Mystery Shopping

In October, I went to a website that listed employment opportunities for merchandisers. When I saw that “mystery shopping” was a search option, I decided to give it a shot. I found one company advertising assignments in the Atlanta area and applied. When it got to the part of the application that asked for a reference, I minimized the screen and IMed a friend of mine who also used to be a coworker. I asked if I could use him for a reference and if so, what email address he preferred me to use. It took him a few hours to get back to me, and when he did I thought the company name in his email address sounded awfully familiar. I maximized the screen with the unfinished application and lo and behold, I was applying for the company where my friend already worked. More than that, I had just provided him with a reference a few months prior when he was in consideration for the job!

I knew then that the company was legit and signed up for them and their sister company. After that, I did a search and found the site of a stay-at-home Mom who listed a bunch of legitimate companies in alphabetical order. I signed up at a ton.

Most let you sign up and assign a login and password right away. You can start looking for assignments in your area within minutes. Others take a day or so to approve your application and will send you the login info required to search for work. Some only email available assignments.

Below I’ve listed the companies I’ve worked for over the months. They are all legitimate and I’ve already been paid several times by each of them.I will not disclose the specific names of the companies they represent, but I will tell you the types of companies and the types of assignments you can expect to do. Most pay very little, but I’ll touch on how you can really work to make it all add up to a decent amount of extra income a bit later.

1. CFA – www.certifiedfieldassociate.com

This is my favorite company, and by the far, the one I’ve done the most work for. When you accept an assignment you are expected to update your status to let them know you are ready for your paperwork. Once the paperwork is available, you can see exactly what is required for each assignment. Each job provides you with a letter of authorization to present to store management (unless it’s a covert job.) Sometimes, you’ll receive merchandise at your home and others the items you need may be shipped directly to the store. Either way, you can track the shipping status on the company’s site.

Types of Jobs:

• Covert Assignments - Some assignments require you to go to supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, book stores, or fast food restaurants and secretly obtain the prices of items on a list they’ll provide you. If it’s a large list, you may be paid by the hour with the assignment capped at 2-3 hours. If it’s less than 20 items they may pay a flat fee of $8-10 for the job.
• Merchandising – These assignments are usually very simple. I’ve done everything from going to dollar stores and making sure some recalled children’s medicine has been removed from shelves at $8 a store, gone to well-known chain”super stores” to check that a big toy company’s demo displays were working for $8 per store, and installed a display of phone cards and pay-as-you go cell phones in discount stores (pictures below.) The latter was capped at 3hrs and paid $8 an hour. I did two stores with one at a location on my way home from school. Other assignments will call for you to go to warehouse club/big box stores and check that a certain pallet display is up. These are cool because you get paid if they are, and paid a little extra if you have to set the display.
• Trailer Checks – If CFA has assignments in your area, you want to log on every Wednesday morning/afternoon and check to see if they have trailer checks available for Friday. Trailer checks are my favorite. You are paid by the number of screens the movie is playing on. For the first show checks you’ll have to attend the first showing of the day (on each screen) for the assigned movie. Watch the trailers and record the audience’s reaction on the field form. Simple. Evening trailer checks are usually more involved. You’ll have to go record the trailers for each showing between 8-10pm and also record audience reaction to a specific trailer. You’ll usually have to write down the demographics of the audience and how many people are in attendance. These usually pay $8-10 for the first screen and $2-$2.50 for each additional screen.
• Theater Evaluations/Installs – Evaluations call for you to go to a theater and take pictures of certain promotional items like standees, posters, or cups w/ a certain movie advertised on it. For installs, you’ll be asked to track the shipment of a cardboard cut-out (standee) for a particular movie and then go to the theater and put it together. They range from super easy to extremely difficult. Before you accept the assignment you can check the difficulty rating and also whether or not the job requires a partner.

