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claudia999
Member
Joined: 9 Mar 2006
Posts: 3
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2006 03:21
Reply
HI! I am asking this because I have joined in mystery shopping. They told me that they usually charge 45 dollars to get started the introduction. But they told me that for a limited time they were holding off that fee. The only thing i paid was 2.95 to cover the expense of mailing the letter that i was going toget that had all the info and my ID# and screename for the internet. I have never been a mystery shopper so can anyone who has been one tell me if this is a scam from what they charge? Also is it normal that you need to apply for companies that hire the mystery shoppers or is it the company to do that for you. Thanks again.
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WhitePhoenix
Member
Joined: 3 Jan 2006
Posts: 227
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2006 10:30
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I get these offers in my email every once in a while. I'm not sure exactly how they work or how much money they offer as payment, but just be sure you're not being asked to pay a bunch of fees for the 'privilege' of being a shopper for them.
Years ago, this was popular, but I don't think anyone was charged, though things are obviously different now.
Let us know what the letter says when you get it, eh?
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Marketing_Junkie
Member
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 1
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# Posted: 10 Mar 2006 09:49 · Edited by: Marketing_Junkie
Reply
claudia999,
It sounds like you're getting scammed by the "free product when you pay shipping" scheme... it's a new twist on the ol' book of the month club model...
... By agreeing to pay for "shipping and handling" with your credit card (notice they won't honor the deal if you pay by cash or money order), you're giving them a license to tap into your credit card every month for $69.95... for life!
Example: The Video Professor gives you free product as long as you pay a few bucks for shipping. That sounds great but the small print legally binds you to a monthly fee for new lessons. It's up to you to cancel (and good luck as they make extrememly difficult to contact 'em).
The only legitimate way to pay upfront for mystery shopping jobs is when the fee is deducted from your first job. But that's hard to find.
And mystery shoppers are told that getting certified is the way to go... that may or may not be true, but either way, if you're just starting out as a mystery shopper, you might skip the certification and register with as many legitimate mystery shopping companies as you can.
Disclosure: I help market this new site... I agreed to it because the site owner is brutally honest about the scams and deceptions... and we're putting the finishing touches on an exhaustive mystery shopping report (and it won't make some mystery shopping scams happy).
Here's the URL:
[Link removed - Admin]
By the way, here's just a few lines of legaleze that you agree to when you get hooked into the Video Professor's "free" offer:
"... Your subscription to the Video Professor Online Web Site will automatically renew for successive subscription periods, without prior notice to you, unless and until you cancel your subscription or we terminate it. You must cancel your subscription before it renews in order to avoid billing of subscription fees to your credit card. We will continue to bill your credit card on a monthly basis (or other periodic billing, depending upon the terms of your subscription) for your subscription to the Video Professor Online Program until you cancel your subscription."
Also, before you buy anything, a quick search to a site like RipOffReport.com is a must... it's an awesome scam spotting research.
Here's what RipOffReport has to say about the Video Professor:
http://snipurl.com/free_pay_shipping
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claudia999
Member
Joined: 9 Mar 2006
Posts: 3
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# Posted: 10 Mar 2006 14:59
Reply
Thanks Marketing_junkie. I have been to ripoffreports.com before. I check to see if shopper services were there but they were not. So if what your saying is true then how come nobody has done a report about it?
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mysticwmn
Member
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 2
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# Posted: 11 Mar 2006 13:06
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I have worked as a mystery shopper before. You don't make a lot for each shop you do, but they do pay you and it doesn't cost to join at mysteryshop.com
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KSSBreanna
Member
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1
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# Posted: 14 Mar 2006 00:16
Reply
Compliance Mystery Shops
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
Hi, Please help me with these shops!! If you can't do them but know of someone who can, please refer them to me! Thanks
This is a fun opportunity, these are mystery shops that I have available that need to be filled and completed by March 15th. As a mystery shopper you have an opportunity to do many types of shops.
PALM DESERT CA 92211
SACRAMENTO CA 95818
SAN CLEMENTE, CA 92672
WILDOMAR, CA 92595
ASHTABULA, OH 44004
EUCLID, OH 44123
GIRARD, OH 44420
MENTOR, OH 44060
RAVENNA, OH 44266
STRONGSVILLE OH 44136
YOUNGSTOWN OH 44515
44502
44505
44515
44515
BAYSIDE, NY 11361
BROOKLYN, NY 11203
Orlando Fl 32821
Hollywood FL 33020
Boco Raton FL 33431
Fort Lauderdale FL 33311
ST Cloud FL 34769
Alanta GA 30339
Alpharetta GA 30076
Jeffery Chicago IL 60649
Alqonquin IL 60102
Fishers IN 46038
Avon IN 46123
Flushing NY 11366
Bronx NY 10454
Brunswick OH 44212
Akron OH 44312
Deleware OH 43015
Cincinnati OH 45240
Beavercreek OH 45431
Pittsburgh PA 15202
15237
Washington PA 15301
These are Alcohol and tobacco compliance shops I have in these areas; I need shoppers that are 21-25 ONLY. The shop pays $8.00 and will reimburse you up to $5.00 if you make a purchase, If you would like more information you can email me, or go to www.sassieshop.com/2sutter and sign up as a new shopper, If you don't fit in this age range but are interested in mystery shopping please go to www.sassieshop.com/2kern and sign up as a new shopper. If you have any questions please feel free to email me. If you know someone who would be interested in these shops please refer them!
