Ever Wanted to be a secret shopper?

I like the concept of being a mystery shopper. I have been working with CRI and I haven't had any real problems. I have completed 15 shops and the company refuses to increase my rep to 5.0. I am stuck at 4.9 while every report I have submitted has rated 5.0. I am sweating it thought. I have been getting a deposits every week for 4 weeks. I like their payment system.

For instance.
Submit report on Mon. Jan 1. and get paid on Fri. Jan 12. Monday is the last day for report and the following friday is the payday.

I have just branched out to include Marketforce. I have done 3 shops for them in November. Don't think I will be paid until mid December. I am not only Mystery Shopper for MF in my immediate area because the assignments are snatched up with the quickness. I live in the Orlando Metro Area.

I signed for iMyst but they don't have anything in my area.

I signed up for GFK but I didn't like their assignments. Vet visits and new home visits. I may do a few .

I just signed up for Trendsource and I have to wait for a response.

I only sign up for companies based on the testimony of you fellas.

Gave me a few more to consider.
 
Try AboutFace, Gamefilm, Feedback Plus, Harland, Service Intelligence and Certified (also part of market force). They are pretty good.

I've gotten paid from all except Gamefilm and Service Intelligence. Actually Gamefilm just changed their name to Reality Based Group, or something like that.

Just saw this post on one of the message boards today...THIS is what I am aspiring to do!

Before my eye surgery I worked full time as a shopper. I would work three days a week with my kids, doing apartment shops, retail shops, whatever worked with them. Then I had Wednesdays and weekends without them and I would usually try to make $96.00 per day.

That was my goal. I normally make about $1400.00 per month - BUT I also add merchandising jobs and other project work.

Now that I'm off from work we have really had to cut back on certain things and my husband finally realizes how much money I did bring into this household...not to mention lots of free entertainment.

I will say that I am really happy that I've been able to pick up stuff even from home...and since I've been doing this for so long I have many different options.
 
I signed up for gamefilm/reality based group and they asked if I would sign up for jobslinger.com

Any input on either of these companies?

Gamefilm/Reality based group states that the next payout is Dec. 20 for November assignments. I can deal with that. Offered $21 for a target shop.

I did a Target shop for Marketforce and they offered $12 and $5 reimbursement.

My daughter has been bugging me for Sims 3 again. It was on sale for $20 so Marketforce paid me to make a purchase I was going to make anyway. I just wish that more companies paid as quickly as CRI. My daughters got me doing Aeropostale shops because they like the clothing. I don't get a fee for the shop just reimbursement of $14. I plan to buy the discounted Graphic Tees 2 for $20. I have 8 individual shops with them. That's 16 shirts that are normally priced between $20-$30 for a total cost $100. I know it ain't t-shirt weather for most folks but we live in Florida so it is always t-shirt weather for us.

jobslinger.com has a lot of assignments in my area. I want some insight before I dive in.

Man, Coolio. You got me interested in this Mystery shopping based on your testimony. Thanks to you I have joined a gym (used my mystery shop to pay for the startup fee). I actually find myself thinking like a mystery shopper each time I go into a store or restaurant. I find this entertaining with the money as an added benefit. At first, I was questioning why you were using a spreadsheet to keep track of your affairs. I no longer question it now.

I have been shopping for Marketforce and CRI and I haven't had any problems regarding my reports being accepted. I haven't gotten paid for Marketforce yet. It should be nice when the time comes. I get paid from CRI every Friday.
 
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Good work man. As you work these companies, you find out who is good and who is not. Who pays when and all that.

I hate waiting to get paid too, so I prefer to work with those companies who pay fast. Also shows that they have their affairs in order.

Man that spreadsheet I have is a BEAST! It's grown over the years but it has super detailed info. I can see who I woked for, when, what I made in 2008, 2009, etc., # of shops completed, income separated by fees, reimbursements, mileage, etc. I would love to package and sell this thing, I wonder if there would be a market for it? LOL

Also, this is what I discovered this week: know what accounts your payments are going to. I been doing this for so long I forgot which accounts were set to receive money, so I closed one acct and almost didn't get my $$$ (the acct opened back up since I had just closed it the day before the deposit). Anothe rpayment from Certified went to another acct and I totally forgot about it.

