Work With Reputable Company
When exploring ways to earn extra money, becoming a mystery shopper is on the top of the list. Many people may not be sure the best way to get started or what to expect. There are 3 key factors to consider before making a commitment, as reported by Lauren Greutman.
All mystery shopping sites are not alike. There are hundreds of scam sites just waiting to take a bite out of your wallet. To be better informed, explore these websites to gather information, get the inside scoop, and determine which mystery shopping sites would be your best fit.
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MSPA-NA – (formerly known as the Mystery Shopping Providers Association of North America) is the trade association representing the customer experience industry throughout North America. Perform a member search.
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Volition – View the get paid forums at Volition.com. “There are sites that claim to pay us for everything. Here we discuss which are worthwhile and which are scams. If you are interested in learning about Mystery Shopping, this is where you need to look.”
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BestMark – Bestmark has been “providing over 30 years of innovative and reliable mystery shopping and customer experience solutions for industry-leading organizations.”
Mystery Shopper Expectations
After selecting the sites you want to work with, have some reasonable expectations on how much money you will earn. Each job that is contracted pays the same fee regardless of experience. Greutman reported that:
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Restaurant mystery shopper earns between $25 to $100 -Plan to spend about an hour, or however long it may take to eat; and approximately another 30 minutes to complete the survey.
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Phone call and on-line mystery shopper can earn around $3 to $5. Calls and on-line shopping tend to take around 5 minutes. Add an 10 minutes or so to complete a survey. As a mystery shopper gains experience, he/she becomes more proficient filling out surveys and can cut down the time to fill them out. A good time management technique is to plan shop visits around daily routines.
Figure Out How Much Time Each Task Takes Before Committing
Your time is valuable. Factor in travel time, the possibility of getting stuck in traffic, finding a parking spot, time on the job, and the time to complete a survey. Look for shops that will work for your needs and schedule. While it’s great to get another “free meal” at a restaurant, you may benefit more by reviewing the “free haircut” at a beauty salon.
Note: Start off with one or two shops, fill out the survey, and get feedback. A mystery shopper needs to remember a lot of detail. If your report isn’t accepted, you won’t get paid or be reimbursed for your expenses. Greutman noted that while the “favorite shops were the ones that were at very nice restaurants…being able to receive free drinks, delicious food, and more, all for free…the main con is that sometimes the surveys take a long time to complete. Surveys can also be quite tedious to do.”
What are some of your mystery shopper tips?