Thanks, again and I look forward to working with you!
Breanna Bailey
[email protected]
Kern Scheduling Services
FAX-1-559-380-2730
Phone-1-559-380-2730
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coreyjroman
Joined: 11 Jul 2005
Posts: 91
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# Posted: 16 Mar 2006 23:59
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I know of a few legitimate mystery shopper programs that do not charge you anything. They do not pay out like the scammers claim though and re-imbursements towards product purchases amount to only a small dollar amount so you can't buy t.v.'s and computers like everyone thinks. If they are asking you to pay a dime then they are not legit. That's the bottom line. In reality the only way you can make a living doing it is to live in or very near a major metro area or tourist attraction and do it full-time. They pay rou roughly 15-20 dollars for each shop and if you really bust your but at it you can do 4-5 a day but you will consume a considerable amount of gas going from place to place so you end up making close to min wage.
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beccala
Member
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Posts: 19
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2006 01:29
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I have done some mystery shopping too. Most companies and jobs do not pay you $15 to $20 bucks a shop tho - most are BELOW $10. You have to literally live in your car and then you have to come home, log your reports and upload pictures - its just not worth it.
If you can find one that pays you $15 min or more a shop- then you can make it work.
Just google - "mystery shopping employers" and try other similar words too... and I am sure you will come up with enough to contact. You will have to submit a resume and it is important that you live in or close to a metropolitan area.
Good luck ~ 
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Jemethyst
Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2008
Posts: 2
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2008 00:39
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I have mystery shopped since 1996. It is just a fun side job. I choose the ones where I get to eat. Mostly they will reimburse you for the meal, some may pay a few $ extra.
On the internet there are tons of places to find the mystery shopping companies you can register with. I have never had to submit a resume. Usually they have a short questionnaire when you register with them.
ShadowShopper.com has given me a lot of jobs. I registered and paid $60 a year I think it is, but it is worth it to me because I am self employed as a merchandiser. They will send me emails whenever a company has something in my area. It is then up to me to contact that company. I have more than paid for the fee. But there are a lot of free places out there to find this type of work. Unless you live in a very large city I doubt very much anyone can actually make a living doing this.
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fatman
Member
Joined: 6 Jun 2008
Posts: 123
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2008 02:28
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A few years ago I tried mystery shopping too. I was fresh out of high school and looking for a job. I was on a well known job searching site and happened to see something about mystery shopping (pays well and free! or so it said). Since the article was on an established site I thought it seemed legitimate. I signed up for $30 and waited for more information.
I wish I hadn't wasted my money. Occasionally I would get an email invitation for a place to go to, but they were not what the site advertised. Instead of getting paid to go to stores and buy items (that I can keep for free!), I got a few offers to open bank accounts at new banks. This is not what I expected, and the pay was VERY little. Eventually I decided to give up and never try secret shopping again. Since I paid $30 to join, I actually lost money.
Since then I have tried other ways to make money online, but will never try this method again. However, I actually have known other people that had successful mystery shopper jobs and they enjoyed it. I guess I just joined with the wrong site. You can try this, but be CAREFUL and make sure the site is legitimate. Good luck and keep us posted on if it works our for you.
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busymomKristi
Member
Joined: 9 Dec 2008
Posts: 4
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# Posted: 9 Dec 2008 22:55
Reply
I have been mystery shopping for about 2 years now as a way to bring in extra income around my husband's rotating shift schedule. www.volition.com is a great resource for legitimate shopping sites. If you sign up with several companies (all of which are free to apply with) and look for jobs in your area regularly and build up a good reputation with the schedulers you will find that there is quite a bit of work out there. I also don't necessarily agree with the people who say it's only worth it if you are in or near a metro area. I have made most of my money by driving into rural areas and picking up the shops that other people weren't taking. I made sure to factor how much I needed to make in a day to make the travel/food expenses worthwhile and I average $100 per day that I work after gas and food.
It's not all fun and games and you certainly won't "get rich quick" but I made as much as I would have working part time at a retail store until I slowed down to try something new.
__________________
Mom of 2
Independent Chocolatier, Dove Chocolate Discoveries
Writer, Associated Content
Mystery Shopper
How many jobs can I have and still be labeled a homemaker??
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