What is Mystery Shopping?

A. Mystery shopping is being hired by a company or independent contractor to shop at a certain store and provide feedback.

What are most of the terms I should be looking for when using a search engine looking for mystery shopping?

A. Mystery shoppers, mystery shopping, mystery guest, mspa, mystery shopping providers association, secret shoppers, secret shopping, independent contractor, independent contractors, certified fieldworker, marketing research, mystery customers, secret customers, mystery customer, secret customer, undercover shoppers, paid to shop, paid 2 shop, paid2shop.

Is mystery shopping hard?

A. No, mystery shopping is rather easy. You have to review and make notes though before you go into the store or eating establishment. As you can't just walk in with your questionnaire and start ticking things off. You do however have to be VERY observant and have a very good memory. If you aren't either of those then this isn't the job for you.

Do you have to pay anything to be a mystery shopper?

A. No. Mysteryshopping pays you. You should never have to pay for a database or for a job. Life doesn't work that way. You are to be paid, not them. Sometimes you have to pay for something to obtain a receipt but you are normally reimbursed for any purchases. Most receipts are to be scanned/emailed or faxed with strict time frames.

How are you paid?

A: Depends on the company, some pay in check, cash, vouchers, PayPal, direct deposit.  Most Mystery Shops pay by the job you are contracted for, this is why we don't list payment on our listings. It varies entirely too much.

Is there anything I should be concerned about?

Yes. There are scams going around where a fake mystery shopping company will send you a check, ask you to deposit it and then send the rest to to someone else at a Western Union or some place like that. This is a fraud, and should be reported ASAP. Mystery shopping has nothing to do with this sort of thing.