mystery shopping

[Traveliz]

can anyone tell me-and you totally don't have to if you dont' want to-around how much you make doing this? Is it just being reimbursed or do you actually get a paycheck?

It varies. Some shops are reimbursement only...think casual dining. Some are a fee and reimbursement ...think fast food, most retail, grocery. Some are fee only...those are basically when you are in the establishment checking on prices or opinions of products.

Most will say you can't get rich or depend on mystery shopping but if you keep at it and work at it you can do ok. But it takes lots of work to build up your business.

Liz

 

[TaraPA]

It also depends where you live - we're fairly rural so there aren't many shops available that are close by for me. Maybe 2 a month, if that. It's almost always for the same restaraunt, which pays food reimbursement but nothing additional. And with my company you can't shop the same place within 30 days, so I'm not even eligible to do the 2nd one that same month.

You can search outside your area, for instance if you're going on a trip somewhere, or if you want to make a day of it & do several in another city. The most I've ever seen as reimbursement was $18 - and that is rare for my area. Most around here pay $5-$8, or are just for food reimbursement.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

Marketforce and Bestmark are also both legit - I've been working for them for years.

You definitely won't get rich doing them but it pays for some smaller bills and helps pad the Disney fund.

I work full-time so do mystery shops during my lunch break. I actually prefer the ones that give you a reimbursement as opposed to a shop fee as reimbursements don't count towards taxable income. If you make over $600 in shop fees (money paid to you to do the shop, not reimbursements), then the company is obligated to send the IRS a 1099 reporting your income. Of course, you are obligated to report your income to the IRS but so long as it's under $600 in shop fees, the MS companies won't report it.

I like Marketforce and Bestmark in that they let you self-assign. I pick and choose what shops fit into my schedule and sign myself up. I do them, file the reports online within the scheduled timeframe and everyone's happy. Keep in mind that you need to submit your receipts and fill out the online reports within a fairly narrow timeframe, usually within 8-12 hours after the shop. Being late means you don't get paid.

I usually do 2-3 shops a week and make around $15-20 / week, mostly in reimbursements. It varies widely depending on what shops I pick and how busy I feel like being. This week I'm not doing anything as work is too busy but next week I'll be going to the grocery store on Monday ($10 reimbursement), a fast casual restaurant for lunch on Wed ($7 shop fee plus up to $10 reimbursement), and having some pictures developed on Friday ($6.50 shop fee plus up to $2.50 reimbursement).

 

[2005s4]

I signed up a few weeks ago, but after seeing what they pay it just isn't worth it. Between gas/car/taxes, you barely make anything. They offered me a casino shop, 4 hrs for $35.. or to shop gas stations for $5? just not worth it.

 

[Traveliz]

I signed up a few weeks ago, but after seeing what they pay it just isn't worth it. Between gas/car/taxes, you barely make anything. They offered me a casino shop, 4 hrs for $35.. or to shop gas stations for $5? just not worth it.

Those shops probably not worth it - but there are many others that pay more.

Liz

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

I signed up a few weeks ago, but after seeing what they pay it just isn't worth it. Between gas/car/taxes, you barely make anything. They offered me a casino shop, 4 hrs for $35.. or to shop gas stations for $5? just not worth it.

It all depends on where you live and how many companies have shops in your area. The smaller shops can be worth it if you can cluster them. I can usually schedule a fast food shop, a grocery shop and an electronics retailer all within a few miles of each other and be done with all 3 in about 90 minutes (my lunch time is very flexible... ). At the end of the day, that's still $27.50 I wouldn't have otherwise had. Little bits here and there add up. But I agree, I wouldn't drive out of my way for a single $5 shop.

I think mystery shopping is great for college kids looking to make a few dollars. Marketforce has a subsidiary called Certified Field Associates and they have jobs like installing theater displays (those big cardboard cutouts), stocking merchandise at stores, watching movie trailers, visiting doctor office waiting rooms to audit health ads on proprietary tv's, stocking phone cards at convenience stores, all sorts of little things that over the course of the day can add up. I would encourage my kids to do it when they're older if they need the scheduling flexibility and want to make a few dollars. It's not much but it would keep them out of trouble...

 

[Traveliz]

It all depends on where you live and how many companies have shops in your area. The smaller shops can be worth it if you can cluster them. I can usually schedule a fast food shop, a grocery shop and an electronics retailer all within a few miles of each other and be done with all 3 in about 90 minutes (my lunch time is very flexible... ). At the end of the day, that's still $27.50 I wouldn't have otherwise had. Little bits here and there add up. But I agree, I wouldn't drive out of my way for a single $5 shop.

I think mystery shopping is great for college kids looking to make a few dollars. Marketforce has a subsidiary called Certified Field Associates and they have jobs like installing theater displays (those big cardboard cutouts), stocking merchandise at stores, watching movie trailers, visiting doctor office waiting rooms to audit health ads on proprietary tv's, stocking phone cards at convenience stores, all sorts of little things that over the course of the day can add up. I would encourage my kids to do it when they're older if they need the scheduling flexibility and want to make a few dollars. It's not much but it would keep them out of trouble...

The best shops for college students are the alcohol and tobacco compliance - they can make a ton doing those. In a large area there are a lot available and in rural areas the bonuses usually get pretty good.

Liz