How much do you get paid to mystery shop and how do you get involved?

Answer 1

That would depend on the companies that you work for and which country you are in. When you first start, you can expect to get the worst jobs that no established MS will do. It can pay as little as £5 ($10) per visit but expect to take around 30 to 60 minutes to get there and the same to return. Add the 30 minutes for the shop and another 30 minutes filling in the paperwork and sending the report etc. and you will have earned just over £1 ($2) per hour. That is taxable at source. You get your expenses back but any mileage allowance is also taxable. You will have to wait between 4 weeks and 8 weeks to be paid both your fee and to be refunded any expenses. However, if you stick in and register with as many companies as there are that operate in your area, you will soon be getting jobs assessing fast food outlets. If you are in a large city, you could fit around five or six jobs a day to earn around £30 ($60) before tax. Do a good job with the fast food restaurants (you'll get sick of burgers) and you will be offered work in pub restaurants etc. These can pay up to £15 per visit and can be family visits (free meal and drinks for the family. You can get two visits a day and maybe slot a drinks only visit in thus earning £45 ($90) before tax. A downside is that some weeks, you are fully booked and can earn around £200 to £300 ($400 to $600) if you work from 9:00am until after 8pm over seven days a week and then add another two hours a day for paperwork but most weeks you will have very little work or none at all. Don't expect to make a living wage solely from MS as you can't. Most people do it more as a hobby or for the fun rather than the money. To get involved, check websites such as NOP and sign up. You may have to wait for some time before you get any contact. Some companies will contact you within a few days, most will take a few months to contact you and many won't contact you at all. The best I've had is a company calling me, to do three jobs, after nearly four (4) years. After the three jobs, I have only had contact once and that is when my check arrived, six weeks later.

Answer 2

I've never done it. But go to Amazon and keyword search "secret shopper" and "mystery shopping," and you'll find numerous books listed that will teach you about the subject. Make a list of titles, and then check your local library before you head to the bookstore.

Also, you may be interested in reading a mystery shopper mystery series (fiction, obviously) by Elaine Viets:
1) Dying in Style
2) High Heels are Murder
3) Accessory to Murder (being released in November)

Answer 3

Hi Stacy,

I have tried Mystery Shopping and either the money wasn't consistant, or some places wanted a big up front fee. But if you are considering making money at home, you might want to have a look at what I do.

I have been averaging more then two thousand dollars a month for the last several months on line. If you'd like to see proof that they pay, site descriptions, and more information, please see my profile. All of these sites are free to join.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

My good friend is a Secret Shopper, she doesnt get paid but she gets to keep everything she purchases. A lot of the ones you find online are scams, they try to get you to pay to get in... those arent real. But if you cant find a real one, they give you gift certificates for stores and you shop shop shop!

Answer 5

I agree a lot of them are scams online. They require you to pay for your own items and you are suppose to get reimbursed but then they only offer you like $10.00. What a waste of time I too have been wanting to be a mystery shopper.

Answer 6

couple hundred but it's not easy to make the cut

Answer 7

be careful of the scams