How do you become a successful mystery shopper?

Question

I live in downtown toronto.

Answer 1

I'm not sure if you're inquiring as to how to become a mystery shopper or if you're already one and need some tips on how to become more successful at it. I have been a mystery shopper for almost 20 years so I believe I'm somewhat qualified to answer your question.

If you're looking to become one and don't know where to start - I suggest every time you see one of those "demos/samplings" at your local grocery or department store ask them for the name of the company they work for and the supervisor/area manager's name. Contact them because almost every company that does those samplings also have mystery shoppers.

Are there legitimate online mystery shopping sites - absolutely - the following ones in  particular are very reliable but you must be able to pass their tests first.

www.Gapbuster.com

www.intouchsurvey.com

Can you make money at mystery shopping? Well, yes and no - yes, you can earn pocket money and no - you cannot earn enough to live off it. Most mystery shops pay anywhere from $5.00 + food/movie purchase to approx. $20.00  (which may involve 1-2 visits of 1/2 hour or more) You won't usually get paid for travel time or for the time it takes you to do paperwork, etc. You will be able to keep yourself in lunches, dinners, movies, etc though.

Mystery shopper in bigger cities have a smaller chance of making a bigger dollar amount just because there are lots of people willing to do them. In some of the smaller more remote towns where it's difficult to find shoppers you can make much better money though there may be a limited amount of them available.

If you want to be a success at it -

- follow instructions to the "t"

- make sure you do them on time - if you're late you could loose your pay

- be discrete when doing your shops

- take extra assignments - it will show you're committed and will find more coming your way

- file your reports on time

There is a mystery shopper's course that I know some have taken  but I don't feel it's worth it unless you live in a remote town and plan on making this a long term job with your sites on becoming a scheduler or area supervisor. The course itself is fairly expensive and a 3 part system. I have friends who have taken it and have gone on to become very successful schedulers BUT they also live in remote northern communities where the availability of shoppers is smaller.

Hopefully this answers your question.

Good Luck.