Am considering starting mystery shopping. However,I'm a little daunted because my phone doesn't take photos and I don't have a stop watch.There seems to be quite exacting requirements, otherwise you're out your own money. I get the impression one has to spend a lot of time hustling for not much return.

Do you have any words of advice for me? Also does anyone have any experience with the above company and how they are to work for? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I don't know the company you mention. If they are asking you to pay for their services they are a referral service rather than a company that actually does work themselves.

Whether or not mystery shopping works for you depends on 1) where you are; 2) how much time and energy you are willing to expend on it; 3) what you are willing to do.

When I started shopping I did not have a cell phone. I use a digital camera even though the cell phone I have subsequently gotten can take photos. Much easier for me to pull the memory card from the camera, stuff it in a card reader and upload photos to my computer than to try to sync the phone to the computer to upload (and my phone service I was absolutely unwilling to pay more for in order to email photos to myself or others).

Most companies are pretty clear in their instructions about what their expectations are. Most expectations can be easily achieved by the average person. This is not rocket science. The biggest issues most shoppers have with shop performance are failure to remember to get names or a receipt or a business card or whatever other 'proof of visit' is required.

How much time you spend looking for work really depends mostly on you. There is a certain point when you are signed up with everyone you can find, that you learn what companies have work in your area and when they are likely to post work. At this point it takes a whole lot less time because you know when and where to look.

The information about the work and the camera tips are very helpful, Flash, thank you. This is a referral agency who lists the companies that want shoppers.I thought this work gives the benefit of some independence, and plunging in might be best. I live within 15 minutes of two or three shopping malls,and I can see finding efficiencies like trying to book more than one job. It does seem there could be a shelf life for this work in certain areas anyway, until one or more employees becomes suspicious, or unless I go further afield.

Another question for someone with the time to answer: Do you say what you do to your friends and acquaintances, or find something vague to call it?

I don't tell. If someone asks me what I am doing I indicate I am doing some 'free lance work for a couple of companies'. If they press for WHAT I am doing, I just mention it varies--pretty much whatever they need done.

As for malls, in my area the malls are notorious for $5 jobs with $5 required purchase (reimbursed) and such nonsense. Overall I find that freestanding locations and businesses in strip malls and shopping centers tend to pay better. Malls are also notoriously difficult to find parking near the stores you need to visit so that you don't spend 20-30 minutes hiking the mall.

Rotation requirements for shopper visits normally go a long way to allay employee suspicions as to who their shoppers may be.

Your help is much appreciated, Flash.

I live in a county of about half a million folks who are somewhat clustered into 10 named areas, some incorporated, some not. 15 miles or less will get me into 4 of those areas or the 'suburbs' of two more. Primarily we shop chains, whether they are banks, retail, food services or vehicle services. While there is 1 Macy's in my shopping area, there are probably a dozen office supply places that are shopped, and nearly 3 dozen of a grocery store that is shopped with who knows how many gas stations and fast food locations that are shopped. And banks? I can think of a half dozen right off my head that are shopped in my area and each of them has at least 5 branches. Storage units? I am aware of three different companies that shop ones in my area, one of them has two clients with multiple locations.

When I was getting started I carried 4x6 filing cards in the car and when I did a visit to a shopping center or strip mall I did a quick sketch with the street number of the center and the names of the streets adjacent to it. I listed the names of all stores in the shopping center or strip mall. I also marked which exits had traffic lights to get me off the property, if any.

I have another sheet that lists clients and as I discover who is shopping them, I put the company name on that list that is having folks do the jobs.

So when I got a shop at shopping center A, I could look at my card for that location, see the other stores there and check my sheet to see if there were other stores there that were shopped and go to those companies' job boards to see if any work was posted. I could also check the cards for nearby shopping centers and strip malls to see what, if anything might be available.

I haven't needed to do this for some years now because I just know that when I am going to shopping center A, 4 stores there are shopped regularly, and I can check the appropriate job boards to see if there are shops that the timing and rotation will work with the shop I have accepted. By now I have also ingrained what the easiest in and out to the parking lot is (depending on my approach and departure directions). You build routes that way that saves a lot of travel time and gas.

Well-researched! Can see you're a great asset to your companies. I am taking note of your tips, thank you.