Mystery Shopper Magazine

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 some signs that mystery shopping could work as a side job for you. 

• You have access to reliable transportation. In order to complete your mystery shopping assignments, you’ll need to be able to get to the retailers easily. In most cases, this means having a car, and in some areas having a bike will work too. If you live in a big city, you can also mystery shop if you have access to good public transit. 
• You have extra time to commit to shopping. Mystery shopping usually won’t be your full-time job, but you’ll still need enough free time to complete the assignments. Most mystery shopping tasks require you to fill out a survey afterwards, and in some cases these can be very extensive.
• You’re detail-oriented. While some mystery shopping assignments are simple, many of them have a very detailed list of tasks for you to complete. Often you’ll need to purchase a very specific set of products or ask specific questions. You’ll need to be able to remember these tasks without giving away to staff that you’re a mystery shopper. You’ll also need to note and remember small details of your experience in order to complete the write-up after the assignment. 
• You’re comfortable interacting with many different types of people. Mystery shopping will typically require you to have interactions with staff at retail stores, restaurants, hotels, banks, and more. You’ll need to be completely comfortable talking to people in order to get the job done. 
• You can stay calm no matter what happens. As a mystery shopper, it’s crucial that you don’t give away your identity. You’ll need to be able stay relaxed and think on your feet in order to complete the jobs. 

If you have many of the qualities listed above, you may want to consider taking on mystery shopping jobs in your free time. It’s a simple way to save money on things you would already be doing anyway.