tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189379392012-01-25T09:15:35.550-06:00More than just a list of mystery shopping companies - <br> providing valuable feedback on which companies to shop for... and whyThe Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1164899652310026182006-11-30T09:11:00.000-06:002006-11-30T09:14:12.336-06:00

Thanks to all of you who have visited Supplement Your Income, and great news. We are moving to a new site and a new format, with an easy to remember name:MysteryShopSmart.comThe new site features:- A new and attractive format- Easy-to-use design- Classic website (rather than blog) formatI'm still in progress of moving over all of the content. From now on, all new articles and reviews will be

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1163193192456360852006-11-10T15:06:00.000-06:002006-11-24T20:04:12.660-06:00

Corporate Risk Solutions Overall Rating: A- Number of jobs/clients: Below averageType of jobs: Retail / service evaluations, miscellaneousRate of pay: Above average, reimbursements offeredSpeed and method of payment: PayPal, 2-5 weeksBonuses offered?: None known Advantages:Corporate Risk Solutions is a well-established, small mystery shopping company. Their fees are above average, they offer

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1162833249898826422006-11-06T10:51:00.000-06:002006-11-06T11:49:42.720-06:00

One of the most important things, if not the most important thing, about being a successful mystery shopper is having information and resources available to you. Below is a list of the best mystery shopping provider lists to help you sign up for more companies, as well as some venues where schedulers post available mystery shopping jobs, and forums where you can network with shoppers and

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1161893592401295072006-10-26T14:35:00.000-05:002006-11-09T04:35:18.710-06:00

As a free mystery shopping site, I am naturally a little biased against companies like ShadowShopper that charge you for information. Yet, it breaks my heart to see so many people posting to mystery shopping forums who've used Shadow Shopper and feel their money has been wasted, and I'd like to present a little information about why I don't like Shadow Shopper. First, let's take apart some of

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1161889685567569892006-10-26T13:57:00.000-05:002006-11-10T15:15:35.240-06:00

Sensors Quality Management, Inc. (SQM)Overall Rating: B+ Number of jobs/clients: Average (many shops, few clients)Type of jobs: Restaurant, retail, miscellaneousRate of pay: Average, reimbursements offeredSpeed and method of payment: Check or direct deposit, 4-8 weeksBonuses offered?: None known Advantages:SQM benefits from a website which makes it easy to check for all shops in your state,

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Snopes.com is one of my regular websites, and they have provided a lengthy article about how to avoid mystery shopping scams. Scammers are now using cashier check fraud and wire fraud - already prevalent in taking advantage of people - to specifically target potential mystery shoppers. It's very important to make sure you only give sensitive personal information to reputable, well-known

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1147046316412932762006-05-07T18:51:00.000-05:002006-05-07T18:58:36.416-05:00

Tom writes, "Thanks for putting your information online. I just started reading this and have sent the link to my wife. It looks like the 15 Silver Certification is the first step and eventually Gold. I know this is subjective number, but what does a typical certified shopper make on a weekly basis and how much time is spent doing the shopping, reporting, etc?I think you stated that you should

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1141501882885981102006-03-04T13:38:00.000-06:002006-04-07T06:44:34.823-05:00

NsiteOverall Rating: B Number of jobs/clients: Below averageType of jobs: Restaurant (fine dining), entertainment, miscellaneousRate of pay: Reimbursement onlySpeed and method of payment: PayPal, 1-4 weeksBonuses offered?: None known Advantages:Nsite offers fair reimbursement amounts for the venue, and often includes a guest. Schedulers are easy to contact and communicate with, and I have found

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1140983991381025862006-02-26T13:45:00.000-06:002006-02-26T14:01:07.686-06:00

For easy reference, here's a listing of all of the mystery shopping articles available on this site by topic. If you're looking for the mystery shopping provider company reviews, try here.For New Shoppers Introduction to Mystery Shopping: What is mystery shopping and how does it work? Complete Get Started Guide: How to take the first steps towards being a mystery shopper and what you will

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1140982853950748902006-02-26T13:30:00.000-06:002006-02-26T13:40:53.970-06:00

Mystery Guest, Inc.Overall Rating: B+ Number of jobs/clients: Below averageType of jobs: RestaurantRate of pay: Reimbursement onlySpeed and method of payment: Check, 2-3 weeksBonuses offered?: None known Advantages:Mystery Guest, Inc. exclusively serves restaurant clients. If you enjoy an evening out at a popular chain restaurant, they're a good company for you! They are reliable and speedy in

