Comments on: I Am A Mystery Shopper

By: notworthit

notworthit — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:07:50 +0000

They lie, never give you money back when they ask you to purchase an item (and the amount they give you to spend is much lower than the cheapest product in the shop normally) and sometimes with any stupid excuse they will decide not to pay you. I had a 10/10 in evaluations untill after a few they decided to start cheating me. They lead you on the first few times, giving you a good grade, making you think its all good till they steal money. Its just a scheme between shops!

By: Daniel Morales

Daniel Morales — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:46:16 +0000

If you fall for any of these scams and you discover it immidiately. What can you do?

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:04:44 +0000

I just want to make a comment about this MysteryShoppers.com that advertised on the radio a few years ago. They want your money but they do not want you to shop. I never could get anyone to give me assignments and then when I asked to be reimbursed they never responded…never would have guessed that would have happend.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 20:20:39 +0000

I began mystery shopping over 3 years ago, and like everyone else has stated, it doesn’t pay a lot. But depending on which companies you sign up with, you can get some nice perks! I got to where I would only do a retail shop if it was for a store that I was going to anyway, or taking a restaurant shop if it was a place we liked to eat out at. My husband and I got to see a lot of pro hockey and basketball games for free, which was nice. But it’s not nice freebies all the time – there is work involved. You have to remember names, times, and asking specific questions all while trying to not seem obvious. And then there are the reports you have to enter afterwards. Some of them can be 15 pages long, and take an hour to complete. Not always worth it, unless you do have the spare time.

Since I have a full time job, I really don’t do too many mystery shops anymore. I’m still signed up to receive all the postings and offers, and if something cool comes along I might apply for it. But it’s really difficult to make a career out of it.

By: Katheryn N. Perks

Katheryn N. Perks — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 01:09:53 +0000

I would enjoy doing this I need extra income.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:58:15 +0000

I agree with everyone here. Mystery Shopping really is a way to supplement what you already buy (i.e. expensive coffees, grocery shopping, and video rentals) or to get a really nice Restaurant that reimburses $100.00 worth of food (appetizers, wine and dessert included). We would never splurge like that at a restaurant on our own. It’s how I’ve financed our Anniversaries and Special Dates!!! Almost all the retail shops require returns or barely reimburse the necessary expense to buy the product. I’ve been Mystery Shopping for close to three years now. I’ve scaled back the last 6 to 8 months because my toddlers make it almost impossible to do the shops during the week and my husbands job has demanded most of his time in the evenings tha I use to have free.

If you’re interested in legitimate shops, then you should head to Volition.com’s website or MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association). You should never have to pay to sign up for a company. Whatever you do, do not sign up for the Volition Mystery Shopping Email listing. It’s not worth the junk they send over, but the actually company listings and board are a great source of good companies to explore.

Bare does like to send lots of emails, but I keep a separate account just for Mystery Shopping and I know what to look for in companies and assignments. I’m signed up with approximately 60 companies, but find that I really only do consistent work with about 10 to 12.

Have Fun,

Cindy

By: Karen

Karen — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:15:22 +0000

No, you don’t make tons of money, and with some companies you actually have to return the merchandise you buy as part of the job. But if the job is for something you are going to do anyhow, it’ll save you some money.

Recently we got our oil changed for free due to the reimbursement we got for evaluating business that provided the oil change, Also I got a free eye exam plus an Eye Med card for future discounts on eye exams and eyeware. And I received $35 for buying my new glasses and evaluating the service I recieved.

I was going to do these things anyhow. So it was worth doing the jobs in order to save some money!

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:23:48 +0000

Hi, I used to do a lot of mystery shopping a couple years ago. In all honesty you really have to pick your jobs well because, as one of the other commentors stated, sometimes the amount of time/effort you put into the job is not worth the pay.

I have to say the wages for jobs have definetly dropped in the last couple years, as it becomes more advertised and more popular and people are willing to take jobs for less money than previously years. That has only driven the amount of pay down, so much so that i quit doing it, and the most recent jobs i did over a year ago, were jobs i knew from past history took no more than 15 mins of effort (thats what i had calculated the pay to be equal to for me).

Just like the paid surveys offered online, used to pay $10-$15 dollars a survey, you’re lucky to get even $3 out of them anymore (but usually its a chance to win something, which only 10 of out everyone who participates actually wins).

Id say the best jobs are the ones for restaurants (nice restaurants that is)…where you get reinbursed for 2 full dinners (which usually includes atleast one alcholic drink, 1 shared appetizer and 2 dinner entrees, occasionally a shared dessert as well) these jobs are usually highly competive, unfortunatly. For the most part, company will only give those jobs to people who have done well on several previous jobs.

Just like any other job, you have to work your way up and make a good reputation for youself, within each individual mystery shopping company you work for.

By: Matthew Paulson

Matthew Paulson — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:30:15 +0000

That would definitely be an interesting part-time job to pursue, but there are so many hokey companies offering to make you a mystery shopper, 90% of which are crap…it’s just doesn’t seem to be worth the effort.

By: Name withheld by request

Name withheld by request — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:35:55 +0000

I AM a mystery shopper and have been since June of this year. Although this is a way to earn a little… and I mean LITTLE… extra cash, I’ve found that it truly isn’t worth the time.

Although the shop itself may take only 15-20 minutes, the followup work could take as long as 2 hours! From scanning, faxing, and online paperwork, plus some require digital photos!, I find it is just not worth it in the long run and have scaled back to taking perhaps 1-5 shops a month… ones I know won’t be extremely long.