of 2015 is slowly fading into history as spring is making its way across the country. A shopper’s thoughts turn to not having to reschedule shops because of inclement weather and actually being able to plan a route and stick to the plan. While the arrival of spring is a welcomed event, it…
Last week, I received an email from a MSC regarding [upscale] hotel shops. The gist of it was that if you were shopping a hotel in your general area to avoid mentioning that to the employees if you were asked, as that is one way shoppers were being identified. Obviously, the desk clerk is going…
Overview: White Clay is a privately owned company, headquartered in Louisville, KY. It was co-founded in 2006, by Mac Thompson and Mike Wright. White Clay offers Information Solutions, Management Consulting and Customer Experience services. The business enjoys an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Shoppers can register here. MSM talks with Ziggy Zubric, Customer…
If you’ve spent any amount of time reading Mystery Shop Forum, you’ll no doubt have noticed various references to mystery shopping as “your business”. For most of us involved in mystery shopping, it is a business. And, since it is a business, you should have a business plan. Is your business plan set in stone…
Every so often on Mystery Shop Forum someone will post that an editor gave them an eight or nine and cited a grammar error. Some then continue on with, when they asked for a clarification, they never got a reply. Is it worth contesting the one or two points? The English language is in an…
Mystery shopping with a handicap. It’s different but it’s not different. Two individuals enter a restaurant. One is a disabled vet in a wheelchair, the other is an older gentleman about 4’5” tall. Do either or both of them get noticed? We all know that one of the key elements to mystery shopping is to…
I hope everyone was safe through the “Blizzard of Historic Proportions” that struck New England on January 26-27, 2015. This storm illustrates some of the hazards of current weather forecasting technology and why I’m sure there are schedulers who have to take these events with huge grains of salt. Let me start with my credentials….
Mystery Shopper Magazine is pleased to present the first in a series of interviews with mystery shopping web developers, SurfMerchants LLC. They are the creators of, among many other products, SASSIE, GeoVerify, Presto Insta-Shops and PrestoMap. Note to Readers: This started out as a (yawn) interview with the founders of SASSIE, however as we read…
When I first entered this strange new world of mystery shopping, there was a lot to learn and Mystery Shop Forum proved to be invaluable. A lot of what we do sounds easy, but really isn’t without a lot of prior preparation. I quickly learned that I can’t do dining shops that require I take…
Phone shops seem to be a love them or hate them shop among mystery shoppers. This discussion is dealing with shops that are exclusively a phone call, not a call with a follow-up visit. The chief complaint is they don’t pay much, and that’s true. It’s rare to see a phone shop paying more than…
Forum Alias: Jaymo How long have you been mystery shopping? I completed my first shop about nine months ago. I was hooked right away, and wish I would have started years ago. Where are you shopping? Southern Ontario, Canada. What got you started? I stumbled across Mystery Shopping a few years ago. I signed up…
Mystery shopping for me was great from the beginning. Football season is a big deal in our household and the Papa John’s pizza shops fit it well. For Saturdays, when I was out and about, there was always an MSC begging for a Sonic shopper. That was a year ago. Last month I shopped the…
“My Favorite Thing About Mystery Shop Forum” -> (Fixed Link) Mea Culpa Time I made a couple of errors in last week’s article on the Video Shopping Companies, and I wish to correct them now. I had posted a PM on the VSN board and, not having received a reply, I assumed my inquiry was…
As shoppers, we all have our favorite shops and we sometimes get frustrated by the rules that are imposed, either a rotation time, an age restriction, or something that seems totally out of the blue to us, but is something the client deems necessary. Also, as experienced shoppers, we tend to tell newbies who wonder…
The “Big Seven” video MSCs that founded the Video Shopping Network(VSN) have had their ranks reduced by one. The problems that shoppers have had in getting paid by Instant Replays for the past year or so have finally caught up with them and they are no longer a member of the VSN. It is unclear…
For shoppers looking to increase their income or minimize downtime on slow shopping days, there are several phone apps available to help you do just that. I have tried four or five apps, but Gigwalk and Shopkick seem to be the ones that fit with my schedule and shopping style best. Both apps are available…
