A Guide to Working from Home:
Mystery Shopper
The home computing revolution
and the advent of the Internet has made the dream of “Working from Home”
a very real and lucrative possibility for millions of Americans. And
this does not only apply to those who have found they can now
"Telecommute" in their chosen professions. Many have been bitten by the
next wave of entrepreneurial spirit that is sweeping the nation, and are
actually leaving their jobs to start their own home based businesses.
But choosing the right home based business can be a challenge.
Mystery Shopping
is becoming one of the most attractive and easily
started Home Based Businesses to supplement or become a primary source
of income.
AT A GLANCE
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Expected Hourly
Income |
20.00 – 30.00 hour +
Free Products |
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Start-Up Costs
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High, Moderate,
Low |
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Start Up Degree of
Difficulty |
Easy, Moderate, Difficult, Very
Difficult |
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Potential Problems |
Internet Scams |
Getting Started
While Mystery Shopping is not
technically “Working From Home” – wouldn’t an ideal job be one that PAYS
you to shop and Dine Out at Great Restaurants? As a Mystery Shopper that
is just what you will get to do. Companies do pay people to shop in
their stores - to evaluate the experince and quality of their help. And
guess what? Not only will you often get paid you get to keep what you
buy. When you are not actually out shopping you will need to be looking
for your next assignment and that is where the “Home Based” part of
being a Mystery Shopper comes in. So you will need a computer with
Internet access, basic computer skills, a comfortable workspace, and
some patience and perseverance. You will not need to create a website,
make brochures, business cards, letterheads, or other sales or marketing
materials to earn a living as a Mystery Shopper. You will however need
to find the companies that are offering the money to shop. There are
many sites on the internet that offer opportunities for Mystery
Shopping, some are free, some require membership fees to gain access to
the companies offering the shopping opportunities. This is the downside
to becoming a Mystery Shopper, while there are many such sites, there
are just as many that offer outdated or useless information, and some
that are just downright scams. Thoroughly investigate any site before
committing to a membership fee for shopping assignments.
Start-up costs
Since the start-up materials are
minimal for becoming a mystery shopper, other then a comfortable pair of
shoes, and the aforementioned home computer there is very little else
you need. There may be membership fees to gain access to some of the
sites you choose, and these are usually around 30.00 – 40.00 to join. As
with any Internet business, if you do not already have a high-speed
connection you should consider upgrading, it will make working much
easier. Good deals on broadband connections abound and can be had for as
little as 25.00 – 30.00/month depending on the ISP’s in your area.
Hours and Income
As with any Home Based Business
what you get out is largely a factor of what you put in. Many people are
under the mistaken belief that working from home will require less hours
then their full time occupation. That may be so eventually, and of
course you eliminate the time of commuting, but if you want to be
successful as a Mystery Shopper, you must be willing to put in full time
hours. You can expect average earnings over 20 –30.00 dollars an hour
however, which is not bad to shop at your favorite stores. Of course for
the most part you get to keep the products you purchase. Bonuses such as
free trips and other giveaways are often incentives for shopping in
stores or eating at restaurants in addition to or instead of cash
awards.
Potential Problems
The greatest pitfalls to
becoming a Mystery Shopper as a home-based business is wasting money on
joining “Mystery Shopping Sites” that do not deliver on their promises.
Unfortunately while Mystery Shopping can be a legitimate source for home
based income, it is also one of the most common “internet scams” out
there. Your best defense? Common sense. If something seems too good to
be true it probably is. Stick with sites that make reasonable claims on
earning and income potential and offer trial periods and money back
guarantees. Check with your local Better Business Bureaus, or States
Attorney General’s office for any complaints about a given company or
website offer. You can also check
http://www.complaints.com/. Also keep in mind that even if you are
dealing with lists from legitimate Market Researchers, you must qualify
for a given Product Test and fit the demographics they are looking for,
often testers are turned down more often then accepted, but that is why
you must persevere and try as often as possible.
Other Resources
More on Mystery Shopping
http://www.mysteryshop.org/
http://www.mysteryshoppersamerica.com/mindex.php
Scams and Reviewed Sites
http://www.topsitereviews.info/tsr1/shop/shop.html#reviews
www.scam.com
Conclusion
Mystery Shopping may not pay enough at least in the beginning to be a
primary income source, though it can build to that. However for its ease
of start-up, minimal start up costs, and minimal pitfalls that are
easily avoided, Mystery Shopping is ideal for Stay at Home Moms or
others looking to supplement their income, a great way to try new shops
and restaurants in your neighborhood – and get some Free Stuff!
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