Hello everyone! I am new to the whole mystery shopping thing. I will tell you my story and how it lead me here. I was employed working in a dying industry for 20+ years. Everyone who was good within the company either left or were let go a few years ago. My bosses boss was a huge bully. They were racist and would promote everyone over me because I’m white. I went to corporate HR on them last year because they wouldn’t give me my vacation since we were short staffed and the deadline was approaching. I got decriminalized for that as they acted like all I said was lies and I had no right to go to an executive of the company. The corporate HR lady was really nice and demanded they give me the time off I earned. I should’ve went back to her, but they scared me from doing it. They never wrote me up, but made my job hell giving me the worst jobs to do. I finally got fed up and resigned. I got hired at two different companies (passed background and drug screens) however Im on a waiting list to get into both companies. Been waiting over 3 months now. I lived of my tax refund for awhile and have resorted to selling most of my personal possessions to help stay afloat. I got desperate and went to a temp agency, but they gave me a horrible labor intense job around water for only $8.75 hr. I planned on going back for a second day, but my body just couldn’t do it. It was a job washing and peeling off stickers on produce crates. My body was soaked/pruned, fingernails wanted to fall off, started to get blisters on hands, not to mention everything else being sore. So now I am really desperate and read about mystery shopping. I signed up with Market Force to do both the Theatre Checking and Mystery Shops. I did a few theatre checks last week and also a cell phone store review. I really do like the job a lot. Theatre staff has been very accommodating. Only thing that kinda sucked was Friday I did first screen checks for a new movie and the theatre had 6 prints so I had to go back because the last one I needed was after 10pm. I’m in the Chicago metro area...so will be doing my shops in Illinois, Indiana and possibly southern Michigan. I looked at other mystery shopping companies and have a question. Besides Market Force...what other companies offer direct deposit/checks (I can’t do PayPal)? Also what companies can you work for solely with a smart phone (I currently don’t have a pc or internet at home and I noticed some companies require a pc)? Printing isn’t an issue. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for this site as I hope I can be a useful contributor moving forward.

I'm assuming you are here to learn about mystery shopping so welcome. There is a section titled "New Mystery Shoppers" with a bunch of topics pinned to the beginning. Start there to get a great basic overview of everything.

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Hi game. Try iSecretShop for an app. Also Presto Mobile and Mobi Audit.

You can use your phone's browser to access the mystery shopping company job boards and input the shops.

Alta Research has shops that can be completed with an app on your phone and they offer direct deposit. But many other companies will require significant narrative, which is a PITA to do on your phone, so you might have to go to the library on occasion to submit reports. IPSOS also has shops that can be done using the app, but they pay with PayPal. Why can't you do PayPal, may I ask?

Mobi Audit can be used but not before you sign up with the companies who use that app first (like IPSOS and Alta 360 Research).

Thanks for the replies. I can’t use PayPal as I got banned for having a negative balance way back in 2003. For now I have an iPhone and an android tablet to use (both with unlimited data). Once I get a couple months in I will be able to get Internet for my home pc. I originally cut the cord back in 2010 since I couldn’t justify the price since I live alone. I will check out some of the apps already mentioned.

I do have an air printer so I have no problems printing required paperwork. I also can go to friends/family to periodically use their PCs if needed, but want to limit that option as they mostly live 30 minutes away.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2018 10:45PM by gamelordonline.

You dont get banned from paypal for having a negative balance by itself.