Forum Alias: CureMS How long have you been mystery shopping? I have been mystery shopping for 1 year. Where are you shopping? I currently shop in the Dallas Texas Metropolitan area. What got you started? I got started because a friend told me that she had shopped when she first moved to Houston as a…
I enjoy being a mystery shopper, but if you would have told me three years ago that I would have a job doing something I love, in an industry I didn’t even know existed, I would have said you were just being silly. I am a naturally shy person. It used to be hard for…
Being a shopper is one of the most interesting jobs that I have ever had in my employment career. But I have to keep in mind that it is a job, and I have to make sure that I am not just shopping for fun. My job has to show a profit. The best parts…
We MUST proofread. And the older we are, the MORE we MUST proofread. I took typing back in my senior year of high school, when personal computers had not been invented. I learned to touch type on an IBM Selectric typewriter. I’m also a competent speller, and had an excellent grammar teacher who hammered punctuation,…
This is a rhetorical question of sorts. The genesis of it occurred shortly before the polls were closing on Election Day. I had decided to break my routine of going to the coffee shop and getting online to search for shopping assignments and photography jobs. I instead volunteered as a poll watcher for the party…
With the recent blast of Arctic cold covering most of the United States east of the Rockies, it’s a good idea to look at precautions to take to protect your camera, and other electronics, during periods of extreme cold. Last year, I wrote an article for Mystery Shopper Magazine about the care of your video…
Written by RSGlenn The other day, my husband told me that I am working for nothing. He complained about me being away from the house too much for very little pay. Well, in some cases, he is right. However, I do not hear him complaining when I get the oil changed in both cars, that…
Written by Dspeakes The general rule of thumb for taxes is that the more you make, the more taxes you pay. So most people have a natural instinct to try to minimize the income on their tax return. Some people don’t have another job; mystery shopping is all they do. Maybe they have Social Security…
One unique thing about mystery shopping is there is nobody to train us. We have to teach ourselves how to do this. Oh, sure, there is the forum, and conferences with seminars that will help us with the rules, the how-tos, the techniques for using apps or equipment. But the real tools of our trade…
Overview: I love doing grocery shops but they can be slightly tedious depending on the mystery shopping company. The payment for this type of shop can range from reimbursement only to reimbursement plus a fee. One of the things that I like about doing grocery shops is that you can have an opportunity to try…
This is a time-intensive occupation, this mystery shopping thing. I remember in the early days spending hours looking for jobs on a hundred or more job boards, trying to see what I could cobble together into a worthwhile route, then more time sending emails asking for bonuses, then getting on the mapping software and figuring…
Last month I wrote about tips for preparing for a mystery shopping video shoot. This month’s column gives tips for producing good video and audio once at the shoot. Something elementary but crucial to remember is to get your camera in place and make sure it is on before entering your shop location. If you…
Written by BBird0701 A few years ago, my husband got into woodworking. I blame myself. I had hobbies, he didn’t, and he wanted one. He took something he knew a lot about, canoe paddles, and decided he wanted to learn how to make them. After buying a few tools for his new hobby, and only…
I’ll start off by admitting that, as a professional photographer, I am biased towards the versatility of cameras, be they point and shoot or DSLR. At the same time, I have used my phone when a discreet picture needs to be taken. Even so, there are times when I have found the versatility of a…
Editors note: This is a discussion of the Scheduler of the Year Contest recently hosted by Mystery Shop Forum. During the contest, dozens of schedulers and companies were recognized for their great work. I encourage you to read the nominations here. When I first saw the Mystery Shop Forum thread ‘Scheduler of the Year,’ I…
Written by Dspeakes It will be here before you know it. You’ll start getting those envelopes in the mail with “Important Tax Document Enclosed” printed on the outside. There will be ads for Turbo Tax on TV. There will be H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and Liberty Tax shops and audits on the shop boards. And…
We are pleased to present this interview with Shelly Martin, a scheduler for Kern Scheduling Services. Shelly is the 2014 winner of the Scheduler of the Year Contest presented by Mystery Shop Forum. She received quite a bit of praise from shoppers during the contest. If you’d like to learn more about Shelly, be sure…
