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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get paid to do something you truly enjoy?
Or what it’s like to earn money while getting necessities like food and clothing?
Also known as secret shopping, mystery shopping is a great side hustle to get paid to do what most of us already love…shop!
Yes, companies will pay you to call or visit their business and snitch on their employees!
I have made $1,000’s doing this. I have even been paid to be a shopper for hotels!
In this post, I will share:
- How to start mystery shopping
- What to expect on a job
- How to get paid to shop
- How to land high-paying assignments
- How to find legit companies
- Ways to get assignments that allow you to work from home
This is one of my favorite ways to make money. So, pay close attention. You’ll be getting paid to shop in no time!
Related post: Side Hustles You Can Do In Your Pajamas
What is mystery shopping?
The job of mystery shopping, also called secret shopping, is when companies pay someone to pretend that they are typical customers. That person evaluates their experience with that business, including:
- Customer service
- Store displays
- Timeliness of service
- Cleanliness
Typically, the shopper must complete a report after the visit, then submit it to the company that provided the assignment.
For example, Best Buy may pay a company to find shoppers, and that company will do all the communication, and distributing payments between the shopper and the business.
Basically, the mystery shopping company is the “middle-man.”
A mystery shopper is considered an independent contractor, not an employee. So, be sure to keep up with your taxes!
What to expect as a mystery shopper
It is often assumed that mystery shopping has to be done in a store. But some assignments can be done from home or at the business. Completing shopping assignments from home is a great option when you need to stay home with the kids.
If you are doing a job from home, you will likely be asked to make a phone call, request home delivery, get a home service quote, or do a virtual tour. I have also seen jobs for virtual tours of daycares and senior centers. I have also done phone shops for catering and restaurant reservations.
As a mystery shopper, expect to pay for any goods or services that require payment at the time of service, then get reimbursed. This is why it is important to make sure you are working for a legit company. A list of legit companies is available in the Mystery Shopping Masterclass.
Shops at a location often include:
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Retail stores
- Valet and self-parking (comes in handy when attending events!)
- Cruises
Sometimes, even though you are at the location, you will not even have to speak with an employee. Some companies will allow you to just take photos, or check the prices of items at the business.
Typically, jobs on location will ask you to do a specific task, such as:
- Order food at a restaurant.
- Stay at a hotel and order room service.
- Shop at a gas station.
- Buy from a store, or restaurant, then return it.
As you can see, there are a variety of requests that are asked of shoppers. Tip: Before you take a shopping job, take a look at what they will want you to do. That way, you can be sure that you are comfortable doing it.
Some people are not comfortable returning items to a store. I had one job where I was asked to ask for a specific ingredient in a salad, then change my mind after the employee added that ingredient. Awkward!
Tip: Before you take a shopping job, take a look at what they will want you to do. That way, you can be sure that you are comfortable doing it.
After completing a shop, expect to complete a report. They are sometimes simple questionnaires, and some involve answering open-ended questions.
Make sure you take notes during mystery shopping assignments that will require you to complete questionnaires. When taking notes, you must do it discreetly so no one realizes you are evaluating them.
Also, expect to answer detailed questions such as the amount of time (minutes and seconds) it took for your food to come once it was ordered, or for a detailed description of the employee, including height, clothing, and even eye color.
Make more money as a mystery shopper!
When you are a thorough mystery shopper, the company will likely trust you more. That means they will call you for more jobs and you will make more money.
Here are some things to help you become more successful at the job:
- Turn in your assignments in a timely manner.
- Make sure your reports are detailed and free of grammatical errors. I use the free program, Grammarly on my computer and iPad.
- Do more than one shop in a day. Map your path to find the shortest route to save time and gas money. More jobs=more money.
- If possible, do shops for more than one location of the same business. That way, the assignment, and reports will be similar, if not identical. This will make your job a lot easier since you’ll know what questions need to be answered.
- Save the receipts you get during your shops. You can turn them into free gift cards with apps like Swagbucks.
These are the methods I use. And I have been told by people that give out the assignments that I have a reputation for being reliable.
My reliability is also the reason why I sometimes get first dibs for mystery shopper jobs. The people that give out assignments will often remember you, and reach out via phone, text, or email to offer assignments. Now, I rarely submit for jobs. The jobs are offered to me.
Where to find mystery shopper jobs
When looking for a legit company to shop for, never sign with a company that will require you to pay them. If they ask for money, run! It’s a scam. If they are legit, they will pay you. While most companies will require you to pay out of pocket for goods and services, then be reimbursed, you shouldn’t pay them to join their company.
I give the full list of legit mystery shopping companies that I use, in the Mystery Shopping Masterclass.
The course is packed full of my best strategies to help you earn the most money as a mystery shopper, and the best way to get free vacations!
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Mystery Shopping Masterclass$67.00
Start mystery shopping!
When I do these jobs, I keep the receipts so I can earn free gift cards.
Hopefully, this information gave you an idea of how to become a mystery shopper. You can become a mystery shopper as a side hustle, or even a full-time job.
I hope to see you in the Mystery Shopping Masterclass!
And feel free to watch my Mystery Shopping videos on YouTube.
Click here for more side hustle ideas!
