Mystery shopping, also known as shadow shopping or secret shopping, is a way to make some extra money on the side. It's not a full-time job, but it can be a great way to earn a few extra dollars. As a mystery shopper, you'll be asked to do a variety of tasks, such as trying out a website, shopping at a store, watching a movie, or ordering a meal. You'll need to be on the lookout for scams, but if you invest some time in researching the best mystery shopper websites, you could find a new way to make money.
When it comes to mystery shopping jobs, you'll usually be paid for your time, reimbursed for your purchase, or both. Most tasks only pay a few dollars, so it's important to be aware of any emails claiming to be from mystery shopper companies that use poor or broken English. Market Force and IntelliShop are two of the most popular mystery shopping companies. Market Force will usually ask you to go into the store and act like a normal customer.
IntelliShop assigns jobs to shoppers based on their past performance and location. Bestmark is another popular mystery shopping company that offers three main experiences: on-site, on their website, or over the phone. It may be harder to get a job depending on your location and the number of people in your local area. When it comes to getting paid for mystery purchases, you'll need to fill out a report after completing the tasks that were part of the job. Some jobs only pay refunds for required purchases and not a flat rate. If you're looking for an easy way to make some extra money on the side, mystery shopping could be the perfect option for you.
Just remember to do your research and be aware of any scams.