Consumer Alert: Get Paid To Shop
Mystery Shopping Is $600 Million Industry
Posted: 5:35 pm EST February 13, 2006Updated: 2:37 pm EST February 14, 2006
PITTSBURGH -- How would you like to be paid to shop?
Not only that, but get freebies such as free meals, a free car wash, even free trips to the amusement park.
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Applications are now being taken and the job is only a click awayMystery shopping is a $600 million industry and more than 6,000 people in the Pittsburgh area have already applied.The responsibility of a mystery shopper is to eat out at nice restaurants for absolutely nothing and write down just about everything from the name of the waitress and hostess, to the quality of the food and service to checking out the restrooms.They mystery shoppers Channel 11 spoke to said it's worth it.Mystery shopper Linda said, "It's fun to know that you're getting your meal free ... just to go fill out some forms."Nearly every kind of business uses mystery shoppers, from carpet companies to convenience stores to high end retailers.The reason stores use mystery shoppers is to check out the quality of a company's product.Tracy Pavlick, the owner of her own mystery shopper service said, "We try to find shoppers who feel comfortable and know the expectations of where they're going."Depending on the job, some mystery shoppers also get paid.On average, shoppers earn about $10 to $20 per visit, which includes the time it takes to go online and fill out a report.In rare instances, experienced shoppers can earn up to $40 to 50 per visit for more detailed surveys that may include using a hidden camera.To be a mystery shopper you need to have access to a computer.Most of the jobs are offered through e-mails where you go to a Web site and they'll tell you what is available.While surfing those sites you may come across pop ups and links to websites that will provide you with lists of mystery shopping companies for a price.Pavlick said to ignore those ads."Never, ever pay any money to be a mystery shopper," said Pavlick.Pavlick recommends applying to many companies for mystery shopping positions."Ideally, the more companies these shoppers apply to, the better their opportunities are to find something that they really enjoy doing," said Pavlick.Click here to learn more about the Mystery Shopper Providers Association.
For more information about the Anonymous Shoppers and Assessments of Pittsburgh click here.
Applications are now being taken and the job is only a click awayMystery shopping is a $600 million industry and more than 6,000 people in the Pittsburgh area have already applied.The responsibility of a mystery shopper is to eat out at nice restaurants for absolutely nothing and write down just about everything from the name of the waitress and hostess, to the quality of the food and service to checking out the restrooms.They mystery shoppers Channel 11 spoke to said it's worth it.Mystery shopper Linda said, "It's fun to know that you're getting your meal free ... just to go fill out some forms."Nearly every kind of business uses mystery shoppers, from carpet companies to convenience stores to high end retailers.The reason stores use mystery shoppers is to check out the quality of a company's product.Tracy Pavlick, the owner of her own mystery shopper service said, "We try to find shoppers who feel comfortable and know the expectations of where they're going."Depending on the job, some mystery shoppers also get paid.On average, shoppers earn about $10 to $20 per visit, which includes the time it takes to go online and fill out a report.In rare instances, experienced shoppers can earn up to $40 to 50 per visit for more detailed surveys that may include using a hidden camera.To be a mystery shopper you need to have access to a computer.Most of the jobs are offered through e-mails where you go to a Web site and they'll tell you what is available.While surfing those sites you may come across pop ups and links to websites that will provide you with lists of mystery shopping companies for a price.Pavlick said to ignore those ads."Never, ever pay any money to be a mystery shopper," said Pavlick.Pavlick recommends applying to many companies for mystery shopping positions."Ideally, the more companies these shoppers apply to, the better their opportunities are to find something that they really enjoy doing," said Pavlick.Click here to learn more about the Mystery Shopper Providers Association.
For more information about the Anonymous Shoppers and Assessments of Pittsburgh click here.
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