Preparing for the Shoot As many shoppers soon discover, covertly shooting video is more than just wearing a secret camera. There are many steps for producing good video shops that need to happen before even leaving one’s house. A few are covered below. Packing Making and checking a list of what you need to bring…
Written by dspeakes After running the wheels off my car for two years as a mystery shopper, I finally decided I needed to find a “real” job – I was spending too much time in the search for work, planning routes, doing the routes, doing the reports, and then being wiped out with exhaustion the…
Written by kyninja One of the frequent topics of discussion on MysteryShopForum.com seems to be shoppers complaining about editors emailing them for clarification or rejecting their shops. Most of the these discussions are started by shoppers that are new to the industry and have not yet realized how important it is to read the shop…
There are many, many discussions at MysteryShopForum grumbling about scoring by one particular mystery shopping company(MSC), and other discussions grumbling about the amount of narrative required for some shops. Sometimes we get both topics in the same thread, grumbling about the amount of narrative required for some shops by that particular MSC with the fussy…
At what point should we turn down a mystery shop because some aspect of it is beyond our capabilities? There was a recent discussion on www.mysteryshopforum.com about a shopper who was asked to do a shop that included evaluating a golf course at a resort. The shopper stated on the forum that, “The description did…
There are several different types of gas station/convenience store audits, and they can be broken down into basically two types, revealed and unrevealed. Both require at least one purchase, although the revealed audits usually require two purchases; one of gasoline, and one of an item from the convenience store. Having an economy car, it becomes…
Written by GypsyMonkey My life is about enjoying what is around me. Everywhere I go is a new experience. Stepping off the plane in Hawaii and smelling the fresh salt air is different than stepping off a train in NYC and feeling the sudden pace of the city. No one can really explain the difference…
Written by dspeakes Two years ago this month I tucked my old pocket tape recorder into the cell phone pouch on my purse and walked into a sub sandwich shop in a local strip mall to do my first-ever mystery shop. I was nervous as a cat on a freeway at rush hour. I had…
Aboutface Corporation is one of the largest mystery shopping companies in the United States. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and was founded in 1995. According to their Facebook page, they have won the most mystery shopping awards for five consecutive years, although they do not mention what the awards consisted of or who…
James Bond is dead? Well, not exactly. Life, however, is getting busy and the weekly endeavor of editing this magazine is starting to affect my shops, and my freedom to shop. I’ve told Jacob that the September 29th issue will be the last issue of the magazine that I will edit, to give him time…
This column is aimed primarily at video route shoppers, although all shoppers can take something away from this, as it could provide a different aspect for the family vacation. As you are no doubt aware, hotel advertising that refers to “high speed” internet almost always refers to download speed, leaving you to guess how much…
Early on in my shopping career, I had a route of apartment shops that consisted of eight different locations in five cities over some 300 miles of interstate highway. Sounds easy enough until the mystery shopping company said they were all for the same client and once you visit one property, you’re in the system…
So often we hear about shoppers who encounter problems with shops. Recently, I had several targeted apartment shops. I made the appointments with the target and I specified the date I would be there, verify that they would be there. When I arrived, the target was off. While that’s a problem, it pales in comparison…
Written by Mr. C First and foremost, I do not agree with the term, “Disabled”. There are simply some of us facing different challenges. I try my best to not only face mine but, overcome them too. When I healed from my injuries, some time ago, I found myself housebound with limited mobility. Going from…
Written by CureMS I have multiple sclerosis. In a nutshell, MS is the wearing away of myelin, the protective nerve covering. Remember when you were a kid and ran out in the snow to play without your gloves then once your hands became frozen you ran back inside to warm them? But warming them hurt…
