Reported by:
John MatareseHow would you like to earn a little extra money every week...and maybe get a free pair of blue jeans, and a free dinner and a movie tossed in as well? You can if you become a Mystery Shopper, or Secret Shopper.
The hardest part: avoiding all the scams to find the real shopping jobs.
Yes, She gets Paid to ShopMost of us would never notice Lynn Ratliff walking into the mall ....and strolling into a clothing shop. She looks like everyone else.
But that's the idea, because Lynn is a professional Mystery Shopper....paid to write down what she observes in stores. Lynn tells me "you're not going a be able to make a full time career out of it, I dont think, but you could definitely make some extra money doing it."
Lynn says the best part is the freebies...like a $300 pair of Sara Palin eyeglasses she was reimbursed for, or free dinners at upscale chain restaurants.
Some take it Very SeriouslyJim is also a mystery shopper...but he takes his job so seriously, he did not want us to show his face, out of fear of "blowing his cover."
Jim says he earned more than a thousand dollars last year inspecting stores, restaurants, car dealers, even model homes.
"Some of the assignments are $10, $12 dollars, some are $30," he tells me. "I recently did a "shop" of new model homes and it was $30 a visit."
How to Find the Jobs
Lynn says "I shouldn't have to pay to become a mystery shopper. I am offering a service to them, and I am employed by their company, there should be no reason I have to pay for them to hire me."
Instead, Jim and Lynn suggest starting with the
Mystery Shopping Providers Association, MSPA, the top trade group. It offers advice and helpful links. (Click link)
Two other legitimate websites are
Volition.com, and
Intelli-Shop.com, which list companies hiring (Click links above).
And you'll need to have:
- Internet access
- An email and paypal account
- And a babysitter if you have young kids.
You won't get rich, but Jim and Lynn say its worth it, if just for a free night out on the town!
"I could get free dinner for me and my husband, free movie for me and my husband, spend 10 minutes to fill out a survey and get paid $15 to do it. For a Saturday night date!"
As you hunt for jobs, remember: Legitimate stores won't charge you $100 ( or something similar) to work for them. Nor will they send you a check for 3-grand, before you do anything, to become a secret shopper.
So hunt for those real deals, so you don't waste your money. I'm John Matarese.
