Hi Emily,
First thing - grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization - That's probably the most important part of being a great Mystery Shopper. (Yes! Even on forums, because I'm pretty sure MSC's peruse the forums)
Second thing - Pull up a chair, grab some coffee, or your preferred beverage and plan on sitting down and READING the forums for a ton of information. It's all here, all you need to do is read over it. (1) Scroll down to the bottom of this page; (2) Click on the "NEW MYSTERY SHOPPERS" link; (3) READ every topic at the top that is a "STICKY". (4) Set up a plan, and get yourself organized. Ask yourself, "Do I have a spreadsheet set up; how am I setting up my office; do I have a good printer, computer, camera, and am I a good note-taker? (those are just starter questions). Next ask yourself - Am I an organized person? Can I work INDEPENDENTLY without a boss over my shoulder telling me what to do? (a lot of people cannot). Remember to set yourself up for keeping track of tax information too - you DO have to report all of your income.
Once you've figured everything out, whether-or-not you believe you can handle it, then it's time to start applying to the "OFFICIAL LIST OF MYSTERY SHOPPING COMPANIES" link that is also at the bottom of the page.
Remember - you ONLY get paid AFTER you complete the job, and sometimes it is 30, 60, 90 days AFTER your report is submitted. MOST of the time, for people who start out (I'd estimate about 95% of newbie shoppers) you get jobs that are $7.00 to $10.00 - and yes, you do have to wait 30-60-90 days to be paid from the majority of companies.
Good luck, happy shopping!
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Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
