Hi, I just started today being a Mystery Shopper from Iowa. Can anyone give me some "do's" and "don'ts" and has anyone had any problems. Thanks.

Welcome! Start reading around the forum, you will find a ton of do's and don'ts as well as people who have had problems Seriously this is the best resource and one of the best things to do is read all the sticky notes in the New Mystery Shopper thread. You will then be prepared to sign up with companies and shop away!

I thought you were assigned places to go to shop. How do you get to the sticky notes to sign up for companies. I was never told this in the introductory letter from the company. Thanks,

Introductory letter? Did it include a check? If you had a company contact you and you've never applied or registered anywhere then all you have is a scam. You will be asked to cash a check at your bank, wire the funds and you will then be left holding the bag when the check bounces in a few weeks and trust me, it will bounce.

Real mystery shopping companies work like any other legitimate job. There is a list of them at the bottom of the page.

You have to go to their website and fill out an application. The application is simply to get registered with the company. Once accepted you then go to their site and either have the option of selecting the jobs you want to do or you have to request them and wait to see if they will assign you. You will work as an Independent Contractor so the company does not automatically assign you shops. You have the option to take the ones that work best for you.

Most companies require you take some sort of training or certification on each and every client. Again this is through their website.

Finally, and most importantly, you will be paid after successfully completing the shop and submitting an acceptable report. You will not be paid in advance and you will not be paid hundreds of dollars for a single job. Fees are as low as $4 and probably average $12 to $15 per assignment.

The sticky notes I referred to are simply some subjects that will provide you with a lot of background information and tools of the trade. Those are found under the section titled "New Mystery Shoppers."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/2012 02:48PM by LisaSTL.

Yes, this is a fraudulent company. The postal money orders for $930 each for fakes. My bank copied them and I notified the police regarding this scam; I didn't deposit these into my account, so I am not out anything, but there are people that do. Something should be done to catch these people.

Hi I'm Eliica I actually joined yesterday and just looking into becoming a Secret Shopper to earn some supplemental $ with a legit company. I joined Shadow Shopper's which I belive to be legit but if anyone know's of another legit company can you please post some info on them.

There is an Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies at the bottom of the page.