Mystery Shopping ~ General Discussion and Q & A Thread [Archive]

DramaQueenLucy

11-29-2006, 12:36 PM

Can someone recommend good mystery shopping company's?

EDIT: I hijacked DramaQueenLucy's thread to create 1 thread for questions, answers and general discussion on Mystery Shopping. This is to keep the forum more organized and to prevent countless threads with the same questions and discussions.

If you have specific questions or discussion relating to a particular company post in That Companies Thread. This is a General Information and Discussion Thread.

Thanks.....mmm40

:threadjac

Ok I see how it is...lol

mmm40

11-29-2006, 2:52 PM

I have read a few things about people doing the mystery shops?? Where do I sign up? I'm a single mom looking for ways to bring in something extra for my family.

If you read through the pages in this forum (near the last few pages) you will find over 60 companies listed here. In the thread title it states it is a Mystery Shopping Company and All are marked with a yellow warning icon.

DramaQueenLucy

11-29-2006, 5:32 PM

Thank you

misawaprincess

11-30-2006, 1:54 PM

Thanks, but that wasnt the post. I cant look in my history or anything because it deletes every night. *sigh* Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

mmm40

11-30-2006, 2:32 PM

Thanks, but that wasnt the post. I cant look in my history or anything because it deletes every night. *sigh* Guess I'll just have to wait and see.

I have an idea where you may have gone. Sending you a pm.You won't be able to pm me back yet. You don't have enough posts. I don't want to post "that other site" as we are not permitted to post our name there.

misawaprincess

12-1-2006, 5:34 AM

The post had a list of what the OP used. The sites she goes to for surveys and her mystery shopping sites. I cannot seem to find "her" post or anything. Thats kinda what makes me worry.

elen1233

1-16-2007, 4:46 PM

Does anyone know of mystery shopping jobs that does cell phone shops

turfmom728

1-17-2007, 1:18 AM

One I have used that does cellular is www.shopnchek.com

his_kid

1-17-2007, 4:20 PM

I am currently signed up with Bestmark, but looking to sign with a 2nd or 3rd. Any recommendations?

mmm40

1-17-2007, 5:28 PM

I have no personal recommendations. Oh wait,....... Kern scheduling is excellent. Back in the beginning pages of this forum I posted well over 70 sites. They all clearly state in the thread title "Mystery Shopping Company" and the icon is always the yellow "warning icon. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Good Luck!

harperjn

1-19-2007, 11:16 AM

mysteryshops.com is good. I have been with them for about 5 years now and never had any problems.

Jaime

kodis97

3-29-2007, 9:56 PM

i searched and read all the posts, so i am wondering what is the best mystery shopping company and is there any REAL money to be made? thanks

boopy63

3-29-2007, 10:56 PM

I am signed up with GfK Mystery Shopping. They pay thru paypal only. It depends on your area, but there has been a lot of shops to choose from in my area lately. You can apply on-line at the link below. You have to do some reading (on-line) and then do a test, just to see if you did the reading, before they will accept you. Likewise, once you accept a mystery shop assignment, there is material to be read followed by a test before you are approved for the shop. The pay differs, from as low as $5.00 to $12.00 so far for me. You also get reimbursed for any purchase you are required to make as part of the shop. I hope this helps! Good luck. :thumbsup:

www.cybershoppersonline.com

kodis97

3-29-2007, 11:32 PM

ty boopy. do u take pics of receipt or scan?

shawna629

3-30-2007, 12:42 AM

I am signed up with Bestmark and I have made $38 this month. Not a lot, I know ... but I have only done 2 shops!

http://www.bestmark.com/

scrabbler

3-30-2007, 9:00 AM

Unless you lived in an area with a lot of Bestmark shops, or any sort of shops, you will not 'make' money. I have worked for Bestmark for about 5 years and have gotten things at a wonderful price, have gotten almost free meals but have never looked at it as a make extra money deal.

I am sure in some areas you can make more or less. It really depends on where you live.

boopy63

3-30-2007, 10:08 AM

For GfK, for the shops I've done, you fax a report with the receipt attached to the fax. Nothing by mail, and you also fill out a report on-line.

mmm40

3-30-2007, 10:58 AM

:bump:

nlschr0

3-31-2007, 11:27 AM

I've used Kern, mysteryshops.com, and ShopnChek with success. They are all legit, fairly straightforward, and pretty easy to use. But I agree - I live in a smaller city and there aren't a lot of opportunities that are posted for my area. In a month, I might complete 3 or 4 mystery shops between all of the companies. There seem to be more shoppers than shops around here - they fill up very quickly.

