Schuetz

This article isn't going to go over well with those die hard mystery shopping fanatics out there who swear that mystery shopping is the greatest thing to hit the Internet since the Beatles hit the Ed Sullivan Show. Well, it's time to set the record straight about Mystery Shopping and just how much you can realistically make from this endeavor. Hopefully, after reading this little expose, you'll have a decent idea of what Mystery Shopping is about and whether or not you want to even bother with it. Yes, it is time to learn the truth about Mystery Shopping

The first thing I don't understand is why people call this an Internet business. Mystery Shopping has nothing to do with the Internet other than the fact that you are probably getting paid by a company that has established itself on the Internet and when you make your reports, you do so by submitting the information via their web site. But other than that, there is nothing Internet about this. Okay, I guess I should explain what Mystery Shopping is for those who don't know.

Mystery Shopping is basically going out of your house to various local, or not so local establishments and purchasing items or services from these establishments and then reporting back to the web site your findings. The web sites use this information as reviews for these establishments for people who want information on them. It is a great service for people who want to know if an establishment is worth going to. But for the mystery shopper, it's a whole different story.

For starters, many times your payment comes in the form of the service itself. Say you're sent out to eat at a new restaurant. Many times your payment is the meal. Well, maybe for some people that's fine, but when you have to travel 60 miles to get to the restaurant, especially with the price of gas today, while it may be a fun night out, it's certainly not profitable. If anything, most mystery shopping gigs will end up costing you money.

Then of course there is the gas expense. Even for the Mystery Shopping gigs that pay you in actual cash, by the time you deduct your expenses, which are not covered, you don't end up with much. And the pay is pretty dismal anyway. At best, you'll make about $20 for a very long assignment.

Finally, there is the problem of getting assignments. Most mystery shopping companies don't give you a lot of work unless you're willing to travel hundreds of miles, especially if you live in the sticks. You'll be lucky to get one assignment a month in many cases.

The truth is, you can't make a lot of money with mystery shopping. If you're just looking for a night out, it's great. Just don't expect to get rich from doing it.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim