Many mystery shoppers are adamant about the minimum mystery shopping pay they will work for. For some shoppers, it may be $10, for others it may be $5. How much (or little) you are willing to work for often depends on what area of the country you are in. Your cost of living in Los Angeles may be a lot different than a mystery shopper living in Pecos, Texas. Regardless…
Is Mystery Shopping Discriminating Against You?
An employer asking an employee about his age or income status is a surefire way for that employer to wind up sitting in court with a discrimination lawsuit. Yet with mystery shopping, we as mystery shoppers are asked very personal information before we can even be approved to work with a provider. We are asked everything from our age, education level, and income level to the kind of car we…
How The Economy Is Affecting Mystery Shopping
The recession is hitting everyone hard. Even employees who normally are insulated from economic downturns, such as government officials and teachers, are worried about losing their jobs. Millions of families are facing the possibility of losing their homes, while others taking family members or friends in who have already been hurt by the financial crisis. Countries across the globe are feeling the recessionary pains. And just as with seemingly everything…
Should You Help a Friend Out By Letting Them In On Your Mystery Shopping Secret?
Folks everywhere are feeling the effects of the recession. You may be using mystery shopping to supplement that small unemployment check you are receiving every month while you search for a new full time job. Or perhaps your neighbors or friends are struggling with finances and looking up every alley for little bit of extra work. The truth is that work is hard to come by these days, and that…
Stretch Your Household Budget With Mystery Shopping (Grocery, Gas, and Clothing Shops)
People across the country are being affected by the deepening recession. If you haven’t already been laid off or had a salary reduction, you likely know someone who has been affected. You may be saving your pennies for what may happen in the coming months, or you are scrimping just to make ends meet. In whatever ways the recession may be affecting you, you can use the right combination of…
Steps To Take To Avoid Getting Paid Late
One of the biggest complaints mystery shoppers have is slow payment by mystery shopping providers. While some providers may pay you as quickly as one week if you accept PayPal payments or use direct deposit, other providers may take months to pay you regardless of the payment method. While some companies pay within a fairly reasonable period of time, some providers will not pay without repeated follow up calls. There…
How Store Closings Will Impact Your Mystery Shopping Paycheck
Everyone from the news media to friends and neighbors are talking about the economy these days. With the biggest shopping season of the year just around the corner, the news of the many retailers and restaurants who are closing their doors are on the tips of tongues everywhere. In fact, many of your favorite stores and restaurants may have announced plans to close their doors in the coming months, if…
How The Credit Crunch May Affect Mystery Shopping
The credit crunch and liquidity crisis are hitting home for everyone. Retirement accounts are hit with the stock market sell-offs, and many folks are worried about layoffs, home prices, and rising credit card rates. You may be wondering how your income as a mystery shopper could be affected. Here’s a breakdown on just some of the things you may start to notice. Picking Up More Assignments. If it’s crossed your…