As mystery shoppers, thousands of people make from hundreds to thousands of dollars a month. Why are people getting paid to shop? These companies want to know what you think about the businesses they send you to look at. Mystery shopping is one of the best ways to get this kind of feedback because everyone wins. This information will help the business improve its products and services, and the mystery shopper will get paid.
What Is a Mystery Shopper?
A mystery shopper is someone who is paid by a business to shop there anonymously and then give feedback about what they saw and how they were treated. So that this process works better, their employees don’t talk to mystery shoppers directly to get their services. We’ll get in touch with a mystery shopping company to hire a secret shopper.
The company will give the mystery shopper the job and a list of important things to check. This list usually has things to look out for and questions to ask about a product or service. Also, the company that sent you shopping in secret will pay you back for any costs you have.
How do I start working as a mystery shopper?
Simple. Just look at the list below and sign up for any of them. Then choose your assignments and go shopping. We suggest that you sign up for as many as you can, so that you have more chances to make money and more options.
Secret Shopper
Secret Shopper was started in 1993, and since then, its great mystery shopping services, like winning the 2022 MSPA Elite Award, have made it well-known. It’s at the top of this list because it’s one of the most flexible places for mystery shoppers to work. You can do a secret shopper job online, in person, or via. Its goal for businesses that hire its mystery shopper service is to help them improve their performance and make the customer experience better. Also, joining this platform is completely free.
- Details About Payment: For each shop you visit, you will get about $12 to $25. Every month, on the 20th, Secret Shopper will send you a check with your payment.
- Requirements: To sign up, you must be at least 18 years old.
How should I start?
- Sign up on their website to be a secret shopper.
- Read their policies and procedures, terms and conditions, and Shopper ethics and conduct.
- agree to the above terms
- Take the basic test to get your license.
- Give information about yourself, such as your name, date of birth, address, and more.
- Your account will be given a shopper ID and a password by the Platform. Use the logins to see which shops are open and plan when you’ll go shopping.
Market Force
In 1970, Market Force was set up. At the moment, about 100,000 shops buy from it every month. You will be looking at a number of things, such as how to order over the phone, how to use a website, how things work in person, and how the contact center works.
- Details About Payments: Payments for each Market Force job depend on the assignment and shop. When someone gets paid, Marketforce will send them money through Direct Deposit or by check.
- Requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma.
How should I start?
- Sign up for a Shopper Force account with your information. This has your name, birth date, email address, and zip code.
- Answer some questions about who you are and what you’ve done.
- Read the agreement’s terms and then sign it.
- Sign in to your buyer account to get started.
Pinnacle
Pinnacle is a group that has been measuring performance for more than 20 years. Their goal is to help financial institutions improve the quality of their sales and customer service. As a mystery shopper, you can only work with banks and credit unions on this platform. You can sign up for a free Mystery Super account and start right away.
- Payment Details: The Ritz will pay between $4 and $75 per call from a mystery shopper using this platform. Your payments will be sent to you every month through PayPal by Pinnacle.
- Requirements: You have up to 12 hours after each visit to that isn’t to fill out a survey about your time there. On a scale of 1 to 10, you also need to keep your score rating high. Pinnacle judges you based on how well you write, how reliable you are, and how accurate your details are.
How should I start?
- Click on “New Shopper Sign Up” on the website.
- Fill out your personal information, which includes your email address, bank account, and more.
- Answer the questions about your background so that Pinnacle can find the best jobs for you.
- Read and agree to the terms.
- Start working.
Sinclair Customer Metrics
In 1987, Sinclair Customer Metrics was started. Business customers and mystery shoppers have said good things about it. Also, it has an A+ grade from the Better Business Bureau. Sinclair works with many different businesses, such as restaurants, retail stores, grocery stores, convenience stores, banks, and fast food restaurants.
- Details About How To Pay: Most stores have different ways to pay. The payment for each shop will come in the form of a check 60 days after your visit.
- Requirements: You must take the Sinclair new shopper challenge and agree to the terms in the Independent contractor agreement.
How should I start?
