Last Updated on Feb 25, 2020 by James W
Most people love to find ways to make a few extra bucks on the side with little training or expertise. If that fits your desciption then mystery shopping is for you. Mystery shopping not only can bring in some extra needed cash, but it can provide you with a few perks.
What is mystery shopping?
Mystery shopping is the way that companies evaluate their employees when “no one is looking”. Companies partner with mystery shopping companies and pay those companies to evaluate their staff. Here is where you come in…by contracting with mystery shopping companies, you are paid to evaluate the employee.
How much do I get paid to be a mystery shopper?
I have personally seen mystery shopping opportunities range anywhere from $3 to $100. Usually the lower the dollar amount the easier the shop and less time is needed to complete the shop. I have heard of full-time mystery shoppers earning $50,000 a year or more and I think that is possible considering how many mystery shopping companies are out there.
What are some other “perks” of mystery shopping?
There are two types of mystery shops. The first is one in which you are “just shopping” and are not required to make a purchase, or are required to make a purchase and return the item. These shops pay a flat fee to complete the evaluation. The second is on where you are allowed to make a small purchase, keep the merchandise, and be reimbured for those expenses in addition to being paid for the evaluation. Being able to keep merchandise is a great benefit of mystery shopping!
How do I become a mystery shopper?
There are over 100 mystery shopping companies that need mystery shoppers like you! I personally have signed up with at least ten of them and it keeps me very busy in my spare time. I try to complete one to three shops a week. I could probably do more, but I want to make sure I can dedicate the time I need to complete the evalations on schedule and in a professional manner. The two mystery shopping companies I prefer are Bare International and Beyond Hello. They have many shops available to complete.
Becoming a mystery shopper is easy. Once you find a company there is an application process in which you must fill out quite a bit of information. This can take upwards of 30 minutes to complete and some mystery shopping companies request that you take a small online training course before you complete your first shop. Once you have completed the application and training you are then free to apply for shops as they are added, which can be daily. If you sign up with multiple shops this will increase your exposure to the number of shops available for you to choose.
About the Author
Rick W. is an experienced mystery shopper and internet entrepreneur. In his spare time he enjoys sharing his business knowledge with others and taking steps towards becoming financially free. More information on mystery shopping can be found on his website https://theinformationoverload.com/become-a-mystery-shopper/.
