The advantages of Mystery shopping

    Many would say-YES! Then, this hub is for you! How would you like to shop, get some items you like and, at the same time, get paid for it? With todays prices and unemployment, you'd be foolish not to say Yes! I know! The proverbial-What's the catch?

Yes, WORK! For some, it is a four letter word, but take it from me, if you are willing to work-This one's for you! I have, done, my share of mystery shopping. I have had good jobs and I have had bad jobs. The good part of it is that you get paid for it.

I like it when they give me some grocery jobs, especially in the Bakery and Deli. I get to sample some free foods and check out their specials. There has been times, when, I have had my lunch for free-courtesy of the company. Then, there are the bank jobs. Those are fun! You get to open an account and do business in the bank. For each transaction, you get paid a certain amount.

The worse jobs I had was when I had to make a phone survey. I would go to a Costco and go to a phone kiosk. I would have to memorize what would seem to be a thousand and one questions. These are demanding surveys and it can be a pain. The company takes you through the fire, asking what seems to be endless questions but in the end, I would get paid.

I had a mystery shopping job with Bestmark. They are a decent company, but they are very demanding and if their survey isn't perfect, they take an amount out of your paycheck. I went on a dinner date with my wife courtesy of Best Mark, but upon not answering per their demands, I got shorted.

I guess, as with any business, it has its ups and down. You are an independent contractor and as such, you can have your pick of jobs. Plus, the great thing is that you can,probably, deduct your gas, mileage and car repairs on your tax forms.(Check with your tax advisor)  It is an interesting job and please do not pay a company to get jobs for you. I did the homework and will provide the links for you. The registration is free and these companies are begging for people to work for them.

The future looks bright. The only thing is that you got to be an actor and be a shopper. You evaluate their services and check up on the store being tidy and in order. I'm not in the business of giving people a low score for customer service and,sometimes, I bend over backwards and try to help them with positive comments. There have been, at least, two times in which I have complained of poor customer service.

I have heard stories of people making up to $44,000.00 or more. If you are thinking of doing this full time, get yourself a new car or maintain your car in good condition. I had put some mileage in mines and did, fairly well, but then I need to repair my van because of the "tear and wear". Use some wisdom when selecting shopping assignments and try to have them as close to your home as possible. It can put much tear and wear on your vehicle, if you are not careful. If you need supplemental income and a little help in paying for grocery, its a great way to make some money.

The best part of mystery shopping is that you set the dates and time you want to work. It gives you some freedom and has its perks. If you are considering doing this full time, there are many other free mystery shopping websites. Take some time to look at some more links in the search engine and please do your homework. Not all sites are good and reliable. My advice to you is to do it as a part time job and go easy on your car. So, want to make some extra money? Check out these links and see if it works for you. The best part is that it is FREE! So, check them out and share some stories with me. By the way, have some fun-It helps!!!

If you are interested in more ways to make money, I have written a great article. Check it out for details...http://gomestic.com/personal-finance/ways-to-make-money-online-2/