Written by RLB I am a mystery shopper. And I have Meniere’s disease. Symptoms vary, but mine include nausea, vertigo, migraines, ringing of the ears, and sudden hearing loss. The episodes are sudden, and have lasted between 30 minutes to three days for me. I’m told I can thank my French-Canadian heritage for it, as…
Written by DayShopper Have you ever walked to your car in a brightly lit mall parking lot or some other place with “daylight effect” lighting, driven off, and only when you came to a totally unlit area realized that you never turned on the headlights? The view of the dark road ahead, before you hit…
Editor’s note: Mystery Shop Forum [www.mysteryshopforum.com] is a website of mystery shoppers with varying degrees of experience. The members attempt to assist new shoppers who have legitimate questions, while at the same time explaining why some questions can’t be answered because to do so would violate the Independent Contractor’s Agreement [ICA] that shoppers sign when…
Threads on the forum occasionally raise moral issues. I’ll leave aside the generic question of whether it’s right to lie to people; that’s an occupational hazard. But we lie like actors and actresses lie. We’re playing a part, not lying to hurt someone else or get ourselves out of trouble. I’m talking about things that…
Last week’s e-book on route shopping brought in a few questions, so I’ll tackle them here. DG wrote: I want to thank you for the Mystery Shopper Magazine that you send me and the book The Mystery Shopper Magazine Guide To Route Shopping For Mystery Shoppers. I have learned a lot and have used the…
Monterey Mystery Shopping recently sent an email to shoppers registered with them announcing that they are expanding their services to include video shopping. If you’re a video shopper and haven’t signed up with them, here’s the reason to do so. Based in Pacific Grove, California, Monterey Mystery Shopping bills themselves as “The premier mystery shopping…
Mystery Shop Forum debuted on July 27, 2006. Jacob Jans, then age 24, created it with the hopes it would become a valuable resource for both new and experienced mystery shoppers. Mystery Shopper Magazine, an online publication, was introduced in February of 2012 and espoused similar goals. MSM Talks with Jacob Jans, Owner, Administrator and…
This week’s episode is brought to you by the letter “I” which stands for insurance., in its many forms. First, please check your auto insurance policy before you start a road trip. Most, if not all, auto insurance companies offer a roadside assistance amendment to your basic auto insurance policy for as little as $15…
Business Evaluation Services (BES), with offices in Bakersfield and San Diego, has acquired two notable mystery shopping industry brands -Customer 1st and Best Market Audits (BMA). The newly formed company includes over sixty years of combined experience in the customer service evaluation business and access to over 700,000 mystery shoppers. BES maintains offices in North…
Company Overview: Based in Kennesaw, Georgia, The Training Factor specializes in apartment and call center training. There is minimal company history on their website. The company does both conventional and video mystery shops. The company began mystery shopping in 2009. The Training Factor uses the Shopmetrics platform to register mystery shoppers. Registration is fairly straightforward…
This week’s issue of Mystery Shopper Magazine focuses on preparing for the International Mystery Shoppers Conference in New Orleans, LA. The conference will be July 29 & 30, with a video training session on the 31st [extra registration, limited space]. We would like to do a special issue on the conference in the August 11…
I have done a little digging around concerning options for getting from the airport to the hotel/conference site. There is an airport shuttle that costs about $38 round trip. There are taxis, which are said to cost $33 for one or two persons or $14 per person for three or more people. There is a…
NOLA 2014 IMSC conference Program- SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE ALSO, PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL NOTES AT THE END OF THIS LISTING. Tuesday, July 29th 7:00 AM to 8:45 AM Registration, networking, continental breakfast 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM Conference Hall: Four Keys to Effective Communication-Terry Sumerlin- Keynote Speaker Conference Hall: 10:05 AM to 10:35 AM…
Many shoppers have posted or PMed asking about what to expect at a shopper conference. Some have expressed concerns that they will be alone, or lonely or too shy to engage other shoppers or schedulers. Fear not! Shoppers are a very welcoming bunch and there will even be shoppers devoted to seeking out and engaging…
I was doing a bank shop that’s right downtown in a nearby city. I kept my fingers crossed for a parking space and that’s when the proverbial eggs hit the fan. All parking spaces within a 2 block radius of this location have become a no-parking zone by police order due to a very big…
