Is anyone a secret shopper?

[timvolley]

i do some secret shopping mostly i do restaurants and  usually you cant do the same restaurant every 90 days

[MessiahMews]

I'd like to do it, but since no one can tell here which companies are legit, I have NO WAY of knowing where to go, nor where to even begin.

I hate secrecy. 

[alaric99x]

I mentioned this in my previous post, you have to check the MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association).  Just google MSPA and check the web site, they have a full list of all legitimate organizations.

[six96hoot]

I recently just started the mystery shopper business because a good friend of mine referred me. She makes a little extra money a month, maybe enough to fill up two tanks of gas. I did my first shop the other day and it was pretty simple and Ive started to look for my next shop. I dont have very many in my area since it is a small town but I  can find quite a bit in the surround areas so I try to schedule it when I will be going in a certain direction. I mostly have fast food like mcdonalds and well really just mcdonalds lol which I am not crazy about so I dont really do those. If you dont have much else to do and running out to earn a few dollars and save a few dollars on purchases go for it. I hope that I can use it while I travel so that way I can save some money between commutes to Texas and CT.

[rkjones100]

Good information, thanks everyone.

[Lusie]

I just started Mystery Shopping myself. It is pretty easy work for the most part. The company I go through there is no membership fee. You log onto the site and see which jobs you want to do. Call the representative set up the date and then make sure you go. It helps if you have a printer and scanner and a camera also. Each shop pays differrent and any that you have to purchase from you get reimbursed for.

[letilebron]

I've always wanted to become a mystery shopper, so i did sign up to become one....everytime i check my account to see if i have a job lined up, there was never anything there... not sure what that was about, but it do sound like fun!

[thetop31]

I tried to be one, but the company which contacted me is a scam, cos they sent money orders to me and let me send some back! so I think the money order is not real one!

[Sunshine4372]

Do prospective employers of these 'mystery shopping' opportunities require fees to be sent via Western Union via check they send?

No!! That is a scam!  They take checks from other companies and they have you take it to your bank put it in, cash it out in 2 days, then take it to Western Union and wire them the money to some person who doesn't work for the specific company specified.  The phone number is also out of the country.  Usually Canada.

[CharmedPhoenix]

I have a friend who I knew used to do this and is doing it again.  We live in small towns south of Albuquerque and she says most of the work in in Albuquerque.  She goes to restaurants and stores.  She's signed up with 4 - 5 companies and can choose her assignments.  It involves a bit of acting since you sometimes have to pretend you're interested in things you're not really interested in.  She also draws the line at going to the sleazy car dealership and pretending she wants a car.  Since I'm not good at acting, don't have a working car and am money challenged I'm not going to try this.

It sounds like a cool thing to do if you live, work or go to school in a big city and would normally eat out, etc.  You could get free meals, school / office supplies and the like, plus a little cash.  Good luck.