Monday, December 2nd
2024 Mystery Shopping Company Reviews
Elite CXS
- $8 to $25 per job
- Payment through direct ACH Transfer
- Make a free account with no application
- Online shopper opportunities
- Accredited by the MSPA
Elite CXS is a nationwide provider of mystery shopping jobs. Some of its primary clients include famous brand names like Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Wendy's, Swarovski, Porsche, Hyatt, Lockheed Martin, and Rolex. Elite CXS promises flexible work opportunities, and the company currently supports 200,000+ mystery shoppers already. The site is particularly geared toward people of all levels, so whether you're new to mystery shopping or a pro from another site, you can easily join Elite CXS. Elite CXS promises you will never have payment issues (though, as you'll see, this may not truly be the case).
Tons of positions right away
Getting started at Elite CXS is simple, but you'll have to make an account and sign a contractor agreement before you can see the job boards. This process includes filling out your name, birthday, address, and phone number to proceed. Once you get onto the job board platform, this may look familiar. Several of the other companies in our review use the same online portal. Once you complete your profile, you can start looking through jobs. At the time of our review, we found 147 different jobs that could be done from home (either online or by phone), and 549 total jobs in our local area.
Lots of jobs with constant updates
The job boards are constantly updating, and Elite CXS promises that you'll never feel alone as you start browsing jobs. The portal offers a link to the Elite CXS support team, so you can reach out with any questions you have. Once you complete your profile, you'll have access to all of the jobs on the list, and with well over 500+ jobs in our local area (within 15 miles of our location), you'll likely find plenty of mystery shopping gigs to keep you busy.
Transparency is limited until you're a confirmed shopper
Regrettably, unless you are a full member (you've put in your SSN or EIN number to prove you can work), you can't see any details about how to complete jobs. The job boards are locked until you fill out all of your personal details, which includes information about your previous occupations, your preferred travel distance, whether or not you have a Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) certification, and what equipment you have (digital camera, smartphone, laptop) for helping you work. This lockout is not standard practice for mystery shopping sites, as most let you see jobs without needing your SSN or EIN. It raises some questions about Elite CXS' transparency.
Payment from $8 to $25 per job
Elite CXS makes two different payment statements. On one area of the site, it states that Elite CXS pays out bi-weekly, and in another area, it states their payments will be paid within 90 days of a shop being finished and accepted. Elite CXS uses ACH bank transfers (direct deposit) for all payments. You'll need to make sure that your bank account can receive these payments. According to third-party review sites, Elite CXS pays out around $8 to $25 per gig. However, customer feedback and the Better Business Bureau also state that there are some high-level concerns about payments. We'll get to those in a minute.
Pattern of complaint regarding payments
There's not a lot of feedback for Elite CXS, but the reviews we did find were concerning. Elite CXS has an "NR” rating from the Better Business Bureau alongside a concerning alert. Currently, BBB files show that Elite CXS has a pattern of complaints regarding payment issues. Mystery shoppers accept and complete work for Elite CXS and then are never paid for their time and effort. In August 2024, the BBB reached out to Elite CXS to address these issues, but there has been no response as of this review. The only other reviews for Elite CXS were found on Facebook where the company has a dismal 1.9-star average and further complaints about payments.
Not worth worrying about your pay
While the easy access to mystery shopping seems nice at face value, the concerns other mystery shoppers have with Elite CXS drop it to one of the least trustworthy sites in our review. With an alert from the Better Business Bureau to back up complaints about lack of payment (especially after the company asserted on its website that you would be paid) we're deeply concerned by this company. The lack of response by Elite CXS to the BBB is a huge factor in our rating. You may want to choose a site that better supports its employees.
More Mystery Shopping Company Reviews
The 10 Best Mystery Shopping Companies
Where is the Best Place to Start Mystery Shopping?
Ever wonder how different companies check that their stores are running the way they should? While most of us immediately think of watching Undercover Boss, many businesses actually choose to use mystery shoppers. Mystery shopping is a particular job where normal people like you are hired by a variety of different companies to get in-person, real-time data on what's happening inside local stores or restaurants.
As a form of market research, mystery shoppers visit brick-and-mortar businesses to check out things like customer service quality, cleanliness, and the overall shopping experience at a particular store. Sound like something you would enjoy? It's easier to make mystery shopping your next side hustle than you'd think.
Mystery Shopping Company FAQ
Continued from above...
You'll need good written and verbal communication skills to help you tell the higher-ups what's going on when you're browsing, but otherwise, as long as you're curious and are ready to use your great attention to detail, mystery shopping will be a great fit for you. The best part? Making purchases is usually part of the deal, so whether you're reviewing a car wash or a luxury hotel, you'll typically get reimbursed for necessary purchases. Plus, you get paid on top of that.
Here's how it works. Generally, you'll get hired through a third-party provider that will post opportunities to evaluate stores and chains near you. (Helpful hint: legit mystery shopping companies will be approved and accredited by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association.) Once a company approves your application, you'll be able to choose an assignment to start shopping.
You'll find restaurants, beauty salons, car maintenance shops, banks, makeup stores, and movie theaters (among many other stores) on the mystery shopper lists. Plus, many jobs let you do hotel stays or airline reviews, so you can travel without spending a dime. If you're someone who likes to explore your local area, try new things, and shop, shop, shop, you'll want to check out mystery shopping as your next side hustle.
The mystery shopping jobs (called "shops” in the biz) are usually listed on a job board on the particular website you work with. You'll be able to see the details like distance, job requirements, necessary purchases, and the reimbursement amount before you even accept the shop. Some gigs let you assign yourself (these are first-come-first-serve), and others require a little extra application to prove you're the right fit. These are usually high-quality or luxury shops that need that particular attention to detail. So if you keep up high quality services while you work, you'll be eligible for the good stuff.
But with so many places out there offering mystery shopping jobs, how can you pick the right one? If you've never applied for mystery shopping before, or you want to get a leg up on the competition, we've put together some factors that'll help you find the best fit for your shopping skills:
- Payment. The best mystery shopping sites offer solid payment and reimbursement for your services while shopping. Stay away from companies with startup fees, as these can be illegitimate sites. Pay can range from $5 per job to over $100 per job. Finding the right balance of good pay and solid opportunities that match your interests is a great way to pick between similar companies.
- Number of jobs. Hey, if you can't work, it's not worth it. Make sure the mystery shopping job site you choose offers a range of jobs in your area, so you don't feel like you need to be double-dipping or managing multiple sites to make enough to get by. Some job boards have almost nothing in some states, while others regularly offer hundreds of opportunities. When it comes to making some extra cash, having more options is always the better choice.
- Method. In this day and age, there are multiple types of mystery shopping. You can work with a company that offers all of them or go with a company that focuses on the area you prefer most. You can pick from in-person (the standard "going in and shopping” method), telephone (where you evaluate call centers), and hybrid (often used for hotels where you would evaluate all parts of your customer experience, from making the reservation to staying overnight). There are even some online companies that have you check websites.
- Reputation. Check out reviews from other mystery shoppers on sites like Glassdoor or Indeed. Make sure that you can trust a particular company to treat you right. Keep an eye out for sites that don't have a lot of buzz or feedback on job boards. These might not be the right fit for you. Look for services that are approved by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). These are always legitimate businesses. And, of course, check out the companies on the Better Business Bureau, for that extra layer of security.
To help you start making some extra cash buying the things you already love, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked today's top mystery shopping platforms. We hope this helps you get into your next side hustle, all while enjoying the things you love (like shopping, traveling, or visiting your favorite car wash!).
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