Agent99 has been spying on hapless clerks and bankers for five years. She does this spying to earn money for travel to Europe, to which she has traveled three times in recent years, visiting Italy, Switzerland, and France. “I haven’t done any overseas spying, because it’s harder now to get false passports since 9-11,” she…
Last month, Mary gave a basic primer into the preparations required to shop a route of gas stations/convenience stores. This month, she takes us into how she organizes her paperwork and keeps the shops flowing in the correct order. We talked about your camera in the initial column, but just to review, your camera should…
Written By JonChance Remember those cute little comment cards that restaurants used to stick between the salt and pepper shakers for you to tell them how you liked your visit? I was addicted to filling those out. Not at first maybe, but the third or fourth one I did as a kid earned me a…
I was contemplating a $13 bonused fast food shop today and debating about asking for another $5 when it hit me how my standards have changed in the last three years. When I started out, it was $5 fast food shops and $10 bank and cell phone shops for the most part and I was…
Mary Davis Nowell has decided to devote her writing talents elsewhere, including a book that she has been planning for some time. We wish her well and hope she might occasionally grace our pages again. Her last column will be in the July 7 issue of the magazine. We need someone interesting in writing a…
I have received several requests for books that I consider useful for a mystery shopper. The following is my somewhat eclectic list… The Associate Press Style Manual and Libel Handbook. This book is now printed in two volumes, AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, and AP Guide to Punctuation. I use the style manual…
This edition of “Loose Ends” is taking care of some emails and MSC updates. One shopper wrote to complain about Wrapmatch. As we have said on several occasions, based on the lack of action with the company, we no longer are recommending this company as an income source for shoppers. If you have signed up…
Someone on the forum recently mentioned having returned to a restaurant they had shopped previously because they had enjoyed the food and being asked, “How did you hear about us?” and was wondering how to answer and whether it would be okay to say that they had mystery shopped the location in the past. Of…
Mystery shoppers have recently been reporting missing, delayed, or incorrect payments from GapBuster. On Mystery Shop Forum, there has been a thread with multiple complaints from a variety of mystery shoppers. According to the reports, one shopper is owed 702 Euros, over $900 at the current exchange rate. Another complains of being paid the basic…
I started mystery shopping during a time when I was between full-time jobs six years ago. After researching the subject online, I discovered the MSPA and their list of companies. As you might imagine, I signed up for a few and searched the job boards. The first shops I did included many gas stations and…
I like to do business verifications, even though the pay is usually nothing to get excited about. I like that they are revealed and there is a script, and all I have to do is go through the questionnaire, mark yes and no answers, and take pictures of the door locks and file cabinets. Easy…
This is the first of a series of (almost) random thoughts on what I have learned about making oneself more comfortable, as well as saving money, on long shopping routes. To me, a long route is four or more nights on the road. Today’s chapter is brought to you by the letter L; L is…
It seems our mailbag is either feast or famine. This week’s mailbag runneth over and has a couple of questions that will require the skill of Carnac the Magnificent to get the answers, a well as a couple of questions that your editor should be able to answer with no real difficulty. We were asked…
Reports surfaced recently of Market Force International terminating a mystery shopper because of “known associates.” The shopper had reportedly done extensive work with the company, and garnered a high rating by them. No other reason was cited for the termination of the agreement. According to the report, Market Force refused to provide any information about…
Overview: Looking for an entertaining day or weekend away with your significant other? Casino shops can be the means to get away for a break while making a little extra money. Meals, concerts, drinks, and gambling may be reimbursed. You may even win some money gambling! Project variations: These projects can vary from a 2-hour…
I woke up this Monday morning and had all my ducks in a row. Paperwork was in my trusty-red leather-three-ring binder and my day of airport shops was all set. If you’ve never done these, they’re kind of neat. It’s similar to building a route of shops, in a mall, or on the road. I…
