Make Extra Money in 2012 as a Local Mystery Shopper

"Become a Mystery Shopper!!!" 

"Make money shopping!!!"

How many e-mails have you deleted over the years with those subject lines?

Here’s the truth—real companies will pay you to eat and shop, right here in Milpitas.

So, if your New Year’s Resolutions include paying down debt, increasing your savings or just having more money, you're going to want to pay attention.

What's a Mystery Shopper?

Milpitas is loaded with shopping and dining choices. Chain restaurants and stores need to ensure a quality, uniform experience to protect their good name, so they contract with assessment companies to keep tabs on their stores and restaurants.

That’s where mystery shoppers come in. Mystery shoppers are nothing more than independent contractors who perform evaluations.

I’m writing this from personal experience. For years I’ve been paid to sip coffee drinks, dine in restaurants, and shop for everything from groceries to high-end jewelry, designer sunglasses and clothes.

You don’t get rich doing this. I treat the money as extra cash for splurges. However, I’ve read online postings by people who treat mystery shopping as a second income or earmark the money to pay for specific purchases, such as a car payment or vacation fund.

How Does One Become a Mystery Shopper?

First, don’t pay a penny to anyone to become a mystery shopper. Companies are constantly seeking new contractors and it doesn’t cost anything to sign up online. You may, however, have to write a sample assessment to prove that you are observant and can write quality reports.

Once you’ve been accepted as a shopper, expect to fill out demographic information so that you can be matched to appropriate shops.

You can typically browse through postings on job boards, based on how far you’re willing to drive. Savvy mystery shoppers can string together shops from different companies that are grouped geographically, such as multiple shops at or Westfield Valley Fair.

Be sure to sign up for e-mail notifications of available shop assignments. I received several e-mails today, including one for a San Jose restaurant that will reimburse $85 for drinks and food.

Payment is typically through PayPal, so if you don’t already have an account, sign up for a free account before visiting the assessment company websites. You’ll typically receive your payment more than a month after you complete a shop assignment, so be advised - this is not a way to grab fast money.

Mystery Shopper Tips and Warnings

If you’re theatrical, mystery shopping can be fun. You may be asked to pass yourself off as someone planning a wedding, or an investor with $250,000 who wants to open a brokerage account! But, if Pinocchio took lessons from you on reacting to fibs, stick to assessments that rely on observations or asking simple questions.

Be sure to read the fine print before applying for a shop. If you’re required to go through an application process, such as at an apartment complex, will they pull your credit report? Multiple inquiries with credit bureaus could lower your credit score.

To get started as a mystery shopper, here’s a listing of five companies that perform assessments in the Milpitas area. Have fun, and enjoy your extra cash!

About Face

Inside Hospitality

Sinclair Customer Metrics

Strategic Reflections

Quality Assessments