I know I asked this before....but...

When a friend who lives near you asks about becoming a mys. shopper, what do you answer?

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If they were truly a friend, I would warn them about scams. Then I would refer them to this Forum.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

If a friend is truly interested, i give them shops or MSC that is legit, but has shops I'm not willing to do. I don't give them the ones I really like as they are my competition. If they are willing to do the ones I am not already doing, then they will eventually figure it out. Most people act really interested, but never follow thru.

I direct people to sources where they can learn.
Most are too lazy (or too disinterested) to learn, to be honest.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2025 09:41AM by BarefootBliss.

I think most can find the big MSCs on their own and get started successfully.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

I direct people to sources where they can learn.
Most are too lazy (or too disinterested) to learn, to be honest.

Same with learning any skill, or as simple as credit card and travel rewards. In general, people are fat, dumb and lazy. (ref. Animal House)

I refer them to this forum for the list of companies.
I'll share which companies I work for.
I'll suggest shops I prefer and ones I don't prefer.
I'll warn them about scams.

I'm semi-retired from teaching and I'm mostly retired from mystery shopping. Not concerned about competition. In fact, I check so few job boards, I'm not really competition for them.

Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching kids what counts is best.
Bob Talbert

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2025 11:43AM by prince.

They're not hiring.

I am in an unusual situation; I am 82 and devoid of need. I would both explain the business and answer their queries. Finally, I would share that unless they were satisfied with categories 2 and/or 3, to look elsewhere.

To date this year, I have completed one category 1 shop. In 2012, I completed 17 in a single day for Maritz.

"If I tell you, then you'll sign up for jobs that I want and I won't get those. Ask me when we don't live in the same town anymore." There's nothing wrong with the truth.

I introduced my SIL to it and regretted that decision not because I lost jobs to her but because she complains that I didn't tell her about certain opportunities. She's a grown up, she can search same as I do. I consider it a kindness when I alert her to things I cannot take because of rotation but otherwise would grab.

I would pull up my spreadsheet and show them how much I got paid for each job, then explain the work that went into reading the guidelines, making notes and prepping, driving to the location, performing the assignment, then writing the report, plus the time I spend checking the boards (usually finding little or no acceptable work). I would explain that a minor error could invalidate my report and put me out-of-pocket for things I wouldn't normally buy myself. I would then explain that as an independent contractor, I pay full Social Security taxes on top of regular income tax, so the meager fees aren't even a true reflection of what little pay I receive (also subtract required costs not covered by reimbursement). Oh yeah, and you'll see pay in 6-8 weeks on average. If you give the unvarnished truth, most people would say no thanks.

I give them the basic info about how it works, and tell them I do it more for pocket money and for trying things I might not otherwise try. If they still seem interested, I send them some info I typed up a while back about how it works, how to get started, and how to avoid scams.

I gladly share with anyone who shows interest.

When they see the nitty gritty they almost always bail...

Have synthesizers, will travel...

I've shown a few friends and my mother in law. Nobody made it after their first few shops. I've never seen mystery shopping as a hard thing to do, but it apparently is for a majority of people.

I've had a couple of people express interest so I took them along to a couple of shops with me. They let it go after that.

I think MSing can be hard for people who aren't detail oriented and there are lots of those people out there.
I have a bit of AD, one reason I choose shops carefully...it's an interesting combination for sure.

I have no friends that live near me which is a great way to remain mysterious. Occasionally a gas station customer might ask what I'm doing and how they can do it too. I just tell them to Google mystery shopping and warn them about scams.

Same. I've told a handful of people, and only one person actually ever did it. A lot of people just don't have the hustle.

@shopperbob wrote:

I am in an unusual situation; I am 82 and devoid of need. I would both explain the business and answer their queries. Finally, I would share that unless they were satisfied with categories 2 and/or 3, to look elsewhere.

To date this year, I have completed one category 1 shop. In 2012, I completed 17 in a single day for Maritz.

How could you do 17 shops in one day?

I told friends about mystery shopping. One tried it and after 2 shops which went poorly she told me I was crazy for doing this for the low fees. I do not tell anyone now- none of their business and I do not need to advertise that I do this. The friend who did do the shop had her report rejected as it was a fine dining shop and she had no clue as to not referring to the waiter as a portly bald man and making other comments which made the report not acceptable. She then did a grocery shop and said it was way too much work for the amount paid. So I keep my business to myself and tell no one what I am doing.

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