Legit Mystery Shopper Jobs | 134 Companies Hiring in 2024

Before I started working from home, I supplemented my income with mystery shopping. This was a great way to get free office supplies, a night out at a restaurant, or even a new haircut.

When it comes to this line of work, mystery shopping, merchandising and product demoing are often handled by the same companies. While these aren’t necessarily work at home positions, they often provide the flexibility that many are seeking and can be combined quite easily for increased income potential.

Also See: How to Become a Mystery Shopper

What Is Mystery Shopping?

Mystery Shopping jobs can vary greatly. It may be as simple as ordering a pizza for delivery to check customer service and delivery times, or you may do a detailed audit of a local store that takes 30 to 60 minutes and includes several aspects. In some cases, your identity remains a “mystery,” in other cases, you may make your identity as a mystery shopper known before or after your “shop.” Just as the work varies greatly, so can the pay. If you are required to make a purchase, this is typically reimbursed up to a certain amount.

Also See Secret Shopper Jobs: Are These For Real?

Typical Requirements for Mystery Shopping:

• Self-Motivated
• Attention to Detail
• Reliable Transportation
• Some shops may require a stop watch; many mobile phones have this capability
• Internet/Email Access
• Some companies require certification and/or passing their tests

What Is Merchandising?

Merchandising jobs will require you to visit local stores to ensure your assigned company’s products are stocked and displayed correctly. This is usually ongoing work and pays relatively well. Many companies will allow you to pick up routine visits at several retailers and for several companies if they have them available.

Product Demonstrator Jobs

Product Demonstrators are typically those kind folks you see in the store handing out samples of new products or showing you the latest new gadget. These jobs usually pay well, as they are a bit more involved.

Typical Requirements for Product Demoing and Merchandising:

• At least 18 years of age
• Access to email/Internet
• Reliable transportation
• Ability to stand for up to 6 hours
• Ability to lift 25 to 30 pounds
• Clear communication skills
• Ability to follow written direction
• Passion for service
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check
• Food handlers permit where required by state or local law

How to Become a Secret Shopper

1. Register with legitimate mystery shopping companies (see below list). Make sure your profile is filled out completely with age, location, interests, etc.
2. Watch your email for opportunities. I recommend setting up a second email address strictly for these companies to make things easier.
3. Read the instructions carefully before accepting a job to ensure you are available at the specified date/time and understand the job requirements.
4. Complete the job as instructed. Don’t miss the deadline. Don’t forget your receipt.
5. Wait for payment.

Mystery Shopping Tips

I recommend setting up a separate email address just for your mystery shopping, merchandising and product demo jobs. There are hundreds of these companies out there. When I did this I found it best to keep the incoming emails in a separate account. Also, create a spreadsheet with your usernames and passwords.

Keep in mind, in most cases you are an Independent Contractor. You will be responsible for paying the taxes on your earnings. As you will be traveling for most of these jobs, mileage may be a deduction you can claim. Speak with your tax preparer about the details.

Do pay close attention to the payment turnaround times if you need money fast. Even though some companies have gone to PayPal, you may still be looking at up to 60 days for payment and reimbursements.

Start Slow! It’s tempting to want to pick up five jobs on your first day for maximum earnings. However, give yourself time to learn what each company entails before “bundling.” Some only require a quick survey submission, but other companies require very detailed responses. You may be sorry if you grab too many of the latter too soon.

Gauge your real profit before grabbing a job. Some jobs pay very well, especially if it is urgent and they can’t get it filled. However, if the pay is $7, you have to drive 50 miles out of your way and your total time spent in the store and filling out the questionnaire will be 1.5 hours, I would consider that a loss.

Watch out for scams. Check cashing schemes went to an all-new level when they hit the mystery shopping scene. Don’t fall for it. While there are shops in the banking industry, no legitimate mystery shopping company will ask you to cash a check and send them the balance from your earnings.

Consider getting certified. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) offers a certification course for a fee. While this is not required, some opportunities are only available to those who are Gold certified.

