How to Be a Mystery Shopper for Free
If you would like an opportunity to turn your love of shopping or dining out into a second job, consider becoming a mystery shopper. Unlike many other money-making opportunities, mystery shoppers do not have to pay or invest anything to get started. According to the Federal Trade Commission, mystery shopping opportunities can easily be found on the Internet for free. However, individuals interested in this type of work must know where to find the opportunities and how to avoid the scams.
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Instructions
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To maximize your earnings and find the type of opportunities that will help you get the best freebies or paychecks through mystery shopping, you must have a good understanding of your responsibilities. Keep in mind that as a mystery shopper, you may be required to provide detailed reports about your shopping experience, fill out paperwork and follow specific directions to receive payment and reimbursement for any of your out-of-pocket expenses. Find out if you will be required to leave your children at home, complete assignments on a certain day and time or travel to several different locations to get paid for your work.
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Conduct research on mystery shopping opportunities. Take detailed notes on each mystery shopping opportunity. Write down the name of the company, the type of assignments they offer, how mystery shoppers are paid (free merchandise, check or PayPal) and their requirements. You will most likely come across several scams as you search for opportunities, so put together a list of companies or offers that you will need to avoid. Any company that tries to charge you a fee for a list of mystery shopping opportunities or for an application is not a legitimate company. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association offers additional information about legitimate mystery shopping opportunities.
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Submit several applications. You will increase your chances of getting more assignments by applying with several companies. Use the information you gathered in your research to apply for at least 10 different mystery shopping opportunities. Remember that you are only required to provide some basic information about yourself at this point, so avoid disclosing any private information. Dedicate some time each day to checking your e-mail and searching for new opportunities.
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References
- Photo Credit Shopping image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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imsc
Dec 22, 2010
Excellent references for this article! Well written and to the point, it is definitely great advice. Apply, apply, apply: the more companies you have on your list, the more job opportunities you will receive or have access to.
