How to Earn $1,000 a Month as a Part Time Mystery Shopper

August 29, 2019

Mystery shopping can be a wonderful way to make extra money. Not only can it be very engaging, it can also pay the bills in your spare time. It is a flexible type of work, that can be molded to fit your unique schedule, needs, and desires. Want to travel to luxury resorts? Get paid…

Keep Reading...

This company pay shoppers within 2 days…

August 26, 2019

We recently wrote about a company that pays mystery shoppers weekly. Well, here’s one that’s even better. Mystery shoppers on Mystery Shop Forum are reporting that Observa pays in as little as a few hours. Now that is fast. One shopper wrote: “Aren’t they awesome? I did a lot of gas station shops for them,…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies With Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

August 22, 2019

Want to go to a store and get paid? If that’s what you want, then mystery shopping is the answer. To become a mystery shopper, you’ll need to sign up with a mystery shopping company. The work typically involves following a specific set of instructions, in order to evaluate customer service, and then filling out…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies that Pay You to Make Phone Calls

August 20, 2019

Mystery shopping can have a lot of hidden costs. The biggest one can be wear and tear on your car. The cost of a car adds up: add together gas, plus ongoing maintenance, as well as the eventual replacement cost of a vehicle, and driving is not cheap. That’s one reason to look for mystery…

Keep Reading...

This company pays shoppers weekly…

August 13, 2019

Arguably, the most important part of mystery shopping is the final step: getting paid. Some companies take months to pay their shoppers. Some have reputations for occasionally paying the wrong amount, or requiring extra work from shoppers to get paid. Standing in sharp contrast, is Ipsos, who recently announced they will be paying mystery shoppers…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies with Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

August 7, 2019

Here’s five mystery shopping companies with jobs for mystery shoppers. If you want to have the most opportunities available to you, it is always good to sign up for more companies. Even if those companies don’t have assignments available, Movie Measure – We should have included this in our previous list of companies that pay…

Keep Reading...

Get Paid to Go to the Movies this Summer

July 31, 2019

Summer’s here, so why not get paid to go to the movies? Movie theater’s have long been a place where companies need certain information verified. They especially want to know whether the right trailers are played before a movie starts. These are called “trailer checks.” According to our research, the following companies will pay you…

Keep Reading...

How to Find Mystery Shopping Jobs In Your Area

July 17, 2019

One of the basic questions that every mystery shopper needs to answer is this: How do you find mystery shopping jobs where you live? Fortunately, there are a lot of resources that can make the job search much easier. But — before I present the resources, let me reframe the question a little bit. Instead…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies Seeking New Mystery Shoppers

June 12, 2019

If you want to get paid to shop – you’ve got to connect with companies that will pay you to shop. Here’s a list of five such companies. All of them are actively accepting applications for new mystery shoppers. Kern Scheduling Services works with a wide variety of mystery shopping companies, scheduling assignments for them….

Keep Reading...

How to Earn $300+ in One Day as a Mystery Shopper

April 24, 2019

Have you ever wondered how some mystery shoppers are able to make more than pocket change with mystery shopping? In fact, there are mystery shoppers who regularly make hundreds of dollars with mystery shopping – in a single day. (Example.) While there’s more than one way to make this happen, the most common way is…

Keep Reading...

These Companies Pay You to Eat Fast-Food

April 18, 2019

Want to get paid to eat at restaurants such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or Chipotle? Then this article is for you. It’s a list of mystery shopping companies that will pay you to shop at fast food restaurants. There’s a few things to keep in mind with this list. First of all, I recommend signing up…

Keep Reading...

How to Find Mystery Shopping Jobs Exactly Where You Live

April 15, 2019

One of the challenges mystery shoppers face, especially when they’re getting started, is finding enough mystery shops to complete This article will show you how to find enough shops in your area, so you’ll no longer be struggling to find more work as a mystery shopper. The first rule of getting more work as a…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies With Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

April 3, 2019

Want to make more money as a mystery shopper? Then you’ve got to find more opportunities. Here are five companies that pay mystery shoppers. I recommend signing up for all of these companies, and seeing what they have to offer, and even if they don’t have any assignments for you now, they may in the…

Keep Reading...

