Has any one done Mystery Shopping...

[SRRN]

...as a way to earn extra money.I would like to try it and save the extra $$$ for an up coming trip to WDW in 2004.Does anyone have any web sites?Any info on the pros and cons?Is it worth getting involved in?Any information would be greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance!

 

[safekids]

I haven't done this for many years, but when I did, it wasn't worth it. For the most part you get free meals and merchandise. (you pay first, then they reinburse you) You really don't make much money. The forms you fill out for each location is very lengthy and they are very specific on how you are allowed to word your info. You can't use any names, race, sex or body decriptions, which made it very hard when you had a very bad or very good experience.

I belonged to www.secretshopper.com. Hope this helps a little.

 

[kessieann]

I did it locally for a nice hotel chain but we got free stays at the hotel not money. The reports were lengthy but we ate free at very nice restaurants from appetizers to dessert and then had to spend $50 at each of the bars and eat breakfast with room service in the morning-all on their bill. So while it was worth it it didn't make any extra money. Whenever we went back to our room I always jotted down the names of the people who served us and notes about how they did as well as how the place looked. The notes helped when it came time to fill out the reports.

 

[vcasey]

Here's a site that links to TONS of mystery shopper companies.
Mystery Shoppers

Unfortunately in my case, even after filling out MANY of these apps I have yet to actually get any assignments in my area. The few that have come through all seem to be taken by the time I get back to them. So I'm not sure how good it will be for getting you extra money.

 

[jenanderson]

I have been a secret shopper for 3 years with 3 different companies at the same time. While I will say that I do save some (very little) each month in groceries - it is a lot of work. I got started with it because DH was in grad school and we could not really afford a babysitter and going out for dinner. I started doing 2-3 restaurant shops per month as our "dates". Generally, you do where they tell you to go and order what they tell you to (sometimes there is only a few choices other times it is unlimited). For all 3 restaurants, I get reimbursed for the meal I was told to order at a specific amount of money. That means, I pay for anything over that and I also pay for the tip. I spend a lot of time taking notes and providing the companies with very detailed reports (some of the restaurants were so detailed it would take almost 2 hours to complete). Most companies require that the detailed report is back to them within 24 hours - some are much sooner than that. One of the companies I work for requires the shop to be entered the night the shop is done! I also do some retail shopping. This means that I go to the store, I buy it on my credit card and then after a set amount of time, I return the item. This ties up my credit card and I have stopped doing these shops because of this problem. There are a couple of shops which require only my time and then a very detailed report in which I get cash payment for my time. Overall, I am happy that I have cut back on my mystery shopping because I don't feel like the return is that good. It was really nice in the beginning to be able to eat at very nice restaurants for basically the cost of the tip (with DH in school we would not have eaten out hardly at all). I will tell you the main pros/cons of it:

Pro: trying new places and new foods, lowering the food budget (slightly)

Cons: the amount of time it took to complete the reports, still paying the tip

I would recommend it to anyone who is really short on cash and wants the opportunity to eat out once and awhile. If you are looking to raise money for Disney - look somewhere else. You could work part time someplace and earn more money. Good luck with whatever you decide. Feel free to ask me any other questions about mystery shopping if you are really going to pursue it.

 

[Melynny]

I just recently got emailed an "assignment" . I was really excited, but it turned out to be driving 25 miles from my house, and putting 5.00 of gas in my car and evaluating the gas station, etc. I did it and paid the 5.00 out of my pocket, then they would reimburse me for the 5.00 plus 8.00 for the assignment. I filled out all the forms..lots of them, had to scan then send the reciepts to them then I waited for any info.. I found out it takes 60 to 90 days to be reimbursed and paid.

Then next day I got another assignment to reserve a car, rent a car evaluate it then take it back. All of this had to be put on my credit card and I would make 25.00 for this job. well, I declined, I did not want my credit card number floating around someone's office for 60-90 days waiting for me to get reimbursed for a 200.00 assignment. sounded like a scam to me and I am still waiting for the first 5.00 for the gas evaluation. I am sure that some are legit, but this was getting way to complicated on my part.

 

[Gillian]

I mostly stick to the restaurant ones. It's not a good way to earn money! We like it because we get to eat out for free. The restaurant reports are not usually too bad.

The only way it could really be a way to save money is if you had the money already budgeted to eat out and would have gone anyway. Then you could pay for the meal as you normally would & put the reimbursement check in a vacation fund.

