For years I had heard about these people called mystery shoppers, who posed as customers and evaluated high end retailers for everything from service to merchandise quality.
For going undercover these people earned a pretty penny. In my mind a job like this sounded like the domain of a lucky few, specially trained in the art of subterfuge.
As it turns out, I was wrong about pretty much all of it.
First, mystery shopping is not the lucrative endeavor I once thought it was. Assignments can pay as little as a few dollars, and some pay nothing at all but reimburse shoppers for expenses up to a certain amount.
While it is not a viable career path for making a living, mystery shopping is perfectly suited to people who want to earn side income and get stuff for free.
Which brings me to the second thing I got all wrong: it is really easy for anyone to become a mystery shopper.
Getting Started
I became a mystery shopper in September 2016 after reading a post about it on an online forum I frequent. The application consisted of filling out my basic information (name, address, etc.), taking a short memory test based on several pictures, and writing a short essay on my most memorable shopping experience. Since then I have signed up and done assignments with six companies in total.
Depending on how many assignments I have chosen to take, I have earned anywhere from solely reimbursements to $120 in a month. I quickly learned how to select assignments based on a combination of payment, time needed to complete, and my personal interests.
Assignment Selection Matters
Some mystery shops required me to evaluate stores at which I would not normally shop. These assignments could often require a minimum amount of time spent in the store and be followed by a long, involved evaluation form. I quickly learned to pass on these tasks unless they paid $50 or more.
Now I gravitate toward shops that coincide with my interests. For one company I was paid $30 to attend a Major League Baseball game. Tickets for two were provided for free and refreshments were reimbursed up to $45. Although the evaluation took an hour to complete it was well worth it get a free day at the ballpark, plus a bit of pocket change.
I found that while mystery shopping was not a particularly lucrative job, if I was selective in choosing assignments that with one or two shops I could usually earn at least $75 per month and get reimbursed for doing something I’d wanted to do anyways.
That $75 would cover my gym membership or smaller miscellaneous expenses that I had not captured in my monthly budget.
The Best Mystery Shopping Companies For Side Income
There are numerous mystery shopping companies out there with which to sign up. They all work with different companies and have a range of assignments from “shopping” at high end jewelers to going to the movies. They also have widely differing pay scales. From my experience I have found these companies to offer the most shops with compensation of $35 or more.
It is important to note that the more lucrative shops are offered to experienced shoppers so it is often necessary to complete two to three lower pay assignments to build a high rating.
IntelliShop
This company is one of the bigger mystery shopping companies in the industry. They work with clients all over the United States in a variety of industries.
I have picked up assignments for fine dining, luxury retail, sporting events, and automotive.Many of their shops have a combination of payment and reimbursement, so not only do you get paid for your work, you can also get some nice freebies.
I recommend starting with simple pizza delivery or phone shops. They only pay $5-$10 but they are usually easy to complete and the evaluations are short.
The shops that pay more often have longer evaluations that require writing short paragraphs to detail the shopping experience. I quickly learned that a detailed play by play is unnecessary and a few short sentences gets the job done.
Amusement Advantage
I have done my most enjoyable mystery shops with this company. As their name suggests, Amusement Advantage specializes in fun activities. Assignments could include miniature golf, museums, go karting, and more.
The company usually offers a flat payment rate for each mystery shop. Expenses can be deducted from this amount and whatever is leftover is the shopper’s to keep as payment.
The assignments can be very involved, requiring a shopper to create scenarios and interactions with specific staff members. Evaluations usually require three to four hours to complete. They do offer a bonus for early evaluation submission.
The Best Mystery Shopping Companies For Reimbursable Activities
BestMark
BestMark is another giant in this space. They focus mostly on retail and automotive. Most of their retail assignments are store evaluations and pay between $10-$15.
I tend not to sign up for their retail offerings, however, BestMark consistently offers vehicle oil change and brake inspection assignments that have cash payment, plus reimbursement up to $45. The shops are typically reserved for specific car manufacturers but some are open to all makes.
BestMark also has a good number of dining assignments that provide enough reimbursement to pay for a meal for two, according to the shop’s ordering guidelines. I have treated several friends to dinner and brunch on BestMark’s dime. Just let your guest know the reimbursement limit and it’s easy to get a free meal.
As an added bonus, BestMark’s evaluations are uncomplicated and usually take no more than 30 minutes to complete.
SQM
This is my new favorite mystery shopping company. Mystery shoppers evaluate an airline from airport arrival through the flight all the way to baggage claim, and for doing so get 50% of their ticket purchase reimbursed.
SQM also offers similar deals for bus travel and hotel stays. For those who are not yet ready to try travel hacking, this is a great way to travel inexpensively.
The evaluations are long, but consist of a lot of Yes/No questions. It is important to be observant of everyone with whom you interact in order to notice names and physical features.
Be Aware
When you know where to look, mystery shopping is very ubiquitous. There are dozens of mystery shopping companies always looking to take on new shoppers. I learn about another one every couple of months. However, before you sign up for easy money there are a few things of which to be aware.
- There are scammers out there
You should never have to pay money to become a mystery shopper. If a company requires any kind of deposit just to sign up with them then they are not a reputable firm. Leave them alone.
- Although mystery shopping is not a high paying gig, the income is still taxable
You’ll be happy to know that reimbursement is not considered income. However, even if you’re only getting paid $5 for a shop that income must be reported to the IRS. Mystery shopping companies send a 1099 for shoppers who have earned over $600 in income for a year. If you earned less than $600 in a year, I recommend printing your completed assignment history to determine how much you earned.
- Evaluations must be completed in a timely fashion
Deadlines are real. I have had shops canceled for not turning in an evaluation on time. If you’re like me and like to use mystery shopping to fund $100+ outings, it is no fun getting stuck with that bill. Discretely taking good notes on your phone while doing the shop makes completing the evaluation much easier.
- You are responsible for paying shop expenses up front and will be reimbursed within 2 to 6 weeks
Make sure you can float yourself that money until you are paid. Also, keep hold of your receipts. No receipts could mean no reimbursement.
Final Thoughts
I have found that mystery shopping is a great way to supplement my budget for expenses I need to be cutting back. For example, I can usually pick up one dining out assignment each month, thus giving my food budget a bit of a break.
How much one earns as a mystery shopper is completely up to them based on the number and types of assignments they choose to do. Because shops and evaluations can be time intensive, it may not always be worth it to sign up for a high number of shops every month.
I chose to set an income goal each month and looked for assignments that could help me reach that goal quickly. Maybe you want to cover a utility bill or you are looking for a way to keep your cable service or gym membership. Mystery shopping can be the perfect way to cover smaller expenses while also saving money on the activities you most enjoy
Related:
Have you ever tried mystery shopping? What companies do you recommend? What would you use the additional income for?
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