With Mystery Shopping Expert Melanie Jordan
Author of
The Perfect Work-At-Home Job: Mystery Shopping
How To Finally Make Money As A Mystery Shopper
The Quick And Easy Guide To Making Money
As A Merchandiser
Award-Winning Publisher of
Perfect Work-At-Home Job Update E-zine
When It's Okay To Do A Low-Paying
Mystery Shop
I know, you think I've lost my mind. You're saying "I thought you told me not to take on low-paying shops". Or "I thought I was trying to maximize my mystery shopper income". My answer is--you're right on both counts. However, there are a couple of times when it is appropriate:
1. The assignment is right in your immediate neighborhood
Please note, I mean immediate neighborhood--or another one you visit regularly anyway (like the location of your gym)--and it is truly a quick "yes or no" check-off form without a narrative. Someone has a quickie grocery store, video, fast food, cell phone, etc. shop in your local strip center, great! They want you to drive to a "nearby" shopping center 20 miles away to earn $8, that's not great, that's insulting!
2. It is an opportunity to get your first mystery shopper experience (if you are a newbie/beginner), or experience with a new type of shop (if you are experienced).
I am often asked by my coaching clients for my opinion on a certain mystery shopping company out there who is well-known and takes the prize for consistently paying ridiculously low fees (excluding rush bonus shops). I advise them that the two reasons I have just given to do a shop for "slave wages" are the only valid ones if you are ever going to make money as a mystery shopper. Consider it a "paid internship". Use them, as they are using you, and then move on to bigger and better things!
3. It is an opportunity to get "in" with a new company or scheduler you want to work with.
I would strongly advise you though to be sure you see that the company or scheduler also has many well-paying assignments in your area. Otherwise, how important is it to get "in" with a company that doesn't pay enough for its shops to make it worthwhile? I can't tell you how many times I have seen the same type of shop fee vary by as much as $15-$20 for the same work (and sometimes the lower-paying company actually has the nerve to require more work)!
Remember, the time spent doing a low-paying shop, is, of course, the time you could be spending doing a high-paying shop. Sure, sometimes, you need the cash or experience, and have to take on anything and everything. But when possible, use $20+ as your target fee per shop or "shop stop" (i.e. a mall or airport shop where you do a few low-paying shops, but they were quick and all in one place).
This may mean that you have to turn down a shop sometimes. That's perfectly okay! You will also likely need to broaden your experience beyond just retail assignments (exception, purchase and returns that pay you $20-$25 apiece). That's okay, too! Because when you can lose the mindset of being "paid to shop", that's when you'll become a top-earning professional mystery shopper.
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