tdgiffin

Somewhere I read that some companies will hire people to be secret shoppers for them. I have also heard that some of the job listings for these are scams. Does anyone do this for extra money, and how do you know a legitimate company from a fake one?

jean1941

Wish I knew I think it would be neat to shop and get paid to do it.

mom-6

I did it for awhile several years ago. Sorry I don't recall the company name. I got to do several stores at our local mall and some in a nearby city. The pay was not all that much but it was interesting and helped me be a more observant shopper as well as improve my own customer service skills.

CoyoteQuilts

Here you go:

http://www.globalsurveygroup.com/sur...&pageID=offers

http://www.shadowshopper.com/new/index.cfm? I have worked for this one.

http://www.marketforce.com/

https://www.sassieshop.com/site/

http://www.marketforce.com/

http://www.customerimpactinfo.com/

Painiacs

Be careful! Don't pAy them for services!!

amma

You can also be secret diners for restaurant chains too. :D:D:D

mom-6

Sassieshop was one company I did and they were good to work with.
A recommendation I would pass on is to only do the ones you would already shop if they require a purchase (some do some don't). Oh, and don't take a teenage daughter along to a clothing shop! (You'll spend much more than you'll get reimbursed - ask me how I know this)
Obviously any restaurant ones would require a purchase. I ended up being reimbursed for my meal plus a little extra when I did Subway. They did specify which sandwich to pick, but it was one I liked anyway.

JanTx

My daughter did this for Starbucks when she was in college. She lived in the No. Virginia area and there were Starbucks on every corner! She would go in, order what she had been told to order (reimbursed), then go out to the car and fill out a spreadsheet she had created. When I visited I'd drive and she'd write. She had to get in 10 - 15 a week in order to make it pay, but each took just minutes and there were SOOO many in the area.

Lisanne

Most legitimate companies are members of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. Their website is here:
http://www.mysteryshop.org/index-na.php

You can see the member companies and visit their websites. You do not need to pay anything to do this, and you do not need to be certified.

Each company does things a bit differently. For example, some companies post their "shops" (that's what they call the jobs) online and anyone can sign up to do them. Others email their list of shops to people who have registered with them. Still others assign shops directly. They all also have different procedures for doing each shop and reporting about it, also different payment terms.

There is also a wonderful forum where mystery shoppers post about their experiences, ask questions, give advice, etc. Again, no fee to use it. You'll read which companies are good or bad to work for, and so one.
http://forum.volition.com/default.asp?CAT_ID=2

Pay isn't great, though very dedicated shoppers do make money at it. It can be a nice way to make pocket money, get things for less or for free (including restaurant meals if you like eating out), even comparison shop.

Some shops require you to buy things, some require you to return them, some don't require any purchases (such as cell phone shops, bank shops and apartment complex shops).

amyjo

I used to do this and yes if you are certified you get better pay. we have all kinds of places that they want secret shoppers for. It does take some time to do the paperwork they want you to do online. I haven't done some since I got my 2nd job. no time.