Things You'll Need:
- Computer Access
- Great Organizational Skills
- Reliable Transportation
- PayPal Account
- As you get more and more jobs, you might consider purchasing a digital camera, stopwatch, and voice recorder
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Step 1
Visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Associating website at www.mysteryshop.org. There is a wealth of information here for newbies to find out where to start and what to expect. This is also where you can get training to become Silver Certified and find out information about upcoming Gold Certification workshops. While it is not necessary to be certified, a lot of mystery shopping companies give preference to those that are.
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Step 2
Be prepared to do a lot of writing as you begin applying! When you apply for different mystery shopping programs, they may ask for a sample of your writing. There's nothing wrong with saving a Microsoft Word document that has different examples that you can copy and paste from. The mystery shopping companies may ask for writing examples such as a great customer service experience or want you to describe your most recent restaurant visit. Save each example you write on your Word file, so it will be handy if you need that same example in the future.
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Step 3
You may need to prove yourself in order to receive better shopping assignments. There are tons of small paying jobs out there that need to be done! By offering to take the shops that don't pay a lot, you are letting the scheduler at that company know that they can rely on you and they may begin to offer you better paying shops as you gain more experience.
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Step 4
Don't expect to make a lot of money or get to keep tons of great merchandise. Most of the basic retail mystery shops pay between $5-$15, and only reimburse a minimal amount for merchandise you purchase. And many retail shops also include a return portion, where you evaluate the purchase and the return transactions so you don't get to keep anything.
However, if you do work hard and prove yourself to be a detail oriented and reliable shopper you will be assigned the higher paying shops. -
Step 5
Don't expect to get paid right away. It can sometimes take 2 months for mystery shopping companies to pay their shoppers. There are a few out there that pay in as little as 2 weeks, but most of them have a 30-45 day pay schedule.
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Step 6
Keep a log or spreadsheet tracking all of the shops you do, when you completed them, and when you have been paid. You don't want to be working for free, so keep track of the work you have done!
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Step 7
When you complete your assignments, make sure they are done on time, detailed, and accurate. And make sure your reports are well written, with no spelling or grammatical errors. Some companies will grade their shoppers based on the quality of reports that are turned in (yes, just like school!) and sometimes your future assignments will depend on what grade of shopper you are. Write out your narratives in Word (or similar program) and spell check them before you submit your report. Well written, detailed, accurate, on-time reports will mean better future assignments!
