What is Mystery Shopping all About

Is this a legit way to earn money ?

You have probably seen different ads promoting Mystery Shopping, and maybe you are wondering what is this all about ?

It can be a legitmate way to earn but there are also some scams surrounding this type of work , So I put this site together to help you understand this type of work. You will find some great resources here. So go ahead dig in.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, marketers who promise lucrative jobs as mystery shoppers often do not deliver bona fide opportunities.

 The FTC says consumers should be skeptical of mystery shopping promoters who:

• Advertise for mystery shoppers in a newspaper’s ‘help wanted’ section or by email. While it may appear as if these companies are hiring mystery shoppers, it’s much more likely that they’re pitching unnecessary — and possibly bogus — mystery shopping “services.”

• Sell “certification.” Companies that use mystery shoppers generally do not require certification.

• Guarantee a job as a mystery shopper. 

The Facts of Mystery Shopping

Becoming a legitimate mystery shopper for a legitimate company doesn’t cost anything. Here’s how to do it:

• Search the Internet for mystery shopping companies that are accepting applications. Most legitimate companies don’t charge an application fee.Some may have a small processing fee to set up your account, but not all of them require any fees. Many accept applications online.

• Do some homework about mystery shopping. Check libraries or bookstores for tips on how to find companies hiring mystery shoppers, as well as how to do the job effectively.

• Visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website at www.mysteryshop.org for information on how to register to be a mystery shopper with a MSPA-member company, a database of available jobs, and additional information on the industry in general.

This site will help point you in the right direction when researching the Mystery shopping market.

I have personally made money as a Mystery Shopper. I am not just someone who has only researched this and then put up a website. I have worked for serveral different companies and I have made money as a shopper.

I have had free meals, free hotel rooms, free car washes, free movie tickets, free garage parking, just to name a few things. I have also made small purchases and was able to keep the mechandise as well as a shopper's fee.

Most times when you perform a shop for meals you will only be compensated for the meal. Most times a meal for two. You generally do not get additional compensation for dining out. But a free meal for two is not something to pass up, who doesn't like a free meal ?