- Set up an account on Sinclair with your name and email address.
- Read through the document that the mystery shopper made.
- Read and agree to the terms of the Independent contractor agreement.
- Fill out the secure application online.
- Finish the new shopper challenge from Sinclair. Fill out the new survey about shoppers.
- Start making money by shopping.
GBW
GBW is an organization that helps mystery shoppers and businesses in more than 105 countries. Sign up to join the more than 400,000 other “mystery shoppers” who help retailers improve their customer service.
Payment Details
How much you get paid will depend on what kind of job you do. Four to six weeks after the evaluations are done, GBW will pay out the money. For example, if the valuations are done in March, you will get your money about four to six weeks after March 31st.
- Requirements: You have 8 hours after shopping to post your results.
How should I start?
- Go to GBW’s website and click on “Become an Evaluator.”
- Choose your country and fill in your name, date of birth, email address, and other personal information.
- Answer questions about yourself, like what you do now, where you went to school, and more.
- Answer more questions about your history with the law and technology, why you want to be a mystery shopper, and more.
- Include your sources.
- Sign in to your email to confirm your account and get your login information.
- Enjoy your shopping.
A Closer Look
You can become a mystery shopper in more than eight Industries if you look more closely. The 2023 MSP Elite Company Award went to a reputable and trustworthy company.
Payment Details
How much you get paid will depend on the job. You can only get back a certain amount of what you spend at the store from A Closer Look. Payments will be sent out by the organization on the third Friday of every month.
- Requirements: You must be at least 18 years old and have great writing skills.
How should I start?
- Go to their website, and at the top, you’ll find information on how to become a “mystery shopper.”
- Give an email address that works.
- They will send the link to the application page to this email to make sure it is real. After two days, this link will no longer work.
- Give us some information about yourself and your background, and then answer questions on the shopper qualifications survey.
- Send a story about the last time you went out to eat.
- You are now a shopper, and if you take a closer look, your dad will get an email with instructions.
Best Mark
Best Mark is one of the best companies that send out secret shoppers. More than 10,000 assignments are posted on their website every month. These projects come from different fields. This company’s services got an A+ from the Better Business Bureau.
- Information About Pay: Pay will depend on the jobs. Best Mark will give you money back for what you buy.
- Requirements: You must be at least 21 years old and have a reliable way of getting around.
How should I start?
- At the top right of the website, click on “Become a mystery shopper.”
- Give information about yourself and your background.
- Give your email address and make a password.
- They will email you in an hour to ask you to confirm your application.
- They will look over your application and send you an email when it has been approved.
Intellishop
Intellishop is a platform that helps businesses in more than 50 Industries. As a mystery shopper, you can do evaluations on the website, over the phone, or in person. The 2023 MSPA Shoppers’ Choice Award went to the group.
Payment Details
Depending on the task, Intellishop pays between $5 and $30. After he’s done shopping, you’ll get paid on the 20th of each month. They use PayPal to send the money.
- Requirements: You need to sign up as a self-employed worker. Job Slinger is a good place to do this.
How should I start?
- Go to the top menu bar and click on Shopper Area. Then click on Become a shopper.
- Provide your email.
- Read the Agreement for Independent Contractors and agree to it.
- Provide your personal and demographic details.
- Give us information about your taxes.
- Accept the terms and you can start making money.
You can offer mystery shopping by phone.
IPSOS
IPSOS used to be called GFK. It can be bought in the US as well as in Thailand, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, and the Czech Republic, among other places. India, Chile, and Oceania. You will go on mystery shopping trips in different industries via the website, email, phone, or in person.
- Details About Payment: The pay varies from job to job, but you can make up to $80.
- Requirements: To join IPSOS, you must be at least 18 years old. You have to sign up as an independent contractor and turn in your work 12 hours after it has been graded.
How should I start?
- Go to the IPSOS website and, on the right, click on Mystery Shopper.
- Pick your nation.
- Give your personal and demographic information, read the privacy information and terms, and say you agree.
- Go over the agreement for the dependent contract and agree to it. Click “Sign Up” to get going.