While planning a recent, multi-day route, I discovered I could work out of one small North Carolina town for the duration of the trip. I was looking for a motel and checked the reviews of the chains where I can get points–Hilton, Quality, and Wyndham. The online reviews where substantially less than stellar for all…
In last week’s issue of Mystery Shopper Magazine, I related a situation that I was told by a fellow shopper. It was a rather unique set of conditions that came together and presented an opportunity for him. I did encourage shoppers to keep an eye out for “similar situations”. I received a phone call from…
From the early 1980s until the mid-1990s, I had an incredible job with American Airlines at a major airport. The wonderful job was made even more wonderful by the awesome employee recognition programs. One such program, which recognized exceptional customer service, was called “Run Through the Warehouse” and was held in a large building on…
Occasionally on www.mysteryshopforum.com, a shopper will “vent” about some aspect of a shop, and the “venting” will usually end with some form of “I could make the form better.” A shopper recently sent me the following. He asked me to remain anonymous. “A few weeks ago, I went out to dinner at an ethnic restaurant…
I was recently in Atlanta, Georgia doing some shops and I had the opportunity to meet a fellow shopper for a late lunch [no, it wasn’t a shop]. We were talking about shops we’ve done when the discussion turned to how our experiences affect the shops we do. Or perhaps a better way to say…
UPDATE: WARNING: WRAPMATCH.COM APPEARS TO BE A SCAM. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THEIR SERVICES. I had honestly believed that I had come across a way for shoppers to make some extra money while driving between shops. The plan sounded good…better than it turned out to be. I received an e-mail from a friend this morning….
Sometimes we as shoppers get too complacent or maybe too comfortable with a given assignment, to the point that a similar assignment comes along and we don’t give it the due diligence that we should. Case in point, I’ve done over a dozen mystery shops each for both Tommy Hilfiger and Old Navy. The shops…
First, we received a follow-up to James’ review of Strategic Reflections: James, I read the magazine article you wrote about Strategic Reflections. I was the shopper who was hung up on. I wanted to make sure you (and shoppers) knew that one of the owners contacted me about this after she was informed of my…
Company Overview: Based in Denver, Colorado, National Shopping Service Network has been in business since 1986. A partial list of industries served [from their website] includes: Advertising agency, Apartments, Auto dealer, Auto maker, Auto parts, Car wash, Banking, Bar, Baseball club, Bookstore, Business forms, Coffee shop, Concessions, Convenience stores, Fast food, Football club, Gift shops,…
Mystery Shopping. Simply by looking at the name, it conveys something that should be secretive, that is, we don’t go running around screaming that we’re shoppers. That’s why I’m writing this letter. Some mystery shopping companies seem bent on giving away our “secret” identities. I got a call from James Bond this week asking if…
UPDATE: WARNING: WRAPMATCH.COM APPEARS TO BE A SCAM. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THEIR SERVICES. Ok, it’s time for a couple of updates re: Adz In Motion and Wrap Match. First, I’ve had no type of follow-up information from Adz In Motion. Perhaps they are indeed out of business as one post suggested. I just find…
Company Overview: Located in Lookout Mountain, Customer Service Perceptions is one of a very small number of MSC’s that require applicants to mail a processing fee for their application. $2 in this case. From their website: Customer Service Perceptions charges an administrative processing fee of $2 to each shopper applicant. This fee in nonrefundable and…
Company Overview: Advantage Sales and Marketing was founded in 1987 in Southern California and now has over 70 offices all across the United States. Their website is professional looking at: http://www.asmnet.com/. The company appears to be targeting mostly demonstrating and merchandising jobs in WalMarts around the nation. Personal Experience: I have had no experience working…
We have a couple of more questions from the mailbag this week: Hello Jacob: I’ve been a mystery shopper for about 12 years and I am always glad to learn new things–and there are always little tidbits! I read with interest about the ASCAP program. I looked at the ASCAP site you referenced but saw…
Over the past couple of weeks, both Jacques and I have begun to receive emails from readers wanting to apply for shops that are reviewed in Mystery Shopper Magazine and the letters are usually along the lines of “Please sign me up for…” We are not schedulers. We are also not mystery shopping company (MSC)…
