Secret Shopper

A secret shopper (also referred to as a mystery shopper or undercover shopper) is someone who gets hired by a company to act like one of their customers and provide feedback about the experience. In many cases, this means frequenting a physical store; however, some “shops” also take place over the phone or entirely online (in which case you’ll generally just correspond with the company’s representatives via email or test out their web store or mobile app).

The types companies that frequently employ mystery shoppers include (but are not limited to):

• Airlines
• Call centers
• Car dealerships
• Hotels
• Movie theaters
• Restaurants
• Other retail outlets (e.g., grocery stores)

As a shopper, you’ll be expected to comprehensively test out how the company deals with customers. At minimum, this means buying products, which you’ll be reimbursed for.

You’ll also probably have to interact with employees to test how they react in various scenarios. Sometimes, you may even be expected to create problems for them—for instance, by attempting to return an item when the store’s policy doesn’t permit it—so that the company can “stress test” their own employees.

Almost anyone can be a mystery shopper, but it takes a bit of know-how to pursue this side hustle safely and ensure it’ll be worth your time. Always be sure to:

Thoroughly vet the companies you work for

Unfortunately, scams are fairly common in the world of mystery shopping. Avoid any company that asks you to do either of the following (both of these are well-known scams):

• Purchase gift cards and send them the card numbers
• Deposit a check for them that they sent you in the mail

What’s more, you should steer clear of any company that isn’t accredited by the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA), a large trade organization that’s very active in this space. Before you apply for a job, check to see if the company is listed in their directory, and perform a quick Google search to see if there are any credible-seeming horror stories about them.

Experiment with different types of shopping

As you find your footing in the world of secret shopping, you’ll discover what types of “shops” appeal to you. They all have their advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, phone-based shops tend to pay very little, but they’re quick and easy to complete and can be done entirely from home. Conversely, mystery shopping at gas stations tends to be quite lucrative, but it’s very time-consuming and travel-heavy.

It’s worth trying out all of the main types of mystery shopping at least once. In the beginning, before you establish yourself as a shopper, some of the higher-paying gigs might be hard to land, but if you keep at it, you’ll work your way up to them before long.

Sign up with multiple companies

Mystery shopping isn’t like some jobs, where you’ll be employed by just one company. Instead, as a shopper, you’ll essentially be a freelancer, and to make this side hustle worth it, you should sign up with several on the MSPA list linked above.

You won’t receive much work from any single company, but if you reach the point where 5–10 are sending you assignments, you’ll be able to keep yourself quite busy as a shopper—and hopefully make a fair amount of extra cash.

Pros

You probably won’t get rich off of mystery shopping, but it can still be a very worthwhile side hustle. Its advantages include:

• You’ll get free stuff: As a mystery shopper, you’ll generally be reimbursed for what you buy (although it might take a few weeks or months to receive your payment). This gig gives you the opportunity to get free food, groceries, hotel stays, entertainment, and more.
• It can be fun: As a mystery shopper, you’re essentially going undercover. If that sounds exciting, that’s because it often is. Depending on the kind of shops you do, you may get to travel, and you’ll get to flex your acting skills a little when you interact with store employees.

Cons

Despite its perks, mystery shopping isn’t for everyone. Its downside include:

• Some shops are unpaid: Unfortunately, you won’t actually earn real cash for all of your shops. Some companies only offer unpaid jobs—they’ll still reimburse you for whatever you buy, but your payment will begin and end there. If you prefer, you can screen for those shops and avoid applying for them, but that will narrow the range of opportunities available to you.
• You have to watch for scams: Again, a lot of “mystery shopping companies” are actually scam operations. This side hustle is generally safe, but you’ll need to stay on your guard when you search for and apply to jobs.