2007-02-05 06:28:17 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
2007-02-05 06:31:33 · answer #1 · answered by Gen•X•er (I love zombies!) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They aren't scams, but don't really expect to make any money. I belong to a secret shopper program, and most of what is listed as available in my area is not worth the effort. Why would I want to drive 15 miles to a Waffle House for a free meal? An overnight stay in an In-Town Suites motel in the suburbs for free... why?
On top of that, you are almost in competition with the other secret shoppers as to who is going to take which job. If something nice does come up, it's usually immediately taken. Also, most of the assignments require you to pay with your own money. You are reimbursed after the assignment, and there is always a spending cap. Anything above the cap, you pay for. If you think that travelling to a restaurant, eating while taking notes, and then filing a long, detailed report is worth the $25 reimbursement you get, then go for it. Some people enjoy writing about their experiences.
So no, it's not a scam. It's more like a hobby. What IS a scam is when you pay for the information on where to become a secret shopper. You are charged a fee for the information on where to find secret shopping companies, and the information can be outdated or bogus.
2007-02-05 14:44:51 · answer #2 · answered by Scruzzer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you can really get paid to shop. And, yes, you do have to pay for something. What you'd be doing is actually STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS. So, any time you start a business opportunity, of course there is a start up cost. The promises that are made to get you to register in the business is what makes thing a "scam."
With all that said. . .
Here's a business opportunity that is BASED on the shop and get paid premise. It's an Internet marketing business opportunity that you should find out more about. It's a business that has a system that allows you to build it, develop it, then when it's up and running it allows you to exit and with the extra time you'll have, you'll be able to build, develop and run another. . .it's never ending, IF you're up to it. It's not difficult, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do. It’s as simple as this: Shop on-line (do your regular shopping – toothpaste, toilet paper, deodorant, etc) and get paid for it, then get others to do the same thing and get paid for that, too. It can be developed as a referral business or you can directly market the products. There is a huge variety of products to market, which gives you the advantage of choosing just a few products or even just one product that you're interested in and really get behind it. The affiliated corporation takes care of inventory, shipping, billing/payment procedures, bookkeeping, business reports, etc. Ultimately, you're getting paid for redirecting your shopping and referring others to do the same. It's fun, it's easy, and it is incredibly profitable. There's a saying: We’re making friends, making money, and making a difference. If you'd like more information, contact me at hoozdaboss@aol.com
2007-02-05 15:14:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most of the offers you see online for 'secret shopping' etc are a scam.
There are some companies that really do hire 'secret shoppers' to go to their various stores in an area and rate the store on customer service, cleanliness, etc. A friend of mine did this for a while for a chain store in Virginia.
I also participate in a program sort of like this. There is a store here in Colorado that asks regular customers to send in ratings on their shopping experiences to earn coupons. I don't get PAID for it but I get discounts in the form of coupons once a month (25-50% of entire purchase, etc.)
2007-02-05 14:33:01 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
in my experience (i ahd a friend that did it and i went with her sometimes) the pay is tiny for what you have to do. provide your own transporatation and do the shopping and then fill out a report. They pay very little for the time the task takes. I did know one guy who made out good but it was years ago. He went to movie theatres to check that they weren't cheating the movie distributors on ticket sales. He watched movies over and over to do this. And it paid pretty well.
2007-02-05 14:32:44 · answer #5 · answered by Sufi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They want $200 for you to start. So it is a scam of sorts.
2007-02-05 14:30:40 · answer #6 · answered by Jen of Eve 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mystery shoppers are real jobs, but its usually very low pay and casual - on call. You dont work every day, just whenever they call you, and you have to shop where-ever they tell you, so it might mean some travel. Whether or not they pay travel expenses, I dont know.
2007-02-05 21:30:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I receive those offerings in my email also. I think most people do. I have even opened some and they almost always want you to buy something to get started, or you have to take alot of surveys. I really think thats just away for alot of business's to get your email address, so they can start harrassing you. I think its called Junk Mail.
2007-02-05 14:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by donna_honeycutt47 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of them are. But this site i found really gives away checks. I made $50 in the last 3 days! You'll have to complete online surveys and take up free offers.
2007-02-05 14:31:29 · answer #9 · answered by kalikku 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Porn stars get paid to screw so I guess anything is possible!
2007-02-05 14:31:25 · answer #10 · answered by biggimpin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