Introduction cash a mystery shopper check!
If there's one thing better than getting paid in cash, it's getting cash back when you shop or eat at your favorite places. It's too good to be true?
A mystery shopper or mystery restaurant job is a super flexible part-time opportunity for students. You can get paid by the hour, choose your working hours, and get freebies along the way.
Most of the big chains have signed up for some sort of mystery shopping program, so there's a lot of work to be done there. However, with thousands of people registered as mystery shoppers in the UK alone, the competition for jobs is getting tougher.
So, is it really worth it? We've reviewed the best mystery shopping companies and put together this comprehensive guide to give you all the information you need.
Want to cash a mystery shopper check!
The mystery shopper is a flexible and remunerated job that consists of going anonymously to companies to verify compliance with certain criteria (such as cleanliness and good customer service). Mystery shoppers are given tasks after joining one of the many consumer research groups.
It's not just about clothes or groceries. You might find yourself having dinner for free at a restaurant, taking an eye exam or even counting trains at a station - so mystery shopping is also mystery dinner, mystery drink and... counting mystery trains?
How does the mystery shopper check in mail work?
The process involved in mystery shopping tends to vary from job to job, but more often than not you are given a specific set of instructions to read before entering a store or business.
Mystery shopper jobs often include:
- guidelines on what to buy as part of the assessment (often very flexible)
- List of questions to ask in store
- what picture to take
- Details that require attention and attention (eg cleanliness, lighting, whether you are greeted when you enter)
- When must you file a written report.
When you return home, you will usually need to write a report of your findings and send it to the agency. This can take up to two hours, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to complete the paperwork afterwards.
Other forms of mystery shopping work
There are other types of secret shopper jobs, including:
Tasking apps - Most of the time these apps don't involve buying anything but you still have to be sneaky. We have a comprehensive guide to the best mission apps.
Postal monitoring - Brochures and catalogs are sent to your home after you register and record the time it takes to arrive, the status of their arrival, etc.
Mystery shopping by phone - it can even mean getting to work before you wake up. Phone mystery shopping involves calling the store to ask general questions and evaluating (and recording!) the answer to those questions.
Email Mystery Shopping – While similar to phone mystery shopping, this method is clearly more applicable to online stores or stores with a strong online presence.
Online Surveys – This may involve completing product reviews or simply completing online surveys related to certain brands.
How do you make money as a mystery shopper?
Rewards for mystery shopping tend to vary widely, and in recent years, companies have begun reducing the amount they offer.
In the past, some full-time mystery shoppers have reported making between £30,000 and £40,000 a year, but this is after years of work and a reputation in the industry.
Today, you're more likely to get a job, but you won't always get paid in cash, but get a budget to spend in-store and can keep your purchases as freebies (so make sure you choose what you really want/need).
Pay close attention to what they're asking you to buy, as the briefing will usually say you can return your purchase the same day or later, but for mystery catering jobs, if the total reimbursement doesn't include their stuff' re-asking you to spend money, this may not worth it.
We've seen jobs that offer £15 for a meal for two at a popular pizza chain, which won't cover the meal, especially since you shouldn't normally use vouchers at mystery shops.
However, the harder it is for a company to get someone to do the work, the more the fee will grow. We've found that downtown jobs can be snapped up quickly, and interest rates are low, but if you're not willing, doing mystery shopping can be very lucrative.
For example, we were paid £5 for doing the same work in the same shop in central London, when we did it in a smaller town we received £15 plus 50p per mile for travel to reimburse.
Yes, some companies offer travel expenses - although it's usually purely based on distance, you can get extra for parking or a train ticket if you ask well.
Best Mystery Shopping Company
Here are the best mystery shopper companies to sign up for:
iShopFor Ipsos
Payment - Generous (some are pro bono, like going to a restaurant, but you'll get a free meal from it)
Pros - Generous Payments
Disadvantage - The reporting process is time consuming.
Ipsos is one of the largest consumer panels in the world. Ipsos Mystery Shopping has a large number of missions covering the whole of the UK, usually smaller UK suburbs as well as larger cities.
You also won't find yourself encountering lengthy applications here. All you need to do is register here first and click the green button below.
One downside is that the reporting process for Ipsos can be time consuming as you need to work for your cash, but again they pay generously! The few mystery shopper experiences that Ipsos offer are unpaid, such as restaurant visits or sports activities, but you will receive a free meal or activity.
Market force
Payment - your in-store purchases are very low or just reimbursed (valued at £5-£10)
Advantages - Various tasks
Cons - customer service.
Formerly known as Retail Eyes, this is one of the most famous mystery shopping sites in the UK, with 300,000 registered members, it is undoubtedly one of the biggest.
They offer tons of jobs - from visiting opticians to checking out local pubs - so there's a good chance you'll find something on your street.
They also have a mystery shopping app that lets you find and take over jobs at your current location - handy for making quick money when you're already shopping somewhere.
Click worker
Payment – usually around 8€ – 12€ plus other bonuses
Pros - No purchase required, work can be reworked and resubmitted
Disadvantage - only pay in euros via PayPal or bank transfer.
Clickworker is an established microtasking company that has also expanded into the mystery shopper space. Most tasks involve taking photos of product shelves at stores in your area.
The best part is that you can choose any store from the chains offered. They won't let you go to a specific address, so you have a lot of freedom to choose from. Usually just a short trip to the high street or the nearest retail park is all that is needed.
