Im new to this mystery shopping and am nervous to go forth with it any guidance?

Welcome to the Board! Guidance is here. Just start reading...

Hi everyone - I'm new to this board too, but not new to mystery shopping. I've been doing it for over a year and signing up with new companies all the time. It's a whole other world out there which I really enjoy. I can start in the morning whenever I want (within reason) and quit when I get tired. I'm looking to make mystery shopping my full time occupation. I live near Lexington, KY and I really have to search to find jobs in this area. I currently work for Market Force, Bestmark, Ellis and IBM.

If any of you know of others in the area that pay well, I'd surely be interested. I'm also looking into video shopping. I believe that pays a bit more.

Nice to be here.

Hi! It can be a little nerve-wracking in the beginning. I started by doing small fast food jobs and worked my way up. You will learn as you go. You will learn through experience which jobs are good and which jobs are a waste of time. A sense of humor can go a long way

Never join a company where they want you to pay a fee. If you see a company you're interested in joining, check the reviews on this forum first.

Good luck!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2011 03:39PM by Phoebe70.

Hi - I'm Natalie and have been signed up for Mystery Shopping for a while but just started doing them in January. Have had good experiences and bad - including almost getting arrested when doing a shop in a store the company was not supposed to be in. I really wish I'd found this site before. My advice after that one is if something doesn't feel right about the shop don't do it. The company should have been hired by management (or whomever) of the corporation who you are shopping. If it say "Don't get caught as we are not allowed in any of these stores!" especially only you've accepted the shop get out of it immediately! I'm in CT. I've worked for KSS which seems to have the most shops and locations available except only one main customer with a few others scattered in. But they pay within a month and comparably the pay isn't so bad. I've worked for two others who seem to be finding all kinds of reasons not to pay me - informing me something was wrong shop 4 months previously after I've done another 10 and written them up so they won't pay for any of the 11 - The store thought they'd recognized me as a shopper so I was fired any of the previous 15 plus that one wouldn't be payed etc. Any help or advice on reputable companies appreciated. I figured if I got them through MSPA I'd be safe. Not So. Thanks and looking forward to interacting with you guys.

Rackon309 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi everyone - I'm new to this board too, but not
> new to mystery shopping. I've been doing it for
> over a year and signing up with new companies all
> the time. It's a whole other world out there
> which I really enjoy. I can start in the morning
> whenever I want (within reason) and quit when I
> get tired. I'm looking to make mystery shopping
> my full time occupation. I live near Lexington,
> KY and I really have to search to find jobs in
> this area. I currently work for Market Force,
> Bestmark, Ellis and IBM.
>
> If any of you know of others in the area that pay
> well, I'd surely be interested. I'm also looking
> into video shopping. I believe that pays a bit
> more.
>
> Nice to be here.


Welcome Rackon309. We have a list of a couple of hundred MSPs on this forum, that you can add to your own list, as you have time. The more MSPs you register with, the greater chance of opportunities hitting your Inbox I've worked for the same companies as you, with the exception of IBM. Regarding video shopping, use the Search feature for discussion that may help you.

ncfrank Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi - I'm Natalie and have been signed up for
> Mystery Shopping for a while but just started
> doing them in January. Have had good experiences
> and bad - including almost getting arrested when
> doing a shop in a store the company was not
> supposed to be in. I really wish I'd found this
> site before. My advice after that one is if
> something doesn't feel right about the shop don't
> do it. The company should have been hired by
> management (or whomever) of the corporation who
> you are shopping. If it say "Don't get caught as
> we are not allowed in any of these stores!"
> especially only you've accepted the shop get out
> of it immediately! I'm in CT. I've worked for
> KSS which seems to have the most shops and
> locations available except only one main customer
> with a few others scattered in. But they pay
> within a month and comparably the pay isn't so
> bad. I've worked for two others who seem to be
> finding all kinds of reasons not to pay me -
> informing me something was wrong shop 4 months
> previously after I've done another 10 and written
> them up so they won't pay for any of the 11 - The
> store thought they'd recognized me as a shopper so
> I was fired any of the previous 15 plus that one
> wouldn't be payed etc. Any help or advice on
> reputable companies appreciated. I figured if I
> got them through MSPA I'd be safe. Not So.
> Thanks and looking forward to interacting with you
> guys.


Hey Natalie: Stay out of jail, now, ok? We don't make enough for bail.

Research other MSPs here. Shoppers will share the good, bad and ugly.

Hello fellow Mystery Shoppers!

I am also new to the board and just getting back into MS after a 10+ years break. I'm shocked at the negativity of the postings. They are littered with red warnings and threats of deductions and non-payment. WOW! It use to be that the MSCs loved us and had more work than we could handle. My how the tides have turned.

It's also surprising how little information you get with the posting. You practically have to blindly apply. I saw a posting for "one-hour massage".... Hmmmm, seems you'd want to know a thing or two about that one before you accept it, don'cha think!?!?!?!?!

So happy to have found this forum. I spent hours reading before posting and I thank all of you who share information. I will try to honor you by sharing info too.

Thanks,
KristiYaYa

Great, KristiYaYa

Of course, the economy was much different 10 years ago, too.

We'll look forward to hearing from you. Welcome!!

Hello community. My name is Sherrisse and I of course am new to mystery shopping. I am looking forward to the opportunities to come, and I am excited to get started.

Welcome surferswifey!

hello my name is leslie i am using my mothers account becuase i need to fill a position FAST im milbrook alabama it is the montgomery area for all the new ones out there on friday and saturday july 15 and 16 from 9-5 its a fun and easy job doing some cooking and customer interaction if you or any one that you know is interested in more information on this PLEASE call me at 256-631-6767 or 256-931-0214. before 12 noon on thursday this is a one time deal if anyone just needs an extra hundred bucks for easy and fun work..thank you

Leslie, this sounds like a merchandising/demo job rather than mystery shopping. You may want to put your notice on the Job Board with an identification in the subject line about the area and dates needed. You may also want to identify more clearly what is entailed in case there are any shoppers who want to try their hand at demo work (if that is what it is) and what company they would be doing the work for. Best of luck in finding someone quickly!

(The Mystery Shopping Job Board is about half way down the main list of subforums and just hit "New Topic" to post your notice.)