The Idea:
Make cash and get free stuff acting as a "secret shopper."
How it Works:
Companies hire "secret shoppers" to buy things at their businesses and report back on the products, service and overall presentation. Practically anything you buy can have mystery shopping associated with it. Stores and restaurants are the obvious ones, but gas stations, movie theaters, parking garages and apartment rental services all also use mystery shoppers. Most pay-to-shop opportunities are arranged through agencies, but you can belong to more than one agency and get as many mystery shopping gigs as you think you can handle. Generally, taking less-desired assignments like test-shopping a bus station or parking lot can get you into the good graces of the schedulers so that they start offering you plum assignments like fancy restaurants or even overnight hotel stays. See, mystery shopping is not so mysterious after all!
How Much Can You Make:
Most mystery shop assignments cover little more than the cost of the items you purchase and a token amount for your time- maybe $10-25 per shop. The real benefits come when you add up all the freebies. Instead of spending a few hundred dollars filling up your gas tank, eating at a fancy restaurant and heading to the movie theater, you get paid for all of this.
More Information:
You can find mystery shopping gigs on our Mystery Shop Job Site