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1140884751149830882006-02-25T10:12:00.000-06:002006-06-19T21:53:31.793-05:00

Many people have had their initial exposure to mystery shopping through a scam company, giving the entire industry a bad name. This is bad both for individuals who fall for the scams as well as the entire mystery shopping industry; scams create unrealistic expectations as well as distrust. As a shopper, you must always protect yourself against unscrupulous individuals and companies. Here are some

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1140618677168135792006-02-22T08:18:00.000-06:002006-02-22T08:31:17.186-06:00

Business Evaluation ServicesOverall Rating: A- Number of jobs/clients: Above averageType of jobs: Varied, including retail, services, and restaurauntRate of pay: Average to above averageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 2-8 weeksBonuses offered?: Yes Advantages:Business Evaluation Services has a great website. It's easy to check for shops by state and easily browse by city. You can also view

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So, you've decided to become a mystery shopper. Now, what do you do?First of all, you'll need a few things to get started. A computer with a reliable Internet connection An e-mail account you plan to use indefinitely (I prefer Gmail or Yahoo!) One e-mail address is important, for several reasons. Certification, if you choose to get it, is linked to your e-mail address and is a pain to

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1139805683658389072006-02-12T22:22:00.000-06:002006-06-19T04:38:11.716-05:00

Certified Marketing ServicesOverall Rating: DAKA Certified ReportsAKA Certified Marketing Research ServicesAKA Certified Merchandising Services Number of jobs/clients: Above averageType of jobs: Retail, theatre evaluations, merchandisingRate of pay: Below averageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 8 weeksBonuses offered?: None known Advantages:Certified is the place to join for movie theatres and

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1139287845157610522006-02-06T22:31:00.000-06:002006-02-06T22:51:22.096-06:00

SpeedmarkOverall Rating: A Number of jobs/clients: Far above averageType of jobs: Varied, including fast food, casual and fine dining, and groceryRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: PayPal, 2-6 weeksBonuses offered?: YesSoftware: SASSIE, plus a custom site for certain projects Advantages:Speedmark is one of the bigger and better mystery shopping providers, and is known for its

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1139074907425470152006-02-04T11:30:00.000-06:002006-05-16T00:27:24.760-05:00

Maritz ResearchOverall Rating: C+ Number of jobs/clients: Average to above averageType of jobs: Varied, including retail/drugstore and gasRate of pay: Average to below averageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 3-4 weeksBonuses offered?: Yes Advantages:Maritz has very professional and friendly schedulers. Many shoppers indicate that they have been flexible with emergencies, and speaking to a

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1138597922358078192006-01-29T23:05:00.000-06:002006-01-29T23:12:02.396-06:00

Mystery-ShoppersOverall Rating: B- Number of jobs/clients: Below averageType of jobs: VariedRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Paypal, 6-8 weeksBonuses offered?: None knownSoftware: SASSIE Advantages:Because Mystery-Shoppers is a smaller organization than many others, they often come across as friendlier and more accessible. I was pleased and impressed when I was assigned my first

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1138294997708816102006-01-26T10:43:00.000-06:002006-01-27T17:00:35.850-06:00

How much is not enough? It’s important to have a good idea of the actual profit you’ll get from a particular shop. Some shoppers will have a certain threshold, under which they won’t accept shops. A mystery shop can have lots of hidden costs, so it’s important to read the details.Shop pay vs. reimbursement. Make sure that you know the details of where money is allocated. To me, a $5 shop with a

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1137959326400858182006-01-22T13:28:00.000-06:002006-01-22T13:48:46.480-06:00

Bare Associates InternationalOverall Rating: B+ Number of jobs/clients: HighType of jobs: Varied, including financial, restaurant, and retailRate of pay: Average to below averageSpeed and method of payment: Direct deposit, 3-6 weeksBonuses offered?: YesSoftware: SASSIE Advantages:BAI uses SASSIE's job board, making it easy to find and schedule shops (though not all are self-assign). They are

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1137794964683371692006-01-20T15:54:00.000-06:002007-02-21T19:42:23.756-06:00

GapbusterOverall Rating: C- Number of jobs/clients: Above average number of jobs, few clientsType of jobs: Fast food and retailRate of pay: Below averageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 4 to 6 weeksBonuses offered?: YesAdvantages:Gapbuster does have a very high number of jobs available due to the size of its largest client. Even rural shoppers are likely to have shops available in their area

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1137707118219163212006-01-19T15:42:00.000-06:002006-01-19T15:45:51.946-06:00

