Has anyone made money as a "Mystery Shopper"? or is it a scam?

Question

It sounds too good to be true, up to $50.00/hr for shopping and evaluating service etc. I think there is a membership fee. Has anyone realy done this and actually made money? Does it end up costing more than you can make?, Is it a scam?

Answer 1

Mystery shopping isn't a scam! It's a great way to make extra spending money. You DON'T have to sign up for any membership or pay ANY fee. There are literally hundreds of companies you can sign up with that will NOT charge you any fee. I mystery shop on and off and receive WAY more MS invitations than I can handle.

Answer 2

Ok, well.... When I way mystery shopping, it was really worthwhile. No, it's not a good primary job. In fact, I made very little "profit" off of the job. What DID happen, though, was I'd get to evaluate car washes, restaraunts, that sort of thing, and it would be paid for. I'd send in the reciept so it'd be a week or so before I got my money, but I ALWAYS recieved the money.
You have to have a close eye for detail, but it's certainly worthwhile if you are looking to get a night out or other services for free, because often times, you'll get that. And sometimes, they will give you some extra money just for helping them out.

The thing is, companies WANT to know that they are doing well, and a mystery shopper is a very good thing for companies to have.

Most companies are not scams, so you'll generally be fine there. Like I said, if you're looking to get rich, it's the wrong thing, but if you're looking to do stuff you normally do, and be able to do it free, then it's worth it!

Answer 3

I've done mystery shops for a few years. It is more of a hobby for me that allows me to grab a free meal now and again. Nothing that I would be getting rich off of. I pay for the meals/items up front and am reimbursed by the company. I can't say that I've had any $50.00 an hour jobs but all of the companies I shopped for did pay as they had agreed. Oh - and I have never paid a membership fee. I think twice about companies who ask for money up front from me. Reminds me of the envelope stuffing things but that is my experience, yours may be totally different.

Answer 4

Its not a scam, or at least not in the UK, my mum did it for years. You get paid for doing it plus expenses reimbursed for whatever it was you had to go and buy at the store in question.

I think there is a membership fee but it doesn't cost much and it will be worth it. Also, you can be asked to be a mystery shopper at restraunts etc, so you pay for a nice meal and get the whole lot reimbursed plus paid for doing it!! thats gotta be a good thing. right??

Answer 5

There are real Mystery Shopping companies out there. They are regular jobs, in that you are paid for the work. You pay nothing for the work yourself.

If there is ANY kind of "membership fee", no matter what they are calling it, it is a SCAM. Legitimate companies do NOT charge you any money for anything at all.

Answer 6

There are legit companies that contract with businesses to have mystery shoppers rate their service/product. They rarely have any trouble finding people who want to be mystery shoppers, so almost never advertise for such. Nearly every advertisement searching for mystery shoppers, and particularly any that cost you the potential mystery shopper money, is a scam.

Answer 7

I think that the online ones that go out of the way to advertise are scams. I think it's harder to find the legit ones, since they don't really need to advertise to get people.

Answer 8

I know of people who have done this but they pay for travel and taxes and don't actually get paid for the hours of their time........

Answer 9

i am a member of CBS which is based in australia.....you can make money you just need to be selective as to which jobs you take....it can be a lot of fun and usually make sure that the jobs are local to me.....

Answer 10

It is a scam