Fairly often, I get questions from people worried about giving out their social security number, or their bank account info. Or people give up because most of their available jobs are too far.
Fortunately, there are solutions to those problems….
What to do if most available mystery shopping jobs are too far away…(And save gas money at the same time!)
I’ll admit, the solution to this one won’t work for everyone, and it’ll require a bit of extra work. But, here’s how you do it. First, you apply to a lot of mystery shopping companies. Once you start to get a lot of job offers, even if they’re far away, look for clusters of jobs that cover the same area. What you can do is line up a days worth of jobs all in one region. So, you might accept five or ten jobs, and they might be a bit of a drive away, but if you draw up a route, and hit them all in one go it saves you a lot of gas money, and a lot of time. This is how people often earn $100 or more in a day.
How to protect your identity, and not give you SS# to mystery shopping companies…
This ones surprisingly easy. All you need to do is register for an EIN with the IRS. You can do it over the phone, and it takes only a few minutes. To learn more, go here.
How to find mystery shopping jobs in your area…
I get asked this one a lot. The first solution is to apply to some of the big mystery shopping companies. They have jobs almost everywhere(even internationally!). You can also go to the mystery shopping trade associations website and search for jobs by country, state/province, etc.
If you have more questions(and I’m sure someone does!) feel free to ask them in the mystery shopping forums.
How do I find “free” mystery shopping companies that don’t require a membership fee? Carol
Dear Jacob,
Thank you so much for all this great information, I am just a beginner at mystery shopping and was somewhat intimidated at first, however I have learned so much from all the info I get from you. It is really very helpful and encouraging.
Thank you,
Valerie
i have been a shopper for 5yrs and i have had a few real good shops and too many fast food jobs there are too many fast food jobs and not enough jobs where you get to realy shop. how can we get some real shopping jobs
how doe you find more mystery shopping company that are free that you dont have to pay member ship
I have found signing up with a few pay sited for mystery shopping can lead to lots of free companies. Just look arounf sign up with a few pay sites and see what happens is my advice.
Jacob: I keep getting these emails from a co. that
represent confero,(mostly a Denny’s, or a Sonic doing Coca Cola) & when I find an area near me & sign up for it, I never hear from them regarding
whether or not I’m assigned. So, I assume, since they suppose to send an email letting you know if you are assigned to that particular job, then in a
couple days the job is still listed, so I’m curious
how they decide whom they’ll hire, if nobody is taking those jobs? (not sure this makes sense to
you or not?) Anyway, I’ve signed up for a couple
mystery shopping jobs, but haven’t gotten one yet!
Jacob:
I have another question.Why do these companies
advertise how much money you can make filling out
survey’s, yet, the requirements are to agree to sign up with a whole bunch of other co.’s & buy
stuff from them before you can proceed to the
actual survey?
Thank you;
Betty
I am doing about 30 MS a week thanks to you(Jacon) but I was wondering if you know anything about the data-entry jobs. I have checked several and they do not seem to be real legit to me. Do you know of any that are worth checking into. I have also done some of these survey things and they just keep sending you from one thing to another and you have to buy something before they send you on. Are survey companies really legit, also. Or don’t you know anything about them. Darlene
Thank You!
You should NEVER have to pay to be a mystery shopper! There are so many companies out there and most of them are FREE!! If they want you to pay, don’t do it! I have been fortunate enough to have had great luck and made great money mystery shopping, interviewing, audits, inventory, theater, merchandising, etc. There REALLY are thousands of jobs out there. Jacob has posted lists of companies you can sign up with for FREE! I would be happy to help anyone out that would like a few companies that are REALLY GOOD! I would list them here but I’m not sure that it’s allowed. Have faith and don’t give up! Check out volition.com it’s a great site too. Good Luck All.
Jacob, you have great suggestions and they work. I am happy with my shops so far. Keep the emails coming. Giving answers to others questions help me with my thoughts and I don’t have to bother you with the same concerns.
Thank You
Dear Jacob,
Thanks a million for all your advice and suggestions you have given me thus far with my mystery shopping career. I am a veteran at mystery shopping. I have been mystery shopping for six years,and ever since I started to receive your e-mail with your valuable suggestions and advice,I
have triple my assignments in mystery shopping. Hats off to you,and again thanks a million!!!