5,000 Shops and Still Counting

January 15, 2019

By Diane Snyder As I celebrate 10 years of mystery shopping, I can count 5,000 shops successfully completed. Of the over 5,000 shops I’ve done over this time, I’ve been ‘outed’ as a shopper twice, flaked once and had ‘technical difficulties’ that prevented me from a successful completion three times. 5,000 shops is not too…

Keep Reading...

I got audited for mystery shopping! Here’s what happened…

December 17, 2018

Written by Kay Altland Ever wondered how to document for your mystery shopping taxes?  Or maybe you wondered how to keep your biggest expense allowed on your taxes?  What would you do if you won the lottery, as in the IRS lottery, and was audited?  I am going to tell you my story on how…

Keep Reading...

Writers Wanted!

November 26, 2018

We are currently seeking profiles from successful mystery shoppers. If you would like to share how you earn over $1,000 a month as a mystery shopper, then please send us an email. We will pay you $30 to write an article that gives tips and advice to other shoppers, as well as shares a bit…

Keep Reading...

How to Find Mystery Shopping Jobs In Your Area

July 25, 2018

One of the basic questions that every mystery shopper needs to answer is this: How do you find mystery shopping jobs where you live? Fortunately, there are a lot of resources that can make the job search much easier. But — before I present the resources, let me reframe the question a little bit. Instead…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies that Need Mystery Shoppers

June 14, 2017

There are a ton of mystery shopping companies out there and it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. I have researched the following companies to help make the decision-making process as easy as possible. We all want to work with the best shops available so here are 5 more companies to check…

Keep Reading...

Confero: Mystery Shopping Jobs (Full Review)

April 17, 2017

Company Overview: Confero, Inc. was founded in 1986 and are in contact with over 130,000 mystery shoppers across the United States, and all over the world. For those who like to travel, they have shops available in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, Guam and Japan. Confero’s motto is direct and to the point, “Help our client…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies that Need Mystery Shoppers

April 5, 2017

If you want to make a few extra dollars, mystery shopping can be a great way to supplement your income. There are many advantages to mystery shopping. There isn’t a set number of hours you must work, in fact, you may work as much or as little as you want. Here are 5 new mystery…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies that Need Mystery Shoppers

March 30, 2017

Mystery Shopping is a fun way to make money this time of year. On top of getting a possible tax benefit, in the form of deductions, you can also make some extra coin to spend any way you want. Who doesn’t like some extra jingle in their pockets to buy that item that you’ve been…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies With Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

March 18, 2017

Have you ever wanted a great way to make some extra cash that fit into your own schedule? If you have, then becoming a Mystery Shopper is something you will want to do. It’s a lot of fun and the best part is that you get paid to shop! Here are 5 mystery shopping companies…

Keep Reading...

Trendsource: Mystery Shopping Jobs (Full Review)

March 15, 2017

Company Overview: TrendSource (The Source), formerly known as MSI Services Inc., is based out of San Diego, CA and was established in 1989. This company boasts having over 300,000 Independent Field Agents in their North American market in efforts to produce the most accurate feedback possible for their clients. The Source’s website states, “Whether you…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies With Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

March 8, 2017

It is never too late to start earning a little extra jingle in your pockets.  If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, here are 5 companies you should check out.   1. About Face states that they hire independent contractors, not employees. They pay only through PayPal so if you don’t…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies With Mystery Shopping Jobs

March 1, 2017

A great way to supplement your income is by becoming a mystery shopper. Not only can you make some extra money, it’s free and easy to get involved. Be cautious of any company that requires a payment to join their team, it is likely, not legit. Mystery Shopper Magazine finds legitimate mystery shopping companies, and…

Keep Reading...

SeeLevelHX: Mystery Shopping Company Review

March 1, 2017

SeeLevelHX is a woman owned company more than 40 years in the making.  Those who think their name is a play on words are right.  SeeLevelHx tries to help C-level management make informed decisions from the CEO to COO to the CMO. SeeLevelHx uses their intelligence programs in order to optimize human experiences.  Getting the public’s dollar is harder…

Keep Reading...

How I Made $1,000 as Mystery Shopper Without Leaving Home.

February 15, 2017

Written by an Anonymous Mystery Shopper Everyone thinks that nurses make money. They lied. In reality it’s the convenience of working a traditional twelve hour shift three days a week that makes it easier to pick up extra shifts or another job. I’ve always worked per diem or did overtime, until I had my daughter….

