Monday, December 2nd
2024 Mystery Shopping Company Reviews
Mystery Shopping Service
- Some jobs pay $125
- Payment through PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, or check
- Make a free account with quick questions
- Phone shopper opportunities
- Accredited by the MSPA
- "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB
There's no question at all what you can do for Mystery Shopping Service: it's right there in the name. If you're looking to become a mystery shopper, Mystery Shopping Service is probably one of the first few you'd find while researching online. The company offers tons of shop (job) types including telephone shops, in-person shops, and competitor shops. You can also find gigs for market research on this site. Owned by Heather Price, Mystery Shopping Service has been around for 20 years, serves the entire US, and is accredited by the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA).
Preview some jobs before you sign up
A unique benefit to Mystery Shopping Service is that you can see available shops without needing to make an account. However, we ran into some site glitches while browsing the free job boards. The site has an auto-scroll feature on some browsers that pulls the cursor back to the top, so there's a shuddering problem as you scroll down, and you can't see the bottom of the board without the site pulling you back up. Many jobs on this list were for Senior Living facilities, and we saw options from around the US. Without signing up, there's no way to limit the selection to locations near you.
No local jobs in our area
During our test of the sign-up process, Mystery Shopping Service's portal said we had 47 jobs available within 30 miles of our location. However, once when we clicked through the job board, the 47 jobs listed on the main page disappeared. These were only available if we changed our travel area to 4,000 miles. There were zero jobs within 30 miles of our location. Unless you're willing to drive a lot for mystery shopping, this site may not be ideal for you, but the actual numbers may vary depending on your location. On the bright side, some of these distant jobs are completed over the phone, so you don't have to drive over two state lines to make a buck.
Details on jobs are limited until you're assigned
The details for individual jobs vary depending on whether or not you've accepted a shop. If you're unassigned to a job, the details are pretty scarce. You'll see the category, the shop period, the address, and the shop type. However, general instructions or pay information is limited. You may not see these important details until you're assigned to a particular shop. Some jobs do show the pay before letting you apply for the individual opportunity, but there are still limited details beyond that until you're accepted to the shop.
Some gigs for $125
The pay at Mystery Shopping Service is much higher even for starter jobs. As soon as we joined we saw some jobs listed for $125. Now, some of these were in-person and out of state, which meant they were impossible for us to get to. However, some were phone or recorded, which would make it possible even in our area to do the work. As for payment methods, you can choose between Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, or a check in the mail. Payments are sent out at the end of each month.
Small waiting period to get jobs
All of the jobs we saw on the board required an application once you're already a member. There weren't any listed at the time of our review that you could assign yourself to. When you select the "apply” button, it will ask you to confirm that you understand the requirements of the particular shop. On one shop for a Senior Living facility, the job required mystery shoppers to receive and provide updates through email and text alongside following the other required guidelines of the site. There were no additional actions needed to apply, though. So, it's just a matter of saying "I agree” and waiting to hear back.
Solid BBB scores
Mystery Shopping Service holds an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. On the other hand, its feedback on third-party sites or job boards was nonexistent. We couldn't find any reviews on trusted sites like Trustpilot or Sitejabber or job review boards like Indeed or Glassdoor. For a company that's been around for over 20 years, we were a little surprised. There is only 1 review on the Better Business Bureau, which is a 5-star rating, but we're wary of recommending a site that has little to no contractor feedback.
Too limited in some areas
While Mystery Shopping Service is well-rated by the BBB, there are a few hangups. The limited details on job listings are a transparency problem, especially as most of Mystery Shopping Service's competitors offer far more detail before you accept a shop. On top of that, the fact that all jobs require an extra application might create a longer time frame for waiting than with other companies. For these reasons, Mystery Shopping Service is just average in our review. You may still want to check it out if you're located near the areas of those high-paying jobs, but for most independent contractors, Mystery Shopping Service will be a limited opportunity to make money.
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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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