By contacting and registering with legitimate mystery shopping companies, you can become a mystery shopper if you have the necessary skills. There is no fee to apply for a genuine mystery shopping company, also known as a secret shopping company. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association is a good place to start if you’re interested in mystery shopping (MSPA). The Association regulates mystery shopping firms and offers certification and training courses to those interested in working as a mystery shopper. If you type MSPA into a search engine, you should be able to find the Association’s website quickly.
When applying to be a mystery shopper, it’s critical to exercise caution and common sense. False mystery shopping companies prey on this industry with a variety of schemes. Providing the applicant with a check with instructions to deposit money and keep a portion of it is one of the tricks. Mystery or secret shopping companies that are legitimate do not operate in this manner, nor do they send out bulk mail or email soliciting mystery shoppers to work for them. If you want to work as a mystery shopper, keep in mind that you should never apply with a company before checking them out with the MSPA or the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Mystery shopping firms that offer large sums of money are almost certainly not legitimate. If the shopping assignment requires a lengthy process, such as opening a bank account, the pay for the secret or mystery shopper to evaluate the experience could be $100 US (USD). However, if you want to work as a mystery shopper, you should expect to earn between $20 and $30 USD for a typical shopping assignment. However, rates differ from one company to the next. Mystery shoppers receive free products and services in addition to being paid per shop.
There are opportunities to evaluate online businesses, but if you want to do on-site secret shopping, you’ll need a vehicle. The types of businesses you’ll be evaluating are likely to be diverse and geographically dispersed. Mystery or secret shoppers are used in grocery stores, amusement parks, theaters, dry cleaners, restaurants, and clothing stores. Because children or other family members are frequently allowed on assignments, becoming a mystery shopper is appealing to many parents. If you want to work as a mystery shopper, keep in mind that you will not be an employee of a mystery shopping firm, but rather a part-time or full-time independent contractor who will be responsible for your own taxes and insurance.
If you want to work as a mystery shopper, you’ll need to be able to follow instructions to the letter, always meet deadlines, and write clear, detailed reports. Because they must wait to get to their vehicle to write down the details of their paid shopping experiences, mystery shoppers must also have a good memory. Because the whole point of a mystery shopper is to pass themselves off as a regular customer, they must be able to take mental notes on things like customer service, cleanliness, and product quality without being obvious about it. If you want to stand out from the crowd and work as a mystery shopper, you’ll need to market your skills to legitimate secret or mystery shopping companies.