Pay:

CFA pays via check or direct deposit. You are paid 4-6 weeks after completing an assignment. If, like me, you end up doing a bunch of assignments each week, you’ll find yourself getting a direct deposit every 9-10 days. I got my first pay from them 3 weeks after completing my first assignments.

Tips and Tricks:

• For the trailer checks you want to make note early in the week which movies are coming out that upcoming weekend. Write down the showtimes and how many screens it’s on at your nearest theater. This way, you’re not scrambling to decide which assignment to accept when they become available. You don’t want someone else snatching up your job. For big movies that you know will be on multiple screens (New Moon, Avatar, Iron Man 2, etc.) it’s a good idea to know ahead of time which theater is showing it on the most screens. More screens = more money.
• If you read the details of an assignment, decide you want it, and click “accept” only to get a message that they will call you if your assistance is needed, you can call their 1-800 # and choose option 4. This will put you through to the scheduling department. Give them your checker ID (listed under “my information” on the main page) or your social security number and they will usually assign the job to you. MOST of their jobs are automatic self-assigned though.
• All jobs have a specific start/end date. If you have a job that has to be done between January 1st and 3rd and you plan on doing it on the 1st, when you update your status that you have the paperwork it will also ask when you plan on completing the assignment. I would put the 3rd. Even if you do the job on the 1st. But if for some reason you have to postpone last minute and do it on the 2nd, they won’t be sending you reminder emails on the evening of the 1st asking for your report. There’s no penalty for doing your report early, but all reports are due the day you complete an assignment and if your report isn’t in by 8am the day after you told them you’d do a job, they will call/email you.
• Sometimes they will cap the number of assignments you can take for one project. Let’s say they have a job where you have to check on a display in a big box retail chain, and they have 50 available all over the city. They may say that you can’t take more than 5 or so of that assignment. Always take the ones closest to your home – that may be 2 or 3. But then think about if you pass any of those particular stores say, on your way home from work. You may find that you can pick up another 2 thinking that way.
• CFA lists their available assignments with the ones closest to your home listed first. But they are posted “as the crow flies not as the car drives.” In other words, a straight line from your house to the location which we all know, isn’t the way you drive. Keep that in mind when accepting  jobs. If you’re gonna burn more in gas money than the assignment pays, it’s not worth it, however; there are ways around that (more on that in Overall Tips and Tricks below.)

2. Market Force Information – www.applymarketforce.com

They have a referral program which benefits you and me so when you sign up make sure to give me a shout-out please. I’m not sure what they’ll ask for so when you get to that part of the application, just email me at Nina@blogitoutb.com or leave a message here and I will get you what you need. I’m sure we could both use the extra cash so don’t forget!

Types of Jobs:

• Mystery Shops – Most of the mystery shops for this company are fast food restaurants. You’ll have to purchase a specific item(s) for which you will be reimbursed plus paid a small shopper’s fee. Some of them are quite involved. A popular chain requires you to do the drive-thru AND walk-in AND check the bathroom. You also have to have a digital timing device that includes seconds to track how long it took for your order to be taken and received.
• Audits/Evaluations – These are cool assignments. I’ve done them for gas stations and auto shops, but they do them at other kinds of businesses as well. These aren’t covert. You give the management a letter explaining that you’re there to perform an evaluation of their establishment. You’ll have to take digital photos and fill out a form that checks to ensure that the establishment is in compliance with the company’s rules. These can pay anywhere from $12-$27 per job.
• Wireless – These assignments require you to go to a specific cell phone shop and pretend you are interested in new service.

Tips and Tricks:

• The fast food shops don’t pay a lot at all, but if you eat out every day while attending your normal 9-5 job, this is a way to eat for free and make a little change in the process.
• Always, always, keep your receipt/business cards, or whatever your paperwork lists as required proof of completion.
• Market Force doesn’t allow you to take more than four jobs in one day. This is to ensure that you’re not trying to remember too much information and jeopardize the integrity of your reports. Also, you can’t do two fast foods in the same shop period. In other words, you can’t do two lunch shops on the same day. You can, however; do a breakfast shop at one location and a lunch shop at another, and even a dinner at yet another all in the same day.
• Their reports are due online no later than 12 hrs after completing your assignment.

