If you love to shop, you've probably wished you could get paid for every trip you make to the local mall or restaurants in your town. While most people only wish they were getting paid, others make shopping their job and get paid quite well to do it.
Mystery shopping, a simple and easy way to earn money on a full or part-time basis, offers everyone from college students, to stay-at-home moms, to retirees the chance to be their own boss while reporting on the quality of products, customer service and other aspects of a business. However, despite there being many scam artists posing as mystery shopping companies hoping to con unsuspecting people out of their money, there are just as many – if not more reputable – companies that offer great opportunities to become professional shoppers.
BestMark
BestMark has been around since 1986, making it one of the first mystery shopping companies in the business. BestMark specializes in both mystery shopping and exit interviews, with a goal of improving overall customer service everywhere. They require their shoppers to be 21 or older, detail-oriented, good written communciators, and they must have internet access and reliable transportation. BestMark is also well aware of potential scammers who use their company name, and have devoted a full section of their website to setting the record straight. For more info, visit their scam alert warning.
Elite Mystery Shopper
Widely considered the best mystery shopping company, Elite offers its mystery shoppers the chance to work for more than 175 different companies doing a variety of assignments. These can include evaluating service at a local restaurant, purchasing clothing at various stores, or even visiting car dealerships and taking test drives of today's newest vehicles. Elite provides memberships to potential shoppers for a one-time fee of $29.95, but they also offer free business cards and the chance to complete online surveys for additional income. The website is easy to use, their customer service is great, and they are known for quick payouts to their shoppers.
Dollar Frog
Along with its interesting name, Dollar Frog is known for offering plenty of interesting assignments to its mystery shoppers. For example, some assignments involve getting paid to spend the night at hotels, evaluating such aspects as room service, cleanliness of rooms, staff friendliness, and more. Dollar Frog provides step-by-step training and direct deposit for each job completed. If variety is what you’re after, Dollar Frog will be all that and then some.
So if you're growing tired of sitting at the same desk in the same office day after day, consider becoming a mystery shopper. Some of the best perks of mystery shopping are a flexible work schedule, the chance to be your own boss, and potentially earn a very nice income while spending your time eating in fine restaurants. You’ll also get to drive luxury cars and spend a night or two in a five-star hotel. Whether you choose to make it a full-time or part-time occupation, mystery shopping is sure to add some excitement to your day.
