Are Mystery Shoppers Legit?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you have to pay an upfront fee to become a mystery shopper, that’s

always a scam

. When you’re looking for mystery shopper jobs, here are ways you can avoid scams: Don’t pay to work. Honest companies pay you, not charge you, to work for them.

Which mystery shopping companies are legitimate?

  1. BestMark. Founded in 1986, BestMark is one of the largest and oldest mystery shopping companies around with over 600,000 mystery shoppers. …
  2. IntelliShop. …
  3. Market Force. …
  4. Service Evaluation Concepts. …
  5. Secret Shopper. …
  6. Signature Worldwide. …
  7. Sinclair Customer Metrics.

How do you know if a mystery shopper is legit?

If you are interested in legitimate mystery shopping programs you can

check out the Mystery Shopping Providers Association

. If you think you’ve been a victim of this scam, report it to the FTC and BBB ScamTracker.

How much do mystery shoppers make?

How Much Do Mystery Shoppers Get Paid? Most mystery shoppers are paid by the job and not by the hour. Shoppers may earn $8-$10 for a simple assignment,

up to $20, $50, $100 or more

. In some cases, they are not paid but will be reimbursed for certain expenses.

Is the US mystery shopper legit?

The scam – the check is

fake

as is the job offer. Once you send the fake company money, you’ll be responsible for paying the money back to your bank. Remember that a bank is not responsible if you deposit a fake check. … Legitimate companies don’t charge people to work for them – they pay people to work for them.

Does Walmart hire secret shoppers?

Mystery shopping, sometimes referred to as secret shopping, is where an individual is hired to “act” like a customer, and evaluate services at a business.

Walmart does NOT utilize these services or hire associates

to perform services on behalf of other retailers or companies.

Do Mystery shoppers get paid upfront?


Mystery Shoppers does not pay shoppers up front for the shops that they are doing

. If anyone offers to send you a check in the mail to do shops for them before the shops have been completed, it is a scam. … If someone asks you to pay a monthly fee and wants your bank account or credit card number, DO NOT give it to them.

What are the disadvantages of a mystery shopper?

There are also cons in mystery shopping.

Insufficient data

: A reliable checklist, which the secret shopper can depend on, can provide directions to observe or to look out for. Personal bias: With the biases, mystery shopper can be influenced by circumstances of the day.

Can you be a full time mystery shopper?

Mystery shoppers can make anywhere from

a few bucks to several hundred a week

. Depending on your availability and the job pay, you have some control over how much you can make. Remember, though, that it will typically take a couple of weeks (minimum) before you will receive the pay for your work.

How do mystery shoppers make money?

Most mystery shoppers are

paid by the job and not by the hour

. Shoppers may earn $8-$10 for a simple assignment, up to $20, $50, $100 or more. In some cases, they are not paid but will be reimbursed for certain expenses.

How do you spot a secret shopper?

  1. They’re taking photos. …
  2. Keeping a list. …
  3. Asks too many questions. …
  4. Reluctant or slow to answer questions. …
  5. Asks about your competitors. …
  6. They check out the bathroom. …
  7. They track the time.

What is the best mystery shopper company?

  1. BestMark. BestMark is the largest mystery shopping company and it has an amazing reputation. …
  2. Second to None. Second to None opened in 1989 and has earned a good reputation over the years. …
  3. Market Force. …
  4. GAPbuster. …
  5. A Customer’s Point of View (ACPVIEW) …
  6. Secret Shopper. …
  7. About Face. …
  8. A Closer Look.

Are Mystery Shoppers legal?

Hidden video mystery shopping and

telephone mystery shopping are legal in most U.S. states

, thanks to one-party consent laws for video and phone recording. If you’re looking for customer experience research in one of the two-party consent states below, you may want to consider other options for strategic results.

How much does a Walmart secret shopper make?

Walmart Secret Shoppers earn

$12,000 annually

, or $6 per hour, which is 83% lower than the national average for all Secret Shoppers at $29,000 annually and 138% lower than the national salary average for ​all working Americans.

How much does a Walmart digital shopper make?

The typical Walmart Digital Shopper salary is

$14 per hour

. Digital Shopper salaries at Walmart can range from $11 – $16 per hour.

Do airlines have mystery shoppers?

Most mystery shopper airlines

only allow one mystery shopper per flight

.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.