Keep Reading...

5 More Companies with Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

February 1, 2017

Mystery Shopping is a great way to make extra money and can fit around anyone’s schedule. It can be done part-time to earn extra money for a special occasion, and if you’re looking to make up to $1,000 a month – it’s definitely possible. It’s a good idea to be proactive and be on the…

Keep Reading...

Five Companies with Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

January 28, 2017

Making a few extra bucks can be a good thing at this time of year when our holiday bill comes in the credit cards have been used.  I have personally used all these companies and can vouch that they are legitimate and do pay for accepted shops.  For the purpose of this article, I consider a…

Keep Reading...

5 Companies With Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

January 25, 2017

How are your new year’s resolutions coming along? Don’t fret! there is still plenty of time left to earn extra money in 2017 as a mystery shopper. We have some exciting opportunities for you to earn up to $1,000 a month doing the things you love – shopping! It’s always a good idea to add…

Keep Reading...

How I Earn $1,200 a Month as a Part Time Mystery Shopper

January 12, 2017

Written By Just for You (An Anonymous Mystery Shopper) I started off mystery shopping when my children were younger and at home. I had 3 children and did not want to work a full time job but wanted to supplement my income. As they grew older I had a job and wanted to supplement that job…

Keep Reading...

5 More Mystery Shopping Companies with Jobs for Shoppers

November 2, 2016

Whether you want to earn $1,000 a month as a mystery shopper, or just a few extra dollars for the holidays, it always helps to sign up for more mystery shopping companies. You’ll get more opportunities that you can pick and choose from. Keep in mind that some of these companies might not have any…

Keep Reading...

How to Earn $1,000 a Month as a Mystery Shopper

October 26, 2016

Here at mystery shopper magazine we have published a lot of information about how to become a successful mystery shopper. If you want to know what it takes to earn $1,000 in one month as a mystery shopper, this post is for you. Before I go into details, let me cover a few basic points….

Keep Reading...

5 Companies With Jobs for Mystery Shoppers

October 19, 2016

The following is a list of 5 companies with jobs available for mystery shoppers. The more companies you register with, the more assignments you’ll have available to you. Even if these companies don’t have jobs available right now in your area, they may in the future. For mystery shoppers who want to make the most…

Keep Reading...

5 Mystery Shopping Companies that Shoppers Love

October 5, 2016

If you’re a mystery shopper, you want to work with companies that respect you and respect your time. As a mystery shopper, you are doing a job that involves coordinating quite a bit of moving parts. You have to memorize instructions for each assignment, accurately recall important details, complete the assignment during the scheduled time,…

Keep Reading...

5 App Based Mystery Shopping Companies

September 15, 2016

Written By Sandcastle808 To round out your shopping portfolio, it’s fun to shop for some companies that have apps.  I enjoy performing shops on the apps because they are usually pretty easy to enter.  I can sit down for coffee and whip out a few reports before even I get home.  I absolutely love not…

Keep Reading...

How I Earned $2,597.82 in 30 Days as a Mystery Shopper

June 7, 2016

Note: In order to protect their identity as a mystery shopper, the author of this article has chosen to remain anonymous. I am a part-time shopper and a full-time employee of a hotel. I have been a shopper since 2010. I like this job because I can enjoy shopping and traveling to a lot of…

Keep Reading...

How I earned $1,031.12 in One Month of Mystery Shopping

May 25, 2016

Note: The author of this article has chosen to remain anonymous. I am a full time mystery shopper (due to necessity and health) in addition to being a merchandiser and an occasional demo person. In the month of July, 2015, I earned a total of $1,031.12 for mystery shopping alone. Yes, I do mystery shopping…

Keep Reading...

How I Earned $1,439.07 in One Month as a Mystery Shopper

May 16, 2016

Note: Due to the personal nature of posting exact income, the author of this article has chosen to be anonymous. As a mystery shopper my life is different from day to day, week to week, and month to month. I mystery shop as my full time job and it is my only source of income….

Keep Reading...

Featured Mystery Shopping Assignments – May 4th, 2016

May 4, 2016

We recently reached out to the folks at SurfMerchants, and asked them to send us a compilation of mystery shopping assignments that seem particularly interesting. Why? They’ve created the scheduling software that powers many of the very best mystery shopping companies. Below is their first submission – 3 assignments, from 3 companies. We’ve linked to…

Keep Reading...

