is there a real mystery shopper job that you dont hve to pay upfront?

Answer 1

NONE of the real companies charge money! I only do a few a month now, but I used to do it full time. I made about 3k a month.
Recent samples, to give you an idea of pay, Jewelry store, no purchase $85, auto, no purchase, 150, oil change, reimbursement plus 30, Ross purchase and return, 50. My favorite are high end restraunts, where simply the meal is free, but we are talking about a 200 meal, a great treat for a friend (they love the "mystery" part too. Starbucks are great too.

To be realistic, you don't pick the stores, you go to the ones you are assigned and it is first come first served. After you are known they call you at home and it gets easier to get the good jobs. Also, it is not simply shopping! You have to fill out long reports. Often someones job is on the line!

If you want a simple one that will help your family try Safeway. Apply with them, it is an offical job. They send you to 3 stores a week (around your house), reimburse your groceries and pay you for your time, gas, etc. This is a great job for stay at home moms! You have to go to the store anyway. While you MUST make a purchase each time they don't care what you buy.

Email me [e-mail] and I will send you a REAL list of REAL companies (hundreds of them) that DO NOT CHARGE you a dime. I won't charge you either. I would post it, but, this is a pretty competative profession.

Answer 2

I have done a few mystery shops. There is such a thing as a mystery shopper certification. That is based on how many successful shops you do and how well you do them. The good assignments go to the experienced shoppers. I shopped a fast food restaurant. It paid $8 plus a Big Bufford Combo. I had to study, take a quiz, get stuff mailed to me, do the shop in a very small window of time, reveal myself to the manager, award pins, then drive home. It was not worth it. I considered some interesting gas station shops. They sent a huge manual that was very complicated for completing the shop. Ultimately, I email them and sent the materials back. The shop was just not worth the money or effort. I would not pay that money. I think Yahoo has a mystery shoppers group where assignments are posted via email. You can wait a very long time until there is a shop close enough to complete and the preparation for each shop is a real pain. It's not worth the effort.

Answer 3

There's a bunch of them but you won't make a lot of money until you have been doing it with the same company for many years. When you first start out, a legitimate company won't ask for an up-front fee but your assignments won't be very lucrative. You'll usually be asked to cover your own expenses then be reimbursed afterwards; so your assignment to visit a local restaurant will include you paying for your own lunch, and submitting a reciept with your report. Then you get your payment and your reimbursed expenses together.

In general, mystery shopping is a fun way to earn a little extra pocket money but not a substitute for a full-time income.