Mystery Shopping FAQ
Q. When will I get paid?
A. This varies by individual company. However, most mystery shopping companies pay you on a net 30 basis – meaning all shops completed in June will be paid to you in July. Trendsource, however, pays twice monthly.
Q. Will I have to fill out a job application?
A. Yes. When you shop for these companies, you enter into an agreement essentially as an employee. Therefore, you must fill out their applications, and in some cases even supply references and writing samples.
Q. Why do some mystery shopping companies require my social security number?
A. As an employee, if you earn more than $600 per year in shop fees, the mystery shopping company is required by law to report those earnings to the IRS. Therefore, they must have your social security number to do this. (Please note: the $600 dollars does not include purchase reimbursement – ONLY shop fees. I have never reached $600 dollars in one year at any specific company in shop fees, but keeping a spreadsheet of your shops will help you track if you’re getting close.)
Q. Is submitting my information to these companies, including social security number, safe?
A. Yes. I perform shops for every one of these companies listed on this site and they are safe. If you choose to sign up for a mystery shopping company not listed here, be sure to do your homework.
Q. Will I get paid if I don’t follow the shop guidelines?
A. No. Be sure to read all of the shop requirements before shopping, and also double check to make sure you’re shopping the correct location. If you don’t gather the appropriate names/data or provide the required receipts/business cards, you may not get reimbursed for your shop.
Q. What form do mystery shopping companies use to pay me?
A. Some companies offer direct deposit (Shop’n’Check and Trendsource), while some offer Paypal or check payments. Refer to the guidelines of each company you sign up with.
Q. I found a website that says they’ll help me start mystery shopping, but I have to pay them $50 a month. Is this legit?
A. NO! NEVER EVER pay for a site that says they’ll help you find mystery shops (or even surveys, for that matter). It is a scam! Real mystery shopping companies never require you to pay them to get assigned shops. You are an employee – they pay you! Most of these sites mentioned above are merely databases where they show shops listed by various mystery shopping companies. They will require you to sign up on their specific site before being allowed to shop for them anyway, so skip the middleman scam and deal with mystery shopping companies directly.
Q. Once I’ve applied and been accepted to these mystery shopping companies, how do I receive shops?
A. Most companies will send you an email when shops in your area become available (they know your zip code). All you have to do is be the first one to click “accept” for that shop, and it will be assigned to you! So make sure to use an email address that you check frequently when you sign up with mystery shopping companies.
