The Mystery Money

MYSTERY SHOPPING : GET PAID TO SHOP

Folks!! It's time you bid adieu to all those excuses you make to your friends, pretending you turned saintly but actually, hoping to survive the month well within your budget, for here comes the first smart way of earning those extra bucks. This mode of earning would definitely add a pinch of ‘mystery’ to your otherwise monotonous lives. Yes, it is MYSTERY SHOPPING!! Having mystery shopped for almost 25 brands over the last 4 years, I can share some deep insights for you to mull over.

No wonder the big question descends your minds "Can we really earn while we shop"??? Yes, we can. Sounds exciting?? Let’s dive in to the details of what mystery shopping is all about.

So, what is mystery shopping?

It is a kind of market research in which regular customers like me and you conduct an anonymous measurement of the brand's regulations, quality and customer service.

Can I become a mystery shopper?

Yes, why not. You don’t need to have a degree or a professional certification to be a mystery shopper. College students or working professional like you and me are eligible. And if you are a shopaholic, you will surely relish the experience. All you need to do is, get enrolled online with a mystery shopping company. Based on your chosen locations, you will be assigned to shop and audit brand outlets.

 Honey, where is the money?

Firstly, you receive a request for a mystery shopping assignment in your area. The mail would have all the details including the address, the date, time of visit and the remunerations. If you wish to go ahead with the assignment, apply for it. Post your mystery shopping exercise, you have to submit a detailed report in the format given by the mystery shopping company.

How much will I be paid per assignment?

The compensation offered by different companies differs. However, to give you a fair idea, on an average, you might get Rs. 800-1000 for a retail apparel outlet like Levis, UCB, Globus etc. Again, the money paid is subjective to the company you will be working for.

My tryst with mystery shopping..

On an average I made a sum of Rs.3000-3500 per month. Earning three grand was a handsome sum for me during my engineering days. With no dearth of pocket money, I could splurge more, yet save some. Moreover, earning while still working hard for the grades gives you another sort of high.

I was totally in love with this concept. What excited me most as a mystery shopper was the plethora of industries I could shop and scrutinise for.  Mixing fun with work is what mystery shopping is all about. It is exhilarating to be an inspector of your favourite apparel brand-outlet, restaurant, coffee shop like Barista, CCD, etc. Most of the times, to better assess the experience from a customer’s perspective you would have to purchase the merchandise. Cherry on the cake is, you get compensated for it.

In the past, shopping to me meant just lashing out money but thanks to "Mystery shopping" I saw an entirely new dimension to it. An aspect which adds wings to the lives of otherwise constrained college going geeks. In a nutshell, the experience is worth experiencing, no sooner you start loving it. The excitement of knowing about your next destination is so enthralling and you start waiting for the next mail and a new shopping destination. In the process, you not just get a lot to earn but also to learn.

P.S : There is a lot more to know about mystery shopping. Please shoot your queries and details that you seek.  I will post it in the next thread. Thanks n Happy earning  :)