List of Mystery Shopping Companies

1. A Closer Look
2. AboutFace Consulting
3. ACE Mystery Shopping
4. Advisory Group Associates
5. Albatross Global Solutions
6. AMA Enterprises
7. Amusement Advantage
8. Ann Michaels & Associates
9. Archon Development Corp
10. ath Power Consulting
11. Automotive Insights, LLC
12. Baird Group
13. Bare International
14. BDS Marketing
15. BestMark
16. Beyond Hello
17. BMA Mystery Shopping
18. Business Evaluation Services
19. CIMA Insight
20. Circle of Service
21. Cirrus Marketing Intelligence
22. Clear Evaluations LLC
23. ClientSmart
24. Coast to Coast Scheduling Services
25. Confero
26. Consultants for Long Term Care
27. Consumer Impressions
28. Consumer Service Analysis
29. Consumer@site
30. Corporate Risk Solutions
31. Coyle Hospitality Group
32. CRG Mystery Shopping
33. Cross Financial Group
34. Customer Experience Experts
35. Customer Impact
36. Customer Perspectives
37. Customer Service Experts
38. Customer Service Profiles, LLC
39. Devon Hill Associates
40. DSG Associates
41. Dynamic Advantage
42. Ellis Partners in Mystery Shopping
43. Executive Solutions Mexico (Latin America)
44. Feedback Plus, Inc.
45. Forum Research, Inc
46. Frontline Focus International
47. GAPbuster Worldwide Pty
48. GigWalk
49. Goodwin & Associates
50. Grass Roots America, Inc
51. Greenhouse Marketing & Communications (Canada)
52. Guest Check, Inc
53. Harland Clarke
54. HOPE Research Group
55. Hospitality Now
56. HS Brands International
57. ICC/Decision Services
58. ICU Associates
59. IMYST, Inc.
60. Insight Twenty20
61. Instant-Replays
62. Insula Research
63. Integrity Consultants, LLC
64. IntelliShop
65. Interactions Marketing
66. IPSOS Mystery Shopping
67. iSecretShop
68. Jancyn Evaluation Shops
69. Kinesis-CEM
70. LRA Worldwide
71. Market Force Information
72. MASSolutions
73. Matrix Hospitality Management
74. MCG, Management Consultant Group
75. Melinda Brody and Co
76. Merchantile Systems
77. Mintel International Group
78. Monterey Mystery Shopping
79. mVentix, Inc
80. Mystery Shoppers, Inc
81. Mystique Shopper LLC
82. National Shopping Service
83. New Image Marketing
84. Northwest Loss Prevention Consultant
85. Norton Norris
86. Opinions, Ltd.
87. Perception Strategies
88. PerformaLogics Inc
89. Person to Person Quality
90. Pinnacle Financial Strategies
91. Primo Solutions, LLC
92. QSI Specialists
93. Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers
94. Quest for Best/Quest Associates
95. RDAssociates, Inc
96. Reality Check
97. Realty Based Group, Inc
98. Regal Hospitality Group
99. Remington Evaluations LLC
100. Research Intelligence Group
101. RetailTrack Mystery Shopping
102. RitterAssociates
103. Sales Quality Research Group
104. Second to None
105. Secret Shopper (Sights on Service)
106. Sentry Marketing Group
107. Service Evaluation Concepts
108. Service Excellence Group
109. Service Metrics Group
110. Service Performance Group
111. Service Research Corporation
112. Service Scan Evaluations
113. Service with Style
114. Shopmetrics, Inc
115. Shoppers Confidential
116. Shoppers Critique International
117. Shoppers’ View
118. Shoppers, Inc.
119. Sinclair Customer Metrics
120. SIS International Research
121. Six Star Solutions
122. Spot Check Services, Inc.
123. Statopex, Inc
124. Technology Store Shopper
125. Texas Shoppers Network, Inc
126. The 16 Marketing, LLC
127. The Shadow Agency
128. Threads Qualitative Research
129. TrendSource
130. uSamp
131. Verify International
132. White Clay
133. Winthrop Douglas, Inc
134. Wordsmith Pros, Inc.

How to Find Mystery Shopping Jobs Near You

Mystery Shopping Providers Association has a job bank available for seeking out mystery shopping opportunities by location.

Finally, if you like the idea of being a secret shopper but not leaving your house to do it, these companies let you do mystery shopping from home.

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Have you participated in mystery shopping, merchandising or product demoing? What tips would you add?