Even better, these missions do not require purchases. Clickworker regularly provides mystery photography jobs to most countries in Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
Nielsen HomeScan
Payment - Depends on what products you scan and how often
Pros - Free to join, fun, established company
Cons - It may take a while to accumulate points and claim rewards.
You've probably heard of Nielsen before, as they run a popular media view panel (where you can win prizes for giving your take on TV, radio, and more).
This market research site Homescan consumer panel is better suited to your shopping habits.
When you sign up, they send you a scanner that you must use to record your household purchases, such as your grocery shopping.
Mystery Dining by HGEM
Payment - most jobs don't offer payment, but you'll usually get a large enough budget to cover all your meal costs, sometimes including travel
Benefits - Free lunch!
Cons - The reporting process takes longer than mystery shopping because more details are required.
Love eating out but hate having to spend money?
Mystery Dining offers free meals at select restaurants to culinary experts (or close enough!) who are willing to take the time to write a detailed report of their experience.
To register, you will need to "go through" the application process to see if you are a good candidate. The rejection rate is very high, so make sure you take the time to do this part right.
It's also worth noting that the harder you work and the better you do, the more of a reviewer rating badge you'll earn - go for a gold and you could end up with a Michelin star experience!
RedWigWam
Payment - You get paid as a job and use payroll. RedWigWam also takes care of your taxes.
Benefits - High paying jobs.
Cons - It's hard to find a job in some fields unless you're quick.
RedWigWam is primarily a temp agency, but they also offer mystery jobs as part of that.
They'll let you know when jobs are available in your area, and you need to catch up fast.
We've seen everything from going to the supermarket and asking questions to giving out vouchers.
Serve legal
Payment - £5 - £50 per visit
Pros - Free drinks and they refund your trip
Cons - you only have 2 years to get involved.
Are you 18 or 19 and looking for an opportunity to earn some extra cash (and free drinks)?
You may want to register with Serve Legal as an ad tester. This is a testing research company that tries to find out if young people are being identified when they should be.
Serve Legal employs mystery shoppers to enter various shops, bars and pubs to try out different age-restricted products. Because they mainly hire young age groups, they are always looking for new buyers to sign up.
Obviously, it's a big help if you have your own transport, as some of the places you need to shop can be quite spread out.
GBW (formerly GAPbuster)
Payment - between £5 and £35 per job
Pros - Paperwork is clear and easy to complete
Cons - very low payments and slow repayment.
GBW was once known as GAPbuster, but has many well-known clients. McDonald's is their biggest customer, so if you like free Happy Meals, this company is a great choice!
They would also send repeating tasks to the same location to monitor improvements, so if you're looking for variety, this might not be the best option.
Retail Maxim
Payment - £7 to £12 per job plus travel costs
Benefits - Spend the money provided up front
Cons - very little work.
Retail Maxim is a popular agency with a large number of subscribers, but we've heard complaints that it results in jobs being cut minutes after they're posted online.
This means you need to get a job quickly and also be very flexible with your time.
They send out checks in advance to cover groceries, which is good for those of us who can't afford to wait until later for reimbursement.
Grass Roots
Payment - £5 per job - £10 + gift
Pros - Clear instructions and fast payment
Cons - Jobs are usually only available in major UK cities.
If you don't want to be bombarded with emails advertising available jobs, basic mystery shopping is a great option.
The best way to get a job with Grassroots is to keep checking their website as it is constantly updated every day.
Video options are also available, tend to pay more, and generally receive payments around three to four weeks after work.
The Dos and Don'ts of Mystery Shopping
Signing up is usually easy: no resume or letter of recommendation is required, just complete an online survey. However, some of the biggest panels on our list require you to take spelling and grammar tests. You can try multiple times to get it right, so don't worry too much.
What to do as a mystery shopper
Here's how to get the most out of your job as a secret shopper:
Work regularly - Although you can choose your working hours, the secret to getting the best job is flexibility and a willingness to work regularly. The more you work, the more famous you will be and the jobs will start coming.
Memory Practice - Since you can't take a notepad with you to work (it will knock you out of the game), you need to hone your memory so you can remember the details of the report later. Consider it a good habit for exam time!
Keep the taxman happy - you're unlikely to make enough money to be taxed, but mystery shopping is technically considered self-employment, so be sure to report if you think your earnings may exceed your personal allowance. Check out our tax facts to see if this applies to you.
Register multiple businesses at once - There are tons of mystery shopper sites, but probably few jobs, so registering multiple businesses at once will increase your chances of finding something that works for you.
Keep your receipts - whatever you buy through a mystery shopping campaign, be sure to keep your receipts at all times in case the company asks to see them.
What not to do as a mystery shopper
Now that you know how to become a mystery shopper, make sure you don't do any of the following:
Late - You must submit a report after each visit, which generally must be completed within a specific time frame. If you file your report late, you risk not being paid and being fired.
Always pay to sign up - no reputable mystery shopping company will ask you to pay to sign up. They may ask you for your bank details, but that will pay for your work. The MSPA (Mystery Shopping Providers Association) website is useful for information on legitimate billboards.
Forget asking for details - there are many variations in the types of reimbursements and payments for this type of work. Before accepting a job, make sure you know exactly what you are getting into.
Count on mystery shopping as a source of income - while it's a fun way to earn extra cash, it's not a reliable form of income. Some companies take up to two weeks to reimburse you for money you spend at work, so if you're on a particularly tight budget, it's not a good idea.
So while you're unlikely to use your income to pay off student loans, it's fun to get involved in mystery shopping, and if you do it regularly, it's fun to put on your resume.
By: Katie Peterson
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