Become a Mystery Shopper
Although, technically, you are not spending all of your time at
home, mystery shopping is great option for earning extra money
at home. You will not be in an office, and you can pretty much
set up your own schedule. Companies hire people to pose as
shoppers or clients to test customer service, sales skills, and
product satisfaction. A work-at-home gig as a mystery shopper is
a good opportunity to earn some cash. Here's how it works. You
sign up with a company, asking to be placed on their list of
mystery shoppers. When a shop comes up in your area, either you
accept it or decline it. There is no reason for you to pay for a
list of mystery shopping companies. These lists are readily
available for free on the web. Read on to find mystery shopping
companies so you can work at home.
Types of Shops
There are shops in several different industries. For example,
there are shops in the retail, restaurant, automotive, resort,
entertainment (movies, theme parks) apartment and banking
industries. Remember, in most cases you will be an independent
contractor for a mystery shopping company. You will not work
directly for the store, resort, apartment complex or bank that
you shop. Some shops, such as retail shops, may require you to
spend your own money upfront. You may have to make a purchase to
evaluate how a salesperson handled a sale. You should be
reimbursed. Apartment shops generally do not require you to
spend your own money. You go to an apartment complex, make
observations about the grounds, the apartment, and the
salesperson's pitch and write a report. I like apartment shops
the best, because they are straight-forward and you don't have
to come out of your own pocket. The pay can be decent, around
$20-$30, for some companies.
How to Get Started
Once you register with a mystery shopping company, you should
receive an e-mail announcing available shops in your area. Other
companies do not send e-mails, but ask that you log in to a web
site to check for potential shops. In any case, you then agree
to perform the shop. The company will give you the guidelines
for the shop and all of the information they need you to obtain
during the shop.
When you go on an mystery shop you are not allowed to let
anyone know that you are a mystery shopper. You must use your
acting skills to perfection so that no one would even suspect
you of being a mystery shopper. A client may ask you to time the
amount of time it takes for you to get your meal in a
restaurant. You have to inconspicuously look at your watch and
somehow write the time down. Maybe you would go into the ladies
room, into the stall to record the information you need.
Mystery shopping companies want detailed oriented people who
are keen observers. You also have to have sharp communication
skills and the ability to think on your feet. Mystery shopping
is a job. You may have to remember if the host who greet you
wore a name badge. What was her name? Was her uniform pressed?
How many minutes did it take for the sales person in the
department store to greet you? How many minutes did it take for
you to receive your appetizer, your salad, and your main meal?
In some cases you have to write every detail down without being
noticed. You will not be allowed to bring a notebook with you.
What do I Need to Mystery Shop?
You need a computer. In most cases, you won't need a high speed
internet connection. You do need a reliable connection because
you may have to fill out online forms regarding your shopping
experience. Some companies require you to participate in an
online training program; You will probably have to contiguously
check the mystery shopping company's website, or your e-mail for
existing shops.
You may need a digital camera. I've seen companies that require
mystery shoppers to take pictures of food or other items for a
shop. Sometimes the people you are shopping know you are coming
to take photographs. In these cases the mystery shop isn't a
mystery.
You need a good watch. You may have to time when certain things
occurred during your shop. A stopwatch is also a great tool.
You need a calendar to list your shops. When you get shops from
different shopping companies on different days, shopping several
different places, you have to keep track of all of the
information. Personally, I think that a PDA or a handheld
computer is essential. That way, you can just key the
information in and set reminders to keep up.
How Much Can You Get Paid?
It depends. Some shops pay $5. Some pay $20. Some pay nothing,
but you will get reimbursed for products or your meal at a nice
restaurant. In most case, mystery shopping companies will not
pay for mileage unless it is a special case. Mystery shopping
recruiters offer to pay mileage if they are looking for someone
for a hard-to-shop area, or you live especially far from the
shop. After you register with the companies, it may take months
for you to get steady shops. People in large cities may get more
shops than people in rural areas, simply because there are more
businesses to shop. If you live in a small suburb and there are
few shoppers in your area, you may have your pick of shops. It's
all about supply and demand.
Let's Go For It
There is a free comprehensive list of mystery shopping
companies here.