way on the planet to get paid!
Have you ever heard of this thing called Mystery Shopping?
I've got to admit, from the first day my uncle told me about this, I couldn't believe it. We were at a family reunion and told me about how he and my aunt go out to eat all the time and they don't pay for their meals! He said they went out to places like Johnny Carino's, TGI Friday's, Steak and Ale and even some fast-food places. They even got free pizza delivery from Papa John's!
He also told me about how often my aunt went shopping for clothes, shoes, jewelry, small appliances, household items, etc. and she never paid for them. In fact, she got paid to do it!
I had to check it out. The problem was finding out about the companies that I could register with to start getting offers for mystery shopping. Then I found that there are services on the Internet that provide a list of over a hundred of these companies for a small fee. I was reluctant to pay the fee at first, but I'm sure glad I did. I was pleasantly surprised when I more than earned my fee back in my first shopping assignment. In addition to that, when I signed up, I got all kinds of great free bonuses (several of these bonuses were for other types of work at home opportunities that people are paying good money for at other websites).
I have to tell you, this is just plain fun. You get an assignment and then you go to that store. You pick out an item like a shirt or something, talk to a salesperson about it, taking mental notes about their appearance, helpfulness, etc. Then you buy the item and go home and spend about 10 minutes reporting online about your shopping experience. Then the mystery shopping company sends you a check to reimburse you for the shirt and a payment for your time as well!
I just love this kind of work. I get to go to movies for free, order pizza for free, get groceries for fee, go to luxury spas for free and even go golfing for free! Is this a job?!
I love the "undercover" part too. I kind of feel like a spy. The whole time, the salesperson has no idea that I'm a mystery shopper. Frankly I enjoy getting to report to someone when I'm not given good service. And even better, I enjoy giving a good report for great service. I always think about how much that salesperson will enjoy hearing later that he or she got a great report from a mystery shopper! I have to keep from smiling while I'm with that salesperson or waiter, but it's hard to hold in a chuckle sometimes! :)
This is how it works You get one of the mystery shopping company listings below. Then you register with the different mystery shopping companies that appeal to you. Usually in less than 24 hours, you're getting emails from these companies with offers for mystery shopping assignments. You take the ones you like and pass on the rest. Then go shopping! |
After you're finished, you report on your experience. The assignment tells you exactly what to report about and what to buy. Then your check comes a few days later, and you keep what you buy!
I'm telling you. This is just fun.
The main thing you need to look out for is that there are "listing services" out there that will short-change you. Many of them have a very small number of mystery shopping companies in their lists. Others don't update their list and have lots of broken links. Others offer no bonuses at all.
If you pick one of the companies on this list below, you won't have those problems. You got to do this. It's just so much fun to get paid to get free stuff! Check out Shop Until You Drop first. They're my favorite.
| Rank | Site Review |
Popularity/ |
Rating |
1 |
One feature that Shop Until You Drop offers that no one else does is a unique Shopper Profile for each member. This allows you to let them know the types of shopping you would like to do. Then the service notifies you by email when a company requests that particular type of shopper. They also offer a very attractive set of bonuses. You'll be pleased with this company. It's just the most professional one out there and you can tell when you visit their site. |
Very High/ |
9.9
|
2 |
Their database also includes a good number of regional mystery shopping companies offering nearby and unique shopping experiences. You will probably find one of these near you. The website is easy to navigate and concise. If you're a parent, the member's area feels your pain. They offer good advice on how to successfully manage a family while taking advantage of the mystery shopping opportunities. They are currently offering over $70 in some nice bonuses. |
Very High/ |
9.8
|
3 |
They are professionally staffed and I found the very responsive to customer needs. In fact, of all the tested companies, they were the fastest at answering email questions. I also have to give credit to them because they are the most realistic in terms of what type of earnings to expect. Some companies put this in the best light in order to attract new customers, but Get Paid 2 gives you the real picture (and it's still pretty positive). They also offer great advice on how to list your shopping interests in your shopper profiles in order to get the best mystery shopping opportunities offered to you. As for bonuses, they have several special offers right now for free ebooks which show how to make money in different ways on the Internet. |
Very High/ |
9.7
|
4 |
The member's area has lots of information. The training article "Insider's Secrets & Tips" is very helpful for gaining new mystery shopping skills and how to have fun doing the shopping. The information is very clear and easy to understand. One of the success factors is implementing a good mystery shopping "plan." This site makes it a priority that members understand how to do that. One nice feature about this site is that the database entries are linked directly to each shopping company's application page. When you're filling out a lot of applications, that makes the process a lot faster. |
High/ |
9.7
|
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| Other Important Anti-Scam Sites |
| Firstgov.gov - Portal for research in government databases for all business practice information. Library of Congress - Business Reference Services provides resources for business practices on the Internet. CommerceNet - Organization dedicated to enabling safe business practices on the Internet. Small Business Administration - U.S. government organization for aiding small business owners. Federal Trade Commission - Watchdog arm of the U.S. government for consumer issues. U.S. Department of Justice - DOJ's website for educating the public on Internet fraud. Federal Bureau of Investigation - The FBI's advice for avoiding Internet business fraud. U.S. State Department - Overview of typical business scams both inside and outside the U.S. IC3.gov - The Internet Crime Complaint Center receives, develops and refers complaints of cyber-crime. Fraud.org - National Internet Fraud Watch Information Center. Consumer.gov - FTC portal for research in consumer issues. On Guard Online - Practical tips to help you understand computer security and guard against Internet fraud. Federal Citizen Information Center - Database of scam, fraud and recall resources. Office of the Inspector General - Fraud prevention and detection resources and reporting. |
| Ebay Strategies| Pay-per-click Systems | Paid Surveys | Mystery Shopping| Internet Marketing | What's HOT! |
| Final Word: If you're serious about making money on the Internet, go check out The Millionaire League. If you do what Brian teaches you, you can almost write your own check. It's about using the Internet to help people find what they are looking for, and getting paid in the process. |
