I see a lot in the job ads for mystery shoppers. They say you can earn a lot of money by just being a mystery shopper. Has anybody ever actually tried this? Or is it just a huge scam?

 

It depends on who puts it on- Most of them work by sending you out with your own money to spend a grand or so, then reimburse you. But they are very specific on where you go and what you buy. I looked into it a little bit, but there weren't any local stores on the list they gave me. I would have had to go to Seattle or Tacoma areas to get anything.

 

No, it isn't a scam. Mystery shoppers are used to evaluate employee performance and company policies while on the job.

 

It can be a scam or it could be real. When I was selling Chevies I actually sent the mystery shopper packing, in a polite way, because she was wasting my time and I knew she wasn't going to buy anything. That went over well

 

We used to have them where I work. They bascillay were secret shoppers, they were on the look out for shoplifters.

 

but they dont apprehend someone like an employee in the loss prevention dept would

 

My daughter looked into it and they wanted money before she started.
She declined the offer thinking it was a scam.

 

The place I work for has hired an organization to use disabled "mystery shoppers"
to evaluate our service to the disabled. I hope they get their moneys worth, as
our disabled services operate at a loss.

 

Most of the offers you see in the want ads are scams, especially if they ask for money up front.

 

when I worked at ace hardware, we would hire them to come in and ask how to fix something, or ask for advice, we'd get a written report a few days later

 

My sister shopped a few times with a honest business. She would receive a letter
with the name of the store to visit, a description of the product to purchase, with
the stock number, and a check to cover the cost of the item. And finally an
evaluation form with return envelope. She would go, ask for help, buy the item,
and mail the evaluation form and receipt. She would get a check a few days later.
Sometimes she would be assigned a dinner for two, and I could help her in her work.
She kept the items purchased (usually $5 or $10) but it wasn't a living by any means.

 

anyone one do at home type of work like mailings or assembling some items that you actually get a decent check for doing???

looking for some ways to make some extra money bu dont really want to work weekends or work late at night after my full time job???

 

Those are usually scams too....
Home assembly - Seems the assemblers can never do the job correctly, thus no pay.
Home mailing - With all the modern mailing equipment capable of packaging and mailing most any shape or size product, why do they need you?

Be Aware, any home job that requests money up front is probably a scam of some sort!
The only one to make money is the vendor of the opportunity.

 

Ther are real secret shoppers who travel to specific company stores and check on performance etc and are paid for their time and the product. And then there are the legitimate but scammy shoppers and then there are the outright fraud ones.

The legitimate but scammy ones are where they have you buy products with your money and "evaluate" them. If you like them, you can keep them at a discounted price. other wise you return them. This is usually just a come on to get you to buy things you otherwise wouldn't and they are btting you will keep enough that they make some decent money. Usually the prices are lower than list but not always better than if you shopped around. I was approached on the phone by one of these types and after talking with the rep the above is what I understood and interpreted. Also have seen articles describing this kind of secret shopper program. Just another way to get you to spend money.

The approach I had was previously I stupidly responded to some Market survey on the phone. A couple weeks later they called and thanked me for my "valuable help in the survey and they would like to make me a secret shopper..."

If you are approached with this kind of offer, be sure to check out who pays for it and whether YOU get paid. If all the program is that you get to buy at discount and keep what you like, that is just a variation on shopping with return privileges.

Just my opinion,

Jim Henderson