dd

I saw an ad the other day for a secret shopper job. Just wondered if anyone had actually worked this type of job. Is this really legit? Draw backs? You know your mother always told you, if it sounds too good to be true... It sounds good to me. If this is legit, I might have to apply. It says no money up front.

Tartan

No experience but it saying "no money up front" sounds like there might be expenses later?

lynnie

I had a friend that did it a lot. I just did demos.
sometimes the demos were $25-50 an hour.
usually just one to two hrs. give it a try. I knew a woman who only sat thru the beginings of movies for $25
she had to make sure that they played all the previews.
Another who bought gas. so give it a try, let us know what happens.

tessagin

I had to check out restaurants. I ended up just getting coupons. Never reimbursed for the meals at all. Had observe all the aspects. From food to observing the waiters and attitudes also at the different fast foods. One time was at a big box restaurant. Service was awful and made notation that DH and I ended up going to the doctor because of food poisoning. Showed proof. Sent them the bill. they didn't want to pay the bill for DH doctor. Told them they had to or I was going to take them to court and it would cost a lot more. That was the last. See what your first assignment is. Much of the time they want you to go at off peak hours. Many get lazy and they want to know how much their profit and loss margin is. All depends. Usually if a business is losing revenue that's when they call a "Secret Shopper".

Stitchnripper

I have a friend who did it. Her advice to me was don't respond to Internet solicitations, don't give money. Do your own internet search to find a legitimate group. I never did it. She enjoyed it for a long time

gramajo

I worked for a chain gas station/convenience store. Corporate hired secret shoppers to check cleanliness of store, lot, bathrooms and how cashiers interacted with customers. If we did well, we received gift cards; if not, a reprimand or write-up.

GEMRM

A friend of mine's husband did it - he had to go to various stores and buy small items, and see if they asked for his "Air Miles" card. He was reimbursed up to a certain amount for purchases, paid mileage and a flat fee per store checked. He did this for quite awhile, until he got bored. (I think he would have eventually exhausted the local business area he was sent around in too).

Material Witness

I started with the restaurant one once. Pages and pages of questions. No way could I remember all that without filling it out at the table. I quit before ever going one time. I thought it was too time-consuming to be worth it.

tranum

My friend's husband hired people to "secret shop". Don't know details of those people, but this same friend would get paid to go to movies and her job was to count the people in the theatre and make a report. The movie industry was making sure they didn't get ripped off on ticket sales.

Bubbie

I been a "Secret Shopper" on and off for about the last 10 years (working on one now, that's a 2 year gig). You're not going to make a lot of money at it. I used to work up to 4 a day (did this around other things I was going to be out doing), you have to do different things for different company's. I worked for myself as contract work, so you will get 1099'ed. Some company's will 1099 you from dollar 1 others only after a few jobs. The big thing is to keep track of your mileage and time for each job, this is also how you can make it pay. Because if you are going to be out in one part of town, that's when you want to work shopping jobs in the same area. You can PM me for more info if you want.