5 Mystery Shopping Companies with Jobs for Shoppers

March 3, 2016

The following is a list of five companies with jobs for mystery shoppers. All of these companies have good reputations on Mystery Shop Forum,  the community for mystery shoppers. I’ve link to their page on the forum, so you can learn more about them. The companies are listed in no particular order. If you want…

Keep Reading...

How to Make Up to $1,000 a Month as a Mystery Shopper

January 13, 2016

Written by Mister Mike Many shoppers are earning $1,000 and even more a month, which surprises many people. Why? Because most shopping assignments pay less than $20.00. I’m often asked “how do you do it?” Keep reading to find out. The answer is not always easy and due to the nature of the work you…

Keep Reading...

Featured Shopper: lbw1000

November 9, 2015

How long have you been mystery shopping? My first assignment was in April of 2005.  I decided it was too much work (as many newbies do!) for the amount of money I made.  I did not do another until 2013 when I had some spare time, needed some extra money and decided to start back up. …

Keep Reading...

AMA Enterprise, Inc

October 5, 2015

Written by elcarev68 Ever wish that you could talk to the actual client at 11:00 p.m. during a shop that has turned upside down to ask what to do when their special instructions don’t match up with onsite reality?  Ever wish you could talk to another shopper who has completed a location before you for…

Keep Reading...

Growing Your Business with SMART Goals

September 7, 2015

By lrjonesmshopper You may ask yourself, “Why should I have goals?”  In my lifetime I have started and operated several small businesses.  The first one I started was a home day care business when my children were young and I wanted to work at home. During this time I took a course on how to…

Keep Reading...

Handling Hostile Confrontations

August 17, 2015

Written by L.J. Millard On Mystery Shop Forum, there has been some discussion of shoppers finding themselves in some angry and even dangerous confrontations. As a police officer and crisis-hostage negotiator, I utilized some specific techniques to de-escalate and extract myself from hostile situations on a daily basis. I taught fellow officers as well as…

Keep Reading...

Shopper Profile: elcarev68

July 27, 2015

Written by elcarev68 In 2009 it had been ten years since I had run a marathon, so I figured I ought to check off another item on my bucket list.  I still couldn’t afford a Karmann Ghia convertible, so I skipped to the next item on the list: try being a secret shopper. My first…

Keep Reading...

Shopper Profile: lrjonesmshopper

July 13, 2015

Forum Alias:  lrjonesmshopper How long have you been mystery shopping?  I have been shopping on a part-time basis for over 6 years now.  Initially, it was more off than on and over the last three years it has become more of a permanent part-time job. Where are you shopping?  Generally, my shops are centrally located…

Keep Reading...

A Basic Mystery Shopping Business Plan

June 22, 2015

Written by LIJake Having retired from my 30+ years as an independent manufacturer’s representative, I was seeking an alternate source of income and a way to keep physically and mentally fit. After exploring several options my research led to mystery shopping and I decided to go in that direction. Since then, I have set specific…

Keep Reading...

Write for Mystery Shopper Magazine!

June 8, 2015

Mystery Shopper Magazine is currently calling for applications for new contributors. If you love mystery shopping and want to help your fellow mystery shoppers succeed, then this could be the right opportunity for you. We are currently in need of a new contributor able to write a weekly article for the magazine. This could include…

Keep Reading...

Featured Shopper: LJ

June 1, 2015

Forum Alias: LJ How long have you been mystery shopping? I’ve been mystery shopping off and on for 8 years. Where are you shopping? I started in the Tampa Bay area, but now I’m in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon. I also enjoy picking up a shop or two when I travel. What got you…

Keep Reading...

Grass Roots America Files for Bankruptcy

May 11, 2015

Grass Roots America filed for bankruptcy on April 23rd, 2015. Meanwhile, their parent company, the Grass Roots Group announced the opening of a new office in Spain. The Grass Roots Group claims nearly $500 million in annual revenue. They are in turn largely owned by the publicly traded company WPP, which paid $66 million to…

Keep Reading...

Grass Roots America Update: Shoppers Still Owed Money

May 4, 2015

The Grass Roots Group closed their Grass Roots America division on March 31st, 2015, leaving mystery shoppers wondering if they will be paid. Since that time, many mystery shoppers  have received payment for their assignments. However, shoppers are still reporting they are owed money. The Grass Roots Group has not sent official communication to these…

Keep Reading...

