by Carolyn Joslin

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: January 05, 2011

I'm sure I'm not the only stay-at-home mom who has tried to make some extra money as a "mystery shopper" or "secret shopper". At first, it may seem as though you'll never earn enough to make it worthwhile, but here are some tips to help you maximize your profits.

Conduct a basic internet search for "mystery shoppers", "mystery auditors", or similar.

Review sites carefully before you sign up! Some sites will charge you money or promise you more than $50 for a single assignment. DO NOT SIGN UP WITH THESE SITES! They are scams. Legitimate sites will have the MSPA (Mystery Shop Providers of America) logo and will be free to sign up for.

Sign up for several sites. You will not see what jobs are available in your area until you sign up, so it is worth your time to find several sites that serve your state and register with them. Each site will serve a few clients (the companies that pay for the shops to be done), so signing up with different sites will also give you a wider selection of types and locations of shops.

Before assigning to anything (unless you're already going to or using the service), check all sites for jobs in the same places and on the same days. This will help you spend less gas, less time, and less effort in getting to and from shops. I try to make sure I have at least 4 shops in a given day or I won't accept anything for that day.

Use an organizer to help you keep track of which shops are due when and for what company. I color-code my shops so I don't have to write down the company's name as well as the location and criteria for the shops. This also helps you budget and keep track of your earnings as you can write down the shop fees and commissions.

Review criteria carefully. Many shops will be restricted by age, gender, or by number of persons in the party. Frequently shops will state that you may not bring others with you (including children) as this will detract from your ability to observe what is around you. Also, pay close attention to dress codes (some will require you to act as a representative for a company and you will need to dress accordingly).

The money- Be especially careful when accepting shops that require purchases (as many do). Observe what is to be bought (a meal, paper, non-clearance items, etc) and what your spending limit is. If your shop fee is $1.25, your commission is $5.00, and you bought something for $9.99, guess what... you just LOST money! The exception to this is if you are performing a shop for something you routinely do (like getting gas), and you have a $4.00 reimbursement and a $6.00 shop commission, and you put $50 of gas in your tank, you've actually saved yourself $10.00 (since this is something you needed anyway).

Finally, go the extra mile. Get in good with 2-3 shop sites, do exceptional work for them, and make sure that your jobs are in on time. These companies will be aware of this, will provide you with more shops, and will be more likely to provide you with a more steady income. Some sites assign "routes" to their best shoppers, which means a steady income since the shopper is going the same jobs each month.

Things You'll Need:

Organizer
Internet Connection
Bank account and debit/check card
Good observational Skills
Money Management Skills

Tips & Warnings

Be patient
Be polite
Dress appropriately for each shop
Do no accept shops you cannot do.

Resources

Market Force
Trend Source
Corporate Research International
Maritz

Learn more about this author, Carolyn Joslin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.