Hello all, my name is "R" and I am shopping in Indiana. I have to say it's a little hard getting started because it seems like all the decent paying shops are always taken by experienced shoppers. I don't really see the info I'm looking for on this forum (yet) because no one wants to share. I understand don't give up the confidentiality but "Geesh" come on help a fellow shopper out. You can't do them all.

There's a lot of competition, and I don't know about most shoppers, but I actually could always use more shops in almost any given month. And yes - I could do them all - at least, all the shops that I want (I pass up a lot of shops that I don't want). As you get more experienced, you will learn that many times other shoppers in your area will beat you to the shops that are posted.

Having said that, there's plenty of help here for a new shopper. And guess what - it's all free! You don't have to pay, as you do for Shadow Shopper or JobSlinger Plus, and you don't have to buy a book or a spreadsheet. Everything you find here is FREE, and it's all designed to help a new fellow shopper out. It's set up so that you work at your own pace, reading the things you are most interested in first.

Pull up a chair and read the free information. After reading, set aside some time to set up your mystery shopping business. Spend some time applying with as many companies as you can. Many of the most successful shoppers on the forum are signed up with 150-200 or more. The more companies you apply with, the more assignment opportunities may be available to you. There's a great list below, at the blue link, Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies.

When you apply, you will provide your personal information, SS#, and you may have to provide a writing sample or take some tests. You will sign an Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA), which almost always contains a confidentiality clause (which is the reason that shoppers cannot disclose the names of the clients of mystery shopping companies).

Thank you for that AustinMom. I think so far I am only signed up for 20 companies not many but I only have been doing this 2 weeks. This is a silly question here but it probably has been covered, is Sassie the same program used by a lot of companies?

No, mrgiveitashot, it's NOT a silly question. It's actually a very good question. Yes, Sassie is a program used by a lot of companies. Another is Prophet. Clientsmart is a third. Some companies, like Market Force and Cori, have their own software programs.

With only 20 companies, that would be why you are not getting the good shops. My best advice is to pass up some of the cheapie shops and spend the time registering. Get up to at least 50 companies. I'm betting you will start to see some good shops almost immediately, especially if you get registered today or tomorrow. A lot of companies post MOST of their jobs near the first of the month, although certainly not all of them. Although very experienced shoppers do have an edge, the biggest difference right now between you and the experienced shoppers is that we are signed up with more companies. As you gain experience, you will build a reputation, get to know the schedulers, and get to know the "flow" of the jobs - who posts on the 1st or the 20th and who pays more for shops toward the end of the month.

We have all been where you are right now. This forum is the best education in mystery shopping that I know of. I started in 2008 and this forum helped me make mystery shopping work for me.

Good luck and have fun shopping!

There is a huge abundance of information on this forum, you just have to do the research and look for it. People are very happy to share but no-one is going to tell you which clients certain companies can have. We are just not permitted to do that. Multiple companies are listed at the bottom of the page so what exactly is it that you're looking for that you're finding people won't share?

j am trying to get started in fhis to make so money to eat

Welcome, fdoonan. There's plenty of information here to help you start and manage your mystery shopping business. Like any time you start a small business, it is a lot of work and very time-consuming at first.

Welcome fellow Mr. Indiana! We have some good ones here but they are spread out in all different MSC's. Like the others have said above, the best advice is sign up with multiple MSC's.

We can't tell you who shops our area but check out jobslinger for sassie shops, and msjobboard.com for shopmetrics shops. I'm not sure if there is a board like that for Prophet shops. Another place to go is the job board on this forum. On all of these job boards, most likely the jobs will be all taken but they will give you an idea of which MSC's have shops in our area so I would sign up with those first. Usually, shops will come back monthly or quarterly so keep watching and if signed up, then you can take them then.

I'm also in Indiana.. SW Indiana. I've been doing this since August. How are you liking it?

mrgiveitashot.......I am new at this too , however I have gained a lot of information here in the few days I have been a member. I used the search area to find old topics and read them. I asked a question last night and austinmom gave me a great reply just minutes later.
You are doing good with 20 companies. I have only joined 17 over the last 5 weeks One difference I do see is that I live in small town. There appears to be some shoppers here but not many. They seem to be taking the easy fas tfood shops for very little pay. I do see since I am near an interstate that some route jobs are snatched up quickly, however I am not concerned. I did 3 shops today and that is the pace I want to start. I am already getting tons of emails about assignments and things are going well. I already have a few favorites or a few that have no work for me.
When you mention "good jobs" what do you mean? A good job to me is a balance of decent pay and ease of the report. I did a restaurant shop to check it out and the no answers caused me to type a lot of narrative for not much pay.
Then again a job that pays 3 times as much might pay more but the report might be very time consuming as well.
I just look at it as any other new job. It is all a learning experience.
I got my first two payments this week back to back from my first jobs. Just be patient and keep signing up with companies : )

You are off to an awesome start, Joe. I predict big success in you future MSing.

AustinMom Wrote:
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> You are off to an awesome start, Joe. I predict
> big success in you future MSing.


Thanks !! I have learned a lot just from this forum. I was also able to make a connection with an awesome scheduler that is a real "goer" type. She has been very helpful , now has offered me my first bonus today and also offered mileage and bonus for another.
I am going to keep the pace at about 3 a day and search for quality over quantity. I saw where someone mentioned 16 shops in one day. I don't think I will ever do that but things are going well.

mrgiveitashot Wrote:
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> Thank you for that AustinMom. I think so far I am
> only signed up for 20 companies not many but I
> only have been doing this 2 weeks. This is a silly
> question here but it probably has been covered, is
> Sassie the same program used by a lot of
> companies?

A lot of companies do use Sassie, but it is quite possible to go 6 years doing shops and not actually do a shop for a company that uses Sassie even once.