Mystery Shopping: Pitfalls to Avoid when Starting Out

So, you've heard about Mystery Shopping and have wondered whether to give it a try. You've seen those Internet ads and spam emails depicting the attractive young woman laden with bags and boxes full of merchandise, in a fit of ecstatic joy because she is finally able to make a career doing what she loves to do most. Yes, even more than that other thing. Just ask her husband.

You want to believe it's possible, but a little voice inside your head sounds a bit like Dr. Evil when he encounters an implausible scenario. Riiiiiiight, the little voice says and for good reason. Mystery shopping is not fun and games. You cannot merely walk into your favorite stores, shop for your favorite things, send off your receipts and wait for loads of cash to magically appear in your PayPal account. That's the reality. The good news is, however, it is possible to make some money mystery shopping if you do your due diligence, if you are careful about the assignments you accept and if you are realistic about (1) your own abilities and (2) the money you will make. The bad news is, this is easier said than done, so I'll offer a bit of advice of what has worked for me. If you are an experienced shopper, this advice may not be helpful, but if you are new to mystery shopping, these are some good guidelines to consider.

Never pay to sign up with a company or pay anyone to help you find companies that are recruiting. First, you don't have to; second, you are being ripped off if you do. You can find the companies that are recruiting by using the resources I suggest at the end of this article. If you come across any companies that require you pay them money to work for them, they are not legitimate. The only money I have ever paid to become a mystery shopper is a $15 certification fee. It is debatable whether having this certification is really beneficial, but some mystery shopping companies do prefer it. The test is not too difficult to pass and just preparing for it helped me learn a lot about how to be a better mystery shopper.