Mystery shopping lets you earn by acting like a regular customer and giving feedback to companies. This $2-billion-dollar-a-year industry started in the 1940s. It offers many jobs, from undercover shoppers to customer experience evaluators. You can find paid shopping assignments or secret shopper jobs to make extra money while shopping.
The mystery shopping industry is booming, always looking for new shoppers. Mystery shoppers in the U.S. make about $714 a week on average. Some jobs pay $200 to $300 a week. Jobs range from $12 plus a free meal to $100 or more, fitting different needs and schedules.
What is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery shopping, also known as secret shopping or customer experience evaluation, is a job where you act as a regular customer. You visit places like stores, restaurants, phone shops, or theme parks. Your job is to give detailed feedback on your experience from the customer’s point of view.
As a mystery shopper, you’ll write a report about your visit and send it to the client by a certain date. You get paid for your feedback and often get reimbursed for any purchases you make.
This job is a great way to make extra money and help improve customer service. By giving honest feedback, you help companies know what they can do better. This makes the customer experience better for everyone.
If you want to make some extra cash or like trying out different businesses, mystery shopping is a good choice. You can pick assignments that fit your interests and skills. It’s a flexible and fun way to earn money.
Qualities Needed to Become a Successful Mystery Shopper
To be a successful mystery shopper, you need certain qualities and skills. Paying close attention to details is crucial. You’ll have to document your shopping experiences carefully.
Being organized is important too. You’ll handle many assignments and deadlines at once.
Successful mystery shoppers see this job as a real job. They follow the rules given by the companies. Not following these rules can affect whether you get paid.
Good communication skills are also key. You’ll talk to customer service and give feedback. Mystery shopping requires a sharp eye for details, critical thinking, and honest reporting.
The skills for mystery shopping are more than just shopping. You need to keep detailed records and submit thorough reports. You also need to use online platforms and fill out forms well. Successful mystery shoppers are good at doing many things at once and staying organized.
Top 10 Best Mystery Shopping Jobs
Looking to make extra money and be your own boss? Mystery shopping could be perfect for you. Top companies like Sinclair Customer Metrics, Market Force Information, and IntelliShop offer great jobs.
Sinclair Customer Metrics is a top name in mystery shopping. They work with banks, convenience stores, grocery stores, restaurants, and retail shops. You can pick from in-store, video, or phone mystery shopping tasks based on your schedule and interests.
Market Force Information is a big player in mystery shopping. They do over 100,000 mystery shops and 1 million surveys each month. They offer a variety of jobs, from eating out to healthcare, paying between $10 to $85 per task.
IntelliShop started in 1999 and has over 800,000 mystery shoppers. They work with many industries, from cars to utilities. They pay through PayPal on the 20th of each month, making it easy for you to get your money.
These companies are just a few of the best in mystery shopping. By checking out these and other trusted companies, you can find jobs that match your skills, interests, and schedule. This way, you can earn extra money on your own terms.
Sinclair Customer Metrics
Sinclair Customer Metrics has been a trusted name in the mystery shopping industry since 1987. They are a leading provider of in-person, phone-based, and video-based evaluations. They focus on the banking, retail, grocery store, (quick-service) restaurant, and convenience store sectors.
They aim to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Sinclair’s mystery shopping programs give businesses valuable insights and feedback. This helps them improve their operations.
Mystery shoppers at Sinclair Customer Metrics can earn about $25 per hour. Pay rates range from $9 to $14 per hour, according to Indeed. They offer comprehensive training and detailed assignment specs.
This ensures shoppers can give accurate and insightful evaluations. They pay shoppers by check monthly, which shows they are a reliable partner for mystery shopping.
Market Force Information
Market Force Information leads in customer experience management. They offer mystery shopping services across many industries. With over 400,000 mystery shoppers, they’re a top name in the field, serving retail, restaurants, healthcare, and more.
Working with Market Force means tapping into a vast network of shoppers. They manage up to 5,000 mystery shops each month. This ensures clients get insights from a wide range of consumers.
Retailers find Market Force’s services very useful. The company uncovers important consumer insights. Stores like H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, and Wegmans often top the list in customer experience and brand image.
Market Force doesn’t just do mystery shopping. They also offer site audits, contact center support, social reviews, surveys, and data analytics. By working with them, businesses get a full view of their customer experience. This helps them improve and succeed over time.
IntelliShop
IntelliShop is a company that helps improve customer experiences through IntelliShop mystery shopping. They cover over 18,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and 180 countries worldwide. IntelliShop pays its mystery shoppers through PayPal, usually within 30 days after the month ends. To get paid, shoppers must send in their business cards or receipts to prove they visited the places.
Since starting in 1999, IntelliShop has worked with more than one million mystery shoppers. Successful shoppers are told to keep all their assignment info in a folder. They should also keep receipts and visit proofs for three months. Plus, they should use an Excel file to track their money, as those earning over $599 will get a 1099 form.
IntelliShop mystery shoppers are told to read the shop guidelines well before starting and check their reports a few times. It’s important to be honest and give accurate info to the client. They should also take good notes and share their honest shopping experiences.
For those new to mystery shopping, it’s a good idea to research companies before applying to stay away from scams. It’s also important not to overbook yourself to do quality work on each job. Talking to schedulers and solving any problems quickly is key to doing well in IntelliShop mystery shopping.