You will find that some shops pay better than others. They all seem to be reimbursement up to X$ plus a small fee. One company gives you a nice allowance for dinner and it usually covers the whole thing including tip. But their lunch reimbursement for the same place is barely enough for the meals. Another company doesn't really give you enough to pay for 2 typical drinks to desserts meals, but you aren't obligated to order specific things for both people, just one.

 

[Traveliz]

I have to disagree - I see most of the above posters don't think there is money to be made here but I think its more a case of getting established in the field. Persistence and a little luck help there...at any rate I do lots of mystery shopping jobs for cash (not reimbursement only) and have some great months and some so so ones (alot of it depends on my life's schedule at the moment). When my daughter is busy with school or extra activities or I am I can't take on as many jobs but if I have a time period where I can, I can do really well.

It does take awhile to get signed up with all the companies and to have the jobs start coming in...then you have to learn how to schedule them close to one another so as to make the best use of your time and gas.

Good luck
Liz

 

[kcarp]

Mystery Shopper here, almost 2 years now. I do the shops for extra money, I pull in about $85.00 a month and it goes for my trip. Getting hooked up with the right company is the key. When you sign up with a company make sure they even work in your state. I work for 3 different companies. They always pay on time and (not reimbursement only). Never pay a fee and never give your SS#

Good Day

 

[Traveliz]

I am not sure why you say to never give your SS#. I work for many companies and they all require your SS#. If I make over 600 in a year I get the tax form from the company for my taxes.

Liz

 

[kcarp]

Ok, The companies I work with don't require a SS# I will change that to, I don't give my SS #, and you can fill out your forms... I will leave it at that.

Good Day

 

[jgates]

I belong to www.secretshopnet.com .

Can anyone PM me with a reliable company that does hotel chains such as Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, Fairfield/Courtyard/Marriott Properties?

 

[Belle1962]

I'd like the info on the hotels too please. I currently do restaurants (can't do retail since I work in it) but would love hotels. So if anyone could post here or PM me. TIA.

 

[annsteere]

I'd love to get the addesss for a company that does hotels too.

Is there a reason it can't be posted here?

I have done mystery shopping for 3 years. I do Lonestar steakhouse and Famous Dave's every other month and only pay for the tip.

I used to do a retail shop and it paid $22-$27 for one hour of shopping and 1 hour of paperwork. I quit that because they got so picky picky about the writing on the forms. ( I am a published author of a book, computer training series, and many magazine articles and they would call my house and complain about a sentence fragment or some very minor misstep.)

 

[Cameo]

I do it for a local company and make about $10 per month doing gas and pizza shops. There is a lengthy form to fill out, so I figure I make $10/hour doing this gig. Every little bit helps, I guess. I signed up with secretshopnet.com, but it looked so complicated, I just didn't think it was worth it. If I had more time at home (wasn't working outside the home), it may well be worth it, though.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

We are a retired couple and I do several restaurant 'shops' including Lonestar and while you cannot make a living at it we do enjoy eating out for free from time to time. Since I am on a strict diet and cannot eat much my husband enjoys picking up the slack. We did a shop last night and he HAD to have a piece of strawberry cheesecake in order to get our full value's worth. LOL


I would be much interested in the motel shops as it would fit into our retirement plans just fine and dandy. If you could please PM me I would appreciate it.

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[SRRN]

Thank you for all the info.There are certainly a lot of us interested in Mystery shopping.I'd be interested in some reliable web sites-restaurants,hotels(that one sounds great) and retail shopping.
Would anyone care to post those,for the rest of us?

 

[kessieann]

The hotels that I did are locally owned-not big chains. I had a friend who had her own secret shop type of business (which was how I got into it) but she does not do it anymore so no more hotel shops for us Sorry I don't have any links to help out.

 

[SRRN]

I was also wondering,if Mystery Shopping isn't a great money maker,what other alternatives are there?

 

[kcarp]

To be honest with everyone, most shoppers don't give out there assignment information. Why? If I gave out my assignments then someone in my state could sign up for the jobs, I was going to get. I guess that would be like cutting my own throat. This is how I feel, i'm not speaking for others. It took me alot of surfing and long hours to get the assignments I have. I just feel like if you want to be in this business, go out and get it.

Just my opinion,

Good day