Champagne Living

Live the Good Life!

You are here: Home / Buzz / Mystery Shopping & Secret Shopping – Your questions Answered

Buzz Mogul Social

Mystery Shopping & Secret Shopping – Your questions Answered

“Mystery Shopping is the practice of using shoppers who have been specially briefed to anonymously evaluate customer service, operations, merchandising, product quality, and in special cases, employee integrity.” – Mystery Shopping Providers AssociationNot a week goes by when I’m not asked about mystery shopping. It’s either “How can I become a Mystery Shopper?”, “Is it true you can get paid “$500 a week going SHOPPING?” or “Isn’t secret shopping just a big scam?” If you’ve read my previous mystery shopping posts about Dining out as a secret shopper and going to the Movies as a mystery shopper, you know that I’ve been doing this job for a VERY long time. The companies that I list are legitimate Mystery Shopping companies and are members of the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association).

Today I’m going to attempt to answer those three questions as best as I can.

How Can I Become a Mystery Shopper/Secret Shopper?

It’s as EASY as signing up with Mystery Shopping Companies to become a shopper. I have and will list companies that I’ve shopped for on this site from time to time. Many of these companies have their own niche. For example: Shopping company #1 may only perform restaurant evaluations, company #2 may have you go into retail stores and have you purchase items (and then return them later) and company #3 might send you to the post office to send a package. Most mystery shopping companies have a variety of clients that they handle, so it is to your advantage to sign up with as many of them as you can. Remember that signing up to shop is like sending them your resume, so make certain that it is professional and reflects your skills. The MOST important question that you will be asked is to DESCRIBE A PREVIOUS DINING (or retail) EXPERIENCE. If you can’t WRITE, then you probably won’t be hired, so this question is CRITICAL. They are looking for details. What you shouldn’t say is – “We went out to eat at ### restaurant and the food was good.”

Your first assignment? The next time you go out to dinner, become aware of the service, atmosphere, cleanliness and the food. Come home and write a paragraph or two describing your experience. Keep it stored so that all you have to do is cut and paste it into your mystery shopping employment application the next time you’re asked about your writing and observation skills.

Is it true you can get paid “$500 a week” going SHOPPING?

No, you probably WON’T make $500 a week. In most cases you won’t be paid at all. Most dining mystery shops (and some hotel shops) are reimbursement only. So, be prepared to foot the bill yourself and wait 45 days to get a reimbursement check. This doesn’t mean that you CAN’T make $500 a week, but it’s not easy. At the height of my mystery shopping career, I made a lot more than this. I also worked 8-10 hours a day, 7 days a week. The “average” rate of pay goes something like this:

Retail Shops $3-$20
Restaurants $0-$15
Fast Food: $3-$10
Gas Stations $3-$5
Movie Theaters $5-$10
Hotel Shops $0-$125
Apartments/Homes $20-$50
Banks: $15-$125

Isn’t secret shopping just a big scam?

On Tuesday I read a story on a forum that I frequent, that one of the members had been scammed after signing up and PAYING for mystery shopping information. They had signed up with a supposed mystery shopping company, placed all of their information on the secret shopping website and VOILA, they were offered a job. Unfortunately, the “JOB” was a check scam. Had the person done a little investigating (which is what mystery shoppers really do), he would have found out that this “company” had done the same to many people. Please, if you have ANY doubts regarding a mystery shopping company, you can check the MSPA to see if they are a member.

Here are a few of my FAVORITE companies to work for:

Focus on Service – shops a favorite casual steakhouse & is ALWAYS looking for new mystery shoppers Focus on Service

A Closer Look – primarily shops restaurants in both the casual and fine dining categories (although I’ve seen OTHER shops that they’ve listed as well) – You must be EXTREMELY detail oriented and very comfortable writing in depth reports (do not expect to just have a checklist report).A Closer Look

Feedback Plus – you’ll find a variety of shops ranging from restaurants to retail here. Feedback Plus

Be sure to check out Mystery Shopper News for secret shop and merchandising lessons and LEADS!

Don’t expect Mystery Shopping to replace your current job or career (at least not yet). It’s a great way to supplement your income with some VERY nice perks. If you have any questions, feel free to use the comment section or send me an e-mail and I’ll attempt to answer you the next time I post about secret shopping.

Comments

  2. Which link, please? I am also interested and would appreciate any insight. I need a job to make money- I don’t need to spend money. 🙂

  4. Good idea, but the Google adwords ads on the page lead to Mystery Shopping scams. You need to be warning people about those, NOT promoting them.

    Send people to the MSPA’s website or Volition.com – not the scams.

