Monthly Archives: January 2008

10,000,000 shopping assignments for you

Posted on January 31, 2008 by Jacob

In 2005 there were more than 10 million mystery shopping assignments completed, according to a study commissioned by the Mystery Shopping Providers association. Get Started as a Mystery Shopper That same study estimated that the mystery shopping industry was worth … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | 2 Comments

An update…

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Jacob

Last week I was inundated with reports that someone was perpetrating a check-cashing scam under the guise of MysteryShopOnline.com. Several of my subscribers reported losing thousands of dollars, and many more reported that they had been contacted by the scammer … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc, Personal | 11 Comments

The Benefits of Mystery Shopping

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Jacob

I was struck by a recent post on MysteryShopForum.com. Get Started as a Mystery Shopper Apparently, a woman who earns $90,000 a year in her regular job does mystery shopping in her spare time. And loves it. But why? Because, … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories | 7 Comments

How to Deal with Low Paying Assignments, and Come Out Ahead

Posted on January 29, 2008 by Jacob

For every mystery shopping assignment that pays well, it is easy to find one that pays practically nothing. Some assignments pay just five dollars for what amounts to an hours worth of work. Get Started as a Mystery Shopper So … Continue reading →

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Free Plumbing, Free Steak Dinner, $100 for a Fast Food Shop…

Posted on January 27, 2008 by Jacob

Many people new to mystery shopping complain that the pay is too low, that there aren’t any good assignments available, and that its just not worth the effort. Get Started as a Mystery Shopper Unfortunately, these are the same people … Continue reading →

Posted in Stories, Tips | Leave a comment

The Hidden Money in Your Tax Return

Posted on January 25, 2008 by Jacob

Please not that I am not a tax professional, so please understand that this in not tax advice, and may not be accurate. I recommend consulting an accountant. Also, TurboTax is very helpful in walking you through filing your taxes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Frequently Asked Questions, Taxes | 16 Comments

How to Get Started with Mystery Shopping NOW

Posted on January 24, 2008 by Jacob

So you’re ready to get your toes wet with mystery shopping? Then now is your chance to get started. In fact, its actually really easy to get started with mystery shopping. Get Started as a Mystery Shopper The formula is … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Started, Tips | 14 Comments

Where I’ve been

Posted on January 23, 2008 by Jacob

It’s been more than a month since I’ve posted here, and I thought I’d give you an update. Get Started as a Mystery Shopper I spent the better part of December, and the first week of January traveling in Vietnam … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | 12 Comments