4 Mystery Shopping Job Boards That Every Mystery Shopper Should Know About

April 20, 2015

One of the easiest ways to find companies that have mystery shopping assignments in your area is to search the largest mystery shopping job boards. The following is a list of job boards that every shopper should be aware of. To make the best use of these job boards, don’t think if them just in…

Keep Reading...

Grass Roots America “Ceases Operations”

April 6, 2015

Grassroots America, a division of Grass Roots Group, recently announced that it has ceased operations as of March 31st, 2015. The change follows less than one month after a change in leadership in the parent company. All signs currently show that mystery shoppers should expect payment for the assignments they completed while the division was…

Keep Reading...

Celebrate 100 Issues of Mystery Shopper Magazine

March 30, 2015

I’m pleased and excited to announce the 100th issue of Mystery Shopper Magazine. We’ve now been around for over two years, and we’ve accomplished quite a bit. We’ve published 160 reviews of mystery shopping companies. A big part of our mission is to help mystery shoppers connect with the best mystery shopping companies. That’s why…

Keep Reading...

The 10 Largest Mystery Shopping Companies

March 23, 2015

This is an admittedly biased list of the 10 biggest mystery shopping companies. How is it biased? It is based on one simple number: The number of Mystery Shop Forum members who report they have registered with each company. In other words, these are the companies that mystery shoppers are most likely to be registered…

Keep Reading...

Shopper Profile: LIJake

February 16, 2015

Forum Alias: LIJake How long have you been mystery shopping? I started researching mystery shopping in September 2013 and completed my first shop in October. Where are you shopping? I live on Long Island, NY and normally shop within 20 or 30 miles of my home. Anything beyond 30 miles puts me into the boroughs…

Keep Reading...

Jancyn Acquires ShopTalk Services

February 9, 2015

Jancyn Evaluation Shops recently announced the acquisition of Shoptalk Service Evaluations. According to Vicki Dempsey, VP of Sales & Marketing for Jancyn, this will mean “more industry assignments to choose from, in addition to apartment shops.” ShopTalk was located in the Pacific Northwest, so the greatest impact will be more shops in that part of…

Keep Reading...

Shopper Bio: CureMS

January 5, 2015

Forum Alias: CureMS How long have you been mystery shopping? I have been mystery shopping for 1 year. Where are you shopping? I currently shop in the Dallas Texas Metropolitan area. What got you started? I got started because a friend told me that she had shopped when she first moved to Houston as a…

Keep Reading...

My Husband Thinks I Work for Nothing

November 16, 2014

Written by RSGlenn The other day, my husband told me that I am working for nothing. He complained about me being away from the house too much for very little pay. Well, in some cases, he is right. However, I do not hear him complaining when I get the oil changed in both cars, that…

Keep Reading...

When More Is Less

November 16, 2014

Written by Dspeakes The general rule of thumb for taxes is that the more you make, the more taxes you pay. So most people have a natural instinct to try to minimize the income on their tax return. Some people don’t have another job; mystery shopping is all they do. Maybe they have Social Security…

Keep Reading...

How I Taught My Husband to Mystery Shop.

October 20, 2014

Written by BBird0701 A few years ago, my husband got into woodworking. I blame myself. I had hobbies, he didn’t, and he wanted one. He took something he knew a lot about, canoe paddles, and decided he wanted to learn how to make them. After buying a few tools for his new hobby, and only…

Keep Reading...

10 Things To Do Now To Make Tax Time Easier On You

October 6, 2014

Written by Dspeakes It will be here before you know it. You’ll start getting those envelopes in the mail with “Important Tax Document Enclosed” printed on the outside. There will be ads for Turbo Tax on TV. There will be H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and Liberty Tax shops and audits on the shop boards. And…

Keep Reading...

Preparing for a Video Shopping Assignment

September 21, 2014

Preparing for the Shoot As many shoppers soon discover, covertly shooting video is more than just wearing a secret camera. There are many steps for producing good video shops that need to happen before even leaving one’s house. A few are covered below. Packing Making and checking a list of what you need to bring…

Keep Reading...

How Mystery Shopping Taught Me My New Job

September 21, 2014

Written by dspeakes After running the wheels off my car for two years as a mystery shopper, I finally decided I needed to find a “real” job – I was spending too much time in the search for work, planning routes, doing the routes, doing the reports, and then being wiped out with exhaustion the…

Keep Reading...

Editing for AboutFace

September 21, 2014

Written by kyninja One of the frequent topics of discussion on MysteryShopForum.com seems to be shoppers complaining about editors emailing them for clarification or rejecting their shops.  Most of the these discussions are started by shoppers that are new to the industry and have not yet realized how important it is to read the shop…

Keep Reading...

Mystery Shopping with No Permanent Address

September 8, 2014

Written by GypsyMonkey My life is about enjoying what is around me. Everywhere I go is a new experience. Stepping off the plane in Hawaii and smelling the fresh salt air is different than stepping off a train in NYC and feeling the sudden pace of the city. No one can really explain the difference…

Keep Reading...

Thank You, Sandy, for Blowing It

September 8, 2014

Written by dspeakes Two years ago this month I tucked my old pocket tape recorder into the cell phone pouch on my purse and walked into a sub sandwich shop in a local strip mall to do my first-ever mystery shop. I was nervous as a cat on a freeway at rush hour. I had…

Keep Reading...

Mystery Shopping from a Wheelchair.

August 25, 2014

Written by Mr. C First and foremost, I do not agree with the term, “Disabled”. There are simply some of us facing different challenges. I try my best to not only face mine but, overcome them too. When I healed from my injuries, some time ago, I found myself housebound with limited mobility. Going from…

Keep Reading...

Why I Won’t Let Multiple Scleroisis Beat Me.

August 25, 2014

Written by CureMS I have multiple sclerosis. In a nutshell, MS is the wearing away of myelin, the protective nerve covering. Remember when you were a kid and ran out in the snow to play without your gloves then once your hands became frozen you ran back inside to warm them? But warming them hurt…

Keep Reading...

Meniere’s Disease

August 25, 2014

Written by RLB I am a mystery shopper. And I have Meniere’s disease. Symptoms vary, but mine include nausea, vertigo, migraines, ringing of the ears, and sudden hearing loss. The episodes are sudden, and have lasted between 30 minutes to three days for me. I’m told I can thank my French-Canadian heritage for it, as…

Keep Reading...

Wait Until Dawn

August 25, 2014

Written by DayShopper Have you ever walked to your car in a brightly lit mall parking lot or some other place with “daylight effect” lighting, driven off, and only when you came to a totally unlit area realized that you never turned on the headlights? The view of the dark road ahead, before you hit…

Keep Reading...

NOLA 2014 IMSC Conference Program

July 21, 2014

NOLA 2014 IMSC conference Program- SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE ALSO, PLEASE SEE ADDITIONAL NOTES AT THE END OF THIS LISTING. Tuesday, July 29th 7:00 AM to 8:45 AM Registration, networking, continental breakfast 9:00 AM to 9:45 AM Conference Hall: Four Keys to Effective Communication-Terry Sumerlin- Keynote Speaker Conference Hall: 10:05 AM to 10:35 AM…

Keep Reading...

Shopper Bio: Agent99

July 14, 2014

Agent99 has been spying on hapless clerks and bankers for five years. She does this spying to earn money for travel to Europe, to which she has traveled three times in recent years, visiting Italy, Switzerland, and France. “I haven’t done any overseas spying, because it’s harder now to get false passports since 9-11,” she…

Keep Reading...

Shopper Bio: JonChance

July 7, 2014

Written By JonChance Remember those cute little comment cards that restaurants used to stick between the salt and pepper shakers for you to tell them how you liked your visit? I was addicted to filling those out. Not at first maybe, but the third or fourth one I did as a kid earned me a…

Keep Reading...

Featured Shopper: jpgilham

June 16, 2014

Written by jpgilham I’m not from round these parts. I’m from a country called New Zealand where our closest neighbors are Australia and the Antartica. In fact, from my home in Timaru, New Zealand, I could look out my kitchen window onto the beach and see penguins. Pretty much everywhere in New Zealand is next…

Keep Reading...