And, although I enjoy it, it isn't as exciting as the spam e-mails make you think. It really is a lot of work to prepare (read the materials, schedule the dates), then during the shop you have to remember all of the questions and procedures as well as the responses you get, and finally you have to go back home, fill out the paperwork, fax or scan the information, etc etc. All in all, most of my local shops pay a shopping fee of $5-$9 plus a $1 reimbursement for a small item you purchase (so that you obtain a receipt to verify the shop). The better shops are restaurants, because you do get a free meal for most of them, but they aren't that common here. I had one shop at a shoe store. When I was browsing the job site, I saw that you got to make a purchase of shoes and I thought Woo-Hoo!!! But then I read further and saw that part of the shop was to return the shoes that same day. Boo.

Good luck!

kalle1212

4-12-2007, 9:47 PM

Has any one heard of shopper services?

DramaQueenLucy

4-12-2007, 10:18 PM

mmm40

4-14-2007, 6:04 PM

:threadjac

Ok I see how it is...lol

So long as you understand. http://www.cosgan.de/images/more/bigs/a115.gif

http://www.smilys.net/riesige_smilies/baebae.gif

DramaQueenLucy

4-14-2007, 6:28 PM

So long as you understand. http://www.cosgan.de/images/more/bigs/a115.gif

http://www.smilys.net/riesige_smilies/baebae.gif

Ok now you just have way too much time on your hands..:sidesplit

mmm40

4-14-2007, 6:32 PM

Ok now you just have way too much time on your hands..:sidesplit

:sidesplit

So sad. So true. I am bored out of my mind today! I'm going to watch "The Ring: Two" in a little while.

justlisa27

4-17-2007, 1:15 AM

Bestmark is great! I signed up two weeks ago, I have done on shop, received a check today and an invite for another shop next week. I was floored by how fast they paid :cheesy:

lovnbargns

9-12-2007, 8:50 PM

How do you tell if a mystery shopping company is legitimate?

mmm40

9-12-2007, 9:49 PM

How do you tell if a mystery shopping company is legitimate?

Excellent question!!! I am a bit out of sorts tonight. I have a broken arm and it is hurting and I took a pain pill so my head isn't clear. So, I will provide a more in depth answer tomorrow. If I forget, post again and do some hollering! I have the attention span of a gnat sometimes, so I won't mind.

I can tell you, every company I posted here Is Legit. I researched them before posting them. I would start with KSS. (Kern Scheduling Services) They are top notch. They aren't a mystery shopping company but many MS companies send them jobs to post and fill. After you sign up you can search the jobs in your area. When you read the description of the job it may tell you that you need to do sign up with company "XYZ" Just follow the instructions. If you get the job you will be notified by email.

Know, that they will ask for your Social Security Number. They HAVE TO DO THIS. You are not their employee. You are an independent contractor and you will be responsible for your own taxes. The company is still required to keep track of what they pay you. If it is over $600.00 in a year, by law, they are required to send you a 1099 at the end of the year. This is why they ask for your SS number. You can't be paid until they have it.

I will search for the addy to KSS right now and get back to you tomorrow but before I go let me say this:

Never, Ever Pay To Take Surveys, Participate In Focus Groups Or Market Research.
Do Not Buy A List Of Survey Sites, Focus Groups, Mystery Shopping Companies, etc..They Are All Bologna!!! Someone has actually had the nerve to copy my thread (at the top of the page) "Survey 101 and Q & A" as well as my threads with hundreds of links. They copied it word for work and they are selling it for $40.00! People can get it free at the top of the
page !!!

No Legit Company Will Ever Ask For Money!!

I will return tomorrow and see if there is anything else I can say. Other members may pop in before I get back and give you the skinny.

We Are Glad To Have You Aboard!!! If you ever need anything please post and ask. You are always welcome to pm me for any reason! Welcome.

http://www.crooked-stroke.org/gallery/smilies/light/thumbs/welcome.gif

lovnbargns

9-13-2007, 7:54 AM

O.K. Here is the deal. I received a Fedex yesterday with a cashier's check. The directions were to cash the cashier's check, take my money and transfer the rest through a money a transfer company, fill out an evaluation about the transfer company and return it to the company. I am very suspicious. What do you think?

bunkergb

9-13-2007, 10:06 AM

I wouldn't do it! We just had a report on our local news about this as a scam. Some people in our area lost money and they somehow got access to their bank account or something.
I'm sure others on here are more knowledgeable but this is the scenario they were talking about.
cheryl

Steakgoddess

9-13-2007, 1:24 PM

MandaJo111

9-13-2007, 1:38 PM

With a legit mystery shopping company, you will sign up for a shop and know ahead of time that you have something on the way and you will get instructions ahead of time telling you what to do. It would he helpful to know the name of the supposed company as well.

