There are thousands of people out there who make hundreds to thousands of dollars in a month as mystery shoppers. Why are companies paying people to shop? These companies need feedback for the businesses they send you to analyze. Mystery shopping is one of the best ways to collect this feedback as it creates a win-win situation. The business will use this feedback to advance its products and services, and while the mystery shopper makes some income.
Who Is a Mystery Shopper?
A mystery shopper is anyone who receives payment from a business to come in as an anonymous shopper and later provides feedback on their shopping experience. To make this process more effective, their employees do not engage directly with a mystery shopper to get their services. We will reach out to a mystery shopper company to get the services of a secret shopper.
The company will give the mystery shopper the assignment with a list of key areas to look at. This list usually includes specific questions to ask about a product or service and also things to observe. Furthermore, the company that sent you to shop secretly will reimburse you for any expenses you incur.
How Do I Become a Mystery Shopper?
Simple. Just go over the list below and sign up for any one of them, choose your assignments and go shopping. We advise that you sign up for as many as you can to get more opportunities and more income.
1. Secret Shopper
Secret Shopper was established around 1993, and ever since, it has earned recognition for its incredible mystery shopping services that include the 2018 MSPA Elite Award. It tops this list as it is one of the most versatile platforms out there for mystery shoppers. You can mystery shop online, on-site, or via. Its Goal to the businesses that enlist their mystery shopper services is to help them optimize their customer experience and improve their performance. What's more, it is absolutely free to join this platform.
- Payment Details: You will receive a payment of about $12 to $25 for every shop you visit. Secret Shopper will disburse your payment in check form every month on the 20th.
- Requirements: You will need to be at least 18 years old to sign up
How Do I Get Started?
- Sign up as a mystery shopper on their website
- Read their policies & procedures, terms & conditions, and Shopper ethic & conduct.
- Agree to the terms above
- Take the basic certification test
- Provide your personal information, which includes your name, date of birth, address, and more.
- The Platform will provide a shopper ID and password to your account. Use the logins to view available shops and schedule your shopping time.
2. Market Force
Market Force was established in 1970. It currently has a customer base of about 100,000 shops every month. You will be evaluating various areas that could include phone ordering processes, website experiences, on-site experiences, and contact center experiences.
- Payment Details: Payments for each job on Market Force vary with the assignment and shop. Marketforce will disburse payments when someone through Direct deposit or check.
- Requirements: You need to be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma.
How Do I Get Started?
- Use your details to sign up for a Shopper Force account. This includes your name date of the birth email and zip code.
- Answer a few questions about your personal history.
- Read the terms of the agreement and sign it.
- Login to your shopper portal and get started.
3. Pinnacle
Pinnacle is a performance measurement organization with over two decades of experience. Their goal is to help financial institutions to improve sales and service quality. As a mystery shopper on this platform will only work with banks and credit unions. You can create a mystery super account for free and get started right away.
- Payment Details: The Ritz for mystery shoppers on this platform phone between $4 and $75 for every is it. Pinnacle will disburse your payments monthly through PayPal.
- Requirements: After every visit, you have a maximum of 12 hours to fill out a survey about your experience in that isn't. You also need to keep your score rating high based on a scale of 1 to 10. Pinnacle evaluates you based on the accuracy of the details, writing skills, and dependability.
How Do I Get Started?
- Visit the website and click on new shopper sign up.
- Fill out your personal details, which include your email address bank account and more.
- Respond to the demographic questions that Pinnacle will use to filter in the best jobs for you.
- Read the terms and agree.
- Start working.
4. Sinclair Customer Metrics.
Sinclair Customer Metrics was established in 1987. It has received a good reputation from its business customers and mystery shoppers. Furthermore, the better business Bureau has given it an A+ score. Sinclair serves various industries including, restaurants, retail, grocery, convenience store, banking, and quick-service restaurants.
- Payment Details: The pay is usually different for every store. You will receive the payment for each shop in check form 60 days after your visit.
- Requirements: You need to take the Sinclair new shopper challenge and agree to the terms featured in The Independent contractor agreement.
