Work from Home as a Mystery Shopper

Yes, it’s true, most everyone out there today would love to be able to work from home, but not everyone is capable of doing so. Sure, you have probably spent hours surfing the Internet, looking at all of the “great opportunities” you find there, and wondering if what they promise really could be possible. There are some truly good work at home jobs to be found on the Internet, but there are also many scams as well, so you do have to be careful about what you are getting into, as it isn’t always what it seems to be on the website.

One job that can be found online, and that is often legitimate, is mystery shopping. Many businesses use mystery shoppers to get feedback about their stores, and improve customer service. They know that their success depends on the happiness of their customers, so they do everything to ensure that their customers are treated well, so they want to return. As a mystery shopper, you pose as a customer, and then fill out a form, giving the owner the feedback he has requested. It is a simple job, in most instances, but is not really something that you should depend on for your sole source of income.

Mystery shopping jobs are better suited to stay at home moms who need some extra cash, students, and retirees. These people have other sources of income, or in some cases only themselves to support, and can get by with only working part time as a mystery shopper. You should know that not all mystery shopping jobs will pay the same, and some only reimburse you for the actual money that you spend, and that is it. For example, if you are assigned to give feedback on your local movie theater, then you may only be reimbursed for the cost of your ticket, and receive no other funds. The same holds true for many other jobs, such as reviewing restaurants, gas stations, retail stores, etc.

When you are looking for a job as a mystery shopper, you need to keep your guard up, and be on the lookout for potential scams as well. You shouldn’t be asked to send in money for an application fee, filing fee, information fee, etc. If a company truly wants you to work for them, and is on the up-and up, they are not going to ask you, the potential employee, for money. So if you find these situations, you should immediately look elsewhere, regardless of how good the job may sound.

You may have better luck going around to some local businesses, and letting them know that you are interested in becoming a mystery shopper, and asking them what company they use, if any, to provide their mystery shopping services. Then you, on your own, could contact that company about becoming a potential employee. By using this method, you know that you are not going to be scammed, and that you are in deed working for a legitimate company, that will pay you, in some form or fashion for your time.

No matter how you find your mystery shopping job, just keep in mind that you won’t be able to depend solely on that job for your income needs. It should be done in your spare time, and used as an extra source of money. If you are one of the few people who can make a living doing this type of work, then consider yourself lucky, and don’t let go of it!

How to get paid to shop, eat and travel - WalletPop

How to get paid to shop, eat and travel WalletPop, VA - Jul 21, 2008 Mystery shopping companies are data collectors. They keep tabs on quality, service and cleanliness at restaurants, banks, retail stores, even casinos ...

Make Extra Money: Become a Mystery Shopper - ABC News

ABC News

Make Extra Money: Become a Mystery Shopper ABC News - Jul 2, 2008 Mystery shopping is focused on monitoring and improving service quality to ensure consistency with brand standards using anonymous resources. ...

Healthy demand for hospital 'secret shoppers' - Chicago Tribune

Healthy demand for hospital 'secret shoppers' Chicago Tribune, United States - Jul 2, 2008 ... or "mystery" shoppers to get an edge. These are people—usually employed by outside firms—who go undercover to assess the quality and delivery of medical ...

Docs and secret shoppers - Chicago Tribune

Docs and secret shoppers Chicago Tribune, United States - Jun 30, 2008 Secret shoppers are dispatched to retail stores, restaurants and hotels to pose as customers in order to measure customer service and quality. ...

The Secrecy of Mystery Shopping - PR-USA.net (press release)

The Secrecy of Mystery Shopping PR-USA.net (press release), Bulgaria - Jul 4, 2008 However, mystery shopping has evolved into a genuine practice that aims to help both employers and employees evaluate their service quality; ...