Mystery Shopping Service
If you’re interested in becoming a mystery shopper, Mystery Shopping Service is a great choice. It has been around for over 25 years. They work with many industries like real estate, healthcare, retail, and hospitality across the U.S.
As a shopper, you might call a business or visit an apartment to report on your experience. It’s a fun way to earn extra money.
Mystery Shopping Service pays through PayPal or check every month. You must finish your tasks on time as the instructions say. With its long history, it’s a trusted way to make extra cash.
The pay for mystery shoppers at Mystery Shopping Service is between $17 and $31 an hour. The average is about $25. This matches the usual pay for mystery shopping, which is between $15.41 and $17.85 an hour, according to Indeed and ZipRecruiter.
Intouch Insight
Intouch Insight is a top name in mystery shopping, offering many ways to make extra money. They have over 40 years of experience. This makes them known for dependable and interesting mystery shopping jobs.
They have mystery shopping jobs at many places like restaurants, boutiques, gyms, and grocery stores. Jobs can be as short as five minutes or take a few hours. You get paid through PayPal on the 15th and last day of each month for work done before.
To earn money, you must send in your work on time as told. Each job has clear instructions. Intouch Insight helps businesses succeed by getting valuable feedback from shoppers like you. This way, you can help companies and make some extra cash.
BestMark
BestMark is a top mystery shopping company in the U.S. and Canada. It was started in 1986 and has grown to have over 600,000 mystery shoppers. This company is known for its trustworthiness in the industry.
To work with BestMark, you must be at least 18 and have good writing skills and internet access. You’ll be an independent contractor, not an employee. The company offers mystery shopping, intercept interviews, and compliance audits.
Working with BestMark lets you make extra money and get free meals or services. You can also earn bonuses for referring others. Many people love working here because of the clear instructions, easy reports, and quick payments.
BestMark is dedicated to excellence. It works with the MSPA Americas to provide training and education for mystery shoppers. This shows the company’s commitment to helping its shoppers do well.
Whether you’re new or experienced in mystery shopping, BestMark is a great choice. It offers a chance to make extra money and explore various businesses. With its strong reputation and support for its shoppers, BestMark is a top choice in the industry.
Service Evaluation Concepts
Service Evaluation Concepts (SEC) is a top name in mystery shopping, with over 600,000 mystery shoppers. They call their shoppers “Brand Agents.” They offer full training and certification to make sure their shoppers do a great job for their clients.
To work with SEC, you must pass the Brand Agent Certification Exam. This exam checks if you can spot and report on a business’s customer service strengths and weaknesses. After passing, you can earn between $10 and $50 per Service Evaluation Concepts mystery shopping job, based on the job’s complexity.
SEC is all about quality. They have strict hiring and training to make sure their Service Evaluation Concepts mystery shoppers give accurate and useful feedback. With their skilled Brand Agents, SEC helps businesses of all sizes find ways to get better and improve their customer service.
Secret Shopper
Secret Shopper is a top mystery shopping company that looks for shoppers all over the world. They offer a wide variety of mystery shopping jobs, like in-person, phone, and online tasks. You don’t need any experience to join Secret Shopper if you’re 18 or older and have a computer and smartphone.
Secret Shopper pays its mystery shoppers between $15 and hundreds of dollars per task. They work with many industries, such as retail, restaurants, banks, healthcare, and more. This helps businesses understand what their customers think by getting feedback from mystery shoppers.
Secret Shopper has a simple platform and flexible hours, making it easy to make extra money and give valuable feedback to companies. If you want to earn extra or just like the excitement of being a secret shopper, Secret Shopper is a great choice.
Observa
If you’re new to mystery shopping, Observa is a great app to start with. It’s available for both Android and iOS devices. With Observa, you can find and claim “observations” (missions) using an in-app map. This app is easy to use and works with many industries. You can do simple tasks like taking a photo of a storefront or checking a store’s product selection.
Observa is known for its fast payment process. You usually get your PayPal earnings within five business days after finishing a task. This is quicker than many other apps, making it a top choice for those wanting to earn extra money through Observa mystery shopping.
Whether you’re new to mystery shopping or have been doing it for a while, Observa offers a convenient way to make extra cash. It has a variety of missions available and pays quickly. This is why many people choose Observa for a reliable and rewarding mystery shopping experience.
Elite CXS
Boost your income with Elite CXS, a top mystery shopping company. They let you earn by checking out businesses. You can make about $22 an hour with on-site and online tasks. Just take photos and share your thoughts to get paid.
Working for Elite CXS means you’ll check out big names like Swarovski and Starbucks. This company aims to make customers happier. Your feedback helps them succeed. Plus, you work when you want and get paid every two weeks via PayPal.
Elite CXS is great for both new and experienced mystery shoppers. They’re known for paying on time and offering many jobs. Join Elite CXS to increase your income while enjoying your shopping.
How Much Can You Earn as a Mystery Shopper?
The earnings of a mystery shopper can range from $5 to $100 per job. This depends on the client and the job details. Some jobs might not pay cash but offer reimbursements or gift cards instead.
In California, mystery shoppers are seen as employees, not independent contractors. This is due to the Dynamex test and AB5 law. They get benefits like minimum wage, overtime, healthcare, and more. They also get paid for all work time, including training.
The average weekly pay for mystery shoppers in the U.S. is about $714. But, as independent contractors, they must handle their taxes. Keeping track of expenses like travel costs can lower their taxes. Working for several companies can also boost their earnings.