Pay:

Market Force pays via check and direct deposit. They pay on the 15th of every month for the previous month’s assignments. If you opt for direct deposit, you receive your money before the checks are even cut for the ones that didn’t. So far, I’ve gotten my Market Force money direct deposited into my bank account on the 10th of November and December. So, do that if you can.

Market Force offers a Dell employee discount to their secret shoppers.

Also, remember that CFA is the sister company so when you’re dealing with them, they will refer to themselves as Market Force as well. Don’t get confused or think you’re crazy.

3. Confero, Inc.

Confero offers a finder’s fee to me if you live in one of the cities listed at this link, you sign up, and complete a shop. So, if you’re interested in signing up BEFORE you do, let me know so I can refer you.

Click here to see if your city is listed.

Again, leave a message here or send me a private email with your info so I can refer you. Nina@blogitoutb.com

Types of Jobs:

• Mystery shops – I’ve done mystery shops for a local supermarket chain. I’ve also seen some shops for car dealerships and auto stores but none in my area.
• Revealed shops – These are fun. You will go to movie theaters and fast food places to perform a secret shop. Usually to see if the employees are offering a certain promotion. If they are successful or not, you have to reveal yourself to management to tell them how they did. Most times you will be presenting them with prizes if they are successful. This past weekend I saw Precious and The Princess and the Frog because of one of these shops. My ticket is reimbursed as well as the concession stand items AND I made a shopper’s fee.

Pay:

Confero pays via Paypal and they pay on the 25th of the month for the previous month’s assignments.

4. Second To None – Link here.

Types of Jobs:

• Mystery Shops – I’ve done mystery shops of a popular donut chain, video game store, and a few office supply stores.

Pay:

Second to None pays via PayPal on the 15th of the month for the previous month’s assignments

Tips and Tricks:

• You can use Mozilla to search for assignments at their site, but when it’s time to enter your report, it’s best to use Internet Explorer.

5. CRI

CRI also offers a referral fee to the both of us if you sign up and complete an assignment. It’s not a lot, but if you’re gonna sign up and do a job, why not? I have to make the first move so if you’re interested, make sure to email me the email address you plan on using when you sign up. I will sign you up for the referral email so we can both get paid.

Types of Jobs:

• Mystery Shops – I’ve done shops for clothing and home decor stores, gas stations, pizza restaurants apartment complexes, and hardware stores.
• Sign Shops - These are super simple. You have to go to a business as the sun sets and take pics of the outside of the establishment. If there are any lit signs not functioning you need to take a picture. These pay $4-$5.

Pay:

CRI pays via PayPal only. They take a small processing fee from your payment. They also pay quicker than any of the companies I’ve done jobs for. Almost every Monday I get an email from them saying they’ve processed a payment for me that will be in my PayPal account by Friday. Sure enough, on Friday, by the time The View is on, I’ll get an email from PayPal telling me the money is available. They pay 1-2 weeks after you’ve completed an assignment.

I belong to other companies, but these are the ones that I do the most consistent work for. If you’re interested in others, shoot me an email. For instance, I belong to one that does secret shops for a popular steakhouse chain. They reimburse you $30 for your meal and a $10 bonus if you submit your report the same night as your shop. A cool way to get a free meal and POSSIBLY make a little extra if you keep your meal below $40. Also, another company does shops for a popular, yet pricey, restaurant that specializes in cheesecake. They only pay you with $40 gift certificates to the restaurant. You won’t make any cash, but if you’re gonna go anyway, you’ll get paid with cards to eat there again for free or at least $40 cheaper than you’d have normally spent.