Market Forces Fires Mystery Shopper Because of “Known Associates”

May 11, 2014

Reports surfaced recently of Market Force International terminating a mystery shopper because of “known associates.” The shopper had reportedly done extensive work with the company, and garnered a high rating by them. No other reason was cited for the termination of the agreement. According to the report, Market Force refused to provide any information about…

Keep Reading...

Featured Shopper: Michael C

May 5, 2014

Written by Michael C I started shopping in late 2011, or maybe it was 2010. I have changed the story so many times, I honestly don’t remember. I had heard over the years that legit mystery shopper work existed. I didn’t bother to look until a friend, who is an attorney, told me she was…

Keep Reading...

“We’re Amazing”

February 3, 2014

Editors note: This was originally posted by Stilllearning on MysteryShopForum.com. Join the discussion here. As shoppers, we’re asked to write lengthy, professionally written, objective reports. We do. We’re asked to discreetly take impossible pictures of an interior location, which happens to be positioned directly in front of the associates. We do. We are asked to…

Keep Reading...

Tax Essentials for Mystery Shoppers: Deductions

January 27, 2014

Written by Dspeakes. This is part of a special series of articles about tax essentials for mystery shoppers. Click here to view all of the articles. Part 2: Deductible or not? When you are in business you can deduct anything that you incurred solely because of your business, as long as it is “ordinary and…

Keep Reading...

8 Tips for Writing the Perfect Report

January 20, 2014

Written by Sue De La Bruere, Jancyn Mystery Shopping You have accepted your mystery shopping assignments, carefully read all instructions, appeared at the right place at the right time, and taken copious notes about the encounter on your smartphone. Now you are ready to head to your computer and create the perfect report that thoroughly…

Keep Reading...

Tax Essentials for Mystery Shoppers

January 20, 2014

Written By Dspeakes. Part 1: Record keeping for the Schedule C Imagine how easy it is to do a tax return when you start out with easy access to the right information. What is the right information? Accurate sums for the income you received, the expenses you had totaled by type, a mileage log for…

Keep Reading...

Remington Evaluations

December 16, 2013

Company Overview: Remington Evaluations is based in Liberty Township, OH. Their website is: http://remysteryshops.com/. Remington Evaluations is primarily focused on apartment shops. On their website they say, “All of our mystery shopping reports and surveys are customized for each client. No apartment community or property management company is the same. Each mystery shopping report is…

Keep Reading...

News: Mystery Shopping Investigation Leads to $32 million loss at HSBC

November 18, 2013

200,000 customers of HSBC, the multi-national bank, have mystery shoppers be thankful for this holiday season. Mystery shoppers employed by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority have caught the company giving customers wrongful advice, in violation of financial regulations. The potential consequences are high. The bank estimates it will pay at out least $32 million…

Keep Reading...

Truss Communications

November 11, 2013

Company Overview: Truss Communications is based in McLeansville, NC, a small town northeast of Greensboro. Their website is not active although their 800 phone line is active and has an answering machine on it. As there have been many negative comments, which will be detailed below, I left my name and number on several occasions…

Keep Reading...

3 Mystery Shopping Scammers Arrested in Calgary

October 21, 2013

According to a news report by the Calgary Herald, three Canadians were recently arrested and charged with mail fraud. They had scammed 10 Americans out of over $20,000 dollars. The trio posed as a mystery shopping company, sending fake checks to the victims, who deposited the money into their banks, and wired most of it…

Keep Reading...

My 3 Criteria for Choosing a Mystery Shopper

October 21, 2013

Written By Jamie Giles, Scheduling Coordinator, Mercantile Systems, Inc. I’ve been a scheduler since 2009. One of the very first things I learned when it came to assigning shoppers was to go with those who were proven to be reliable before assigning anyone else. What this meant initially was ignoring the fact that a shopper…

Keep Reading...

Featured Shopper: Sandi Aigo

October 21, 2013

Forum Alias: Sandi Aigo How long have you been Mystery Shopping? It’s been 14 years. Where are you shopping? I work in a major metropolitan area “In the Middle”! What got you started? A relative asked me to shop the family restaurant on his day off, but I never looked into it as a job…

Keep Reading...

Cirrus Marketing Intelligence

June 17, 2013

Company Overview: It’s an infrequent occurrence to have both a mystery shopping company as well as one of its assignments hit the worst-of-the-worst lists as described by its independent contractors, the mystery shoppers themselves. Cirrus Marketing Intelligence is based in Anaheim, California, and has been in operation since 1993. From their beginning, the company states…

Keep Reading...

