Mystery Shopping for Dummies

Mystery Shopping For Dummies

Ok, so I am repeatedly being asked for this information, so it's time to spill. With all of the so-called mystery shopping companies out there, it's really hard to find reputable companies to work for. I'll let you in on a little secret... 90% of the companies that want you to pay to mystery shop are not actually "scams", but they are definately "scamsters". By this, I mean that you could get mystery shopping jobs from them, but you don't need them to get shopping jobs. What they have done is actually pretty intelligent, from a scamming point of view. They build a site, gain access to the mystery shopping companies that do not charge shoppers, they compile the information and update it regularly, and then they charge you for their "services". How nice of them, don't you think?

Well, you don't have to deal with them, and you don't have to pay to mystery shop. I'm sure you're reading this to find out how to get started, so let's do just that. Keep in mind that you do need patience for these jobs, since the paperwork is sometimes tedious. All in all, the paperwork is worse than the jobs themselves. But if you don't mind a little paperwork, this line of work can prove prosperous. Here's a few tips to get started:

1. Start with the companies that I have listed below. I am not an affiliate in any way and do not profit from your sign-up. I work for them myself and know that I am sending you in the right direction.

2. Sign up for as many companies as you can. This is where I just about lost my mind. Filling out forms stinks, but it's worth it in the end. These jobs pay anywhere from $3 to $200, but most are in the lower end of that range. The more companies you apply for, the more jobs that are available to you in your immediate area, and the less driving expenses you will pay. Keep it local.

3. Do a good job. Most of these companies have rating systems. The more quality work you do, the more jobs they'll approve you for. Each company has different qualifications, so be sure to read what they expect from you. If it's not a possibility for you, don't accept or apply for the job.

4. Stay organized. Working for several different companies can be quite a task when it comes to the paperwork. Get a binder and get separaters for each company. This makes life as a mystery shopper a lot easier to manage.

START WITH THESE COMPANIES: Please keep in mind that some companies only focus on certain geographical areas. If you sign up for a company, and see that they don't ever have work in your area, stop wasting your time looking.

A. Criny.com : This company focuses mostly on theatre checks, merchandising assignments, and some mystery shopping. They pay on time, all the time, and also have a decent flow of new jobs.

B. Ritter & Associates : This company focuses mostly on gas station audits. They are simple and quick; exactly what to look out for.

C. Sassie Shopper.com : This is the big enchilada. This company does all the recruiting and work for smaller mystery shopping companies. Starting with this company can be irritating because they have different sub-sites for all of the companies. Therefore, you have to sign up for each one individually. Spend a day taking care of all that, and then you're good to go with endless shopping opportunities. See below for the best way to manage this site.

D. Jobslinger.com : This site is the key. It's not a mystery shopping company. It's more of a job board. They are similar, in a way, to those companies that want you to pay to shop because they compile the companies and make it easy for the shopper. The only difference is that they don't make you pay for it! Sassie Shopper jobs are posted all over this site, and it's much easier to apply through Jobslinger.com than it is to apply through the Sassie Shopper site itself. Create an account with Jobslinger.com and begin searching. Every time you find something that you are interested in, it will prompt you to sign up for that company if you have not already done so. This is time consuming, but you only have to do it once. After you have signed up for the company, the next job that you apply for will only ask you for a email address and password. I suggest that you use the same login info for all sites. Most of them will be for Sassy Shopper anyways. This site alone has enough jobs to keep you busy.

If you have any questions or you get stuck somewhere, just ask. I'll try my best to help.