I'll answer your last questions first.
Yes it really pays.
Whether or not the pay is good is a personal call.
I work an average of 35 hours a week on shops and another 25 hours a week on reports.
I make about $600 per week.
That's $10 an hour, but not the same as a $10 an hour job.
If I made $10 an hour at work, the 60 hours I spend would actually be paid $10 for the first 40 and $15 for the next 20, so I would get $700.
To do the math backwards, It is roughly the equivalent of an $8.50 per hour job.
I spend about $100 or 17% of my weekly income on gas, paper, toner, and other necessary expenses.
So, taking that out, I make roughly $7.15 an hour.
I didn't start out at this level, I have been doing this for quite a few years now, and it took a lot of hard work, and dedication to get to this point.
I am retired, and mystery shopping is my main source of income.
If you are looking for a fun way to add a few dollars to your budget, It's great.
If you want to get rich working from home 3 hours a week, probably not so much.
The best way to find jobs is to sign up ror companies, and then search their job boards. When you see a job that appeals to you, apply for it.
Just do one or two at first, don't overwhelm yourself, get a feel for what is required, and what it takes to do the job well.
Don't be discouraged if you make a few mistakes on your fsrst shops, we all have made a few at one time or another.
There are a few different ways to find companies, but however you find them, make sure that you never pay anyone for the privilege of shopping, that you never buy lists of companies, and that you use common sense.
As a general rule,
$10 to do a mystery shop is logical and makes sense.
$200 is not and does not.
If anyone wants you to do a shop and promises you an amount that is far more than $10 per hour, chances are it is a fraud.
There are some shops out there that pay very well. but they are few and far between, and generally only offered to shoppers who have developed a relationship with the company.
Finally, use this board for tips, hints and questions.
There are many people on this board who know the industry from every angle. Learn from their experience and you will be much more successful.