How Do I Get Started?
- Use your name and email to create an account on Sinclair.
- Go through the mystery shopper’s document.
- Read The Independent contractor agreement and agree to the terms.
- Complete the secure online application.
- Complete the Sinclair new shopper challenge. Fill out the new shopper survey.
- Start shopping and earning.
5. GBW
GBW is an organization that offers services to both mystery shoppers and businesses in more than 105 countries. Sign up to join more than 400 thousand other mystery shoppers who help improve customer service specialists in the retail sector.
Payment Details
The type of assignment you do will determine the pay to get. GBW will disburse payments four to six weeks after the evaluations man is over. For example, if the valuations are completed in March, you will receive your payments around four to six weeks after March 31st.
Requirements: You must upload your results for 8 hours after shopping.
How Do I Get Started?
- Visit GBW’s website and click on become an evaluator.
- Choose your country and fill out the other personal information like name, date of birth, email address, and more.
- Answer the demographic questions like your current occupation, educational background, and more.
- Answer more questions about your legal & technology history, why you would like to become a mystery shopper, and more.
- Attach your references.
- Login to your email to get your login credentials and confirm your account.
- Enjoy your shopping.
6. A Closer Look
A closer look gives you the chance to become a mystery shopper in more than eight Industries. It is a reputable and reliable company that won the 2018 MSP Elite Company Award.
Payment Details
The payments will depend on the assignment. A Closer Look will only refund you up to a certain amount of what you spend at the store. The organization will disburse payments every month on the 3rd Friday.
Requirements: You need to be at least 18 years old and possess excellent writing skills.
How Do I Get Started?
- Visit their website and at the top acrylic on becoming a mystery shopper.
- Give an active email address.
- They will verify this email by sending the application page link. This link will expire after two days.
- Provide your personal and demographic information and take the shopper qualifications survey, which has 10 Questions.
- Send a narrative about your last dining experience.
- You are now a shopper, and a closer look will guide your father via email.
7. Best Mark
Best Mark is one of the top mystery shopper organizations available. There are more than 10000 assignments every month on their website. These assignments are from different Industries. The Better Business Bureau has awarded this company an A+ for its services.
- Payment Details: The pay will vary with the assignments. Best Mark will reimburse you for the purchase you make.
- Requirements: You need to have at least 21 years of age and are reliable transport means.
How Do I Get Started?
- Click on become a mystery shopper at the top right hand of the website.
- Provide your personal and demographic information.
- Provide an email and create a password.
- They will ask you to confirm your application within an hour via email
- They will screen your application and send an email to notify you that your application has been approved.
8. Intellishop
Intellishop is a platform that serves businesses in over 50 Industries. As a mystery shopper, you can conduct evaluations through the website on the phone or by visiting the location. The organization has the 2018 MSPA Shoppers Choice Award.
Payment Details
Intellishop pays between $5 and $30, depending on the assignment. You will receive payments on the 20th of the month after he completed shopping. They send the money through PayPal.
Requirements: You need to register as an independent contractor. A good place to do so is on Job Slinger.
How Do I Get Started?
- Go to the Shopper Area on the top menu bar and click on Become a shopper.
- Provide your email.
- Read the Independent Contractor Agreement and accept it.
- Provide your personal and demographic details.
- Provide your tax information.
- Agree to the terms and start earning.
Offer Mystery Shopping Services by Phone
1. IPSOS
IPSOS was formerly known as GFK. It is available to shoppers both in the United States and in other countries like Thailand, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Czech Republic. Chile, Oceania, and India. You will conduct mystery shopping expeditions in various Industries through the website email phone or in person.
- Payment Details: The payment varies from task to task, but you can earn up to $80.
- Requirements: You must have attained 18 years to sign up for IPSOS. You must register as an independent contractor and submit your assignments 12 hours after evaluation.
How Do I Get Started?
- Go to the IPSOS website and click on Mystery Shopper on the right.
- Choose your country.
- Provide your personal and demographic information, read the privacy information and terms, and agree.
