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Before I started working from home, I supplemented my income with mystery shopping. This was a great way to get free office supplies, a night out at a restaurant, or even a new haircut.
When it comes to this line of work, mystery shopping, merchandising and product demoing are often handled by the same companies. While these aren’t necessarily work at home positions, they often provide the flexibility that many are seeking and can be combined quite easily for increased income potential.
Also See: How to Become a Mystery Shopper
What Is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery Shopping jobs can vary greatly. It may be as simple as ordering a pizza for delivery to check customer service and delivery times, or you may do a detailed audit of a local store that takes 30 to 60 minutes and includes several aspects. In some cases, your identity remains a “mystery,” in other cases, you may make your identity as a mystery shopper known before or after your “shop.” Just as the work varies greatly, so can the pay. If you are required to make a purchase, this is typically reimbursed up to a certain amount.
Also See Secret Shopper Jobs: Are These For Real?
Typical Requirements for Mystery Shopping:
- Self-Motivated
- Attention to Detail
- Reliable Transportation
- Some shops may require a stop watch; many mobile phones have this capability
- Internet/Email Access
- Some companies require certification and/or passing their tests
What Is Merchandising?
Merchandising jobs will require you to visit local stores to ensure your assigned company’s products are stocked and displayed correctly. This is usually ongoing work and pays relatively well. Many companies will allow you to pick up routine visits at several retailers and for several companies if they have them available.
Product Demonstrator Jobs
Product Demonstrators are typically those kind folks you see in the store handing out samples of new products or showing you the latest new gadget. These jobs usually pay well, as they are a bit more involved.
Typical Requirements for Product Demoing and Merchandising:
- At least 18 years of age
- Access to email/Internet
- Reliable transportation
- Ability to stand for up to 6 hours
- Ability to lift 25 to 30 pounds
- Clear communication skills
- Ability to follow written direction
- Passion for service
- Must be able to pass a criminal background check
- Food handlers permit where required by state or local law
How to Become a Secret Shopper
- Register with legitimate mystery shopping companies (see below list). Make sure your profile is filled out completely with age, location, interests, etc.
- Watch your email for opportunities. I recommend setting up a second email address strictly for these companies to make things easier.
- Read the instructions carefully before accepting a job to ensure you are available at the specified date/time and understand the job requirements.
- Complete the job as instructed. Don’t miss the deadline. Don’t forget your receipt.
- Wait for payment.
Mystery Shopping Tips
I recommend setting up a separate email address just for your mystery shopping, merchandising and product demo jobs. There are hundreds of these companies out there. When I did this I found it best to keep the incoming emails in a separate account. Also, create a spreadsheet with your usernames and passwords.
Keep in mind, in most cases you are an Independent Contractor. You will be responsible for paying the taxes on your earnings. As you will be traveling for most of these jobs, mileage may be a deduction you can claim. Speak with your tax preparer about the details.
Do pay close attention to the payment turnaround times if you need money fast. Even though some companies have gone to PayPal, you may still be looking at up to 60 days for payment and reimbursements.
Start Slow! It’s tempting to want to pick up five jobs on your first day for maximum earnings. However, give yourself time to learn what each company entails before “bundling.” Some only require a quick survey submission, but other companies require very detailed responses. You may be sorry if you grab too many of the latter too soon.
Gauge your real profit before grabbing a job. Some jobs pay very well, especially if it is urgent and they can’t get it filled. However, if the pay is $7, you have to drive 50 miles out of your way and your total time spent in the store and filling out the questionnaire will be 1.5 hours, I would consider that a loss.
Watch out for scams. Check cashing schemes went to an all-new level when they hit the mystery shopping scene. Don’t fall for it. While there are shops in the banking industry, no legitimate mystery shopping company will ask you to cash a check and send them the balance from your earnings.
Consider getting certified. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) offers a certification course for a fee. While this is not required, some opportunities are only available to those who are Gold certified.
