Mystery Shopping Tips

General Tips

1. Avoid Paying Fees: Never pay to mystery shop; legitimate companies do not charge to apply. Look for free job listings online.
2. Consider Certification: Certification isn’t required, but gold or silver certification may offer job preferences and helpful training.
3. Prepare for Hard Work: Mystery shopping requires attention to detail, clear writing, and strong organization. Many shoppers complete multiple shops per day.
4. Understand Earnings: Mystery shopping is not a get-rich-quick opportunity; most shoppers earn modest part-time income.
5. Plan for Solo Trips: Most mystery shops do not allow children, so plan childcare or solo visits ahead of time.

Practical Advice

6. Maintain Confidentiality: Never disclose which companies work with which clients. Confidentiality breaches can remove you from future assignments.
7. Operate as an Independent Contractor: Mystery shoppers are contractors, not employees. You may need to provide your SSN and report income for taxes.
8. Use a Dedicated Email: Create a separate email account for mystery shopping offers to stay organized and avoid inbox clutter.
9. Be Proactive: Research companies, sign up with multiple platforms, and check job boards regularly for new assignments.
10. Write Clearly: Use correct spelling, grammar, and complete sentences in your reports. Clear writing increases your rating with companies.
11. Save Confirmations: Keep records of payout requests, job confirmations, and completed assignments for your own tracking.
12. Confirm Your Email: Verify your email address with each company to ensure you receive all job notifications.

Scam Avoidance

13. Avoid Scams: Legitimate mystery shopping companies do not send checks for wire transfers or money transfer assignments. Report fraud at our blacklist page.
14. Verify Companies: Check company legitimacy using the Better Business Bureau before accepting assignments.

Additional Resources

15. Learn More: Visit our Paid to Shop Q&A for more information.
16. Use the Search Tool: Check our Monday-refreshed search tool for vetted mystery shopping companies.
17. Understand Country Codes: “WW” means worldwide; other codes indicate the countries each company serves.
18. Know Terminology: Mystery shopping may also be called secret shopping, undercover shopping, or guest shopping.
19. Protect Your Number: Use a Google Voice number to safeguard your personal phone number.
20. Organize Emails: Use Gmail’s “+” feature (e.g., email+shop@gmail.com) to automatically sort incoming offers.
21. Be Honest and Use Modern Browsers: Answer questions truthfully and use Chrome or Firefox for the most reliable form submissions.

Adapted from a list by Christy Matte, expanded by Amy Lynn.

Follow Annika's for tips, tricks, suggestions, and work from home updates.

Sign up for our Newsletter: Join Now!