Someone just told me that when writing your narrative not to use the word cashier instead use server. Are there more substitute sayings?
Jacob: all of these e-mails are encouraging. However, answers from you on all of these testimonials would be great..”Big Question”. Now that we are in the “Holiday season”, would I be elgiable for “security undercover” jobs. I do have a Masters Degree, with a minor in security.?
The first mystery shop I applied for I paid 99 dollars. I have made that back and a little more. I would like to get mystery shops that pay more.
I understand what you’re saying about lining up jobs, but it takes so much time. I read and/or print the guidelines, do the job, fill out the on-line form, and it takes a whole day. Is there a way around this when most of the companies give you 8 hours or — at the most — until 10 am the next day?
I make way less than minimum wage on these jobs. It takes as much time to shop a convenience store at $4.00 per and submit the paper work, as to do one that pays $15.00. I keep hearing about the $75.00 jobs, but have not seen any. I get good reviews on all my jobs; how can I increase what I make?
I am new at mystery shopping, and I am spending a lot of time on the computer applying to companies. However, I have a problem when some companies send you an e-mail that they have a shop available, but then you have to jump through hoops to try to log onto the website, if you can get on it. I have one in particular that I just can not get on the web to apply for the shop. I e-mailed them the problem I was having, but never heard back from them.. Is this unusual, or will I find more of these? Thanks for all the good advice….
Dear Jacob:
The information you have provided has been
absolutely wonderful and helpful. I’ve been a
shopper for 3 years and if the information
you provide had been available to me when I
began I would not have stumbled my way through.
Thank you for all you help!!
Sincerely,
Marion
hi to all you mystery shoppers out there, i was reading commints and questions. i would just like to add in my two cents worth about matters. i had also paid for a mystery shoping program, i was told that i wouild make loads of money but the reality of the matter was i did not make a penny from that company. i did not stop with that one company. i came across a few free companies and signed up and got assignments from them. i made some money, and every little bit adds up. now onto the data entry i also tryed to do that, once again i sept money to sign up with someone that i was going to make loads of money but again the reality of it was that i have once again made nothing. i have found a few sites that pay you to read e-mail and take surveys. this is the first time that i receive an e-mail message from this mysteryshoponline so i am not sure as to the policies about given dirrect information from her but for me so far it has been an experiece of trial and error in finding what works and what has not. so if this does post with my e-mail address i do not mind in giving a helping hand and giveing the information of the comanies that i found to work for me. especially the 2 that i found that pay you to just read e-mails and take surveys, tslk about saving gas. I learned the hard way basicly,the bottom line is that you should not have to pay for to become a mystery shopper.
I can say this regarding mystery shopping companies. If you want to get picked for jobs, your best bet is to sign up with at least 40 different companies and watc your email at least twice a day, in the morning and early evening. I get at least 2-3 jobs offered each time Icheck my emails and am fortunate to land at least one of them a day. I turn down more offer than I accept, because I live in a remote area and with the price of fuel, it gets expensive. I also use a planner and try to take on 5 or 6 jobs in one area when I know I am going to be near the locations on that day. I started out doing this as a part time hobby, and now it is a big money making business. And I have not paid one cent for any company to take me on, I just signed up with every company that I could find, and I have not been misled by a company yet or not paid by one of them after completing the job. Some companies pay within 2 weeks and other take 60 days, but if you keep a spead sheet, hold onto your paperwork and do a little bit of followup, your crosse fingers would be uncrossed shortly. This is my experience and I just have about 7 months of it and have made more money in the last six months doing this part time than what I make working full time at my other job. One more piece of advice, be truthful and honest in your reporting and signing up with the companies and do not be afraid to contact them with an issue or concern, that is what keeps our integrity intact!
I am interested in doing mystery shopping in my area n part-time basis.
I’d like to chime in with Victor’s comments. Mystery shopping can be very lucrative, the trick is to apply all over the place. Mr. Jans has graciously posted hundreds of companies on his website; apply for them all. I’ve never had to pay for job assignment information from anyone. I just applied (and continue to apply) like crazy. When that company has an assignment in your area, you’ll get an email. I recently accepted an assignment from a company that I’d filled in an application for five months ago! I’d completely forgotten about them, but they sent an email when a job was available.
