Hi everyone! I recently discovered mystery shopping, and I'm hoping to find opportunities. I'm completely new to all this, so I have no clue how to become hired as a mystery shopper or who to go to. What companies should I look into? I don't want to get scammed, but I don't know which companies to trust. Thanks for your help!

Welcome to the Board! Just start reading the forums. Good companies are listed here...

Hello!


Welcome to the forums - sit back, grab a drink and start *Reading*! It's the best way for you to learn the ropes and get started!!


Here's what I post to New Shoppers:

Welcome to the forums!

If you've been reading the forums, then in the "New Members" you may have read this "help sheet" below.

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!


~~~~~~~~~~~

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.)

--> (A) Mystery Shopping is work - hard work.
--> ( You are self-employed.
--> (C) 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 for once in the year!).
--> (D) You need to keep a spreadsheet and/or track of ALL of your expenses.
--> (E) 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.)

--> (A) 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 our forums. 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.

--> (A) 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.

--> (A) 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 - Again, 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.

Thanks for your help guys!

Hello, I'm Linda Anderson. I'm new to the mystery shopping. I have a friend who does mystery shopping part-time. She told me about this. I haven't had time to actually sit and talk to her about this business, because I'm a student and have been very busy. School is just about over for the rest of the summer, so this would be the perfect time to learn and dig in more about this business and possibly pick up some extra money. I'd like to know how do you find the businesses and how do you get paid. Also how do I keep myself from getting scammed? Please help>....Thank you and look forward to meeting you all....

No one will tell you it isn't hard work, but it should also be fun. In the beginning, take as many varied jobs as you can. It is with this experience that you will learn what you like and don't like. Then you will know which types of jobs you enjoy doing.

As for the companies, there are disreputable companies out there, but most of them are fairly easy to spot. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You can also join Mystery Shoppers Providers Association (MSPA). They maintain a member company board; and, you are able to email them if you have a question about a company.

Also, take the test and get your silver certificate from MSPA. Many of the top companies will not assign shops to uncertified shoppers, or give priority to assignments to certified shoppers.

As you perform shops, you will learn which companies are easier to work with and which ones don't have support for their shoppers. I try to stick with companies that I can either reach by email or phone if I have a question.

Those that you leave messages, or you send email, and they get back to you in two days, and always difficult to deal with, and when a problem arises you are the one they pressure.

What I wished someone had told me when I started out.... RELAX. The forms can be intimidating, but they really aren't that difficult. When you go into a place of business to perform your shop, just think of yourself as a reporter. You are going for the facts, nothing more. Rehearse your scenario, if you need one, in your mind ahead of time, and then just go with it. The rest will come naturally.

The hardest part for me is the timing (when it is required), and remembering things like the employee's height, age, hair color, clothing, etc. If I am collecting a business card, that seems so ridiculous. A very brief description should be enough. I always concentrating on the facts of the shop itself.

Whatever comes easiest to you to remember, don't sweat. Concentrate on those things that you normally wouldn't notice.

You will do fine. And have fun with it. The reports are work, the shops can be entertaining.

I am more than willing to help you whenever you would like help.

Terre'

MSPA does have a company list, but you can also find companies on this website. Here there are links to discussions which will give you the real skinny on each company including whether they pay on time or pay at all. The MSPA may have a list of members, but they do not guarantee anything for the shopper since it is a trade organization created by and for the benefit of the companies. There have been cases of companies remaining on the member list long after they have stopped paying shoppers and there are other members who do not pay within their own stated terms.

Anyone interested in certification, either silver or gold, should search this site and find some discussions. Many, many shoppers are not certified and are having great success in this business.

Shoppers CANNOT join MSPA. It is an interest and lobbying group composed of the MS Companies! Do not expect the MSPA to stand up for shoppers or to discipline MSCs that do not pay shoppers. It is what it is, but it is not for the shoppers.

ALSO, many highly reputable MS companies are not members of MSPA, including some of the very best video shop companies.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2012 02:27PM by walesmaven.

@ Linda... This "Certification" is not necessary. As Lisa says below - do your research here on the forums and you'll find a multitude of threads regarding certification.

I'm doing just fine and have been since October 2011 with shops from $10.00 upwards of $95.00. I average about 80 to 100 shops per month but I also work a FT job. Getting better paying shop jobs is due to hard work, turning in 10 worthy reports, not flaking, being reliable and dependable - just like any job! (and starting out at the "bottom").



terre Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Also, take the test and get your silver
> certificate from MSPA. Many of the top companies
> will not assign shops to uncertified shoppers, or
> give priority to assignments to certified
> shoppers.
>
>
>
> Terre'



LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Anyone interested in certification, either silver
> or gold, should search this site and find some
> discussions. Many, many shoppers are not certified
> and are having great success in this business.