Secret Shoppers?
 

I keep seeing these ads on Hotjobs and Monster for the need for Secret Shoppers. Basically you sign up with this website and businesses contact you to be secret shoppers to evaluate the business and customer service. It makes it seem like you can basically shop and eat for free. And honestly, sounds too good to be true. However, when I worked at Macy's we had secret shoppers all the time. So I know they exist.

Basically I am trying to find a job that is flexible enough for me to go back to school and help me pay for my own benefits. This sounds nice because I can basically go to these places whenever I want in between classes.

So has anyone been one of these? Is it worth it? (There is a sign up fee...) Or maybe you know someone that is one and enjoys it?

I don't know anything about these, other than they do exist. I have heard that you shouldn't join one where you have to pay a fee to join, that the reputable ones won't charge a fee. But again, I don't know that for a fact.

I agree with AXiD670, be very careful about paying any fees in order to be offered a job. Most reputable job offers don't require you to pay them for the job!

The link below refers to "Secret Shoppers" as "Mystery Shoppers" but I believe its talking about the same thing. I'd read it before you make any decisions!

http://www.topsitereviews.com/shopping.html

I did read that but I wasn't sure if THAT site was legit. But it seems like any decent shopper site does ask for a sign up fee. Oh well. I'll keep looking.

Thats cool-just google it then & read all of the scam sites on secret shopping. I just picked the first one.

I was a secret shopper a couple of years ago. I worked for an Atlanta outfit and didn't have to pay a fee.

Mostly I got food assignments--like I reviewed Buffalo's for a whole year and got 2 free meals a month plus $15 each time.

I'm in Atlanta, do you have the name of that company? I could used some extra cash...

See now I'm thinking I may want to do this because for some reason I'm spending a lot more than I'm making. (Paying for school can do that I guess...)

But I don't want to pay... even though they are the companies that are recommended for this type of stuff.

good rule of thumb--NEVER pay for a job opportunity!

My mother was a mystery shopper for Safeway once. She had to go to the store, and go to each section and ask questions, but in a casual way (did you know that you have the right to taste ANYTHING in the store? Of course raw meat is excluded. They have to cut open a watermelon if you ask to taste it. If they say no, they're lying). She did stores all over the area. You can go at any time of the day, so its good for college students.

Mystery Shopper jobs last as long as you don't get "recognized". For example, my mother went for I think 8 months or so before someone reported a suspicion. If they suspect a person as a MS, then you can't do it anymore. Its no hard feelings, its just not effective if they know who you are.

Also, you have to be able to think off the cuff. You can't go in there with any papers, and you can't sound rehersed. Taking folks or kids with you helps to cushion your cover.

As for the time thing, I know some MS have to target a specific person, so you have to work it around their schedule. But please check them out before you pay anything. Read all the fine print. I know someone who paid for one and it was legit, it came back to them. They sometimes do that to weed out the serious folks from the jacklegged fools.

EDIT: The pay depends on the company. My mother got paid by the hour and I think mileage. Good side money, but not enough to pay your rent unless you mystery shop ALLLLLLL the time.

Dang, I can't find the name but their fax number was 800-807-4062 if you want to shoot them one! I have totally blanked out on the name.

I had signed up for one. My town only had listings for Post Offices though and that is not fun. I did get a message about Starbucks this month...

I just signed up on the internet and they send me notices. I choose what I am going to do. I had to submit a writing sample to be accepted.

What website did you use? And did you have to pay?

I just had to sign up. I did not have to pay. I would not pay someone any amount of money to make $10-$15 per job, especially if I wouldn't know the frequency of these jobs. Can you imagine paying for the service and getting one job a month? You don't know how often it something will come up.

mysteryshop.org is the most recent request.
I just did a search on the internet to find them. Be careful about giving out too much personal information on a site you don't know about.