LadyBugg1

9-13-2007, 7:06 PM

THIS IS A SCAM! Fraudsters have been using the names of legitimate mystery shopping companies for awhile now, in the hopes that you will trust the name sufficiently to follow their instructions. If you go ahead and cash it, your bank will contact you as soon as it is discovered that the check is a fake, and you will be liable for the full amount.

If you receive one of these checks, don't destroy it -- it is evidence that could help the authorities track these crooks. Any and all of the following would like to hear from you:

Internet Crime Complaint Center
http://www.ic3.gov/

Federal Trade Commission
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

United States Postal Inspection Service http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint.htm

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
http://www.occ.gov/customer.htm

This information comes from the owner of a site devoted to mystery shopping, and is completely reliable.

lovnbargns

9-13-2007, 8:15 PM

mmm40

9-13-2007, 9:44 PM

Thank you to everyone who responded. You just confirmed my opinion. I didn't know if I was allowed to post the company's name on the thread. The company also has a website listed in the paperwork. If I am allowed to post details, I will. Just let me know. Oh and thank you ladybugg for the websites to report. I am going to check them out now.

Yes. please do post the information. In fact, could you please start a new thread? Make the thread title the name of the company that tried to rip you off. Then give all the information you have in the first post. Having the company name as the thread title will make it much easier and faster to find the information when searching. If you need help please let me know. Please give all the details you have. It will help potentially thousands of people.

Thank so much for sharing, Again, Welcome.

mmm40x

bunkergb

9-13-2007, 10:51 PM

Wow Ladybugg1, I am glad you trusted your instincts. Maybe you will help bring them down!
I've only been signed up here for a couple of weeks now, but I am so impressed with how helpful everyone is to each other. It kind of restores my faith in my fellow human beings. I have become so cynical in the last few years it seems like people have quit caring for each other and it's so nice to see the comraderie on these boards. :cheesy:
Cheryl

lovnbargns

9-14-2007, 9:03 AM

Thank You mmm40. I started a new thread Alliance Atlantic Evaluators. I included a copy of my letter.

dmm2702

9-14-2007, 11:56 PM

I got a letter like you did. I will have to check and see if its the same company. My husband wanted me to take it to our bank and deposit the check I told him no way with what I had seen on GottaDeal I made him read some of the posts and he finally agreed not to cash it or put it in our account.

LadyBugg1

9-15-2007, 10:14 AM

Here is a link to a newspaper story on the topic of this long-running scam:
http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/16224.asp

GrandmaWK

9-15-2007, 11:26 AM

scam,save your money

mmm40

11-16-2007, 3:57 AM

I need some advice from mystery shoppers that work in Greene County in Missouri. Could you please direct me to the companies that have a lot of work for you in this area? From what I have seen so far, there just isn'' that'''t much at all. Please help. I am searching for a woman that deperately needs to make money so Santa will come. Please PM me with company names, If you can'''t pm yet post and tell me that and I will smd my email addy. Two yeas in a row her
family was not picked from the angel tree.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Have A Hapy Joyous Year!

eds4ko

1-14-2008, 3:08 PM

nodeerhere

1-20-2008, 3:04 PM

kaye33lynn

1-31-2008, 11:54 AM

O.K. Here goes, I'm not sure i am in the right thread but I'm still new at this so i will do the best i can. Speaking of mystery shopping about 2 weeks ago i got a letter saying they were a reputable co. called A.P. customer service evaluation inc. best source for secret shopper employment. They said my name had been selected from there data bank to be a secret shopper for them, also in the letter was a check for 2,490 dollars it explained what my first ass. would be and for me to deposit the check in my bank account. I was to buy something from JC Penny and something from walmart for 50.00 each 210 was to be mine and the other were to be for money grams they would inform me later how to do it. And trust me the check was as authentic looking as any i have ever seen. But i took it to my bank and they would not deposit it in my account and said that it was probably fradulent.so i get home and call them the lady was supposed to call mt bank and call me back. she never did. I tried calling her back last night, and said that person could not be reached at this time. I was just wandering if anyone else has ever got any thing like this and from who. Appreciate any kind of info.:)

MandaJo111

1-31-2008, 11:57 AM

mmm40

1-31-2008, 3:18 PM

theboyzmom

1-31-2008, 4:57 PM

Can somebody please give me some practical tips on mystery shopping, I signed up on two legit mystery shopping sites and they sent me email to let me know that their are several mystery shops available for me but I felt uneasy, I'm kinda scared that I will fail the expectations when I submit the report. I would like to know your experience on your first time.

All I can tell you is to make sure you read ALL the shop requirements several times before you go. Walk through the shop in your head before you go. Take a small pad of paper that you can later jot down any notes you think you'll need (just be sure you aren't seen...go to the bathroom or something).

Ask your coordinator to show you a sample or old secret shop report so you have an idea of how detailed they want you to be.

