Just curious if there are any other mystery shoppers here. I've been doing it on and off since 1996 and love it. Yesterday we drove 45 miles one way to do a shop - which is a lot - but it had a $90 bonus on it. Last month I'd picked up the same shop in my town but with a $45 bonus.

I used to pretty much do all shops I was offered - now I'm more picky. Of course, now that I'm in a rural area - I'm not making about $500 or more per month like I used to.

Oh well - then again - I'm not on the road as much - unless I'm offered $75 or more for an emergency shop out of town that is!



(For those who want to know more about LEGITIMATE mystery shopping opportunities there is a site called volition . com and you can find the mystery shopping forum there and lists of companies that are legitimate. Usually when you do a shop - you get paid 45-60 days later. For instance - my shop that I did yesterday will pay me December 20th. This is very common in mystery shopping although there are one or two companies who will pay within 2 weeks). less

It would be best for you to message me or post your questions/comments here. I mean - I know a lot about it - but I can't say who shops what place - for two reasons - my contract(s) don't allow it normally and also because that can change from year to year or region to region.

I have done banks, post offices, grocery stores, discount stores, department stores, steakhouses, fast food, a college cafeteria, gas stations, bookstores, eyeglass providers, a day spa, and on and on the list goes. I don't do apartments (don't like those shops because they check your ID sometimes) and I don't do hotels (although I've thought of it).

But its hard to give more information if I don't know what you're looking for.... less

Aha...ok...here is what happens with mystery shopping.

I registered with over 30 companies (there are something like 500 of them) when I started. I simply went to their websites (once again - you can find a list of legit companies on the volition website) and registered to be a shopper. Frequently, I had to take some sort of a test or write a paragraph or two about a shopping experience so they could see that I could write and spell correctly. I kept some samples in a document on my computer so I didn't have to rewrite a sample each time.

Then I waited for an email or the phone to ring for schedulers to contact me.

When you're contacted about the shop - you will be told where it is, how much it costs, how much you're expected to pay (or how much they will reimburse), etc.

Let me give you some examples - but these are MADE UP figures. But they will still show you what happens.

I'm going to pretend that I get a phone call from a scheduler who has 3 shops in my town she's trying to fill. Here are the details she'll give me before I accept (sometimes I will know the name of the store or restaurant).

a. Its a big box discount store that pays $10 for the shop plus $2 reimbursement for anything I choose to buy. I will need to evaluate the rest rooms and customer service and interact with at least 3 employees. (I will need to send a scan of the receipt of what I bought - hence the $2 reimbursement. I can buy anything I want though - just know that I'll only get $2 back plus my shopper's fee of $10).

b. There is a shop for a buffalo wings sports bar restaurant type thing. It pays $30 and requires 2 people eating (2 drinks, 1 appetizer or dessert and 2 meals). There is no fee in addition - it simply pays $30 for the meal. However, because she needs it done within the next 48 hours, she's authorized to add $10 to that - meaning they will reimburse up to $40. Mind you - if I don't spend that much with the tip, etc. - they won't either. They will only reimburse me for how much the meal is.

c. This is a post office shop and will pay $20 plus $8 for shipping and $2 for miscellaneous (an envelope and delivery confirmation).


I am "out of pocket" for each shop until I get paid - which is usually 45-60 days later - but when I get paid - I will get my reimbursement amount (which will be stated up front) plus my pay if there is any.

I am trying to grab a shop (having some problems) with one of my favorite clothing stores....it will pay me $10 for the shop plus a $5 reimbursement. Since that store has attractive plus size clothing that goes on clearance fairly often - I really want to get this shop.

Any other questions?

You should NEVER EVER have to pay to sign up for a company. If you have to - then skip them and consider them to not be legit.

Also - never ever EVER fall for the scam where you're sent a money order and cash it and send some back (I forget exactly how that works). That is a scam also.

At my shop yesterday I bought some "private label" AAA batteries for our toys that are made for this specific electronics store. Turns out they're made by Energizer too. That might give a hint of where I shopped....they've been around forever and are usually near Walmarts or malls. less