List of Mystery Shopping Companies
- A Closer Look
- AboutFace Consulting
- ACE Mystery Shopping
- Advisory Group Associates
- Albatross Global Solutions
- AMA Enterprises
- Amusement Advantage
- Ann Michaels & Associates
- Archon Development Corp
- ath Power Consulting
- Automotive Insights, LLC
- Baird Group
- Bare International
- BDS Marketing
- BestMark
- Beyond Hello
- BMA Mystery Shopping
- Business Evaluation Services
- CIMA Insight
- Circle of Service
- Cirrus Marketing Intelligence
- Clear Evaluations LLC
- ClientSmart
- Coast to Coast Scheduling Services
- Confero
- Consultants for Long Term Care
- Consumer Impressions
- Consumer Service Analysis
- Consumer@site
- Corporate Risk Solutions
- Coyle Hospitality Group
- CRG Mystery Shopping
- Cross Financial Group
- Customer Experience Experts
- Customer Impact
- Customer Perspectives
- Customer Service Experts
- Customer Service Profiles, LLC
- Devon Hill Associates
- DSG Associates
- Dynamic Advantage
- Ellis Partners in Mystery Shopping
- Executive Solutions Mexico (Latin America)
- Feedback Plus, Inc.
- Forum Research, Inc
- Frontline Focus International
- GAPbuster Worldwide Pty
- GigWalk
- Goodwin & Associates
- Grass Roots America, Inc
- Greenhouse Marketing & Communications (Canada)
- Guest Check, Inc
- Harland Clarke
- HOPE Research Group
- Hospitality Now
- HS Brands International
- ICC/Decision Services
- ICU Associates
- IMYST, Inc.
- Insight Twenty20
- Instant-Replays
- Insula Research
- Integrity Consultants, LLC
- IntelliShop
- Interactions Marketing
- IPSOS Mystery Shopping
- iSecretShop
- Jancyn Evaluation Shops
- Kinesis-CEM
- LRA Worldwide
- Market Force Information
- MASSolutions
- Matrix Hospitality Management
- MCG, Management Consultant Group
- Melinda Brody and Co
- Merchantile Systems
- Mintel International Group
- Monterey Mystery Shopping
- mVentix, Inc
- Mystery Shoppers, Inc
- Mystique Shopper LLC
- National Shopping Service
- New Image Marketing
- Northwest Loss Prevention Consultant
- Norton Norris
- Opinions, Ltd.
- Perception Strategies
- PerformaLogics Inc
- Person to Person Quality
- Pinnacle Financial Strategies
- Primo Solutions, LLC
- QSI Specialists
- Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers
- Quest for Best/Quest Associates
- RDAssociates, Inc
- Reality Check
- Realty Based Group, Inc
- Regal Hospitality Group
- Remington Evaluations LLC
- Research Intelligence Group
- RetailTrack Mystery Shopping
- RitterAssociates
- Sales Quality Research Group
- Second to None
- Secret Shopper (Sights on Service)
- Sentry Marketing Group
- Service Evaluation Concepts
- Service Excellence Group
- Service Metrics Group
- Service Performance Group
- Service Research Corporation
- Service Scan Evaluations
- Service with Style
- Shopmetrics, Inc
- Shoppers Confidential
- Shoppers Critique International
- Shoppers’ View
- Shoppers, Inc.
- Sinclair Customer Metrics
- SIS International Research
- Six Star Solutions
- Spot Check Services, Inc.
- Statopex, Inc
- Technology Store Shopper
- Texas Shoppers Network, Inc
- The 16 Marketing, LLC
- The Shadow Agency
- Threads Qualitative Research
- TrendSource
- uSamp
- Verify International
- White Clay
- Winthrop Douglas, Inc
- Wordsmith Pros, Inc.
How to Find Mystery Shopping Jobs Near You
Mystery Shopping Providers Association has a job bank available for seeking out mystery shopping opportunities by location.
Finally, if you like the idea of being a secret shopper but not leaving your house to do it, these companies let you do mystery shopping from home.
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