This helps so you don't go to the MSC's and ask why you haven't been paid yet, lol.
 
bump...

Been on the grind pretty good lately. Did a Hilton hotel shop a couple of weeks ago, and have an Embassy Suites in January. The hope is to land the a Hyatt hotel for February so V-day can be subsidized. :)

The MS income has already paid for some Christmas gifts and bills. Now just trying to get into some gas shops.
 
Man, I have to thank you again for putting the Fam up on this mystery shopping. My son lost his part time job. The sandwich shop closed. He was looking sad so i signed him up for mystery shopping. He is under 21.

Bingo.

Man, they have shops each month for young folks to test the cigarette/alcohol ID verification at gas stations. I guess we are the only ones in our area. He has clocked about $500 dollars in the last 45 days just doing that. Plus he and I just alternate the shops that require a 30 period between assignments. He makes more money being a MS than his old job.

We ride out on Sat and Sun and clock dollars. We're doing Olive Garden, Panera Bread and Papa John Pizza on the regular. He is loving it. He gets paid to eat out.

I haven't graduated up to the hotels. I don't do bars. I don't even do the major purchases. I rolled with 3 companies and I make around $100 a week plus the free stuff. He makes around the same. No complaints. No hassle.

Man, I had a grocery store shop. I got there as the store was closing. They wouldnt let me in. Yeah, I should have arrived earlier.

Anyway, I saw a dude putting his bags in the car. I forewarned him that I had an unusual request. I politely asked for his receipt.

He was so very suspicious of my intent. I was straight up with him about why I wanted it. Still, he couldn't imagine that I was being upfront and truthful. He told me that he could use a way to make some extra money so i had no problem explaining the biz to him. Dude couldn't believe that I was making money as a mystery shopper. The concept was too foreign for him to comprehend. I didn't try very hard to win him over. His lost.

Anyway, I was like dude. It's a receipt. I don't want your money. I don't want your first born. Still. He was holding on to that receipt like it was a life preserver. I was like never mind and have a nice night. His wife was like, dude just give it to him. He did.

I've tried to tell a few struggling friends about it but they don't want no parts of it. I am like, yall just don't know.
 
where are the instructions on how to sign up?

Should be some links and/or company names throughout this thread. Google Search Market Force Information and About Face to get you started. You can also check the message boards over @ Volition.com.
 
can you re up that spread sheet?

i just signed up for cri.... its pretty cool.... makes you feel like a secret spy :lol:
 
At a horrible hotel right now doing a shop. My girl loves these. I usually like them but man I'm so ready to go!
 
im about to get back on the hotel shops..gave them up for a minute. i dropped coyle like a hot rock now they're harassing me about doing shops for them
 
im about to get back on the hotel shops..gave them up for a minute. i dropped coyle like a hot rock now they're harassing me about doing shops for them

How many have you done already? About about to do one today for a new company, should be really easy, just evaluate the check-in process, take some pics of the room, get paid.

Oh, and I did one shop, I couldn't complete it the "right" way so I let them know about it. Instead of giving me $0, they decided to hook me up w/ $10 for my time. I got the check on Saturday and lo and behold, I got the full amount of $40! I was like :dance: all the way to the bank!
 
How many have you done already? About about to do one today for a new company, should be really easy, just evaluate the check-in process, take some pics of the room, get paid.

Oh, and I did one shop, I couldn't complete it the "right" way so I let them know about it. Instead of giving me $0, they decided to hook me up w/ $10 for my time. I got the check on Saturday and lo and behold, I got the full amount of $40! I was like :dance: all the way to the bank!


Which company you got that shop from?
 
You let them pay you with a check. I don't like the US mail. I got a paypal account (free) and a walmart prepaid debit card ($3 a month). I like to get paid asap. I never want anyone to tell me the check is in the mail. I have only gotten 1 paper check - Feedback plus.