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Overall Tips and Tricks:

• PayPal now offers a debit card. This is helpful for the companies above that only pay via PayPal. I no longer have to wait the two days for the funds to transfer to my bank account now that I have the PayPal debit Mastercard. When a company pays me, I have instant access to the money.
• Keep a spreadsheet! My spreadsheet has a tab for each month’s jobs and tabs for each month’s expenses like printer cartridges. You’ll be printing a lot of paperwork (field forms, letters of authorizations, prize certificates, etc.) For my jobs, my spreadsheet columns breaks down like this:

• Date of assignment – Pretty obvious why that’s first.
• Time – Some assignments have to be performed during certain times like 12-7pm only. You want to be able to see that on your spreadsheet at a glance before going out. Makes planning your day easier.
• Company – This just helps so when I go to get the required paperwork/documents I know if I’m going to CFA, CRI or Market Force’s site.
• Location – The name of my shop: KMart, Taco Bell, Border’s, etc.
• City
• Reimbursement amount – I always put the maximum reimbursement amount here and then change it to what I actually spent when I get home.
• Pay – If it’s a flat rate, I put that. If it pays by the hour, I will change it to what it actually is when I’ve completed the assignment.
• Mileage – You’re an independent contractor and can claim your mileage. If you find yourself doing several jobs at the same location (one company has you merchandising  a toy display at your local Walmart, another has you merchandising the balloons at the same location, while a third has you performing a secret shop of their bakery department) this comes in handy.
• Paid – When I am paid for a job, I put the date that I received the payment.
• Job ID: Each company has a job ID or number for their assignments. This makes referencing it later easier.

• Also, set your spreadsheet to automatically total the money in your reimbursement and pay columns. This tells you, at a glance, what you’re scheduled to make for the month.

• Have access to a good digital camera and scanner. All of the companies require you to submit your reports/receipts online.
• Keep your paperwork! You’ll print out forms for your assignments, but when you get home to do the reports, everything is done online. Don’t throw out the paperwork. Keep it for your records or in case the company later needs to see it. Find a drawer or file in your filing cabinet for all of your paperwork.

But my number one advice is to schedule your ass off. You may sign up with a few of these places and turn up your nose at the pay. I did. But everything in  life is a hustle. And this is no exception.

Here’s what I did: Two days a week I was going 45 mins away to attend class. On those days I’d accept assignments in that part of town and in the areas I passsed on my way home. I was burning the gas anyway to go to school. Why not make a few extra bucks on my way home for doing something as simple as stopping in a Costcos and checking on a display of paper cups? Shoot, if I hit three of them on the way home, that’s $24. Add to that a mystery shop of an Office Depot and a Texaco station and I’ve made $34. Throw in an evaluation of a Jiffy Lube that takes me 20mins to complete and now I’ve made $46. It adds up.

Start thinking about the things you do and places you go on a daily and weekly basis and schedule assignments accordingly. If you go to the next town over twice a week to take your kids to karate or ballet, schedule some stuff in that area that you can do while they’re in class. If you’re going out of town on business or pleasure, you can search for assignments where you’re going to be. Also, take advantage of the fact that you are signed up with several companies. Market Force limits you to four assignments a day, but you can pick up more with Confero. Get it?

Some areas may be too far to go for a $5 job, but if you notice that between all the companies you are signed up with you can go to that same area and pick up five or six jobs and make $30-$50, that ain’t bad. Trust me, it all adds up. In October I made $600. In November, $700. I’ve made close to $400 in December and the month ain’t over yet.

There are a few more tips I could share, but you need to write me for them. If you have any questions before signing up or accepting an assignment, email me.

None of it is glamorous, hell, some of the assignments are in dollar stores that make me itch… but it has been helping to pay the bills and get the laptop my daughter wants for Xmas. And most of it is a lot of fun. Below is the 4-sided gift card/phone card display I set up in two different stores. Took me 2.5-3 hours. It was intimidating at first, but Donny helped me with the first one and if you follow the plan-o-gram, it’s easy. And I made $60.