Anyone Mystery Shop?

shelbylovesmelby · #1 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 02:32 PM

Just curious if this pays?? I know not much but if it's worth your wild?

Fizgig · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 09:55 AM

I did a few years ago. At the time it wasn't too bad a side job, as long as you're in a fairly urban area. I did maybe three shops a week and made about $150/mo out of it, along with some free merchandise and meals.

You have to pick your shops carefully, because some are just ridicilously work-intensive for a $10 payment. For example, you might have to shop a store and buy something, write a three page description of it, then return an hour later to return it and write another three pages. Forget it.

Also, gas is a big player now. If the store is 15 miles away, that might cost you $5 right there.

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Ima saver · #3 (**permalink**) 08-27-2006, 10:50 AM

I did but i quit. It was a lot of work for very little pay. I did a lot of McDonald's and gas stations. They would only pay you back for $5 worth of gas and about $3 to shop at McDonald's. Then you had to do a report and call it in. When they switched to all computer reporting only, I stopped doing it. I might make $100 a year on it!

LuxLiving · #4 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 08:32 AM

Worth my WILD???

Very few things would be worth that in my opinion. Nope, I'm definitely saving my WILD for something / someone else!

I think mystery shops can be worthwhile if you get in with a scheduler that keeps you busy on the type of shops you like to make.

Ima saver · #5 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 08:37 AM

Oh Lux, you are bad!!

Faeanne · #6 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 09:40 AM

Yeah I used to mystery shop. I took the summer off when the kids were home from school. I'm just now thinking of getting back into it. It doesn't pay much, but it's easy money. Like a PP said, you do have to be picky about the shops you do. I've decided since gas prices are so high I'll only do local shops in my town now. I've mostly done bank & grocery shops. The bank shops paid $15 and grocery shops normally paid $8 with reimbursement (which equal free groceries!). I've also done shops at a restaraunt, a bowling alley, & Radio Shack. The hardest thing about mystery shopping is remembering all the facts & details! You have to remember names & descriptions of everyone you have contact with and other specifics they ask for. All the reports I've done have been online, mostly answering easy questions with a few descriptive paragraphs. And you have to be able to submit your receipts- either by fax or by scanning it & sending it in.

Basically- if you're looking for a good, steady source of income than this isn't for you. If you're looking for an easy way to make a little bit of money in your spare time- then I say try it.

Ima saver · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 09:46 AM

I think you have to live in a larger town to get the good shops. The first time they sent me to shop, it was a "they pump it" gas station and I was supposed to get $2 worth. Do youknow what it is like to tell the attendent you want $2 worth of preminum gas? Then go and visit the restroom?? I felt kind of stupid. At home depot, they make you spend at least an hour in the store. They tell you what to buy, you check out, then you come back in and return the item you just bought!

jodi · #8 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 09:47 AM

I actually just did a shop last night. I had to buy a cell phone accessory, which I got reimbursed for, and then got paid $5 on top of that. Not much, but it was an accessory on my "to get" list anyway.
Before this, I had been getting gas station shops - they only reimburse you for $4 in gas, $1 in food, and pay $1. I would only do these if I were in the immediate vicinity of the station. Definitely not worth going out of your way for, but if I was already there, it was an easy $6. I'm glad I did them, though, because now I am being offered better shops.

poundwise · #9 (**permalink**) 08-30-2006, 09:58 AM

My understanding is that it can be a hard time finding a good organization but once you do, you are able to earn a little extra income each month.

I concur with the poster above. I wouldn't recommend trying do it as some sort of regular job, though some people do, but it seems to a great way to earn some extra income.

shelbylovesmelby · #10 (**permalink**) 09-01-2006, 04:22 PM

So basically more work than it's worth. I was just thinking about it as something for a few extra $ here & there. I can see what alot of you are saying that it's a bit annoying.

I do live in a fairly populated area 70,000 in my city, & I can be the to states biggest ciy in 20 min & that's 3/4 of a million folks.