The Real-World Quick-Start Guide to Mystery Shopping
- Register an email account just for mystery shopping. You are going to be receiving a lot of email as a mystery shopper, and it will be a big help to keep it separated from your main email account. You will also want to make sure that the email address you are using is not going to disappear if you switch internet service providers. So I recommend that you register for a free email account from Google, Yahoo, or Hotmail. Be sure to pick a professional sounding name.
- Sign up for Paypal. Paypal is a free service that lets you send and receive money over the internet. Most mystery shopping companies now prefer to pay their mystery shoppers through Paypal. So — if you want to get payed…then register for PayPal!
- Register with mystery shopping companies. You can apply to companies online, completely free. Keep in mind that if they are asking for money…then they are NOT a mystery shopping company. I recommend that you save your responses to the first application you fill out in a separate document, so that you can copy and paste it into other applications. You can find companies to register with at MysteryShopForum.com, on this website, and on the MSPA job board.It helps to keep a table or spreadsheet with information about all of the companies you have registered with. Include the url of the company, the url where you log in to their website, and the username/password to log in. Also, it helps to record the date you registered, and whether or not they are likely to have assignments for you.
- Apply for assignments. Every mystery shopping company has a different process for giving out assignments. With many companies, you can ‘self-assign’ on their website. Once you get a confirmation that you were assigned the assignment, you will be able to go out and do it. It is important to keep a record of all your assignments. For each assignment, record the mystery shopping company name, the location of the assignent, the date it is due, the fee expected, the reimbursement expected, and when you expect to get paid. You will also want to record the miles driven to and from the assignment for your tax records. If this is your first mystery shopping assignment for this company, then pick a very easy assignment. If you do well on it, your ‘shopper rating’ will go up — and they will be more likely to offer you better assignments.
- Review assignment instructions. Once you accept an assignment, you should review the instructions as soon as possible. This is to make sure that you are able to do the assignment, and to make sure that you will have plenty of time to ask the company for any help in clarifying what they expect of you. They want you to do well on the assignment, so do not hesitate to ask as many questions as necessary. You will also want to create a ‘cheat sheet’ that will help you keep track of the details you are expected to observe for your assignment.
- Go out and complete the assignment. Be sure to complete the assignment on time! And just as importantly, be sure to file your report on time. And do your best. If you do well on the assignment, the company will take note of that, and they will be more likely to offer you better assignment in the future. Be sure to keep a copy of your assignment instructions and any other records/receipts from the assignment.
- Repeat steps 3-6 as much as you want. The more companies you apply to, the more opportunities you will have. The more assignments you complete, the more money you will earn. The more you ‘wow’ the company you are working with, the more likely they are to offer you more assignments in the future. So, apply to companies and complete assignments to the best of your ability. That is the formula for ‘mystery shopping success.’
- At the end of the month, review your logs. You will want to keep track of which payments you have received, and which ones you still expect. Every once in a while, a mystery shopping company will need some ‘cajoling’ before they pay you. Keeping good records will help with this tremendously.
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I found that even if you let them know that you made an error and did not mean to that they will drop you from their company.I have made two errors in five years and was dropped from two of these companies.I asked why and was told that it was their decision and that was all that I needed to know.
i am interested in being a mystery shopper
I got started slowly and now am doing several shops a week. I’ve got quite a few I’ve applied for with a local grocery store chain and am just waiting on confirmation. The hardest part is the time it takes to fill out all the applications. I tried RoboForm and wan’t impressed. You just have to go out there and do it yourself. I get offers every day now. Some pay better than others and I’n able to pick and choose which ones I want and when I want to do them.
Thanks for all the good info you have sent getting readt to put it in use
cal
Thank you for all of the helpful info. This is especially helpful for those of us who are new to mystery shopping. It helps to get first hand info from experienced shoppers who have “been there done that”.
I am extremly interested in being a mystery shopper. Not only would it be fun, cause i love to shop. But we are also helping the comunicaty by reporting if the stores needs work or cleaning or stuff like that. I cant wait to get started.
I appreciate all the good information that you give. I am just getting started and have done about four jobs. I wanted to do a lot of surveys also. I am a little disappointed in the surveys. So many of them are a waste of time, or you take time to fill out all the initial questions and then they tell you that you don’t qualify. Any hints on the surveys would help me. Thanks Diane
J.J.