I most especially agree with Victor about keeping spreadsheets and paperwork. Firstly, I keep the actual physical paperwork from the job for 6 months only, I destroy them after that. I scan in receipts and identifying pages for each job, and then back them up to a disc monthly, and keep those records for a year. I have monthly spreadsheets for the jobs I do that include the date, location, client, job#, fee, and miles. These spreadsheets help me to keep tabs on how much money I’m making, and how much the different companies owe me. They help me to keep track of when I last shopped a location, so that I don’t spend needless time on an application that’s going to be rejected. These spreadsheets also record how many miles a shop was from my home and back again, for tax purposes. Also, on the subject of taxes, I have another spreadsheet, done quarterly, to record how much has been spent for gas, ink cartridges, paper, and other business-related expenses.
I also use a planner, and plan my days accordingly. I’ll accept a $15 job 20 miles east of my home a week or two in advance, and then begin scheduling other shops either in that same general area, or shops that will take me in that direction, stopping on the way. At the end of a day like that, my average payment is approximately $90. Factoring in the time and cost to complete the assignments, including the time to do the reports, I make about $12.50 an hour.
Yes, planning and keeping spreadsheets does take some extra time, but consider this: this is your business. You want it to pay you, and you want to be sure you’re getting paid. Even if you’re only doing three jobs a week at $5 a job, you should still record how much it cost you to complete that assignment. You should still have a system in place to be sure that you’re being paid for your time.
And finally, don’t be afraid to let the schedulers know what you’re doing. For example, when I complete an application for an assignment that’s 25-30 miles northwest of my home, I send a separate email to the scheduler letting him/her know that I have other assignments in that area on a given day that falls within their completion schedule. Since the scheduler knows I have other commitments to that day, I’ll usually get the assignment. And ALWAYS be honest and FACTUAL in your reporting. If you ever have an issue about payment, schedulers and payroll departments will likely believe what you’re saying if you’ve always been truthful in your reporting. Happy shopping all!
I signed up with several companies through the Sassie system. Not one paid in less than 45 days. Then, if there was a bonus involved, I was given a bunch of crap about the timeliness of my receipts. I spent more time fighting to get 8 or 10 dollars than doing the shops themselves. Also, IT IS NOT EASY to cancel after you accept a shop. They put a negative mark against you, and that is not how Mystersy Shopping is advertised. I was going to get Certified on Sassie, but I am waiting to see if it is even worth my while. I would be a great mystery shopper, but I don’t want to have to worry about getting paid. To the person who wondered why they never emailed her, check the website again. Some companies like Carl’s Jr and Church’s Chicken have these EXTENSIVE tests you have to take so you can do a job for them to make $7, which is simply reimbursing you for the purchase of their food. I have deactivate all my accounts and am waiting for all my payments, then I will decide if I want to participate, and then I will only participate with the companys that pay with no problem. I believe certification will generate offers of higher pay. My two cents, and I need that two cents…..
I am trying to get an EIN but am unsure of the correct answers in filling out the form. Am I a sole proprietor? Am I starting a business? Has anyone done this and if so, can you help me out?
I have one thing to add to the comments I read today. Please proof read what you write when you answer questions for the mystery shop jobs. Grammer and spelling are important to help with being accepted for the work. It makes sense and $$$$.
I applied to be a mystery shopper ,but have not been notified if I were selected. please advise.
Can I get a mystery job assignment without dating my bronze membership?
Can I get a mystery job without updating my bronze membership to silver or Gold?
jacob thank you so much for the info. you have been sending me. I am sighing up for some of these companies right now It has been helping me some not a whole lot yet but iLL KEEP TRYING THANK YOU Judy chipps
Thanks to all of you for voicing your opinions and comments about your concerns. It helps the rest of us to hear from you about your experiences. And many.many thanks to you,KJacob for your /very helpful suggestions that you give from time to time. I find them very helpful in my quest for m.s. jobs. I”m wondering if you ora anyone else has done any m.s. with a Webtv? I find it difficult to get into m.s.sites at times. Any suggestions?
I”d like to hear from you. Edith
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