Service IntelligenceOverall Rating: B+ Number of jobs/clients: HighType of jobs: Varied, including retail, restaurant, and convenienceRate of pay: Below averageSpeed and method of payment: Paypal, 2-6 weeksBonuses offered?: Yes, often Advantages:Service Intelligence offers great bonuses, even if its standard pay is rather lackluster. Bonuses are frequently posted. Even better, their job

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1137616185419023572006-01-18T14:26:00.000-06:002006-01-22T13:26:52.206-06:00

Taking overt notes is something that you cannot do on most shops. Barring wearing a shirt that says “Mystery Shopper” on it, there’s not much else that would be more obvious to employees that you were completing a shop! However, there are lots of ways that you can record information for later and have a more complete, detailed, and accurate shop report without setting off alarm bells using either

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1137366741412252002006-01-15T17:02:00.000-06:002006-01-15T17:12:21.413-06:00

Service Research Corporation Overall Rating: B Number of jobs/clients: AverageType of jobs: Varied, including fast foodRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 1 to 4 weeksBonuses offered?: None knownSchedules shops through: Kern Scheduling Advantages:Service Research Corporation pays very quickly compared to most MSPs. Shops from the first week of the month are bundled with the

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1137126014911244732006-01-12T22:00:00.000-06:002006-02-26T14:06:51.720-06:00

One of the most important things that you can do as a mystery shopper is be informed. Here are some places to start broadening your horizons.Try joining an online message board to network with other shoppers, get advice, and make friends. msfreedom is a great forum which is run by shoppers and has forums for schedulers to post mystery shopping boards, advice for newbies, tax information, a

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1137044322677998292006-01-11T23:29:00.000-06:002006-01-11T23:38:42.686-06:00

Service Evaluation Concepts Overall Rating: B+ Number of jobs/clients: AverageType of jobs: Varied, including retail and autoRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 3 to 7 weeksBonuses offered?: None known Advantages:Service Evaluation Concepts has a great website; it's easy to tell, quickly and at a glance, if there are shops in your area just by clicking on your home state.

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1136956417872730522006-01-10T23:12:00.000-06:002006-11-10T15:16:07.933-06:00

Would you rather jump right to the reviews of mystery shopping provider (MSP) companies? Here's an alphabetical listing of all of the reviews available so far.Don't forget to check out the Reviewer's Guide for information about how these companies have been scored.Bare Associates InternationalBusiness Evaluation Services Beyond HelloCheck Mark, IncCertified Marketing ServicesCorporate Risk

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TNS Intersearch Overall Rating: A- Number of jobs/clients: Above averageType of jobs: Varied, often fast foodRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 4 to 6 weeksBonuses offered?: None knownSoftware: SASSIE Advantages:TNS Intersearch is new shopper friendly; there are a large number of self-assign, simple shops but that still pay at the industry standard. In addition, their

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1136759086810294472006-01-08T16:11:00.000-06:002007-01-22T09:01:04.216-06:00

As this site is dedicated mostly to reviews, I feel that it's important that we keep a record of companies that have been known for being unreliable. It's important to note every mystery shopping company, no matter how well-run or shopper-friendly, will always have its critics. The point of maintaining this list is to create awareness of MSPs that have not only a few critics, but major and

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1136598903412537052006-01-06T19:33:00.000-06:002006-02-14T00:05:34.046-06:00

One of the big questions that a relatively new shopper will ask is, "How do I get more work?"Mystery shopping sometimes has a slow start. You shouldn't expect to keep up with the amount of work that an experienced shopper gets after having carefully established a reputation of quality work and reliability, as well as relationships with schedulers and other shoppers. However, there are some

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1136259777787064822006-01-02T21:23:00.000-06:002006-09-30T18:49:18.646-05:00

Beyond HelloOverall Rating: A Number of jobs/clients: Above averageType of jobs: Varied, including retail and food service Rate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Paypal, 3-7 weeks (by 20th of following month)Bonuses offered?: None knownSoftware: SASSIE Advantages:Beyond Hello has a very usable website (using the SASSIE software system), including a searchable job board and detailed

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1135721089830670172005-12-27T15:35:00.000-06:002006-01-15T16:59:30.426-06:00

National Shopping ServiceOverall Rating: C Number of jobs/clients: AverageType of jobs: Varied, often restaurant and retailRate of pay: Below averageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 4-8 weeks Advantages:NSS has an excellent new website format; it's easy to use, informative, and features an advanced search for its job board. The shopper area is professionally designed, and it's simple to see

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1135218186870751702005-12-21T20:12:00.000-06:002006-01-02T21:44:40.550-06:00