Your blog is a real asset to those of us who’re starting out in the m.s. business. I appreciate the good work you’re doing, & encourage u 2 keep it up. I really enjoy m.s. & want 2 do it full time, so I’m going 2 bite the bullet, take ShadowShopper’s advice which is, a strong encouragement 2 bcom certified by the MSPA, PAY THEIR FEE, & DO IT! I want to make a living @ this, not just treat it as a hobby or past-time. I have found that the schedulers I’m working w/are good about critiquing my work, pointing out both my strengths & weak spots, so that I can improve w/time. ShShr tells me that u will get schedulers’ better, & better-paying, jobs the better they get to know, rely on, & trust u. That’s what I want.
i would love to become a shopper where do i apply thanks
Hi Jacob,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this fantastic information. I plan on taking all your wonderful advice. I have small children and this would be a great way to make a little extra money and getting out to socialize – another plus.
I am a big fan and look forward to reading more excellent tips. You are quite the Mystery Shopper Super Hero.
Cheers-
Caroline
I’m already a mystery shopper, but have not had the opportunity to consider some exciting assignments! Bring them on!
I too have been dropped from mystery shopping companies because of a mistake. I think the companies should take a long hard look at what they expect from us and we in turn should be able to expect something from them in return. We have to be correct with grammar and details and in their instructions there are always errors in spelling and punctuations. Having said this, I think the companies should have some compassion for the Mystery Shoppers. We get $10 or $15, we’ve spent gas money to go there, our time shopping and our time filling out the report. What more do they expect? And then you make a mistake and you get dropped so you get no money at all for your extreme effort.
Thanks a lot for your concern for those of us who are ignorant to the wolfs and especially the cunning foxes out there waiting to rip us apart.i definitely have come across a few but your information helps me see the game much clearer.Thanks for caring
Blessing
I have been mystery shopping for several months now. I found out rather quickly that it is not quite as fun a job as it’s made out to be. However, it is an interesting and ever-changing job that does have its rewards.
It is amazing how quickly companies come to rely on their shoppers. I have already been recruited! I get tons of e-mail and some telephone calls from schedulers trying to get last-minute shops completed. Therefore, it is definitely a necessity to have a separate e-mail address for mystery shopping. You will get a lot of e-mail.
I have filled out more applications than I care to think about. For that, I have found RoboForm to be a life saver. Sometimes, I have to fill in blank fields or make some corrections, but overall, it does save time in the long run. Also, the spell check feature on the Google toolbar is fantastic for checking spelling before submitting reports and emails. Above all, submit well-written reports and promptly respond to any questions your scheduler/field contact needs for you to clarify. Good luck!
Hi Jacob, Thank you for your good advice. I have been working as a mystery shopper for two years now. I’m still learning alot . I have applying to alot of mystery shopping companies lately. I have been getting some good job offers. I also signed up with the Shadow Shopper I have signed up for one month. I think that I’m going to upgrade by the time my month is up. I have been dropped from a few of the mystery shopping companies that’s ok. I seem to find better copmanies anyway.Keep on sending me more information about mystery shopping,I find it real helpful.
Thanks for all the information, I’m very interested in becoming a mystery shopper and have joined a number of free companies but haven’t received any jobs; hoping for the opportunity to become a great mystery shopper soon.
thanks again, Ida Gayle
I was dropped from a mystery shopping company once because of a misunderstanding. I simply emailed the company, explained my side of the situation and told them to go back and check my past work with them. Once they understood that I was a very good shopper and this incident was a fluke, they reinstated me. And, even paid me for the shop they had originally dropped me for.
I would like to thank you for all your tips on Mystery shopping. I think they are great but, I do have one question. Why are 90% of the jobs for the USA? Are there any companies for Newfoundland, Canada?
The Inforamation tha I have recieved from u is great.
I am still in the procces of doing more applications, and yes I have recieved 1 e-mail ouut of the 20 companies I have applied for,so yes I am still waiting on more e-mails. Again the info from u is GREAT.
Thanks
Ms. Terrell
I have noticed people comment about shadow shopper, but everytime I get an email from them and go to their site a popup comes up warning me about their security. Has that ever happened to anyone else who has signed up with them? I have been reluctant for this reason.
Hi Jacob! I have going through your email faithfully!! I started last year as a mystery shopper with Shadow Shopper. It really heled me get started. I now have phone calls and emails coming all the time. I have a silver certification right now, but plan on doing gold soon. I have never been dropped, but that does not mean it won’t happen. I do good work for my companies and they know they can depend on me to get the shop done and report on time and detail with accurate information. I am now doing audits and merchandising which I love. Just thought I would put my 2cents worth in.
how can i star become mystery shopper
I agree with everyone else that you are awesome! I also use roboform and it’s worth going ahead and paying for it if you have as many things as I do, the free version only lets you save so much. I’m leaning more into merchandising and auditing right now. It seems to take less traveling and less gas to get about the same pay I was getting as a shopper. And I’ve lined up three merchandising jobs that I do twice a week each so it’s also more or less a guarenteed income. I’ve only been doing this around two months and it’s a learning process. I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning but you just have to look at it as “well I learned something” and keep going. Takes a while to weed out the bad companies from the good it seems. The one thing I really don’t like is having to wait sometimes more then a month to get paid. Other then that I’m addicted!!!!!
