One way to be highly valued even as a new mystery shopper is to help out on short notice or with a hard-to-fill shop. From time to time, a shopper will cancel or just not show up as scheduled, and a scheduler may need to find a bail-out shopper at the last minute. Often, extra pay is offered for these emergency shops. If you’re asked to drive outside your normal range, the scheduler may tack on extra for gas and time.
If you can fit in a last minute shop or one going begging, then do so. Everyone knows how frustrating it can be to have a job to do and no easy way to get it done. If you pitch in when possible, then you’ll be remembered fondly and be considered for better shops when available. It’s simple human nature to return favors. If you can help out your scheduler, then he or she will try to make sure that you’re covered in some way down the line.
More and Better Shops Will Come
As you continue to mystery shop with a specific company and as you begin to get offers from other companies (most shoppers work for several), you’ll likely get more options and better shops. In fact, the work can snowball. Unless you want to be a fulltime mystery shopper, then pick and choose carefully.
First, consider the pay. Although $5 to $10 for fueling a car and buying a candy bar sounds like pretty good pay, unless the gas station is close and unless the paperwork is pretty minimal, you’re not really coming out much ahead. Even if the purchases are covered (a few dollars on gas and a buck or so for the item bought), if you spend a couple of hours driving and doing paperwork, you’re not even making minimum wage.
With careful planning, it’s possible to schedule several small shops in one area and in the same time and make out fine with little shopping assignments. You might, for example, take the gas-station shop along with a restaurant shop nearby and then stop by a pet shop in the mall for a dog-food-purchase shop. When combined, you’ll make a few dollars, get a free meal, and some food for your pet.
Better paying shops do become available particularly if you’ve proven yourself to be a solid shopper. Often, these shops are offered directly through the scheduler and not posted on the main shop lists. Over time, you may be asked to take vacations (paid in full or only in part) or to visit amusement parks. Instead of getting a few dollars and a $6 lunch, you may be compensated with high priced tickets or items and sometimes pretty sizable cash pay outs. In some cases, you get a break-even deal but get to cover an enjoyable assignment without paying anything out of pocket. A free weekend at a motel or a day at the zoo followed by a quick report can be appealing.