Talk to me about mystery shopping..

**Michelle** · 11-15-2002, 09:59 PM

I want all details...

**~Sherry~** · 11-15-2002, 10:00 PM

What's in it for us?

LOL

**Michelle** · 11-15-2002, 10:20 PM

A shiny new penny--that's what you'll get Sherry

**MJsLady** · 11-15-2002, 10:23 PM

What do you want to know?
its fun, usually pays for itself. NEVER pay a company for a job.
anything else?

**Michelle** · 11-15-2002, 10:26 PM

Um...let's see...where to sign up? How many companies do this? What is the criteria used to select someone to mystery shop? How well does it pay? Are some companies better than others? Can you turn down an assignment if you don't want to do it? Are any of the companies child-friendly (ie can I bring my girls with me if I need to do it during the day)? On average, how many assignments can I expect per month per company?

**mustang80** · 11-16-2002, 06:55 AM

Chelle, you can take your dd's with you! I take mine to McDonalds all the time. Don't be afraid to turn down jobs, it doesn't count against you. What the companies DON'T like is people who cancel all the time, go at the wrong place/time, not filling out reports, etc. This causes them to have to get emergency shops, and they don't like to do that.

I turn down things that are too far away, or if I don't like to do something, like Home Depot, they want you to buy something and then return it an hour later. That's a pain and not worth the $6.00 fee to me.

I shop for about 10 different companies. My shops range from fast food to casual and fine dining and convenience stores. A great site to find companies to sign up with is www.volition.com. I signed up with a whole bunch at once. Two of the companies I shop for I can pick my jobs right off of the internet. The rest call me on a "as needed" basis. Sometimes you have to take exams to be certified for certain shops. They usually let you take the test more than once. These are the companies I do lots of shops for, just sign up and they will notify you by email or phone if you are accepted.

http://secretshop.net/index.html (Wawa, Arby's, Staples, Cingular) You can choose you jobs off the internet. Be sure to check in daily!

http://www.shopnchek.com/home.html (McDonalds, Home Depot, Barnes and Noble) Choose jobs off the internet

http://www.mysteryguestinc.com/ (Olive Garden) They will call you with jobs

http://www.bestmark.com/ (Applebees, Fuddruckers, KMART (fee) these are nice but it is reimbursement only, and the reports are very comprehensive. I only do these every once in a great while) These jobs come through the email.

Jancyn-Chi Chi's-no problem getting paid, I think others have, though. They pay you through Paypal, so you need a Paypal account. These jobs are also emailed.

Sinclair-I shop my local Shoprite for them. $10.00 fee plus $5.00 reimbursement. Easy shops.

Most are reimbursement plus a small fee. McDonald's fees can range up to $15.00 depending on how desperate Shop N Chek is. Other fees range from $5.00 to $20.00 plus reimbursement for your meals. Except for Bestmark restaurants, they are reimbursement only.

http://www.nssmysteryshoppers.com/ (Friendly's, I do at least 3 shops per month, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, and 1 lunch or dinner, reports are easy and quick.

LMK if you have any more questions! HTH! Good luck! It's alot of fun and my DH just LOVES the restaurant shops!

**mustang80** · 11-16-2002, 07:01 AM

bumping, it didn't go to the top of the list!! Sara??????

**SewCrafty** · 11-16-2002, 09:13 AM

Danielle,

How far is too far to go? I live in the country and I have to travel at least 30 miles to get to anywhere. I signed up with Shop N Chek and they said there was nothing in my area. If I said I would go to Syracuse, which is about 60 miles from me I would probably get some shops.

BTW - Last night I applied for a shop (my first one offered to me) with Jancyn for Chi Chi's. I haven't heard back yet if I have been selected. It is for lunch next week.

**Michelle** · 11-16-2002, 11:54 AM

Danielle, thanks so much for that very detailed reply

I am currently checking out all the companies you listed. Thanks!!!!!!

**MJsLady** · 11-16-2002, 12:48 PM

I used to work for Bare they do oh a pizza place, all you can eat buffet, the name eludes me now! ugh! Anyway the fee plu reimbursement is enough for my whole family to eat on for around $4
Cici's Pizza thats the name!
I also worked for CRG they do Wendy's
and I used to do What A Burger and Albertsons but can not remember who for.
I need to get back into it again. I hope to after the first of the year.

**mustang80** · 11-17-2002, 07:34 AM

Diana, most shops are within 10 miles of home. I don't do any that are further than that, it's not worth it. If you had a bunch of different shops to do in the same day, it would be worth it to go into Syracuse and do more than one. Otherwise to drive 30 miles just to go to McDOnalds' or something doesn't seem worth it.

**SewCrafty** · 11-17-2002, 08:39 AM

Thanks Danielle, The 30 miles is nothing to us, we have been doing it for so long. That is how far I have to go for groceries, so I do try and make many stops in the same outing.

I though going to Syracuse was too far myself, and I'm not real familiar with the city so I could be lost all day!

The Shop N Chek site didn't give me a shopper number, so I can't even go in and change where I would be available to shop. I noticed Ithaca has ususally got a lot of shops on different sites and that is about 25-30 miles from me.

Thanks for all your info.

**Sara Noel** · 11-17-2002, 01:18 PM

**KathiS** · 11-18-2002, 05:09 PM

I just got my first mystery shopping offer. It is from BestMark. They want me to go about thirty miles from my house. I don't know what the store is because, they want me to talk on the phone with them for 15-30 mins first. The shop pays $15 for a one hour mystery shop. Is that about right? With the price of gas and the time for the shop plus any paperwork, is it worth it? I have no idea because I haven't done any mystery shopping before. What do you think?