I totally agree with everyone above! You are a wonderful asset to all of us JJ, and I can’t thank you enough! I took your advice and have been signing up with companies like mad, and now I never “want” for a MS job again! I also use ROBOFORM (the free version http://www.roboform.com), which has been a life-saver! I am definitely going to take your advice about setting up a spreadsheet to keep track of all my companies & log-in info, which is an excellent idea!
I decided to spend the $15 to get my MSPA Silver Certification, and it has really paid off too. I get as many MS jobs per week as I want, or can handle, and I am loving it. I don’t see myself “getting rich” doing this, but it is a nice extra income, and I am also saving a ton of money on things we enjoy doing anyway like dining out, grocery shopping, etc., since we can now dine out when I have a lunch/dinner shop and I will get reimbursed for our meals and make a little extra to boot!
When I get an assignment, I print out directions & map online. It also lists the mileage so I have it right there for my records. I staple it to my other paperwork for the job and it’s an easy record.
Thank for all the great tips. I don’t do much mystery shopping, I merchandise for 2 companies. I have weekly and monthly jobs. I do applications all the time. I have 5 companies that I’ve talked to about merchandising for them. I am waiting for their New Rep packets to be sent to my email, which I will return. This is a great source for extra imcome, but I am thinking about doing this full time. Do you know of any companies that need merchandiser for books or magazines? Thanks again for all the great information.
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need demo jobs…two years exp
.
i need some demo jobs.
i have no money to give you at this moment please understand I really want to work with this company but i need work locations in Lompoc and apply so I can earn my money and then i could pay but i need work first . I dont know how too go about this situation so please if you can, give your advice on how to go about it. Or am I just waisting your and my time
Melissa Lown PLEASE learn how to spell!!! Who are you paying? And what for?? Your post makes no sense at all. If you apply to a company, you will get a job. IF you do it correctly!!! Jenny
thanks for all theinformation just gettting stared have not got any thing so far.
use adictionaryto help with spelling.
thanks jessica
yes i wuld like to be a secret shopper u can call me at 317-717-7526 or email me at harold.gagnon@yahoo.com
what do u want me t change
is there any companies in india for mysrery shoppers in india. if then please do mail me.
I really thought this site was about giving mystery shopping tips. If you want to mystery shop, you will need to apply to the different MS companies.
Hello Jacob,
I am interested in becoming a myster shopping..you have posted alot of information on getting started..thank you..
Hello Jacob,
Could you get me some jobs for mystery sthopping? Thank’s
Your website is a terrific idea, Already a ms website has me paying 19.95 per month to join and get started. Even when I call them to cancel they just push the payment back another month to keep me signed up with them. This information you give is so important to all of us. Scams seem to be the name of the game these days. Thank You again Tracey.
Thak you for the news
Is there a list of companies that utilize Prohpet software?
wow…my spelling….Prophet software
I would like to know if there is a place that I could find sample coment for assignments questions, or samples of how to write a coment about service?
I am very interested in joing your company as a mystery shopper.
I am very interested in joining your company as a mystery shopper and knowing more about being a demonstrator. I prefer a job I may be flexible with the hours worked.
I had some experience as a mystery shopper years ago for Nordstrom Department store. The report was up beat and thorough.
I do not know how to join the system to get paid and exactly where to register. If I understand it, I must first have a job.
Sincerely,
Sandy
I am already a mystery shopper for Martiz and Sinclair. Both good companys but would like some more. I live in a small town so it is kinda hard to find someone that handles our stores. If you could help let me know. Thanks
Jaccob, this letter is for Peggy.
Peggy I to am from a small town and in need of some
extra money, exspecialy for this summer. Would you be
willing to give me any advice you can, about getting started?
hi im Africa why do we need our own money to start my mystery shop i thougth that it was a free job with no risk at all to start i need the Extra help because i love to work and shop just give me a job!
I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE REPLIES FROM VARIOUS COMPANIES ABOUT MYSTREYSHOPPING. THANK YOU!
Thanks for the good information. I have a much better understanding of the Mystery Shopping process. I will get certified as suggested, and probably use my Google business E-mail in the future for Mystery Shopping. “www.cdsoftballrecruitvideo.com”.
Sincerely,Bill Kovach