Larry from atl.

Welcome!
Feel free to ask questions here any time. There are a number of folks haunting this forum who have been mystery shopping for a very long time and are happy to advise.

I do suggest reading the "New Shoppers" area on the forum if you have not done so already as it contains a lot of fantastic information that will really orient you to the world of mystery shopping.

Hi Larry, which companies have you signed up with so far? There is a list of companies on this site (link at the bottom of the page).

Welcome Larry, let us know how you like MS'ing and good luck.

Hi. I'm Thuy from Seattle area

Welcome Newbies!

Hi Everyone: I'm brand new to this and majorly confused. What's the best way to navigate around this site? I keep coming back to Q&A type forums. How do I learn about the actual work available here?

P.S. I'm a Tallahassee Lassie!

Hi Donna!
This is just a forum and not affiliated with any mystery shopping companies, so there is not actual work offered through this site.

However, there is a link at the bottom of this page to over 200 legitimate companies for which you can sign up and work. I would start with the "15 Most Discussed" companies as they are larger companies that offer work nationwide, whereas many are smaller and may only have regional opportunities.

As you are new, however, I would suggest doing some reading and making sure you know the ins-and-outs of the industry. There is a wealth of information in the "New Shopper" area of this forum.

Hi Thuy! I am in Seattle, too.

@nthuynguyen wrote:

Hi. I'm Thuy from Seattle area

hi, iam matt, iam new and need to make some good money like fast, anyone that could help me get started?

Matt -

This is not a "get rich quick" thing. Most companies will pay you about six weeks after you complete the work. There are a handful that will pay you more quickly, but this often means lower compensation. There are a few things that will pay you almost immediately. I don't use them, so perhaps somebody else will tell you about them.

Overall, you are starting a business and becoming successful will involve a slow start and a large investment of time. As you just get started, you might struggle to consistently earn minimum wage once you factor in driving times. However, once you have established yourself, you can do much better.

If you want to establish yourself as quickly as possible:
1. Read the "New Shoppers" area on this forum. It will really orient you to the world of mystery shopping.
2. Keep up with this forum. There are folks who have been doing this a long time who have made a decent living doing it. A few of them willingly share their knowledge here.
3. Sign up with as many companies as possible. This will take a lot of time, but it is well-worth the investment.
4. If you decide that this is for you, invest in video equipment. This is where the best money tends to be.
5. Always treat schedulers and company owners respectfully - even when you think they are fools. They control your work.
6. Never flake on assignments and always do very high quality work.
7. Figure out your niche. What types of shops do you prefer? What are you comfortable doing? Will you travel? Etc.