I've seen lots of people get their shops disqualified for not following the rules; ie not going to the right register, buying the wrong thing, going to the wrong store, etc These are simple things you can do just by making sure you read and understand the directions.

I was terribly nervous my first time, and still am on occasion with a totally new shop, but you get in to a rhythm and figure it out fairly quickly. You'll also know if this is for you or not...but give yourself a couple of months until you make that decision.

scrabbler

1-31-2008, 5:08 PM

My daughter recommends mysteryshops.com. But I'm still very leery of giving my SSN to anyone even if they are a reputable business. I guess I've heard too many stories. Does anyone think I'm overreacting here?

If you are employed by a mystery shopping organization you do have to give you ss# as part of your employment.

However if you are not sure of the validity of an organization, I would not do so.

jarerice

2-20-2008, 8:18 AM

If anyone is interested in getting started these are good, solid companies to begin registering with. You should NEVER have to pay a fee to anyone to mystery shop. They pay you. These companies are all members of the Mystery Shoppers Provider Assn. which is very legit. You won't get rich but enjoy some free food and other goodies.

http://www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers/membercos.php

http://www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers/

mmm40

2-26-2008, 2:51 AM

PG County, MD

New Home Sales Mystery Shoppers

Reply to:>job-580339110@<hidden>

Growing New Home Sales Mystery Shopping Company is seeking individuals who love to look at new homes.

We will provide you with a hidden camera. You will be required to write a report as well. We will provide training.

This is for weekday's only. Only respond if you are available during the weekday's. Please be proficient in Word.

* Location: PG County
* Compensation: $85 per shop plus mileage

sassercc

4-10-2008, 4:43 PM

JennaBug's Mom

4-10-2008, 7:05 PM

I am considering the mystery shopping world. I've read a couple of threads on the site so far I still can't figure out if Shadow Shoppers is a good company. Some how I got on their email list. I have been receiving emails from to join. Thoughts???

I've been getting emails from them and I don't know how either:confused:! Any info on them would be great....

w1df10wr

4-10-2008, 9:31 PM

I am considering the mystery shopping world. I've read a couple of threads on the site so far I still can't figure out if Shadow Shoppers is a good company. Some how I got on their email list. I have been receiving emails from to join. Thoughts???

I've read alot of mixed reviews about Shadow Shoppers - the deciding factor for me was the nonrefundable yearly fee. There is no gurantee that paying it will get better mystery shopping assignments.

mmm40

4-11-2008, 12:03 AM

I've read a lot of mixed reviews about Shadow Shoppers - the deciding factor for me was the nonrefundable yearly fee. There is no gurantee that paying it will get better mystery shopping assignments.

Never, ever pay to mystery shop, take part in surveys, research projects or focus groups!!! If they charge a fee they are scamming you! You may want to read the "Survey 101, General Discussion And Q & A" thread here:

http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=46428

There is a lot of helpful information there. Also, there are tons of legitimate mystery shopping companies posted about in this forum. Simply do a search for "Mystery Shopping Companies" A lot of threads will pop up. See here:

http://forums.gottadeal.com/search.php?searchid=1076647

Every single company, project, focus group, survey and mystery shopping company posted in this forum is legitimate. Unless, of course. it was posted to warn people that they are scamming people. We keep all projects by a company in a single thread devoted to that company. This is so we can all share feedback about our experience with a company and we can know what kind of a company we will be dealing with, before we choose to involve ourselves with them. If you are looking for information on a company search for the company name. There is a good chance they have their own thread. You can then gather information by reading the posts in that thread. If you find that a company you know about and/or want information about, start a thread with the company name as the title then post any information or questions you may have. Please post a link to their website.

There are many seasoned survey participants, mystery shoppers, focus group participants. etc. that use this forum. Any one of us will be more than happy to help you out if we can. If what you need can't be found here (not very likely) we will do our best to find the information and post it here,

Read the threads. Ask questions. We will lend a hand whenever we can.

Good Luck!!!

rebaalex2004

5-12-2008, 1:38 PM

Hey guys,
So my brother applied to one of the mystery shopping places. This man did an interview and everything. My bro. sent in everything for "tax purposes", and this man said he was going to send him a check. He sent him one for 2600.00 and told him to go to Walmart and spend 100.00. After this, he told him to send the rest of the money back until he could find more work, but to Western Union it. He did and the check was bad, his account is neg. 2600.00. He called this man and he said it was a Cashiers check and should have been good. It was a cashiers check, but with no signature making it bad. The bank said they can not do anything because this check was from Canada.

BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im soooooooo mad at this man. Be careful, if it is a job you can not physically go to their office,,,,,,, ITS A SCAM,,, Im more mad at my bro. for being so stupid