Taking the Mystery Out of Mystery Shopping

I am always on the lookout for scams, I hate scams, so the first time I came across "mystery shopping" I thought for sure it was a total and complete scam. I mean who would really believe that you could make money by shopping right? Well, I have to admit the mystery shopping isn't always and totally a complete scam, but there are red flags and warnings that you need to know before investing time into this type of venture.
So, what exactly is mystery shopping?
Mystery shopping is when you pose as a customer, and observe the overall quality of a store (employees, services, cleanliness, ect.) Because you are a "mystery" shopper, the employees obviously should not know who you are or what you are doing there. The company that you are working for will give you an assignment, in which you are given about a week to complete.
After you have observed the details of a particular venue, you will most likely be given a questionnaire to complete on the service that you received. These questionnaires differ in length, and you should look over the questionnaire before you go on assignment so that you know what to look for when filling it out. Most questionnaires are completed online.
The next big question, how much does it cost?
I really don't like jobs that take an initial investment, since my budget doesn't allow for much spending. However, I do know that there are times when you have to spend a small amount to earn a larger one. This is often the case with mystery shopping, since you often need to try the product or service you are evaluating. Some mystery shopping jobs require that you make a purchase, but I tend to only choose jobs that don't require me to invest anything over twenty-five dollars, and the more minimal the purchase the better.
So, how does a mystery shopper get paid?
Here is the set back, some jobs pay nothing except for reimbursements of what you bought. This sounds crappy at first, but if it was something that you were going to buy anyway then you just got your item for free (kind of). There are some, but few jobs, that pay a lot, even up to a hundred dollars, but most companies require that you have a good reputation in place before you are given those jobs.
It can take anywhere from three to six weeks before you get paid or receive a reimbursement. This is another fallback for me, since our resources are limited and if I am spending money to make money, the wait for the check can be crunching.
Still want to try it? Here are some tips for being successful.
While mystery shopping sounds pretty easy, it is actually a lot of work, which takes preparation time and detailed documentation. Companies want people who can portray the services they received accurately. You need to keep clear and accurate records, especially if you are completing more than one assignment.
Lastly, you have to remember that your answers could potentially affect another person's job. You need to be very careful when criticizing the performance of workers. Remember that you are being paid not to be a critic, but a reporter.
If you decide to be a mystery shopper, I wish you the best of luck. Come back and tell us about your experiences. And once again, do your research before you make any commitments!