The Ins and Outs on Making Money as a Mystery Shopper

You might have been thinking about ways to earn some extra money. If you have some spare time than mystery shopping might be for you. You will not get rich from it, nor is it a fast way to get money. If you do it regularly though, you will be able to make an extra living from it.

What is a Mystery Shopper

A mystery shopper is someone who shops commissioned by an agency. They get an assignment to check out a store, employees, or customer service. And after they have fulfilled their assignment, they need to report back to the agency. If the agency approves the rapport than the mystery shopper gets paid.

Why Should You Become a Mystery Shopper

If you are looking for a way to earn some extra money, you should consider mystery shopping. Mystery shopping is also a great way to spend the day and get out of the house and socialize. Of course, you can't tell the employees that you’re a mystery shopper, but you do get to have a (fun) conversation with them. And if you’re sitting at home all the time without having anything to do, it might be a great activity.

How Do You Become a Mystery Shopper

Everyone that is of legal age and can read and write can become a mystery shopper. All you have to do is sign up at a mystery shopping agency. When your application is approved you can start working as a mystery shopper. You will have access to all the open assignments. After you apply for an assignment, the agency decides if they assign it to you or one of your colleagues mystery shoppers. There are various reasons why you might get denied the assignment that you applied for. This can be because of your gender, age, location, or previous assignments. If the assignment is assigned to you then you will get the full details and you can go out and mystery shop.

Location

The assignments can take you to different stores all around the country. As you can apply for assignments yourself, you can decide where you want to shop. It would be best to apply for assignments in your city or nearby. This way you will not have to travel a lot, which will save you time and money.

Payment

Mystery shopping does pay, but there is no set amount. Some assignments pay a lot, but most of the time the pay is (very) low. So, if you’re looking to make big bucks, you might want to reconsider. As you will not always get paid in money. Sometimes you will get free items as payment. Other times you will get a discount in a store as payment.

You will get paid after your assignment has been approved. This means that you will not get paid right away.

Most mystery shop agencies have a budget for travel costs. They usually don’t state this upfront. Therefore, you should ask for compensation if your travel costs are high. Do this before you start your assignment. This way there will be no misunderstanding and you will know whether the agency is willing to compensate for your travel costs.

How to Make the Most out of Mystery Shopping

There are a few things that you can do to make the most out of mystery shopping. Signing up to multiple mystery shop agencies is one of them. The more agencies you are signed up to, the more assignments you can apply to.

Complete multiple assignments on the same day. This way you will only have to take one trip which will save you time and money.

Apply to assignments where you have to visit stores that you were already going to. If you were already going to store x to buy something, you might as well do your assignment at the same time. And if the payment for the assignment is through free items, then you can also get the items that you were going to buy for free.

As you have the choice to pick, which assignments, you’re applying to would be best to only apply for assignments that you like.

Pros and Cons

If you still don't know if mystery shopping might be something for you, this pros and cons list might help.

Pros

• You get paid

• You get free stuff
• You get to the chance to socialize
• You can choose your own assignments
• You have something to do during the day

Cons

• The pay is (usually) low
• You don't get paid immediately
• Payment is not always in money