Hello,

I'm Michael. I'd like to introduce myself and hope for some positive feedback from longtime members. I am interested in learning more about mystery shopping and hope that this interest could lead to a way to supplement my income. I don't expect to become a millionaire in my lifetime so I have been leery about all the scams that are out there. I tried online affiliate sales a couple of years ago, but that didn't pan out. I work full-time and have a part-time job, but it seems that I am just working harder and not smarter, to make ends meet. My wife passed away a little over seven months ago and things have gotten tight. I live a modest lifestyle and want to hang on to my house, my pets and just maintain. As I said, I'm not willing to fall for a get-rich-quick idea,(I've read my share of ads claiming to be able to change your life overnight), but it would be nice to not have to stress over getting the bills paid on time. I'm not sure how this works, if I send this e-mail out through the Mystery Shopper forum, do they forward replies to my e-mail account? Hope that some of you out there in cyberspace has a suggestion or two that would help. Thanks for listening and please feel free to respond if you have an idea or two that you think would help me out.

Hi, Michael, welcome to the forum. My condolences on the loss of your wife. We are a group of mystery shoppers who meet here to discuss companies, jobs and our lives. By registering here on the forum, you are now able to read and post here. Nothing is forwarded to mystery shopping companies.

To get mystery shopping jobs, you must apply with mystery shopping companies. Click on the blue link at the bottom of the page, Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies. The companies listed are legitimate, reliable mystery shopping companies. You will need to go to their websites and apply. You will provide your personal information and SS#, and you may be asked to submit a writing sample. Some also have tests. You will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. If you are accepted by the company as a mystery shopper, they will notify you by e-mail and then you will be able to search their job board to see if they have jobs in your area and request them. It's best to sign up with a lot of companies.

Good luck!

Hello Michael, and Welcome to the Forums.

My condolences on the loss of your wife. It sounds like you are a very busy person with a full & parttime job.

The forum is basically for shoppers to get together and.. talk about shopping. Everything from shop tips, tricks, venting, Mystery Shop Companies (MSC) talk to just having a little bit of fun and laughing over some of the stories.

You do not email here on the forum to companies - you need to apply directly on each company website.

I've set up a short tips / getting started post - it's below. There's more indepth information for you to review (the links are at the bottom of this post of mine).

Sit back, grab a drink and start reading through the threads and in particular the links I listed at the bottom of this. It's the best way for you to learn the ropes and get started.

~~~~~~~~~~~

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.
--> (B.) 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. Your "pay"? As a new shopper, you can expect $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. 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. This is entirely up to you, but it's worked out great for myself and some others. But, depending on your personal accounting methods and how well you keep track of your expenses - *and if shopping is a hobby or a business* - you may want to consider starting a separate checking account - only to be used for Mystery Shopping. At tax time - especially if you stay interested in shopping - you will be 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. For information on what you can and cannot deduct for your Self-Employment Business - please make sure you DO read the following:

[www.irs.gov] or go to: [www.irs.gov] and search for "Publication 463"


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.


NOTE: The ABOVE INFO - is just a "very brief introductory" to Mystery Shopping and to alleviate some of your "what am I getting into" moments.

Please take the time to visit the following forums - print out the first post by longtime shopper & member, FLASH, and keep it for your reference & records.

1. Basic Needs for Mystery Shoppers: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

2. A Game Plan for Beginning Signing Up: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

3. Nuts & Bolts of Finding & Getting Shops: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

4. Mystery Shopping & Taxes: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

5. Useful Free Software for Shoppers: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

6. Odds & Ends for Mystery Shopping: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Hello Michael - Welcome to the forum. You will be able to supplement your income nicely once you get started doing this. It will also keep you busy. You can find new and helpful friends here. Many of us are single and not by choice.