Mystery Shopping Companies

KMOM14 · 01-29-2008, 08:28 PM

Just wondering what experience others have had with all the different mystery shopping companies that are out there - which ones are worth signing up for or checking into and which ones are not worth the effort or just outright rip offs.

purplefdu · 01-30-2008, 05:03 AM

Most of the ones you see advertised are flat out rip-offs. I am a member of two, but have yet to complete a job for either as they really don't pay much and are normally not near me. So while I might make $80 for standing at Walmart giving out samples of cereal I would have to drive an hour to get there and back on a weekend. I've found it nice to be able to look through the jobs, and maybe if I lived in a larger city I could make some good money. My mom likes to do the crowd checks at movie theaters. She doesn't mind outlaying the money, I find it obnoxious.

Tightwad · 01-30-2008, 11:18 AM

We do mystery shopping as a sideline. We get to keep merchandise/dinner, etc. and also get paid for writing for the reports. There is a site called Volition.com that has tons of legit mystery shopping and survey companies. The companies themselves also post shop opportunities on the forums there.

If you are going to do it, I would recommend getting 'certified'. All mystery shopping companies ask if you have a certification number and having one puts you higher on the shops list than someone who doesn't. Google 'mystery shopping certification'. I received my 'silver' certification a couple years ago and it really improved my shop offers. It cost $15 to take and a monkey could pass it. Definitely worth it if you want to mystery shop for real.

Sampling (giving out samples at a store) and merchandising (stocking shelves like magazines or greeting cards) is completely different than mystery shopping, but there are plenty of those on Volition as well. I can pretty much guarantee that any company you see advertising around on the web for shoppers is a scam. The good ones have people wait listed to join.

khorrell · 02-04-2008, 10:47 PM

I strongly second the recommendation that you visit Volition.com. I have been mystery shopping off and on for over ten years now. You can make some pocket money, but be sure to start very slowly and be extraordinarily careful at the beginning. I think most mystery shoppers have at least a few jobs that they mess up and end up losing money on. I look at that lost money as instruction in how to do the job right the next time.

One thing to consider about mystery shopping is that most companies pay between 4-8 weeks after you complete your job. If you have had any expenses, these will not get paid until then as well. If your finances are extremely tight, it can be hard to wait to get your expenses reimbursed.

Good luck if you decide to pursue it.

01-29-2008, 08:28 PM	#1
KMOM14 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9 Reputation: (16)	Mystery Shopping Companies Just wondering what experience others have had with all the different mystery shopping companies that are out there - which ones are worth signing up for or checking into and which ones are not worth the effort or just outright rip offs.

01-30-2008, 05:03 AM	#2
purplefdu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Eliot, ME USA Posts: 322 Reputation: (22)	Most of the ones you see advertised are flat out rip-offs. I am a member of two, but have yet to complete a job for either as they really don't pay much and are normally not near me. So while I might make $80 for standing at Walmart giving out samples of cereal I would have to drive an hour to get there and back on a weekend. I've found it nice to be able to look through the jobs, and maybe if I lived in a larger city I could make some good money. My mom likes to do the crowd checks at movie theaters. She doesn't mind outlaying the money, I find it obnoxious. __________________ Homeward Bound Puppy Blog&Shades of Purple My coupon site list & organic grocery coupon help

01-30-2008, 11:18 AM	#3
Tightwad Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 39 Reputation: (16)	We do mystery shopping as a sideline. We get to keep merchandise/dinner, etc. and also get paid for writing for the reports. There is a site called Volition.com that has tons of legit mystery shopping and survey companies. The companies themselves also post shop opportunities on the forums there. If you are going to do it, I would recommend getting 'certified'. All mystery shopping companies ask if you have a certification number and having one puts you higher on the shops list than someone who doesn't. Google 'mystery shopping certification'. I received my 'silver' certification a couple years ago and it really improved my shop offers. It cost $15 to take and a monkey could pass it. Definitely worth it if you want to mystery shop for real. Sampling (giving out samples at a store) and merchandising (stocking shelves like magazines or greeting cards) is completely different than mystery shopping, but there are plenty of those on Volition as well. I can pretty much guarantee that any company you see advertising around on the web for shoppers is a scam. The good ones have people wait listed to join. __________________ '16 tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt...'

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02-04-2008, 10:47 PM	#4
khorrell Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 234 Reputation: (35)	I strongly second the recommendation that you visit Volition.com. I have been mystery shopping off and on for over ten years now. You can make some pocket money, but be sure to start very slowly and be extraordinarily careful at the beginning. I think most mystery shoppers have at least a few jobs that they mess up and end up losing money on. I look at that lost money as instruction in how to do the job right the next time. One thing to consider about mystery shopping is that most companies pay between 4-8 weeks after you complete your job. If you have had any expenses, these will not get paid until then as well. If your finances are extremely tight, it can be hard to wait to get your expenses reimbursed. Good luck if you decide to pursue it.