Do you want to become a mystery shopper? If so, we've found the five best mystery shopping companies to work for. Workers can get everything from free food to extra money when working for a Mystery Shopping company. Are you ready to learn how you get paid to buy? This post includes information on the best mystery shopping firms (and what makes a company reputable), the average salary, how to avoid mystery shopping scams, and more. Mystery shopping is a job where a company pays you to impersonate a regular customer.
You'll provide valuable feedback to the company, from how clean the store was to how employees interacted with you. In exchange for your comments, you are paid a fee and, in most cases, you will be asked to buy something and then you will be refunded up to a certain amount. You'll know that amount before you buy. Usually, you will write a report about your experience from the customer's point of view and send it to them before a deadline.
After submitting the application and approving your application, simply log in to the company's website and select the jobs you want to perform. These companies will provide you with all the instructions, and once you've completed the store, you'll need to enter your comments on their websites. Some pay by direct deposit, but most will send you a check in the mail at the end of the month. It varies by company, but you usually need to be 18 or older to be hired by a mystery shopping company.
For tasks related to alcohol or alcohol, you must be at least 21 years old. For example, a company may request someone between the ages of 18 and 30 to make it look like they are a college student. Some mystery shopping jobs also require you to have reliable transportation. Mystery shopping can be a great way to earn pocket money, but you'll want to treat this job like any other job.
Mostly because not following the rules means you won't get paid. It's important to note that, as a mystery buyer, you'll be an independent contractor. That means you're responsible for paying your own taxes. You can control deductions (such as paying for gas to get to a job) to help with your tax burden at the end of the year.
Many companies require buyers to sign an independent contractor agreement (rather than signing it as a W2 worker), so keep this in mind if you're looking for a full-time situation that offers health insurance and other benefits. On the bright side, since you're not an employee, you should be able to make mystery purchases for several companies at once. Similarly, it depends on the company you hire for the task, each has its own rules about payment, from how it's issued to how often you'll see your money. Many mystery shopping companies pay through PayPal, although some also perform direct debits and physical checks.
Some offer gift cards instead of cash payment, too. Elite CXS is an award-winning veteran-owned mystery shopping operation based in Hudson, Florida. The company has partnered with major brands, such as Porsche, T-Mobile and Gold's Gym. Jobs vary by region in the U.S.
But Elite CXS places evaluators in video, phone, and purchasing jobs in a variety of industries. IntelliShop is a research and customer experience improvement company. The firm's specialties are customer experience, online reputation management, and the loss prevention and compliance industries. IntelliShop Covers Over 18,000 U.S.
Cities. UU. Mystery Shopping Service has existed for more than 20 years. The company serves the real estate, senior housing and healthcare, retail and hospitality industries in the U.S.
mystery shoppers could be tasked with calling a company and reporting on the conversation, or walking around an apartment building in the guise of a potential tenant. Potential mystery buyers can learn more about the jobs available and apply here. Your mileage may vary, of course. But it can be a semi-lucrative and fun job for the right person.
Unfortunately, if you've investigated mystery shopping before, you know that there are a lot of scammers out there trying to take advantage of the growing popularity of this industry. There are a lot of real mystery shopping companies out there, so do your due diligence to stay away from scams. Here are some frequently asked questions when it comes to mystery shopping companies and concerts. BestMark is one of the largest mystery shopping companies, so you'll have a wide variety of jobs to choose from and choose from based on payment.
Always do some research before taking a job and revisit the scam section to find out what to avoid. Mystery shoppers can earn anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred a week. Depending on your availability and pay for work, you have some control over how much you can earn. However, remember that it will usually take a couple of weeks (minimum) before you receive payment for your work.
Ready to stop worrying about money?. While mystery shopping is legitimate and there are legitimate mystery shopping companies, there are also a lot of mystery shopping scams out there, unfortunately. Going to the wrong location, not interacting with the right associate, and not evaluating required store details are common ways to lose a check. Service Evaluation Concepts Offers Elite Mystery Buys to Brands Including Aveda, Cartier, Macy's, Kroger and Lego.
Mystery shopping is a creative way to make money without doing much more than shopping and browsing stores as you normally do. When you buy more expensive items, such as electronics, the company requires you to make the purchase and then send the product back to them. That includes fitness, food service, household items, insurance, real estate, shopping malls, sports teams & locations, transportation companies and more. Most providers are used to a variety of payment methods and buyers are often offered a choice in terms of payment methods.
Personally, I have been doing mystery shopping for years and I started this as an easy job with the university, and I have received free food and clothes in addition to being paid for my time. You'll need to be on the lookout for scams, but if you invest some time reading and researching the best mystery shopper websites, you could find a new way to earn additional money. Market Force will usually ask you to go into the store and ask like a normal customer would, so if you're in a coffee shop, they'll ask you something like buying a coffee and a cookie. When the recession hit, many businesses that once relied on mystery shoppers for customer feedback switched to different methods, such as customer surveys, in exchange for small gifts, so there are now fewer opportunities.
Salaried mystery shoppers are often highly trained market research professionals or long-time employees of a company.
