Hi! I'm Jessica from SE Indiana. I started shopping in February of this year and have really enjoyed. I'm a SAHM so it's nice to make some extra money and have flexibility. I'm trying really hard to figure out which shops are most profitable. I do struggle with finding shops to do with my toddler or trying to schedule them when DH is home. That's hard because he is on swing shift and either doesn't get off on time when he's on first or is too tired to get up in the morning when he is on seconds.

I was really excited to find this forum!

Jess

Welcome to the forum, Jess!

Hi guys! I'm Tera. I'm new to this site/board. I was laid off last January and have been unable to find work since. Until I find work, I've been doing mystery shopping for about a year now. I've only been sent to do restaurants though on grassrootsmeasures.com My best friend suggested that I also join retaileyes.com which I did but have gotten NO assignments from them yet. Any other sites I should get on to? I like grassroots and I like doing their assignments. It's a way for me to go out and to spend time with my loved ones without spending my own money essentially. (Grassroots pays you in a Gift Card for the restaurant you visit, so I just use that on future visits.)
I'd love to learn more and do more assignments, maybe even make some money at it or get free stuff. Any help appreciated! Thanks!

Sounds like how I got into mystery shopping You'll won't make a ton of money, but it can really supplement your income and offset some bills if you want to hit it hard. The flexibility to schedule yourself while devoting time to job hunting is also a major plus.

There's a ton of information on this site. Focus on the new members area and the "sticky note" threads which will explain everything from record keeping and taxes to equipment, etc. Meanwhile, 2 companies is not going to cut it. There is a link to a list of mystery shopping companies at the bottom of each page. The companies have been vetted. You will find a link to their website for registering and a link to forum discussions to find out more specific info on each.

I always recommend people also get on the job boards such as Jobslinger.com and MSJobBoard.com. There multiple companies will post and it while the jobs you see may already be filled it will tell you which companies currently have clients in your area so you can focus your initial energies on them.

Be prepared, the journey is not easy. You will spend a lot of time research, registering and applying in the beginning, but it will get easier as you go along. But then again, you may have a new job by then

Hello Jess & Tera,

*Nods & Echos to what Lisa says above!*

Try and spend as much free time as you can find READING the forums. Too many new shoppers come in, post 1 time, and then skeedaddle. There is so much valuable information you can find just by visiting (even lurking), and reading!

Here is a bit of an intro "help/fact" blurb I post to new member introductions:


~~~~~~~~~~~

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 once in the year!). 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*. You'll get reimbursed - and also a "fee" - but that will come later (See #2 above)

4. You need proper Grammar, Spelling, Capitalization, and Punctuation. Yes, that should include a forum. We 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 threads on the first page of EACH forum. Forums are listed at the bottom of all of the pages.

When you get to "New Mystery Shoppers" Forum: [www.mysteryshopforum.com] - 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.

Ha ha, I was surprised you hadn't posted yet You have come up with a comprehensive and very helpful list!

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the warm welcome and advice!

Jessica

*hauls off and tosses a bucket load of soggy, moldy, wet noodles at Lisa*

*SPLAT* Gotcha!

You beat me here. Time zone thing, ya know? LMSAO!


LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ha ha, I was surprised you hadn't posted yet You
> have come up with a comprehensive and very helpful
> list!