Way back before I started working from home, I used to supplement my income with a little mystery shopping. This was a great way to get free office supplies, a night out at a restaurant, or even a new haircut.
When it comes to this line of work, mystery shopping, merchandising and product demoing are often handled by the same companies. While these aren’t necessarily work at home positions, they often provide the flexibility that many are seeking and can be combined quite easily for increased income potential.
What is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery Shopping jobs can vary greatly. It may be as simple as ordering a pizza for delivery to check customer service and delivery times, or you may doing a detailed audit of a local store that takes 30 to 60 minutes and includes several aspects. In some cases your identity remains a “mystery,” in other cases you may make your identity as a mystery shopper known before or after your “shop.” Just as the work varies greatly, so can the pay. If you are required to make a purchase, this is typically reimbursed up to a certain amount.
Typical Requirements for Mystery Shopping:
Self-Motivated
Attention to Detail
Reliable Transportation
Some shops may require a stop watch; many mobile phones have this capability
Internet/Email Access
Some companies require certification and/or passing their tests
What is Merchandising?
Merchandising jobs will require you to visit local stores to ensure your assigned company’s products are stocked and displayed correctly. This is usually ongoing work and pays relatively well. Many companies will allow you to pick up routine visits at several retailers and for several companies if they have them available.
Product Demonstrator Jobs
Product Demonstrators are typically those kind folks you see in the store handing out samples of new products or showing you the latest new gadget. These jobs usually pay well, as they are a bit more involved.
Typical Requirements for Product Demoing and Merchandising:
At least 18 years of age
Access to email/Internet
Reliable transportation
Ability to stand for up to 6 hours
Ability to lift 25 to 30 pounds
Clear communication skills
Ability to follow written direction
Passion for service
Must be able to pass a criminal background check
Food handlers permit where required by state or local law
Mystery Shopping Tips
I recommend setting up a separate email address just for your mystery shopping, merchandising and product demo jobs. There are hundreds of these companies out there. When I did this I found it best to keep the incoming emails in a separate account. Also, create a spreadsheet with your usernames and passwords.
Keep in mind, in most cases you are an Independent Contractor. You will be responsible for paying the taxes on your earnings. As you will be traveling for most of these jobs, mileage may be a deduction you can claim. Speak with your tax preparer about the details.
Do pay close attention to the payment turnaround times if you are in need of quick cash. Even though some companies have gone to PayPal, you may still be looking at up to 60 days for payment and reimbursements.
Start Slow! It’s tempting to want to pick up five jobs on your first day for maximum earnings. However, give yourself time to learn what each company entails before “bundling.” Some only require a quick survey submit, but other companies require very detailed responses. You may be sorry if you grab too many of the latter too soon.
Gauge your real profit before grabbing a job. Some jobs pay very well, especially if it is urgent and they can’t get it filled. However, if the pay is $7, you have to drive 50 miles out of your way and your total time spent in the store and filling out the questionnaire will be 1.5 hours, I would consider that a loss.
Watch out for scams. Check cashing schemes went to an all new level when they hit the mystery shopping scene. Don’t fall for it. While there are shops in the banking industry, no legitimate mystery shopping company will ask you to cash a check and send them the balance from your earnings.
Consider getting certified. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) offers a certification course for a fee. While this is not required, there are some opportunities only available to those Gold certified.
List of Mystery Shopping Companies
A Closer Look
AboutFace Consulting
ACE Mystery Shopping
Advisory Group Associates
Albatross Global Solutions
AMA Enterprises
Amusement Advantage
Ann Michaels & Associates
Anonymous Insights, Inc
Archon Development Corp
Ardent Services
At Your Service Marketing
ath Power Consulting
Automotive Insights, LLC
Baird Group
Bare International
BDS Marketing
BestMark
Beyond Hello
BMA Mystery Shopping
Business Evaluation Services
CIMA Insight
Circle of Service
Cirrus Marketing Intelligence
Clear Evaluations LLC
ClientSmart
Coast to Coast Scheduling Services
Confero
Constance Anderson and Associates
Consultants for Long Term Care
Consumer Impressions
Consumer Service Analysis
Consumer@site
Corporate Risk Solutions
Coyle Hospitality Group
Creative Image Associates
CRG Mystery Shopping
CRI
Cross Financial Group
Customer Experience Experts
Customer Impact
Customer Perspectives
Customer Service Experts
Customer Service Profiles, LLC
Devon Hill Associates
DSG Associates
Dynamic Advantage
Ellis Partners in Mystery Shopping
Executive Solutions Mexico (Latin America)
Feedback Plus, Inc.
Forum Research, Inc
Frontline Focus International
GAPbuster Worldwide Pty
GfK Mystery Shopping
GigWalk
Goodwin & Associates
Grass Roots America, Inc
Greenhouse Marketing & Communications (Canada)
Guest Check, Inc
Harland Clarke
HOPE Research Group
Hospitality Now
HS Brands International
ICC/Decision Services
ICU Associates
IMYST, Inc.
Informa Research Services
Insight Twenty20
Instant-Replays
Insula Research
Integrity Consultants, LLC
IntelliShop
Interactions Marketing
In-Touch Insight Systems dba Service Intelligence
IPSOS Mystery Shopping
iSecretShop
J.D. Power and Associates
Jancyn Evaluation Shops
Kinesis-CEM
LRA Worldwide
Maritz Research
Market Force Information
Marketwise Consulting Group
MASSolutions
Matrix Hospitality Management
MCG, Management Consultant Group
Measure Consumer Perspectives
Melinda Brody and Co
Merchantile Systems
Mintel International Group
Monterey Mystery Shopping
MSP Services dba Mystery Shopper Pros
mVentix, Inc
Mystery Researchers
Mystery Shoppers, Inc
Mystique Shopper LLC
National Shopping Service
New Image Marketing
Northwest Loss Prevention Consultant
Norton Norris
Opinions, Ltd.
Perception Strategies
PerformaLogics Inc
Person to Person Quality
Pinnacle Financial Strategies
Premier Service Inc
Primo Solutions, LLC
ProVantage Corporate Analytics
QSI Specialists
Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers
Quest for Best/Quest Associates
RDAssociates, Inc
Reality Check
Realty Based Group, Inc
Regal Hospitality Group
Remington Evaluations LLC
Research Intelligence Group
RetailTrack Mystery Shopping
RitterAssociates
Sales Quality Research Group
Second to None
Secret Shopper (Sights on Service)
Sentry Marketing Group
Service Evaluation Concepts
Service Excellence Group
Service Intelligence
Service Metrics Group
Service Performance Group
Service Research Corporation
Service Scan Evaluations
Service with Style
Shopmetrics, Inc
Shoppers Confidential
Shoppers Critique International
Shoppers’ View
Shoppers, Inc.
Sinclair Customer Metrics
SIS International Research
Six Star Solutions
Spot Check Services, Inc.
Statopex, Inc
Summit Scheduling and Editing
Technology Store Shopper
Texas Shoppers Network, Inc
The 16 Marketing, LLC
The Shadow Agency
The Troy Dolan Group
Threads Qualitative Research
TrendSource
uSamp
Verify International
White Clay
Winthrop Douglas, Inc
Wordsmith Pros, Inc.
Mystery Shopping Providers Association has a job bank available for seeking out mystery shopping opportunities by location.
Volition.com has a great forum for keeping tabs on the industry.
Have you participated in mystery shopping, merchandising or product demoing? What tips would you add?
The post What Is Mystery Shopping? Getting Started In Mystery Shopping, Merchandising and Product Demoing Jobs appeared first on The Work at Home Wife.