Hi everyone im new to the mystery shopping, im from kentucky and im a stay at home mom just looking for something to do to past time. is there anyone else that takes there child or children with them when they mystery shop??? or do you do it solo???

Hi Jenn,

Welcome to the forums. Pull up a chair and start reading!

To answer your question - I would estimate about 90% of the MSC's do NOT permit you to take a child with you. You will need to do the shops on your own. It's difficult to not be distracted by children and parents would not be able to concentrate on all of the requirements necessary for objective answers/timing/scenarios, etc - when you have to keep checking on the kids.

Not to discourage you - but unfortunately, you probably will not be able to take the kids at all with you. (I know the golden arches specifically state you may ONLY do those shops alone).

I've written up a little blurb for new members - pull up a chair, and check out the reads on the forums/threads!

Here is a copy of what I've been posting to other new shoppers who are asking about getting started! Hopefully this helps you out a bit. Have fun shopping!

~~~~~~~~~~~

You are probably feeling somewhat overwhelmed, wondering where to begin. Here are some facts and tips:

1. Mystery Shopping is NOT "quick money" or a "way to make a living". (True, few people do, but they are gone on over-the-road video trips for several weeks at a time, and they BUILT their Reputation by starting at the beginning.) Mystery Shopping is work - hard work. You are self-employed. You pay taxes on ALL of your income (YES, EVEN on that single $7.00 Shop Pay you got from one company you did work with). You need to keep a track of ALL of your expenses. You should have an office with a good computer, internet, printer, paper, ink, a good camera (if you decide to get into auditing), or a good cell phone with a camera.

2. You get paid (starting usually) $4.00 to $10.00 AFTER you complete a job, submit a survey free of errors, have your survey accepted, and hopefully had no deductions!

3. You get paid - 95% of the time - 45-60-90 days AFTER your survey is accepted. (There are a few companies that may pay in 30 days, just don't count on it, and it really helps to learn how to balance/budget your future earnings.) Most of the time, you will need to lay out money first. Example - that Fast Food shop? You need to pay in Cash - *UpFront*. You'll get reimbursed - and also a "fee" - but that will come later (See #2 above)

4. You should/need to have proper Grammar, Spelling, Capitalization, and Punctuation. Yes, this will include the forum. We like to consider ourselves professionals, even on a forum.

5. READ - pull up a chair and Read. Tired of reading? Don't like to read? Well, you are not going to learn anything unless you start reading. Grab a soda, coffee, tea, whatever your preference and start going through all of the threads - at least on the first page of EACH thread - on all of the forums mentioned below at the bottom of every page page.

When you get to "New Mystery Shoppers" Forum: [www.mysteryshopforum.com] forum - there are "Sticky Threads" at the top of this forum. READ through ALL of the information that a long time shopper/member (Flash) wrote for new shoppers. Then, go back and read it again. Some people have been known to print out the information that Flash has written (not all of the follow up threads, just her first post).

6. Get yourself set up with a spreadsheet to keep track of your future jobs. Search here on the forum "spreadsheets" - and you should pull up ideas on how others set them up. You NEED to keep track of your expenses - you will need those for tax time!

7. Get yourself set up with a PayPal account. I would also suggest that you set up an email ONLY to be used for Mystery Shopping - and use that email to connect with your Paypal account and the one you use signing up with MSC's.

8. I'd also recommend that you start a new checking account - *Only* to be used for Mystery Shopping. At tax time - especially if you stay interested in shopping - you will be SO glad that you had separate accounts! Someone recommended it to me when I first started - and I am definitely glad that I did get one!

Have fun shopping - but you do have to do the work yourself. It's the only way you are going to learn, and find out what type of company works best for you.

Hello everyone, I am Marjorie, a newbee to mystery shopping and I live in Orlando, Florida. I found this site just by chance, but I'm so glad I did! I am looking forward to learning more about performing shops & getting to know the do's & don'ts of mystery shopping.

Welcome, Marjorie!

I am a new member as well. I have been shopping since December and have learned a lot by trial and error. I am also excited to have found this forum. In the two days I have been on, I have learned more than I could imagine. I love the post from r@inyDayZ3. Some of the suggestions I had figured out on my own, but wish I would have known her in the beginning. Her post validated some of my decisions and then some were great new suggestions that I plan on implementing. I do have a question for r@inyDayZ3 or anyone else that may have a suggestion. Is there any accounting program that you are using that helps keeps your business records for you? I have been looking so that I can keep my business records, invoices, payments, expenses, etc. all in one place. I have looked at accounting programs but the expense seems high but if I don't have the correct information at tax time could be more expensive.

BTW my name is Joy
I am also a proud soldier's Mom.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/2012 02:36PM by mzjoyousone.

Hello MzJoy -

Welcome to the forums! Love the folks here, everyone is helpful, supportive, and is not afraid either to let you know when you have to change the way you think or do things!

Thank you for the kind words. I've only been shopping since October, so not very long.

My youngest is in the National Guard, just "celebrated" his 1st year. He'll start his Officer's Training School in July in South Dakota since he finished college.

As far as an Accounting program - I just use Quicken. However, I'm not 100% efficient at it, so I know that I categorize some of my line items incorrectly.

I also maintain a spreadsheet with a bunch of tabs - a main worksheet with a list of the companies I've registered on, PW's, UN's, date registered, etc. The other tabs are arranged monthly with jobs.

If you are good at - and enjoy Excel (I do, love the program), then look for FLASH - (she wrote quite a few articles for new members under the "New Mystery Shoppers" Forum) - send her a PM and ask if she would be so kind as so send you a copy. Don't manipulate the columns though, she's got the spreadsheet set up to do all of the sums/calculations for you. (Unless you know how to work spreadsheets as an expert!) Some people also swear by the Mystery Shoppers Bible - which I think if you do a forum search or google search, you will find info on that.

Hope this helps!


mzjoyousone Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am a new member as well. I have been shopping
> since December and have learned a lot by trial and
> error. I am also excited to have found this
> forum. In the two days I have been on, I have
> learned more than I could imagine. I love the
> post from r@inyDayZ3. Some of the suggestions I
> had figured out on my own, but wish I would have
> known her in the beginning. Her post validated
> some of my decisions and then some were great new
> suggestions that I plan on implementing. I do
> have a question for r@inyDayZ3 or anyone else that
> may have a suggestion. Is there any accounting
> program that you are using that helps keeps your
> business records for you? I have been looking so
> that I can keep my business records, invoices,
> payments, expenses, etc. all in one place. I have
> looked at accounting programs but the expense
> seems high but if I don't have the correct
> information at tax time could be more expensive.
>
> BTW my name is Joy
> I am also a proud soldier's Mom.