If you read the discussions on www.mysteryshopforum.com, shoppers either love or hate the phone shops that pay between two and five dollars. Until recently, there were shops I wasn’t crazy about. I was looking at them as individual shops rather than trying to create a “route” of them. Real life entered my shopper’s world and…
Company Overview: Founded in 1994 in Pacific Grove, CA, Service Check (not to be confused with International Service Check), was the first 100% web based mystery shopping company. They have a wide variety of clients in the retail sector. In addition to traditional mystery shops, Service Check also conducts competitor shops and telephone shops. Registration…
Written by Sue De La Bruere, Jancyn Mystery Shopping You have accepted your mystery shopping assignments, carefully read all instructions, appeared at the right place at the right time, and taken copious notes about the encounter on your smartphone. Now you are ready to head to your computer and create the perfect report that thoroughly…
Company Overview: Remington Evaluations is based in Liberty Township, OH. Their website is: http://remysteryshops.com/. Remington Evaluations is primarily focused on apartment shops. On their website they say, “All of our mystery shopping reports and surveys are customized for each client. No apartment community or property management company is the same. Each mystery shopping report is…
After some discussions with Jacob, and believing that variety is the spice of life, we’re going to try something new. Introducing, Ask Mystery Shopper Magazine. This will give you, the reader, a chance to ask us questions. They can run the gamut from humorous to serious, philosophical to tongue-in-cheek.Do you have a technical question about…
Company Overview: With corporate headquarters in Iowa City, IA, Marketing Systems Unlimited has been in business for over 30-years. “With the help of his wife and four sons, MSU has grown into one of the nation’s largest, and most successful, shopping services. MSU has provided services for over 500 clients and over 10,000 locations each…
Company Overview: Based in Louisville, KY, Marketing Endeavors has been in business since 2001. The company has no complaints in the past three years with the Louisville BBB. Registration is on their website, http://www.marketingendeavors.biz/, and is on the Sassie system. Although their website lists no specific clients, the style of the site leads me to…
The story you are about to read is true. The names and types of shops have been changed to protect the innocent. Two weeks ago I had a short, overnight route, scheduled. It was a trip where I would be able to combine shops and delivering an order of books I wrote to a museum….
Company Overview: Based in Louisville, KY, Measure Consumer Perspectives is a full service mystery shopping company with clients in a wide variety of industries. They do both conventional and video mystery shops. The company is an accredited member of the Louisville, KY Better Business Bureau and carries an “A” rating with that organization. They…
Forum Alias: TowerOrchard How long have you been Mystery Shopping? I did a few shops about 4 years ago, but I seriously got back into mystery shopping during the last week of November, 2012. Where are you shopping? I primarily shop the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, but I have done routes in Kansas, Missouri & around…
Overview: If you’d like to have a drink out on the town at someone else’s expense, you might want to try out a bar integrity assignment. These are somewhat similar in nature to retail integrity assignments but are different from most mystery shops that you might be used to completing that focus on customer service….
Contributed by Itsasecret The primary arguments raised in the forum against using an EIN take two forms: One, shoppers simply object to companies requiring an EIN when there is no legitimate reason for them to do so. The other objection is because some shoppers don’t want their town or city or HOA to know they…
Forum Alias: GraceR How long have you been mystery shopping? I started shopping two years ago but didn’t get really serious about it until a year ago. Where are you shopping? I shop all over Northern California. What got you started? I had always seen those mystery shopping ads that were obviously scams. I always…
Company Overview: Sometimes even the researchers get similarly named mystery shopping companies mixed up. Such was the instance with this mystery shopping company. I was halfway through with my background notes on this company when I noticed that forum members were occasionally using the words “customer” and “consumer” interchangeably for the name of this MSC….
Company Overview: It’s an infrequent occurrence to have both a mystery shopping company as well as one of its assignments hit the worst-of-the-worst lists as described by its independent contractors, the mystery shoppers themselves. Cirrus Marketing Intelligence is based in Anaheim, California, and has been in operation since 1993. From their beginning, the company states…