The Real Truth About Mystery Shopping: What the Companies "Forget" to Tell You

You've seen the ads all over the Internet. Shop for free. Get free products. Pop up ads promising complimentary dinners. All you have to do is become a mystery shopper. So, you are thinking, wow I can get paid just to do such easy tasks as shopping or going out to eat. Who can beat that? How can I sign up? And many of you have probably even considered it seriously and maybe have even tried to do some research to find out how to get started. Chances are you never followed through with it because you either had trouble finding the right information and companies to register with or you came to the smart realization that mystery shopping is very often a lot more time and effort than it is really worth.

Now let's be clear. I am an avid mystery shopper and have been for about eleven years now. I've been on restaurant shops, hotel shops, I've shopped retail stores, malls; you name it. And to me, it is always a blast. The thrill of sneaking around incognito taking silent notes in your head about the various things the waitress or clothing store manager is or is not doing is quite exciting. You feel like a spy. And yes, the free merchandise and meals that come along with the job are certainly a plus. But I feel I have a responsibility as marketing professional as well as a promoter of the mystery shopping practice in general to set the record straight regarding this seemingly simple and fun part time job. It is not that it isn't a good time. It can really be a lot of fun. But one who is thinking about going into mystery shopping as a way to supplement their income should be fully aware of the ultimate truths about the job. And I do not mean the truth as it is promised to you on those pop up advertisements or by the companies trying to get you to work for them. I mean the reality behind mystery shopping in general, told straight from a seasoned secret shopper who has nothing to gain or lose for telling you how it really is.