  5. ok? I am confused. Can we get someone to help us out with the right company to go with… MSPA.org… doesn’t work…it is all google ads…
    Were in a crunch right now. And this would be something perfect for me to do even with my 2 year old!

  6. I am a teacher and am looking to make some extra money this summer. What companies would you suggest signing up for? I have two small children so I would be taking them along for the ride.

  8. This is NOT a scam. For the Mystery Shopper Providers Association you need to go to http://www.mysteryshop.org

    For those looking for MORE mystery shopping companies, there is a box on the sidebar with clickable links to other articles, or you can go to http://www.champagneliving.net/2009/05/welcome-guests-from-msn.html to see my list of articles as well.

    The companies that I write about in my posts will have you doing REAL customer service evaluations. You should not have to pay someone to sign up to be a mystery shopper.

    Unfortunately, I have no control over the ads that google puts on my site. If the link takes you to a REAL secret shopping company, that’s great – if they ask you for money – don’t do it. Keep checking back at Champagne Living. I’ll be listing more legitimate secret shopper opportunities in upcoming posts.

  9. too bad they don’t have any for people my age. Alas, a year and a half more…

  10. Hi Zippy,

    I was wandering if people who live outside the US can also be involved in this. Please, let me know!

    Thanks

  11. I would like to find out if people living in Canada can be involved with this.

    Please let me know!

    Thank you.

    Angela

  12. I have been a closer look mystery shopper for some time .. they have not had any new shops in the last 6 months, just the same places. They are, however, very good about paying promptly and will work with you on your first report to get what they want. You have to be EXCESSIVELY detail oriented.

  13. There are PLENTY of mystery shopping companies that handle the US, Canada and just about everywhere else. Stay posted as I'll include international leads in the future. In the meantime check out http://www.mysteryshoppernews.com as they often have international leads.

  14. Madeline – if you are under 18 you'll often find leads for companies looking for teens to buy cigarettes, etc. My son started mystery shopping when he was about 16 years old, so it can be done. I'll stay on the lookout for shops for teens JUST for YOU.

  15. It's true that you can only DREAM of making $500/week. I've been doing it since October 2008, and my best month saw about $1000, BUT it included being reimbursed for hotel stays, so it wasn't real "income."

    Sorry to say that as of late, the pickings have become really slim, and there is not a lot of money to be made because so many people jump at the first opportunity they see, which could be a $5 shop. The mystery shopping companies know this, and they intentionally low-ball the shoppers to increase their profits. I would advise anyone considering this to:

    1) take your head out of the clouds and stop dreaming of doing easy work for big bucks. This is NOT what mystery shopping is about.

    2) realize that there is actual WORK involved. If you don't like sitting at a computer typing reports, following explicit directions and memorizing details, this is NOT for you

    3) also realize that it is somewhat of a gamble. You may or may NOT get paid, depending on the quality of your reports. I have done over 100 shops, only been shafted once. You also have to wait, wait, wait, and wait some more to get reimbursed at times, and there have been some companies that have folded, leaving the shopper on the hook for the bill (and subsequently NOT geting reimbursed). PLEASE don't gamble w/ your rent/lease/mortgage payments to enter this arena.

    4) keep good records of everything that you do, from phone calls to on-site visits.

    5) research, research, RESEARCH! Know exactly what you are doing before you embark in this journey.

    I DO hope I scared some of you, because I see the same thing over and over: people hear about it, think it's an easy way to make money, but run from the actual effort it takes to be good in this business. If you want easy money, enter a sweepstakes, play the lottery or marry into a rich family.

  17. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!

  19. Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say superb blog!

  20. I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?

  22. Hello! I understand this is kind of off-topic however I needed to ask. Does managing a well-established blog such as yours require a massive amount work? I am brand new to writing a blog however I do write in my diary daily. I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my experience and thoughts online. Please let me know if you have any recommendations or tips for new aspiring bloggers. Appreciate it!

  26. Howdy! I realize this is sort of off-topic however I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established website such as yours require a massive amount work? I am completely new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal on a daily basis. I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my personal experience and views online. Please let me know if you have any kind of suggestions or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers. Thankyou!

  27. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this excellent blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this website with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

  29. Throughout this great scheme of things you actually receive a B+ with regard to hard work. Where you confused me was on your particulars. You know, it is said, the devil is in the details… And it could not be much more correct here. Having said that, let me say to you exactly what did give good results. Your writing is actually really engaging which is probably why I am making the effort to comment. I do not really make it a regular habit of doing that. Next, while I can certainly see a jumps in logic you come up with, I am not sure of exactly how you seem to unite your points which produce your conclusion. For right now I will yield to your issue however hope in the foreseeable future you actually link your facts better.