- Go over the dependent contract agreement and agree. Click sign up and get started.
2. ARC Consulting
ARC is a company that provides performance analysis and monitoring with the help of mystery shoppers. They will first train you in a training meeting, and once you complete registration, they will assign you the next available shop.
You can get promoted to the performance and analysis part of the business if you turn out to be good at mystery shopping on the phone. It is available in multiple countries like Canada, Australia, UK, and more.
- Payment Details: You will earn around $3.50 to $12.00 for every call. ARC will pay you every month via PayPal or Direct deposit.
- Requirements: You will need to sharpen your listening, attention, and writing skills.
How Do I Get Started?
- Finish their online application.
- Provide your PayPal details.
- Add your login details.
- Submit.
3. Yardi-Matrix
This is a company that collects business information in the real estate industry. They will ask you to play the role of a renter to collect the information. You can only apply for Yardi-Matrix thrice a year, and the jobs last for six weeks. If they hire you, you will become a full employee with dental and health insurance. You will work for around 10 hours a week at an hourly rate.
- Payment Details: The hourly rate depends on how many calls you complete and the information you gather.
- Requirements: You will need a high-speed phone internet and telephone etiquette to be successful on Yardi Matrix.
How Do I Get Started?
- Apply when the applications are open. They hire for the periods: January & February, May June, and September & October.
- If you have ever worked with them before, simply indicate you are returning employees to improve your chances of getting the job.
- Learn more about how to get started on Yardi-Matrix.
- Get started.
4. Call Center QA
Call center QA is an organization that helps various businesses to evaluate their performance so that they will hire individuals with good listening, chatting, and writing skills to mystery shops. You can either use your landline or mobile phone to complete the tasks.
- Payment Details: Call Center QA will pay you $5 for every call and will disburse payments very fast through PayPal. You can have your money within 24 hours of the last call.
- Requirements: Take two unpaid test calls. Being good at listening, attention, and writing skills. You must be a United States resident.
How Do I Get Started?
- Complete the application providing your personal and demographic information.
- Submit once you're through and await further direction.
5. Perception Strategies
This mystery shopping company operates solely in the Healthcare industry. It collects data from the phone, websites, or in-person assessments. You will be calling doctors offices to analyze their services and confirm their hours.
- Payment Details: Perception strategies pays its shoppers between $12 and $17 for every shop. They will disburse the payments at the beginning of every month by check.
- Requirements: We need to pass their training process before you can start shopping.
How Do I Get Started?
- Fill out the application to provide personal and demographic details.
- Submit and wait to be accepted.
- Once accepted, go through their training program.
- Start shopping.
How Many Companies Should I Enlist To?
You can enlist as many companies as you want. However, some find success by focusing on specific needs. For example, you can enlist on Yardi-Matrix, which focuses purely on the real estate industry. You should consider other factors like:
- The time you have in your hands.
- How much you wish to make
- How you will collect the data (on-site, phone, or webchat).
- Payment periods.
- Payment mode (PayPal, direct deposit, check and more)
- Availability of work.
- The requirements for joining each platform.
Conclusion
Avoid mystery shopping scams. There are many scams online posing as mystery shopping platforms only out to steal from you. Legitimate mystery shopping organizations offer free sign up. If you come across a platform that asks you to wire money or pay in advance, you should avoid it because it is a scam. Some will tell you that it is a refundable deposit, but when you make the payments, they become unreachable.
We have compiled a list of the 13 best mystery shopper jobs & companies to make extra money. Our list includes:
- Secret Shopper
- Market Force
- Pinnacle
- Sinclair Customer Metrics.
- GBW
- A Closer Look
- Best Mark
- Intellishop
- IPSOS
- ARC Consulting
- Yardi-Matrix
- Call Center QA
- Perception Strategies
You can rely on mystery shopping as a secondary source of income. This means you can top it up to your work or any other income avenue. For example, you can still work an office job and be a mystery shopper. You can shop during breaks, after work or during the weekends. The more jobs you do, the more you earn despite the different rates in the jobs or companies.