Mystery Shopping Costs
So, you want to learn more about mystery shopping! Perhaps you have seen it advertised on the internet. You may be leery of the claims of large potential earnings for little effort. After scrolling down a long website full of promises and testimonies, your eyebrows might have lifted a tad higher at the price tag and request for a credit card number all the way at the bottom, or after you clicked on the flashing "join here" button.
Although you are right to be leery, the good news is that mystery shopping (also known as "secret shopping") is a legitimate business. There are up-front costs for mystery shopping, but they are limited to gas in your car, reimbursable purchases at the target location, and possibly investment in a digital camera. You should never have to pay a website to provide you with any kind of employment, and mystery shopping is no different.
Mystery shopping is a legitimate business. Retail and restaurant companies interested in feedback about their customer service and store presentation hire third-party consulting firms such asNational Shopping Service,Sinclair Customer Metrics, andTrendSource. These third-party consultants, in turn, hire shoppers to collect and submit data, usually in the form of surveys answering very specific questions about the shopping experience. Shoppers are rarely on the payroll; rather, they are self-employed contractors.
While mystery shopping can hardly be described as big money for something you do anyway, you can expect to earn a small part-time income, and it is not difficult so long as you are capable of being discreet and following instructions. Some mystery shopping jobs (referred to as "shops") require reimbursable purchases, but these are typically small purchases, ranging from five dollars for a small item at a retail outlet to twenty dollars for a pizza. Shops for higher-priced items such as expensive jewelry or stereo systems usually involve only inquiring about the item, and not actually purchasing it.
The time involved with performing the shop includes preparing for the shop, driving to the target location, inquiring about or purchasing something, and filling out a survey or questionnaire upon completion. In some cases, photos are required to be taken per specifications and submitted with the survey; these shops usually involve higher compensation than non-photo shops.
Preparation for the shop includes reading instructions and either memorizing or printing them to take along; in the latter case, up-front costs might include ink and paper, but the consulting firms generally ask that you do not carry instructions into a shop with you. Mystery shopping is supposed to be discreet, and instructions sheets are likely to give you away. In the case of a photo shop, you will need a decent digital camera.
There may be other preparation required; for example, a photo shop for Papa John's pizza requires you to cut the pizza with clean scissors and label it with a placard, hand-written on a piece of paper with a black sharpie, before photographing it. You will need to collect these items prior to the shop and have them ready to go. When you complete the actual shop, you may need cash or a credit card to make a purchase. Some shops specifically require one or the other, so you will need to have the appropriate payment method ready.
Although you may be required to invest in a purchase as part of the shop, the actual cost of purchase will be reimbursed. However, the cost is out-of-pocket and up-front, and you will likely have to wait until the end of the month to receive reimbursement, along with additional compensation, if applicable. Not all shops pay a fee in addition to reimbursement; in some cases, the merchandise or meal is your payment.
So, what about those websites that claim they can provide you with three hundred dollars in shopping income on your first day, so long as you pay a $24.99 registration fee? Do not whip out that credit card! Most of these sites are simply lists of firms that you can find yourself for free; marketing firms specializing in secret shopping are in abundance. Search for "mystery shopping" and "secret shopping" on the internet and do your homework. Dig through the pages until you find actual hiring firms. A legitimate mystery shopping business will require you to fill out an application, like any employer, but will not ask you for a credit card. Look each one up at theBetter Business Bureau, just to make sure. You can also check out theMystery Shopping Providers Association(MSPA) for more information. MSPA offers a mystery shopping certification for a fee, but note that you do not need a certification to be a mystery shopper.
Good luck, and have fun shopping!
