The idea of getting paid to shop appeals to many people looking for supplemental income. Mystery shopping is a form of market research where an individual is hired to pose as a regular customer to evaluate a business’s service, quality, or compliance. This activity provides companies with unbiased, third-party feedback to help them improve operations and customer experience.
What Exactly is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery shopping is a structured assessment tool companies use for quality control and employee training evaluation. Businesses hire shoppers to discreetly observe and report on specific aspects of the customer experience, often to ensure brand standards are being met across all locations. Shoppers visit a business, acting like any other patron, to gauge things such as employee friendliness, product knowledge, and store cleanliness.
Assignments typically involve a list of predetermined criteria, requiring the shopper to perform specific tasks, like asking a certain question or making a purchase. After the visit, the independent contractor submits a detailed report, usually a lengthy questionnaire, documenting their observations and interactions.
The Financial Reality of Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping rarely serves as a reliable source of full-time income and is better viewed as a means to generate supplementary funds. Compensation often consists of two parts: a direct payment, or fee, for the time spent, and a reimbursement for any required purchase. Legitimate shop fees can vary widely, generally falling in the range of $8 to $30 per assignment, though more specialized or complex evaluations can pay up to $100 or more.
Shoppers must front the cash for any required purchase, such as a meal or product, and are reimbursed only after submitting a complete and accurate report. Considering the time spent traveling to the location, completing the shop itself, and meticulously writing the detailed report, the effective hourly wage can drop significantly below the stated fee. Furthermore, associated costs like fuel, mileage, and parking are not always fully reimbursed, meaning the shopper absorbs these operational expenses as an independent contractor.
Benefits and Drawbacks of the Work
Benefits of Mystery Shopping
The primary non-monetary benefit of this work involves receiving complimentary products or services as part of the assignment’s reimbursement structure. Shoppers can essentially receive free goods, dining experiences, or even services like oil changes or hotel stays, which can offset personal spending. These perks offer a tangible value beyond the direct cash fee.
Working as an independent contractor provides a significant level of flexibility, allowing shoppers to choose assignments that fit their personal schedule. Most assignments must be completed within a specific time frame, but the shopper determines the exact time and day. The variety of assignments also keeps the work engaging, moving from evaluating a retail store one day to reviewing a casual dining experience the next.
Drawbacks of Mystery Shopping
The work carries a considerable administrative burden, requiring immense attention to detail to ensure proper payment and reimbursement. Shoppers must precisely adhere to strict guidelines and specific requirements for each assignment; failure to follow even a minor instruction can result in non-payment for the shop or the loss of reimbursement.
A significant logistical drawback is the necessity of paying for purchases upfront, requiring the shopper to have sufficient funds available for the expenditure. Since reimbursement can take anywhere from a few weeks to up to two months, the shopper’s personal cash flow is affected during that waiting period. Adding to this, the availability of assignments is often inconsistent, meaning shoppers cannot rely on a steady flow of work or income in their specific geographic area.
Identifying and Avoiding Mystery Shopping Scams
The prevalence of fraudulent schemes makes vigilance necessary, as scammers use the appeal of easy money to trick unsuspecting individuals. The most common form of fraud is the fake check scam, where a supposed employer sends the new shopper a counterfeit check for an amount greater than the assignment requires. The shopper is instructed to deposit the check, use a small portion for the “shop,” and then immediately wire the remaining, larger amount to a third party, often for “taxes” or “fees”.
The issue is that the deposited check eventually bounces, which can take days or weeks, but the wire transfer is immediate, leaving the shopper responsible for the entire amount withdrawn from their bank account. Red flags for a scam include any company that requires an upfront fee for registration, training, or a list of jobs, as legitimate providers never charge the shopper to work. Other warning signs are promises of unrealistically high wages or an unsolicited job offer that pressures the recipient to act immediately.
Practical Steps to Start Mystery Shopping
To find legitimate work, prospective shoppers should register with multiple reputable Market Research Companies (MRCs) or Mystery Shopping Providers (MSPs). These companies use online portals where shoppers can view and apply for available assignments in their area, making it efficient to find local opportunities. A strong profile is important, as companies use the provided information to match shoppers with assignments that fit specific demographic or purchasing requirements.
The application process typically involves an online registration, which may include a short certification test to assess the applicant’s attention to detail and comprehension of instructions. Necessary requirements for the work include having reliable transportation to reach various locations, access to a computer for report writing, and strong observation and writing skills. Seeking out companies affiliated with professional organizations, like the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA), is a sensible step toward verifying legitimacy.