Been unemployed for a year, unemployment ran out suddenly (because the unemployment rate in my state isn't quite high enough). Have a friend who does this Read about a really successful mystery shopper who averages $4,900.00 a month on Reddit so I think this maybe the near-term answer. Mid-term finishing up my certification for project management. Looking for mentors :-)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2013 07:55PM by mocherob.

Welcome. Have you signed up with any companies yet?

Mystery shopping may be the short-term answer to bringing in gas and grocery money. The shoppers who manage to make a living and especially the few earning what you quoted, usually have invested time and money into their businesses. Additionally they all travel extensively which means putting out a lot of money for those upfront expenses and waiting to be paid and/or reimbursed. There are a few MSCs who actually pay within a couple of weeks and make payments multiple times throughout the month. The vast majority pay vendors once per month on a net 30 or net 60 basis with a few pushing it out as far as 90 to 120 days.

None of this is meant to discourage you, but it is important to have realistic goals and expectations. That said, if there is anywhere to learn how to make this work, you have found the place

mocherob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Been unemployed for a year, unemployment ran out
> suddenly (because the unemployment rate in my
> state isn't quite high enough). Have a friend who
> does this Read about a really successful mystery
> shopper who averages $4,900.00 a month on Reddit
> so I think this maybe the near-term answer.
> Mid-term finishing up my certification for project
> management. Looking for mentors :-)


Mentors are here. Pick and choose.

Just to be clear, $4,900/month is not impossible, but is definitely not the average. That $4,900/month most likely includes reimbursement dollars, which are not the same as money-in-your-pocket fee shops. It could include fine dining assignments, casinos, hotels, transportation, cruises - lifestyle shops. Depending on where you live, what shops are offered in your area, and the shopper competition around you, you may be able to shop for gas, groceries, oil changes, tire rotations, dry cleaning, car washes, and restaurants. Those, and other, reimbursement shops save you money, as they are for services you would already pay out of pocket for. $4,900 a month for fee-only shops in one month is something I have heard about only a few times. There may be a few road warriors who can lay that claim to fame, though they would definitely be the minority of the minority.

I'm going to chime in and say if your friend is averaging that, remember that he/she has built up a reputation and "knows how to play the game." So they get all the emails and shop opportunities that a newbie (time and/or experience) would never get. Your location makes a HUGE difference. There are things called rotations. Some shops give great money but you may have to wait 90 days to a year or maybe never be able to do a shop again. When it's never, you have to find something else.

Actually, $5000 is very realistic. BUT the factor isn't whether the jobs are there, but it's a matter of if YOU being the one they assign it to (depending on location of course).

After two months, I'm finally got my first phone shop for $4. But if you need me to do the 5 star restaurant, ASSIGNED! Funny how that works.