  32. The crux of your writing whilst sounding reasonable at first, did not really settle very well with me personally after some time. Someplace throughout the paragraphs you actually were able to make me a believer but just for a very short while. I still have got a problem with your leaps in assumptions and you would do nicely to fill in those gaps. In the event you can accomplish that, I would undoubtedly be amazed.

  34. Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is actually frustrating.
    A good web site with exciting content, that’s what I need.
    Thank you for keeping this website, I will be visiting it.
    Do you do newsletters? Can not find it.

  35. Thank you a lot for giving everyone such a marvelous possibility to read critical reviews from
    this web site. It’s always very awesome and stuffed with a lot of
    fun for me personally and my office acquaintances to search your web site at the least 3 times in 7 days to
    find out the latest items you have got. And indeed, I am also usually happy considering the incredible creative ideas you serve.
    Some two tips in this post are particularly the very best I’ve
    had.

  36. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for extra articles.
    You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over
    the place and just could not come across. What an ideal web site.

  38. Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after reading through some of the post I
    realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely glad
    I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!

  39. Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We’ve ever arrive across
    on this subject. Actually Magnificent. I’m also an expert in this
    topic so I can understand your effort.

  41. Just desire to say your article is as astonishing.
    The clearness in your post is simply excellent and I could assume
    you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow
    me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post.
    Thanks a million and please keep up the gratifying work.

  42. Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
    I mean, what you say is important and everything.

    However imagine if you added some great photos or videos to give your posts more, “pop”!

    Your content is excellent but with images and clips,
    this website could definitely be one of the very best in its
    niche. Very good blog!

  45. I do not know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else experiencing issues with your site. It appears as if some of the written text within your content are running off the screen. Can somebody else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This may be a problem with my web browser because I’ve had this happen before. Many thanks

  47. you’re in point of fact a just right webmaster. The site loading speed is amazing.

    It seems that you are doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork.
    you’ve performed a fantastic process on this topic!

  48. This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
    I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of
    your great post. Also, I have shared your website in my social
    networks!

  52. Of course like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a
    few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding
    it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will definitely
    come again.

  53. Hi there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using?

    I’m looking to start my own blog soon but I’m having a
    tough time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
    P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!

  56. With every little thing which appears to be developing throughout this specific area, a significant percentage of perspectives tend to be very refreshing. Nonetheless, I appologize, but I can not subscribe to your whole idea, all be it refreshing none the less. It appears to me that your opinions are generally not completely validated and in actuality you are generally your self not really totally confident of your assertion. In any case I did enjoy looking at it.

  57. Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  61. Thanks for another informative site. Where else could I am getting that type of information written in such a perfect way?
    I’ve a undertaking that I’m just now running on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such info.

  65. wonderful issues altogether, you simply won a new reader.
    What may you suggest about your publish that you simply made a few days ago?
    Any positive?

  69. I have been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any
    interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
    In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as
    you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever
    before.

  71. I will immediately clutch your rss feed as I
    cannot find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service.
    Do you have any? Please let me realize in order that
    I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  73. I don’t care about this, now i’m making average 1500£ a month.
    There is tricky way i found on the internet. If you want to learn it
    too, simply type in google: Irahsik’s betting system

  74. Howdy very nice web site!! Guy .. Excellent ..
    Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also?
    I am happy to seek out numerous useful info here within the post,
    we need develop extra techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing.
    . . . . .

  76. Kami setuju dengan post ini. banyak orang percaya ni.

    Wow! Blog yang menarik ni boss . Cantik dan menarik!

    Saya memang mencari info tentang khemah camping .

    Terima kasih!
    Menarik info tentang beg camping ni boss ! Five thumbs up!

    Website menarik tentang beg hiking murah . Keep it up !

  77. You can definitely see your skills in the article you
    write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who
    are not afraid to mention how they believe. Always go after your
    heart.

  79. Howdy! Someone in myy Facebook group shared this site with us so
    I came too take a look. I’m definitely enjoying the
    information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this tto my followers!
    Terrific blog aand great style annd design.

  81. I was more than happy to discover this great site.
    I need to to thank you for ones time for this
    particularly fantastic read!! I definitely savored every little bit
    of it and i also have you bookmarked to look at new information on your blog.

  82. Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you
    amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog web site?
    The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had
    been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear
    idea

  83. That is a good tip especially to those new
    to the blogosphere. Brief but very accurate information… Thank you for sharing this
    one. A must read article!

  86. After going over a number of the blog articles on your blog, I really appreciate your
    technique of writing a blog. I book-marked it to
    my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my
    web site too and let me know how you feel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.