Shop Till You Drop!

Looking to mystery shop? Although there are scams out on the Internet, there are a lot of legitimate shopping jobs available. How do you tell the difference?

First let's look at Scams. Mystery shopping companies/providers (MSP) NEVER ask you to cash a check for more than $10. I used to say "never ask you to cash a check," however, I have learned one company sends out $10 checks for a shopper to cash at the bank being shopped. That check is your payment for the shop in advance. As a rule, however, you would never be asked to cash a large check and wire money anywhere by a MSP. This is the most popular of the mystery shopping scams. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association usually has info on all the latest scams.

Now what are legitimate mystery shopping jobs like? All MSPs spell out exactly what you are required to do on the shop, what your expense allotment is and how much you will be paid for your service. There is ALWAYS a report required. Most MSPs now use online reporting. There are a few who are still using paper reports, but very few. Jobs for MSPs are on job boards like Premier Shoppers, Volition or JobSlinger. Each MSP also has their own job board. Sign up for as many as you can to stay busy all the time. Visit the forums, learn more mystery shopping skills, and never flake on a job are all easy ways to get more opportunities to "shop till you drop!"

Shopping Survey

Need some information for the upcoming year and I need input from the social networking community. All I need you to do is answer one question either by commenting here or DM me @MysteryShopDiva on Twitter.

QUESTION:

Where is your favorite place to shop and why?

The Glamorous Life of Mystery Shopping Diva

While most mystery shopping divas are not a millionaires, they do seem to be able to carry a top designer bag and wear designer clothes all at little or no cost. How? They mystery shop. I understand that to most shopping for pay or free items sounds like a lot of fun. However, there is a lot of work that goes into their day of shopping. A mystery shopping diva's day goes something like this:

• Wake up and get the kids dressed and off to school.
• After making the school drop off, head over to the local coffee shop where they perform the first shop of the day.
• Then head to the bank, performing the second shop of the day and make a deposit or cash a check.
• Get in their car go through a local car wash performing the third shop of the day.
• Stop at a convenience store, get gas, another shop completed.
• Head to the mall where they will valet park (another shop) and shop at three to five stores performing a shop at each.
• Off to lunch with friends (a shop)
• Quick stop at the grocery store (shop)
• Pick up kids from school then off to soccer, ballet, etc
• Stop at fast food for snacks (shop)
• Head home stopping at video store for movie (shop)
• Unload car, kids and purchases. Cook dinner, get everyone fed, bathed and in bed.
• Start their reports.

The Diva has performed 10-15 shops and they all have to have reports done immediately. So as you see their day is filled with shopping, but their nights are filled with reporting. This however leaves them to be a stay at home mom and afford their family all the extras. Ahh... the glamorous life!