Becoming A Mystery Shopper Is No Mystery
Get paid to shop! Make $$$!! We’ve all seen the ads or received the spam emails. And admit it, we’ve all thought about it. But how does one go about getting this kind of work anyway? It is money for nothing? Well, let’s run the mystery shopper obstacle course together and we’ll see if you have what it takes.
Round One: Dispelling The Myths
Let’s put some card on the table. You are not going to get rich being a mystery shopper. I’m sure a lot of you are collecting your belongings and heading for the door right about now. For those of you still with us, let’s continue. You don’t get to shop where and when you want. You are told where and when to go and what precisely to buy. Glitz and glamor? Not right away. Starting out, you’ll most likely get fast food joints and malls and you won’t get steady gigs. Plus you’ll only make $15-$25 dollars a gig with maybe one or two assignments a week. If you’re okay with that, then let’s move on to Round Two.
Round Two: Signing Up
This is the only easy part of becoming a mystery shopper. Just sign up. It’s that simple. Reputable companies like Mystery Shoppers Providers Association or Volition.com are good places to start. The only rule of thumb here is that you should never have to pay to sign up. Let me repeat that: Never. If you’re asked for money, it’s a scam. It’s important to realize here that signing up does not guarantee assignments. Competition is fierce.
Round Three: Shop ’Til You Drop… Free
Okay, here’s what you’ve all been waiting for. The part where you get free stuff. Well, you do and you don’t. When you go to an assigned store to make a purchase, you pay out of your own pocket. Companies reimburse you, but that can take anywhere from 60-90 days so if you can’t spare the money or wait that long to get it back, then you can’t take the assignment. Also, you are responsible for any and all travel expenses though some companies will cover a part of these. You’ll also need a full, varied wardrobe on your own dollar. There’s no shopping at swanky stores in shorts and flip-flops. You’ve got to dress the part.
Round Four: You Call This Work?
Yes, they do. And you will work. You can’t breeze into an assigned store and make a purchase while chatting on your cell phone. You are obligated to observe every aspect of the experience. The appearance of the store. Exactly how fast the service was. No estimates here. You’ll need a stopwatch. How knowledgeable was staff? Were they polite? Everything. And you’ll sometimes have to play a part, pretend you’re something you’re not. And you’ve got to be convincing. When the job is done, you’ll have to file extremely detailed reports covering every aspect of the experience and you’ll have to file them on time. Failure to do so, cancels the contract and you don’t get paid. Fail to buy precisely what you are told to buy and you don’t get paid.
Still with me? If so, then mystery shopping might be for you. It can be a fun way to earn a few extra bucks and have some interesting experiences while getting ‘free’ stuff. If the job requirements don’t scare you, then sign up and have fun!
This article written by A. Salmon.