ARC Consulting
With the help of “mystery shoppers,” ARC is a company that analyzes and keeps track of performance. First, you’ll go to a training meeting, and once you’re done with that, you’ll be sent to the next available shop.
If you are good at mystery shopping on the phone, you can move up to the performance and analysis part of the business. It is sold in many places, including Canada, Australia, the UK, and more.
- Payment Details: For each call, you will make between $3.50 and $12.00. Every month, ARC will send you money through PayPal or direct deposit.
- Requirements: You will need to improve your ability to listen, pay attention, and write.
How should I start?
- Finish applying for a job online.
- Provide your PayPal details.
- Add your login details.
- Submit.
Yardi-Matrix
This company gathers information about businesses in the real estate industry. They will ask you to act like a renter so they can find out what you know. Yardi-Matrix only lets you apply three times a year, and each job lasts for six weeks. If they hire you, you’ll be a full-time worker and get health and dental insurance. You will get paid by the hour and work about 10 hours a week.
- Information About Payment: Your hourly rate is based on how many calls you make and how much information you gather.
- Requirements: To be successful on Yardi Matrix, you’ll need a high-speed phone internet and the right way to use the phone.
How should I start?
- Apply when they are accepting applications. In January and February, May and June, and September and October, they hire people.
- If you have worked with them before, you can improve your chances of getting the job by saying you are a returning employee.
- Find out what you need to do to get started with Yardi-Matrix.
- Get started.
Call Center QA
Call center QA is an organization that helps different businesses figure out how well they are doing so they can hire mystery shoppers who are good at listening, talking, and writing. You can do the tasks with either your home phone or your cell phone.
- Details About Payments: Call Center QA will pay you $5 for each call, and payments will be sent quickly through PayPal. After the last call, you can have your money in 24 hours.
- Requirements: Take two test calls that don’t pay. Being able to listen well, pay close attention, and write well. You must live in the United States.
How should I start?
- Fill out the application and tell us about yourself and where you live.
- When you’re done, click “Submit” and wait for more instructions.
Perception Strategies
This mystery shopping business only works in the Healthcare field. It gets information from the phone, websites, or assessments done in person. You will call doctors’ offices to find out what services they offer and what time they are open.
- Information About Payment: For each shop, Perception Strategies pays its shoppers between $12 and $17. They will send out the payments by check at the beginning of each month.
- Requirements: Before you can start shopping, you have to pass their training process.
How should I start?
- Fill out the application to give information about yourself and your background.
- Send it in and wait to hear back.
- Go through their training program once you’re in.
- Start buying things.
How many businesses should I sign up with?
You can sign up as many businesses as you like. But some people do well when they focus on specific needs. For example, you can join Yardi-Matrix, a company that only works in the real estate business. You should think about things like:
- You have control over the time you have.
- How much money you want to make.
- How you will get the information (in person, by phone, or through webchat).
- Payment periods.
- Payment mode (PayPal, direct deposit, check and more)
- Work is out there.
- What you need to do to join each platform.
Conclusion
Don’t fall for mystery shopping cons. Online, there are a lot of scams that look like mystery shopping sites but are only out to steal your money. Signing up to join a legitimate mystery shopping company doesn’t cost anything. If a platform asks you to wire money or pay in advance, it is a scam and you should stay away from it. Some people will tell you that it is a refundable deposit, but when you make the payments, they are no longer reachable.
We’ve made a list of the best mystery shopping jobs and companies where you can make extra cash. Our list includes:
- Shopper in Secret
- Market Force
- Pinnacle
- Customer Metrics for Sinclair.
- GBW
- Taking a Look
- Best Mark
- Intellishop
- IPSOS
- Consulting by ARC
- Yardi-Matrix
- Call Center QA
- Strategies for Seeing
You can use mystery shopping as an extra way to make money. This means that you can add money from your job or any other source. For example, you can be a mystery shopper and still work in an office. You can go shopping on your lunch break, after work, or on the weekend. Even though pay rates vary from job to job or company to company, the more jobs you have, the more money you make.
