Secret Shopper or Mystery Shopper

[palebluedot78]

I recently got an email for a "Job Offer" from The Premier Mystery Shopping Company.

Does anyone have any experience w/ this company or this job? If so, is it worth it?
I am aware of the scams out there but this job offer is only worth up to $200.

 

[Wabbit]

Did you sign up for the email? Or did they just guess you might want to be a mystery shopper...prob a scam. Maybe not, but I imagine they would have no prob filling jobs like that just from people applying for them. If it were me, I would just google it...g'luck!

 

[akrvbob]

I can't say anything about this company, but being a mystery shopper is an excellent job for anyone living mobile. I've known three people who did it and made good money at it. Almost always you pay for something then fill out a survey and write up your review of the experience. After you submit it you will be reimbursed for the item and be paid for the review.

It takes a while to build up a reputation, but once you do you can work about as much as you want and along your travel route. The key thing is to be able to write up your evaluation. It's not just check boxes, you have to write up your experience. The better you are at that, the more jobs you'll get.

Restaurants are most common but my friends have watched movies and even taken showers at Pilot and Loves truck stops in Quartzsite.

There are lots of websites who employee mystery shoppers, just google them and get reviews of them.

Bob

 

[compassrose]

Mystery shopping works best if you are in a fairly large town. I tried it in a small town. Most of the shops were in Macon or Atlanta for my area (I was 100 miles north of the FL/GA state line on I-75). After I finally got a shop (at a local restaurant), I found I not only had to take lots of notes (with no one knowing that I was taking notes) but I had to reveal that I was a mystery shopper to the restaurant manager. I was threatened by the manager and her staff. I was very glad my husband was waiting outside in the parking lot for me. Then I had to write a 15 page report (faxed on my dime). Which was "not up to our acceptable levels". I did get paid. But only my crummy meal was paid for, my husbands meal came out of our pockets. Then we stopped at another restaurant to get dinner because the meal we had ordered was unedible. Based on my experience, I would never do another mystery shopper gig again. I have hear of others who said they have never had to do reports like I did. I forget the outfit I got the shop thru. Very bad experience. Be careful.

 

[Chancebond]

My mom did this before!!! She bought stuff like panties, clothes, detergent, food and other household things, and got reimbursed for it all! She also got paid about 20% of whatever she purchased on top of that! I'd recommend it!

 

[cyndi]

I did mystery shopping for a couple of years. It was a good gig until the gas prices skyrocketed. That was back in 2003 or 4.

Don't pay anyone anything to mystery shop; not some company that's going to set you up with shops and not some person who is going to show you the ropes.

In the beginning, I took the jobs where I didn't shell out money such as book stores, banks and cell phone companies. Those jobs were mostly about signage and responses to specific questions.

There were jobs that required no writing but picture taking instead (gas station bathrooms) and fill in the blank/true false responses

Some of the jobs I took where I did spend money but was reimbursed included services for my car, hotels, car rentals and airfare.

As your reputation improves so will the money and the types of jobs you're able to get. The feedback required will become more difficult and extensive as the money gets better.

Some companies require a paypal account.

You'll be an independent contractor, responsible for your own taxes.

Companies generally do not solicit unknowns for jobs. They don't mass mail, email or otherwise. They will contact you if you have gotten good reviews for your shops, Or if you've put your name on lists, somewhere.

I googled the company you asked about and found only one bad review. That was from 2009.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Premi...pper-Survey-Division-Premier-Mystery-S-495498
Google brought up other information. I didn't really read any of it.

I belonged to several online groups and forums where jobs were posted and reviews of companies and specific jobs were discussed.

 

[palebluedot78]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I saw the scam about the Money Order transaction. But this doesn't look like that. I sent in my name and contact info so we'll see. I will not send any important stuff or money for sure!

 

[palebluedot78]

Well it's been a week and the guy never replied back to my email, so I guess it was spam.

 

[akrvbob]

You might want to do research into the many legitimate sites, it could be something that works good for you.
Bob

 

[palebluedot78]

UPDATE:

Yup, it was the ol' MoneyGram scam. I was sent a package with a $2700 check w/ wiring instructions. Ripped it up and threw it away. Oh well, I'm sure there are some legit SS gigs out there. Just not this one. :dodgy:

 

[offroad]

Old girlfriend used to do secret shopper work. Real and legit. Companies exist. She made maybe $30 per shop. Plus her expense if she had to buy a meal or such. The reports that are required take an hour to do.

 

[waverider1987]

I'm starting to do this now... working with this company : http://shoppers.ssanet.com/

 

[Binxie]

Old girlfriend used to do secret shopper work. Real and legit.   Companies exist. She made maybe $30 per shop. Plus her expense if she had to buy a meal or such. The reports that are required take an hour to do.

I tried this once, but it didn't work for me at the time. 1. I don't shop much anyway. 2. The kids were young and at home then, so getting around town wasn't easy.

I wonder if I could do some of this now while traveling? At least restaurants would be good. I'll look into it.

Thanks for posting!