When I returned from my last deployment to my previous civilian job, my income took a major hit.
For about 10 months I have enjoyed an active service allowance for a lower cost of living, free health care, housing benefit and risk premium.
To make ends meet, I picked up a few sideshows. One was ‘secret shopping’.
I did some research and created accounts for several companies. Within days, I started making extra money doing assessments and audits after I clocked out the newsroom.
Mystery shopping can be a fun, flexible side event for college students, military spouses, and lone servicemen with extra time on their hands.
Here’s what you need to know if you want to try out secret shopping.
What is a Mystery Shopper?
Mystery shoppers and secret shoppers are independent contractors who evaluate products, stores, restaurants, companies or employees.
Assignments differ per company. Most of the time, the job involves impersonating a potential client, so it requires a bit of acting skill. Store orders don’t always require you to make a purchase, but if they do, you’ll be reimbursed part or all of it when you get paid.
As a secret shopper, I tested cars, ordered deliveries, looked at mattresses, ate at restaurants, tried fitness chains, visited apartment complexes, and even played in an arcade for a few hours.
In areas with many tourist and entertainment attractions, some companies will even pay or reimburse you to take your family to amusement parks.
A few secret shopper services also offer “revealed audit” capabilities. During revealed audits, the place or people you’re evaluating already know what you’re up to because you’ve told them (often in advance and then again when you arrive to perform the audit). Usually these are compliance audits, but you can also find high-paying safety inspection opportunities with the right training under your belt.
Revealed audits take a little longer than store orders for customer experiences, but they also pay better.
Some jobs just require a quick phone call, but they don’t pay very well on their own. You can earn some extra pocket money if you do enough of it.
Yes and no. There are many secret shopping scams out there, but there are also plenty of legit secret shopping companies.
Make sure the company you want to work for has been verified by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA).
Here are some more tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to stamp out secret shopping scams.
Do a Google search for the company with the words ‘review’, ‘complaint’ or ‘scam’. Stay away from companies that ask you to pay them, send gift cards or transfer money. Don’t pay for company certifications, directories, or job guarantees. “No real job, including mystery shopping, involves paying for the job,” the FTC said. Don’t take a job that asks you to deposit checks into your bank account and return money to a company. Scammers use fake checks to steal from hopeful secret buyers. When the checks bounce, you don’t get those dollars back.
Finding Secret Shopper Jobs
The best way to find real secret shopping gigs is to browse the MSPA’s international directory of secret shopper service providers.
You can search by location to see what’s near you, but I found this wasn’t always accurate.
I found many more opportunities by clicking on categories like “groceries” or “fitness” and going to the websites for the services that popped up.
Some companies show where they are active on their website. Others may require you to sign up to see what’s available in your area.
Fortunately, applying as a secret shopper is quick and easy. I’ve applied to various services to see what was available near me and never spent more than 10 minutes on an application. If you join a service and there are no jobs near you, leaving that service is usually as easy as deleting your account.
Secret Shopper Requirements
Here are some basics you may need to become a secret shopper.
Smartphone. A smartphone is the bare minimum requirement for most businesses. You use this to take pictures and perform field assignments. You may also need to use a dedicated app depending on the company you work for. wheels. You need a way to get around. This does not necessarily mean that you need your own car. If you have access to reliable public transportation, you can still get the job done, especially in big cities. Computer. Some companies allow you to fill out evaluation forms in an app, but many companies require you to have them in PDF or on paper. You will probably need a computer that can print and scan evaluation forms and receipts. paypal. A few companies pay by check or direct deposit to a traditional bank, but many use digital transfer services such as Paypal. If so, the company will ask for your PayPal username during the application process.
If you’re really into secret shopping, you can find higher paying opportunities that require special equipment like hidden cameras or other recording devices. I wouldn’t recommend buying these unless you already have your eye on a few contracts that require special equipment.
How much does a secret shopper earn?
Secret shopping fees vary by job and area you work in.
In most areas, it’s certainly an afterthought, but it has its perks (like free food).
Where I live, phone jobs paid about $5 each. Condo tours paid $30 to $50. Restaurants typically paid $10 to $30, not counting the food allowance. Vehicle test drives paid about $30 each. Retail and bank evaluations paid $15 to $40 each. Revealed audits paid $60 to $100.
Some companies, like MarketForce, negotiate rates if it’s a job they really need. Once a planner tripled a fare to convince me to drive 15 miles to a Sonic drive-in on the other side of town).
Best Mystery Shopper Companies
These are the best mystery shopping companies I came across while working as a secret shopper. I chose this one because of the job variety and wide scope of work in the United States. If you are OCONUS, you may find others that are better.
Confero: Confero is a great mystery shopping service for military members and spouses because it has many assignments specific to those with access to a military base. Confero evaluates and audits Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) stores. It also handles evaluations for airport shops and restaurants. So if you work in an airport or travel a lot, Confero can get you a lot of work. MarketForce: MarketForce was a favorite of mine because I could negotiate higher rates when planners contacted them about jobs they needed. Most MarketForce jobs can be done with their smartphone app, although you may need to print your instruction sheets from a regular computer. If you live near a theater and want to get paid to see movies, MarketForce also employs secretive shoppers for merchandising and theater services. Such jobs include stocking pamphlets, swapping advertisements, and hiring staff in the theater. A closer look: This service is on the list because there is a lot of unique work available across the country. Really – if you enable email notifications, they will pretty much blow up your inbox with work in your area. Where I live, A Closer Look’s jobs included visiting arcades and entertainment, furniture and home improvement stores, and grocery stores (which were usually picked up quickly, though). iSecretShop: iSecretShop really shouldn’t be on this list because it’s not a single company. iSecretShop is an interactive job board for a collection of mystery shopping companies. The iSecretShop platform lists jobs near you (or any other location you want to search, if you’re traveling) from MSPA verified companies, such as 360intel and Jancyn. It also has a social forum where you can ask questions and compare experiences with other shoppers. One thing to note about iSecretShop is that they are not the ones who will pay you – your fee comes from the company that advertised the gig. You still get paid, but sometimes it takes a while. BestMark: I’ve never personally worked with BestMark because they don’t have a lot of work in my area. However, they are one of the largest MSPA accredited mystery shopping services and I hear good things from people who work with them. BestMark pays you for traditional mystery shopping, customer interviews and compliance audits. They have many options at airport stores and restaurants. So if you’re a frequent flyer, check it out. Maybe you can make some money on your next layover.
Do you work for a mystery shopping company that is not on the list? Leave it in the comments below!
This post Here’s How to Become a Mysterious (or “Secret”) Shopper
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