Secret Shopping

[tracylayton]

I do plan meals and cook at home, because it is so much cheaper than eating out. However, I do secret shops for 2 different companies and often eat for free and sometimes collect a shop fee as well. Last year, I collected a little less than $600 in shop fees (taxable income) and $1200 in reimbursements (non-taxable). It is a guilt-free way to enjoy eating out several times a month. I use the digital stopwatch on my cell phone to time exactly how long it takes to receive my order and occasionally get to use my acting skills. I report my shops online and scan receipts, but I've done so many that it is fairly quick and easy now. There are some shops that I haven't tried such as oil changes, optometrist, etc. If you want to add a little extra income or cut into your eating out budget, I highly recommend trying this. There should NEVER be a fee to sign on with one of the companies. Each company usually has several regular clients (fast food, casual dining, fine dining). Any other secret shoppers out there? I can't identify the companies or their clients, but you can probably google Secret Shopping and find several.

[tofuchampion]

I've been doing this for about a month. It's fun! Having to talk to salespeople, ask questions, etc., has also been good for me, as I tend to be shy and keep to myself. Mystery shopping forces me out of my shell in a manageable way.

[mxer54]

Do you have any links to sites doing this?

[tracylayton]

Here are the websites for a few that I know are reputable:
marketforceshopper.com
bestmark.com
sentrymarketing.com
shop.feedbackplus.com

I routinely get reimbursed $50 for going to a nice steak restaurant. I have also been reimbursed $65 for a nice flower arrangement, paid $50 for getting a money order made out to myself, and paid $10 for fast food shops plus been reimbursed for my meal. Good luck!

[NumberCruncher]

Do the different sites correspond to different tasks/stores? 

[tracylayton]

Most of them have a variety of tasks...especially Market Force and Sentry. The nicer restaurants often don't pay a shop fee, but will reimburse $25 or $50 for your meal. The fast food shops have to pay a shop fee of $5 - $10 plus your food is free. When they are coming up on a deadline and nobody has signed up for a shop, they will often call me and offer me a bonus to do the shop.

[OSUBearCub]

I did this a lot in college.  I forget the two companies I worked for but I do recall them being really excited that I was a guy interested in shopping.   I ended up shopping apartment communities quite frequently due to the fact that I was a dude and the communities were expecting women as shoppers.  $75 a pop for pretending to be interested in an apartment.

Keep in mind, more pay=more paperwork.  It usually took me about 30-60 minutes to complete the surveys and narratives after each apartment community shop.

[MsSindy]

When I was young and doing temp/clerical work, I did a stint in an office who coordinated the shoppers - this was back in the '80s.  It was a 1 woman shop, she got a couple of clients and then coordinated to get 'secret shoppers'.  My job was to call any shoppers who hadn't yet sent back their paperwork, work with the ones who were calling in their results (pre-internet), and then do some local shops myself.  I was thrilled to go out for lunch at a restaurant and have them pay for it!!

The most frustrating part for the Owner was getting reliable shoppers - so, if you're reliable I'm sure you could get a fair number of jobs.  You won't get rich, but it's a fun way to make a little cash and do something different.

[tofuchampion]

I do most of mine through Second to None.  In my area, they offer tons of shops for local grocery stores, and occasionally something like a donut shop or pizza delivery.  This week I split up my usual grocery shopping into 2 trips, so I could do 2 mystery shops.  I spent about $70 on food for the week, and will get paid $28.  I do one of these grocery shops almost every week.

I am signed up with BestMark, but most of the ones available in my area require you to own or be able to borrow a luxury car, so I haven't done anything with them.

I also have an account with GFK.  I've only done one shop with them - lunch at a chain wings restaurant.  $20 reimbursement plus $5 fee, so basically a free lunch date for me & Mr Tofu.

[Primm]

I do it. I don't make money (about $20 in the past month) but I get free coffee most times I go grocery shopping, and the occasional free meal. Or make enough to pay my petrol to the grocery store I was going to visit anyway.

[fireferrets]

What kind of "tasks" do you have to do?
Also tracylayton, what do you mean by "use my acting skills"? Do you have to make complaints or start a scene as part of the deal? @_@; I would never have the guts for that...

[Primm]

I did one yesterday at Starbucks. I had to buy a coffee (from a specific range), take a photo before I drank it, remember the servers name, and do a tick and flick sheet about service quality and drink quality. I use Field Agent which is a smartphone app, and you just submit it while you're sitting at the shop. Nobody looks twice at someone taking photos of their coffee and playing with their phone while drinking it.

Another one I did recently involved going to a large department store, taking a particular brand of clothing item to the counter of a different clothing brand and asking them questions, and then another tick and flick sheet. That paid me $10. :)

It's not huge money, but I'm doing my grocery shopping there anyway so it pays for my fuel.