My name is Jackie, and I am relatively new to mystery shopping. I was recruited by an amazing scheduler on Shadow Shopper, and now have found myself wanting to jump into any opportunity that comes my way. I live in Miami, and have been married to my husband, a retired United States Marine, since 1999. We have an 11 year old son. Can you suggest where I can find companies looking for new shoppers? I thank you for your time, and look forward to hearing back from you soon. Until then, be well.

Hello Jacqueline,

Welcome to the forums! If you haven't found this post below yet - it's what I've put together for New Shoppers to help them get over their initial "what the heck do I do?" feelings - well, here's one for ya!

Thank your husband for his service from me!

My son is in the AZ National Guard. He just spent two weeks up in South Dakota for his OCS Training.

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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!!

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!


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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!

9. *ADDED 6-27-2012*: Mileage. Start keeping track of your mileage between your shops! It's very important - and your spreadsheet should have a column dedicated to your mileage! You CAN take this as a tax deduction - I believe the IRS gives you 55 cents per mile for 2012.

ALSO - IF, and ONLY if you have a home office, and you DO take the home office deduction, (in other words, your "home office" is your place of business), then you CAN deduct the mileage "to" and "from" your home to your shops.

Since I have a "Home Office" and can claim mileage from the moment I leave the house, I keep a daily log book in my car. I reset my car's "tripmeter" each time I head out. When I get home, I record the mileage, # of shops for the day, and a quick note of where I went. My log book sits up under my visor. Make this a "habit" to record your mileage!

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.

@ r@inyDayZ3 ... Thank you for the warm welcome, and helpful information. Is there some sort of directory, for lack of a better term, where I can check out other companies that may be looking for shoppers? Oops. And before I forget, call me Jackie. Jacqueline is way too formal, and now we are among friends.

Hello My name Is MMarie I am just digging deeper to what secret shopping is about I have been told plenty of times most are scams if you do not find the right companies. I am located in Florida.

Hello Marie,

Best place to start is here in the forums and read everything you can! Pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink - and begin!

Start by reviewing the post above that I sent to welcome Jackie; that will help you kinda-sorta get over those, "what is this all about" feelings!

Enjoy!

PS: Huff and Puff and send some of your stormy, rainy weather to Colorado and the West!

welcome I am also new.

Welcome to the Board!

Jackie and Marie - there's a link to a list of mystery shopping companies at the bottom of each page on the forum. It's good to sign up with a large number of companies. Here are a few national companies to get you started: Corporate Research, Bestmark, Market Force, Bare, and Maritz. There are hundreds of good companies.

Hello everyone,
My name is Jay.I live in west palm beach, I have been a shopper for the last four years. I have preformed a lot of shops from fast food to hotels. I was wondering if anyone here can help me out. I know that there are literally hundreds of msc. and that a lot of them have shops in south Florida. I love doing bar shops and restaurant shops. I also love doing hotel shops.I wanted to know if anyone knows what companies schedules the shops for restaurants like Red lobster, Texas longhorn, olive garden and the like. I would be very thankful if anyone can lead me in the right direction.
Thank you all very much.
JAY

Welcome Jay. A quick looksie at the "Posting Guidelines" will show you that we are not supposed to reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies

Clients also have a habit of changing MSCs on a regular basis. Registering with the companies on the "Official List" at the bottom of the page will give you the info you seek.

MSPA has good list as well as Volition.