My active list of shopping companies are:

Corporate Research International
Marketforce Information
Trendsource
Feedback Plus
Ace Shop

Steady alternative source of income of me. I know more about Tmobile, Planet Fitness, Mobil gas, Panera Bread and Murphy USA than the employees.
 
How many have you done already? About about to do one today for a new company, should be really easy, just evaluate the check-in process, take some pics of the room, get paid.

Oh, and I did one shop, I couldn't complete it the "right" way so I let them know about it. Instead of giving me $0, they decided to hook me up w/ $10 for my time. I got the check on Saturday and lo and behold, I got the full amount of $40! I was like :dance: all the way to the bank!

man i did 4 shops for coyle, i've done 3 shops for dave. i've exhausted his shops in my area for the moment though...

PM me with the info for the new company if you please. that sounds really good, even easier than dave's shit
 
man i did 4 shops for coyle, i've done 3 shops for dave. i've exhausted his shops in my area for the moment though...

PM me with the info for the new company if you please. that sounds really good, even easier than dave's shit

Don't get too happy, it's a once in a while type of thing. Only reason I couldn't complete the shop was because you had to do an auto service, I was gonna get a tire rotation, but I couldn't because I have staggered fitment on my tires.

Easy is that hotel shop I did the other day, check in, take two pictures, you're done. Took 20 minutes. Only thing is...I wanted to stay! One of the best shops I've done.
 
Don't get too happy, it's a once in a while type of thing. Only reason I couldn't complete the shop was because you had to do an auto service, I was gonna get a tire rotation, but I couldn't because I have staggered fitment on my tires.

Easy is that hotel shop I did the other day, check in, take two pictures, you're done. Took 20 minutes. Only thing is...I wanted to stay! One of the best shops I've done.

u check in but u cant stay?
 
u check in but u cant stay?

For this particular shop, yes. It's not uncommon, it depends on what they want to evaluate. In this instance they want to evaluate front desk service.

Again, you know about what the requirements are before you accept the shop.

But let me ad that so far this company is pissing me off because of the level of detail they are asking for for twenty bucks. Not only do they have the Yes/No questions, but they have narratives. I just answered the yes/no questions so why do I have to write about it? I's like they are forcing so many details from you for a 5-10 minute interaction.

If they want that level of detail, they need to make it a video shop.

Plus they want you to submit a 1200 word narrative of what happened in the span on 5-10 minutes. Total bullshit man. I've done good work dor so many other companies and this level of bullshit is almost unheard of. For me, it's like Coyle Part II.

I mean, this last shop, they did great. They really made me feel valued and I don't get that level of treatment at most of my hotel shops. But the way they want me to answer the questions is like penalizing the hotel because they didn't offer their name 2-3 times or say exact things during my interaction. What's more important, the guest experience or a freakin script?!

Sorry peeps, had to vent about that. If you have experiences w/ B. Business Solutions, post them here, but otherwise, until and even after I'm paid I will say beware of this company. Especially when the lady asked me a question on Thursday @ 1:37PM, I responded @ 2:19 PM, then she cops an attitude w/ me today because she didn't get the email.

I told the bitch she needs to check her spam filter and add me to her list of approved senders, then she talking about she just didn't get it, it happens. Bullshit, she can kiss my ass.

Ok, now I'm done. Don't put Colin on me. :lol:
 
He aint lied, those mofos want too many details. I am like for $17 to $20, I gotta write shit for 2 to 3 hours???
I broke it down to the Coyle lady, this shit is getting very time consuming for me. I dont mind doing this but not for $2 to $4 an hour!!! Shit!!!
 
Man I got canned by Marketforce because my camera was acting up. I thought I took the required pics but for some reason when I got home to upload them there were no pictures to upload. The lady banned my account off the break :lol:. No questions asked. I really liked Marketforce because they were pretty much hassle free about the paper work. Are their any other companies like them, where you don't have to be a rocket scientist to complete your paper work and get paid. I'm looking for another hassle free compnay that pays on time like MF. Man I may just ask them niggas to take me back.
 
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