Shoppers' CritiqueOverall Rating: B Number of jobs/clients: Average to below averageType of jobs: Apartment, auto, entertainment, and othersRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Check, 4-6 weeks Advantages:Shoppers' Critique has some unique and interesting assignments, if you can get them. If you're getting tired of eating fries and going into cell phone stores, this might be the

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1135139310967341252005-12-20T21:59:00.000-06:002006-01-05T08:04:56.783-06:00

Are you new to mystery shopping? Your first shop can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you're not prepared. Try some of these simple tips to make your first shop a success, so that you can find out if mystery shopping is a way of earning income that you'll enjoy.1.) Start slow. Don't get carried away and sign up for fifteen shops; try signing up for just one and see how it goes.

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1135047039188569372005-12-19T20:37:00.000-06:002006-11-23T16:40:51.516-06:00

Shop'n ChekOverall Rating: A- Number of jobs/clients: Very highType of jobs: Varied, including restaurant and retailRate of pay: Average to below averageSpeed and method of payment: Direct deposit or check, 3 - 7 weeks (20th of following month)Bonuses offered?: Yes (Chek Advantage Day) Advantages:Shop'n Chek is one of the most popular and largest mystery shopping sites. They're well known

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1134967719981574952005-12-18T22:34:00.000-06:002005-12-19T20:55:03.496-06:00

IntellishopOverall Rating: A Number of jobs/clients: HighType of jobs: Varied, including retail and convenienceRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: PayPal, 2-6 weeksBonuses offered?: YesSoftware: SASSIE Advantages:Intellishop is good about communicating with shoppers when jobs are available. They use the SASSIE job board option, as well as e-mail notifications. They also are

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1134956725001809712005-12-18T19:37:00.000-06:002006-04-02T16:26:30.456-05:00

RoperNOP Overall Rating: C - Number of jobs/clients: Average to below averageType of jobs: Varied, mostly retail and convenienceRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Paypal, 1 - 2 weeksBonuses offered?: No Advantages:RoperNOP pays quickly and as promised, and the pay rate is pretty standard.The RoperNOP website does offer an online job board with information and pay rate about each

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1134951924995371112005-12-18T18:19:00.000-06:002006-11-10T15:21:12.756-06:00

Kern Scheduling Note: Kern Scheduling is not a mystery shopping company, but rather a scheduler for several different MS companies. For this reason, they do not have an overall rating. Number of jobs/clients: HighType of jobs: VariedRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment: Varies based on MS companyBonuses offered?: YesSoftware: Sassie Advantages:Kern does scheduling for several other

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1134941537174037562005-12-18T15:20:00.000-06:002006-05-11T13:59:07.790-05:00

Sights on Service Overall Rating: B-Note: According to their website, Sights on Service is the name of the company; Secret Shopper is the name of the service they provide. For clarity, I've referred to them as Sights on Service for the sake of this review. Number of jobs/clients: AverageType of jobs: Varied, including restaurant, retail, and phoneRate of pay: AverageSpeed and method of payment:

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Check Mark, Inc.Overall Rating: C+Summary: Number of jobs/clients: Average Type of jobs: Mostly retail Pay rate: Average Speed and method of payment: 4-8 weeks, check by mail Advantages:Check Mark offers an online job board, so it's easy to find when jobs are available.Check Mark also offers an online forum for users to interact about mystery shopping, earning opportunities, and more;

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Corporate Research InternationalOverall Rating: DSummary:Number of jobs/clients: HighType of jobs: Extremely varied, including phone shops, restaurant, apartment, and retailRate of pay: Far below averageSpeed and method of payment: Weekly direct depositBonuses offered?: Yes Advantages: CpRI has excellent website design, including an easy to use job board. Scheduling and submitting jobs is

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1134939878349087392005-12-18T14:55:00.000-06:002005-12-18T19:54:18.606-06:00

There are lots of mystery shopping company lists out there, but my site is all about reviews. Please keep in mind that I share my own experiences and perspectives; yours may be different, so I encourage you to leave a comment to share your thoughts.Here's a handy guide for more information about how to read my reviews:The Overall Rating of the mystery shopping company or scheduling company is

The Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06317891461036672122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18937939.post-1134938427302516482005-12-18T14:36:00.000-06:002006-02-12T22:50:15.563-06:00

Secret shopping, to put it simply, is visiting businesses in order to give them feedback. Each business is different in what they want, but typically it involves making a small purchase (often reimbursed) in a store, eating dinner in a restaurant, asking questions of employees, and that sort of thing. Most secret shops are organized through research companies -- each research company taking

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