Mystery shopping is a great way to make some extra money in your spare time. It involves impersonating a regular customer and providing valuable feedback to the company, from how clean the store was to how employees interacted with you. In exchange for your feedback, you are paid a fee and, in most cases, you will be asked to buy something and then you will be refunded a fixed amount. But it's not just about making money - it's also about gaining experience in the mysterious world of shopping, or having the opportunity to visit a casino resort for free or try lunch at a new cafe for someone else's money. Before you start mystery shopping, you need to make sure that you are applying to a legitimate agency.
You must complete an online application form and may also have to do a 20-minute phone interview with the agency before they approve you. Once approved, you'll be able to access their database of available jobs. 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. When the mystery shopper has finished inspecting the assigned store, they fill out a detailed questionnaire at home and send the receipts. It's important to be accurate and comprehensive when completing workshops and reports, as this will tell companies to approve you for further tasks.
You should also keep all the information collected in the mission (such as the name of the seller, how you greeted him, how long it took to be served, etc.) and write it all down in a fairly detailed report that usually needs to be sent to the agency within a 24-hour period. Having your own mode of transport is a big help when mystery shopping, as some of the places where you'll need to shop can be spread across the length and breadth. Basic mystery buys are a great option if you're not interested in being bombarded with emails announcing available positions. There are also mystery shopping apps that allow you to locate and pick up jobs at your current location, useful for quickly earning money when you're already shopping somewhere. Unlike a typical 9-to-5 job, you are not guaranteed payment unless your shop has been performed satisfactorily. The only ones who make money at Mystery Shopping are mystery shopping companies that will lure you to their plan.
Having a good mystery shopper experience is all about finding the right mystery shopping company (or a couple of great ones to work with). My policy is to work for the people you respect, and I don't respect either the penny or the dimers, and neither should companies looking to hire them in a store that's mysterious to them. Another trend that is taking place in the industry that makes mystery shopping less and less attractive is that tasks become increasingly complex. When I worked in an external company, there was no way I could make mystery purchases around my work schedule. I had been looking for a legitimate company for a while, so I had a good reason to go out and buy and also make some extra money while doing it. It may not be the highest paying service, but it may be worth taking the time to gain some experience in the mysterious world of shopping, or have the opportunity to visit a casino resort for free or try lunch at a new cafe for someone else's money.
Mystery Customer has been established in Australia for more than 20 years and has made more than 15,000 transactions during this time - so it's definitely worth considering if you're looking for an extra source of income.
