Have you heard about mystery shopping and do you want to know where you can find mystery shopping jobs to earn extra money? I have done it and here I am spilling the secrets and sharing how you can eat out for free and become a mystery shopper in your local town.
This year more than ever we are all looking for a fun way to save money and mystery shopping is right up there with the best ideas! Mystery shopping works for anyone and you don’t need to have any previous experience.
If you are a typical customer then you are the right person for mystery shopping, I know mums, college students and other self-employed people who all do secret shopper jobs because it is an easy way to save some money and it is a part-time activity that fits in around other commitments in your spare time.
Mystery Shopping really exists and you can get some lovely treats and free meals from it and it is a great way of saving money. I have tried lots of ways of giving my family treats and thought I’d make this a regular slot on my blog as I know many of us enjoy a side hustle! Mystery shopping means you really can eat out in lots of lovely restaurants for free.
I have eaten in Strada, Pizza Huts, countless pub chains, Beefeaters and fast food restaurants, we have also been to events and hotels – therefore this really is a thrifty shopping tip!
As with lots of my ventures, my husband was sceptical of becoming a mystery shopper and thought I’d get scammed. That is the main difference between us (actually it’s a huge difference and at times infuriates me). I am a risk-taker, I will risk time and a little amount of money if I believe in something. Lee is the opposite, luckily over the past 15 years, he has realised that he has to let me do these things and looking for mystery shopper jobs was no exception!!
I have a rather obsessive character, therefore when I come up with a plan or an idea I always give it 100% and follow through until get bored or the next bigger better idea comes along!
However, he very quickly realised that mystery shopping services are a legitimate opportunity and it is simply a method to report on the quality of customer service. As a mystery shopper, we stick to the facts and report what our customer journey is like and then the company use that information to improve their service. We don’t need to identify ourselves or give any personal information, our role is to stay incognito and under the radar!
Anyway, I have digressed, back to how I started mystery shopping.
There are plenty of companies that use mystery shoppers and they are plenty of ‘chances’ to get involved in secret shopping. I have eaten out in numerous restaurants including Strada, The Ha Ha chain and pubs. I have been offered nights in hotels, flights to destinations abroad. Banks regularly use mystery shoppers as do all the fast-food chains, opticians and even retail stores like Lloyds Pharmacy. The saying there is no such thing as a free meal – can be questioned and proved wrong. All you need to ‘spend’ is a little time carrying out these mystery shopping assignments.
How can you become a mystery shopper?
It couldn’t be easier to become a mystery shopper as it is all online so to get started all you need is an email address and my expert tips.
You register online with a mystery shopping company and then regularly check the job board for when shops are available. You can accept any jobs that you want to do in your town. The jobs are often on a first come first served basis so you need to check regularly. The best jobs fly off the screen so be warned and develop a fast finger but the great thing is the same jobs come up again the following month!
The purpose of mystery shopping is to provide feedback on the customer experience received at a shop. The company wants to see how the process is from a customer perspective. Therefore it is important that you can recall details and take note of specifics as you will be required to report on the quality of services. You will need good communication skills and to be able to complete tasks within specific timeframes.
What does mystery shopping involve?
Most jobs involve you turning up during a specific time slot and playing the role of a regular customer. For restaurants, you may be required to order a specific dish and a specific drink. For retail outlets, you may be required to ask a specific question. Timings are often important and you will need to be to record this with a digital timing device. Food visits are usually for more than one person and my husband and I have enjoyed many nights out courtesy of mystery shopping tasks.
After the shop (and normally required within 12hours) you log in online and answer a questionnaire that provides a detailed report for the company. This can take anything from 10 mins to 30mins but you get quicker with practice!
Do you make money?
Not really, you usually receive a small fee of between £5 and £10 per completed job which covers your time but it is not a lucrative role. The benefit obviously lies in that you have eaten out for free or received the item you shopped for, which is yours to keep. If like us you find the cost of a night out expensive when you add in babysitting fees it could be ideal for you. Mystery shopping work has provided us with a night out at a much-reduced price.
One point to note is that you pay upfront then are reimbursed once completed. This, therefore, means you need to have the cash available first but I was always refunded very promptly, so although you won’t make much money the night out will cost you next to nothing.
Which companies can I trust?
Firstly do not send money to anyone to register on their books – those are mystery shopper scams. Secondly register with more than one company, as the jobs come in fit and starts. I have worked with all the companies mentioned below and can recommend them for being legitimate reputable companies.
Gapbuster is great for fast food including Pizza Hut, Macdonalds and also petrol companies (yes really – free petrol!)
Retail Eyes lots of restaurants and pub visits available, oh and gym membership, I had a three-month membership at my local gym which was one of my favourite jobs.
Grass Roots, banking and financial services- are their main clients. I didn’t do as much with them as I did with the first two, although these are worth a closer look as they pay better.
Maritz pays the most including car parking petrol costs etc, lovely restaurants to shop at, but the jobs are far and few between. However, I loved it when they rang asking me to do one as I knew it would be a lovely evening in a great place.
Those four are a great starting point and a quick google will bring up more mystery shopping opportunities. It is well worth it if you want a cheaper night out. I really enjoyed it and easily clocked up over £2000 worth of treats out, over the space of a couple of years. At one point we ate out weekly from doing mystery shopping therefore it’s well worth a shot!
Becoming a mystery shopper is a real thing and I think it can be a great side hustle if you have some spare time and enjoy eating out and will be happy to provide feedback on the service you received. Also, have a read of 6 Free Food Apps if you like getting free food if you are looking for more ways to grab a free meal!
If you enjoyed this post you might enjoy reading about How to Apply for Game Shows: My Tipping Point Experience, as I said I like to do different things in my spare time!
3 Responses
Careful not to “out” yourself – I know R.E. are a bit funny at the moment about outing as a mystery shopper (trying not to out myself at the same time). I’ve also signed up with GFK though they seem to be mostly banking, and you can’t take children along to those, though they do also have some nice ones to National Trust centres. I think I’ll have to have a look at some of your other links too.
I’ve found that mystery shopping also really helps when I’m writing blog reviews, you just look at things in the same way, the detail, the experience, & keeping it all objective. It’s a fun little sideline, isn’t it?
It so is! – I don’t have much time to do it at the moment but during the summer holidays I will definately do a few restuarants again. I also enjoyed my three months at a local gym.