When I had student loans, I decided to become a mystery shopper to earn some extra money. It didn’t make me rich, but it provided a bit of extra income and allowed me to enjoy free meals and items I would have bought anyway. This side hustle helped me pay off $40,000 in student loans in just seven months.
I first heard about mystery shopping while working at a retail store where mystery shoppers would evaluate our performance. Intrigued by the idea of getting paid to shop, I soon learned how to become a mystery shopper myself. I consistently earned around $150 to $200 a month and received free items and services, such as meals at restaurants and makeup products.
Recently, many people have asked me, “What is mystery shopping?” and how I made money from it. Since it’s been a while since I discussed it, I decided to share my experience and guide on how to get started.
Mystery shopping involves evaluating customer service by visiting stores, restaurants, or other businesses incognito. You’ll need to keep receipts, answer surveys, and report your experiences to help businesses improve. While it won’t make you rich, it can be a fun way to earn some side cash and get free products and meals.
Payments for mystery shopping usually come in three forms: cash plus reimbursement for purchases, cash for non-purchase tasks, or reimbursement for expenses like meals. Payments are typically made via direct deposit, check, PayPal, or gift card a few weeks after completing the task.
It’s essential to be cautious of scams in the mystery shopping industry. Legitimate companies won’t ask for money upfront. One reputable company I used was Bestmark, which provided consistent and timely payments.
There are various types of mystery shopping assignments, including dining at restaurants, shopping at electronic stores, visiting salons, and even making phone calls to evaluate customer service. To get started, sign up with a trusted mystery shopping company, apply for assignments, and follow their guidelines.
Mystery shoppers usually get to keep what they buy, but they are not paid upfront. Instead, you’ll be reimbursed after submitting your review. Payments typically take a few weeks to process.
No special certification is required to become a mystery shopper. Good written communication skills are essential, as you’ll need to provide detailed feedback on your experiences.
In my experience, I enjoyed online and phone call shops the most, as they didn’t require travel. I also liked makeup shops for the free products and restaurant shops for the free meals. Mystery shopping can involve various tasks, from evaluating car dealerships to reviewing retail stores.
If you can’t complete an assignment, it’s usually fine to reschedule or cancel, but try not to do this too often to maintain a good relationship with schedulers.
Mystery shopping won’t make you rich, but it’s a nice side hustle that can provide free items and some extra cash. Always follow job instructions and keep records of your expenses for reimbursement.
To get started, find a reputable mystery shopping company like Bestmark, create a profile, and explore available assignments. Mystery shopping can be a fun and rewarding way to make extra money while helping businesses improve their customer service. Are you interested in becoming a mystery shopper? Did you know people get paid to do this?