Letter from the Editor

May 20, 2013

Welcome to Issue Thirteen of Mystery Shopper Magazine! This issue features a story by Cettie that is both hard to believe, and terrifying. Few people have been unlucky enough to encounter a gun fight, much less while on a mystery shopping assignment. Cettie is one of those people. And we’re lucky she survived to tell…

Keep Reading...

Letter From the Editor

May 13, 2013

Welcome to Issue Twelve of Mystery Shopper Magazine! It’s hard to believe we’ve come this far. In our twelve issues, we’ve reviewed 25 mystery shopping companies, and 19 types of assignments. We’ve also profiled 3 mystery shoppers, and shared quite a few adventures from Cettie. And we’re just getting started. Our hope is that we’re…

Keep Reading...

Letter From the Editor

May 6, 2013

Welcome to Issue Eleven of Mystery Shopper Magazine. If this issue proves anything, it proves the value of the mystery shopping community. Why? Because the issues we bring up are first brought to our attention by mystery shoppers who are active in the community. In fact, the contents of this magazine are largely based on…

Keep Reading...

Letter from the Editor

April 29, 2013

Welcome to Issue Ten of Mystery Shopper Magazine! This issue we show you how to get started with pet store assignments. So, if you have furry friends in your life, you may want to take note. And if you have to beg, borrow, or steal a friend’s pet, then it may be worth it, because…

Keep Reading...

Letter from the Editor

April 15, 2013

Mystery shoppers usually work alone. They rarely get the chance to meet other shoppers. When I started Mystery Shop Forum five years ago, I saw the need for a community that could both support mystery shoppers and help shopper connect. In the five years since I started the Forum, the community has grown beyond anything…

Keep Reading...

Letter from the Editor

April 8, 2013

Welcome to Issue Seven of Mystery Shopper Magazine. This week Cettie returns with another adventure. This time, an unusual experience at a post office causes everyone to unexpectedly clap and cheer. It’s a fun story, and well worth the read. Just as importantly, we have two reviews of mystery shopping companies. Goodwin & Associates is…

Keep Reading...

Letter From the Editor

April 1, 2013

Welcome to Issue Six of Mystery Shopper Magazine! We believe that mystery shoppers matter, and that you deserve a media organization that represents you. We’re a small organization, but we’re striving to achieve the goal of giving mystery shoppers a voice. We are also affiliated with Mystery Shop Forum, which does so much help mystery…

Keep Reading...

Mystery Shopper Profile: Shopgal

April 1, 2013

Forum Alias: shopgal How long have you been mystery shopping? About 3 ½ years. Where are you shopping? The Inland Pacific Northwest, mostly eastern Washington and Idaho, usually within 75 to 100 miles from home. What got you started? I made the jump to the mystery shopping world after I became fed up with the…

Keep Reading...

Letter From the Editor

March 25, 2013

Welcome to the fifth issue of Mystery Shopper Magazine. Our mission is to  support mystery shoppers. That’s why we publish reviews of companies, and show you how to get started with specific assignments. That’s also why we publish the Adventures of a Mystery Shopper, by Cettie. She might possibly have the most ‘writing personality’ of…

Keep Reading...

Letter From the Editor

March 18, 2013

Welcome to the fourth issue of mystery shopper magazine. In this issue we feature 2 mystery shopping companies, and show you how to get started with 2 assignments.  This week, we feature Travel Center  assignments. If you weren’t scared away by Cettie’s Adventure last week, then this is your chance to learn how to get…

Keep Reading...

Letter From the Editor

March 11, 2013

Welcome to the third issue of mystery shopper magazine! In this issue, we feature our first column by Cettie. It’s a harrowing account of her first mystery shopping assignment, over twenty years ago. We’ve also reviewed 2 mystery shopping companies, and show you how to get started with 2 assignments. The review of Secret Shopping…

Keep Reading...

Letter From the Editor

March 4, 2013

Welcome to the second issue of mystery shopper magazine. We have two new reviews of mystery shopping companies, as well as two assignments for you to learn more about. My hope is that the magazine will help mystery shoppers succeed. Our goal is to give voice to mystery shoppers everywhere, and to make your mystery…

Keep Reading...