Recently did a small merchandising job and classified as a "Special Employee". All taxes were withheld. That's a first. Is this now becoming the trend? The check was only a few hundred dollars, no great shakes or anything and never had been withheld in the past.
For many years some of the merchandising companies have considered merchandisers to be employees and have done withholding. You should get a W-2 from them for 2012 work. Some of those companies also pay by the hour (as opposed to by the job) including travel time and some pay mileage. They are a different environment than mystery shopping.