Are there legit Mystery Shoppers

[ceecee]

My sister just signed up for mystery shopping from shoppersystem and they charge $49.95 a month, I told her I thought it was a scam. Are there any legit places out there?

 

[MagiKitty]

I work as a mystery shopper for Marketforce. No fees to sign up, but they do ask for you SS number for tax purposes. They either send you a check every month or direct deposit. I've been doing it for about a year with no issues whatsoever. They do call sometimes if they have an assignment that needs to be filled at last minute, but they do have monetary compensation aside from the usual shop fee....

Let me know if you have any further questions! Its a nice little padding for my vacation fund. And I have to grocery shop anyway, so its a win-win!

 

[Traveliz]

There are hundreds of Legitimate Mystery Shopping Companies. That said, I have shopped over 12 years now and have never paid a monthly fee to any company (and can't imagine). I have occasionally paid to go to a conference (much like my husband does in his profession) but the general thought is you don't pay to shop - they pay you.

There are lists of legitimate companies on volition.com.

Liz

 

[cakebakr]

yes, a few years ago I used to do a ton of mystery shopping. NEVER pay money, you can find them on your own and sign up. Most do require SSN for tax purposes.

 

[JoiseyMom]

There are hundreds of Legitimate Mystery Shopping Companies. That said, I have shopped over 12 years now and have never paid a monthly fee to any company (and can't imagine). I have occasionally paid to go to a conference (much like my husband does in his profession) but the general thought is you don't pay to shop - they pay you.

There are lists of legitimate companies on volition.com.

Liz

Ditto this go to www.volition.com for hundreds of legitimate MS companies. Never ever ever pay to shop!

 

[EclecticWAHM]

The same with online survey companies. THEY pay YOU, not the other way around. No legit mystery shopping company would charge $50 a month! That is insane. Mystery shopping and online surveys and market research surveys pay the people who do them. You never have to pay to take part if it is a legit company. Why would anyone pay to work? Makes no sense.

 

[kwelch10377]

Yes there are plenty of legit companies. I actually manage a Mystery Shop program for a retailer and a few years ago we changed vendors and there are tons of them that are totally legit. The company we use is called Second to None. There is also a Mystery Shop Association that lists companies that she can look at. There are no legit companies that would ask you to pay any money.

 

[akcire]

My mom mystery shops the Post Office. Seriously, she gives people stamps for Christmas and tips (like her hairdresser). She has never paid a fee. She gets $20 per shop and can keep what she buys under $10. She knows exactly what she can buy. She can also use the money toward shipping a package.

The shop is short, but the form to fill out each time is killer.

 

[scbelleatheart]

My son does it. Makes few hundred a week. He makes all shopping days at one time, They pay gas and provide a hidden video device plus the cost of the food. His roomies love him. Free food!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

My son does it. Makes few hundred a week. He makes all shopping days at one time, They pay gas and provide a hidden video device plus the cost of the food. His roomies love him. Free food!

WOW! And what company is this with?

 

[sophie832]

I was signed up with a few legitimate companies for a while, but it got to be too tedious for what I was getting paid. Sometimes, you would be very restricted in what you could buy, and they would only reimburse for what was supposed to be purchased during the shop. Then they would pay a small amount above the reimbursement. In order to get paid, you have to fill out very lengthy and detailed forms. Somehow, I was supposed to remember the names and descriptions of everyone in the store, plus note the appearance of all the areas (including the bathroom), and note what was said, etc...but not make it look like I was a Mystery Shopper! Just too much for me, but I have heard of a lot of people who do quite well at it and really enjoy it.

 

[ceecee]

I did a few jobs I found from a site on these boards but I can't remember the name. You would sign up and then go to the store and hand out samples. They sent me a cardboard table and supplies. Connections???? I can't think of it.

 

[momto2inKC]

My son does it. Makes few hundred a week. He makes all shopping days at one time, They pay gas and provide a hidden video device plus the cost of the food. His roomies love him. Free food!

Wow! That's quite a good company he's found. I did mystery shopping for a bit. Wasn't worth my time. The pay was *very little and the amount of paper work you had to fill out after each job just got to a ridiculous point. It just wasn't worth it anymore.

 

[Debbie7452]

I mystery shop. I found out about it here on the DIS. I used volition to find companies. You have to sign up with a lot of different companies if you want to do it a lot. I pick and choose which shops are "easy" for me or pay enough to make it worth my time. It took a few years for me to figure that out! Anyone can shop, but you need a good memory and decent writing skills. If you hate writing, don't bother trying it! I shopped for years bringing my baby, then toddler, then young child along on the shops.

Never pay to shop.

 

[IUTBAM]

For those who mystery shop, how do manage the taxes for what you are paid? Are you an independent contractor? Or do they deduct withholding?

 

[Debbie7452]

You are an independent contractor. I keep a file with records and receipts on all my shops. We have a CPA because our taxes are complicated, but I report all income in categories of fees or reimbursements. Then I report my mileage used. Don't know how he calculates it exactly, but yes, you report all the income to the IRS!

 

[Traveliz]

You are an independent contractor. I keep a file with records and receipts on all my shops. We have a CPA because our taxes are complicated, but I report all income in categories of fees or reimbursements. Then I report my mileage used. Don't know how he calculates it exactly, but yes, you report all the income to the IRS!

This is how I do it as well. I have a spreadsheet I use to keep track of it monthly.

Liz

 

[Karenj2]

My company uses About Face for our secret shoppers... They are a good company (at least from our end).

For the PPs that say the paperwork is tedious - I'm sure it is, but the data you give (especially the written comments) are essential for the companies that pay for the shops. (i.e., We have the same question asked in different places, worded differently, to make sure that the person is properly recording the shop.) We've closed stores, fired employees, rewarded employees, and created training based off of the results from the shops.

So, be detailed in your answers.

 

[chattyann]

My DH mystery shops. He have been doing it for several years now. He does well enough. It pays our bills and neither one of us work outside the home. I was injured a few years ago and can no longer work at all. At this point in time, his mystery shopping is our only job income. He had to quit truck driving to take care of me and our sons, one of which is special needs,after my accident. He actually has a route that is his alone and has to complete so many locations quarte rly. If he completes them all he also receives a bonus.