Mystery Shopping Tips

1. You should never pay a fee to shop.  You can get the information free anywhere.
   
   
2. You do not need to be certified, but as a gold certified shopper, I can say that I do sometimes get preference on shops AND I found the training to be interesting.  I think the silver certification is great for a brand new shopper.
   
   
3. Mystery Shopping can be hard work.  It is not as simple as walking in, buying something, and getting a check.  You need to remember a lot of details, and you need to be able to write coherently.  You have to be extremely organized and reliable if you plan on making any money.
   
   
4. This is not an easy way to get rich quick.  Shops don't pay a lot.  Some people do this as a full-time job, but that's not the norm.
   
   
5. You can't always take your kids on shops, so keep that in mind.
   
   
6. This site a great resource for mystery shopping. 
   
   
7. We are not allowed to tell you which Mystery Shopping companies work with which clients.  It's a breach of confidentiality.
   
   
8. You are considered an independent contractor with each company you work with.  You will need to provide a social security number, and you will be responsible for reporting your income on your taxes.  This is a business.
   
   
9. Do yourself a favor and get a distinct email address before signing up with any companies.  You can receive all of your offers in one spot.
   
   
10. If you are not comfortable/willing/able to go out and research companies, sign up for them, check their boards/your email, etc. on your own, mystery shopping isn't for you.  You are working for yourself and need to be able to step it up.


11. WRITING IS VERY IMPORTANT make sure you are spelling correctly and using appropriate and correct grammar.