night-ice

There are even mystery shops for casinos, oil
changes, and cruises. Depending on where you live, some offer bonuses because enough people aren't signed up or picking up assignments. Where I live, they are begging for owners of GMC, Pontiac, and Chevrolet owners to get oil changes (reimbursed) plus cash for participating plus "travel cash". So it comes to a free oil change and around 50-70$, depending on assignment. One can even borrow one of said vehicles.

DrRodneyMcKay

Yeah, one of the companies I'm signed up for seems to be nothing but oil changes. I don't own a car, and few of my friends do as well, so those offers are lost on me.

I did have a really great mystery shop where I had to go to a bank and talk to a banker about investment options- didn't have to buy anything, and $30 was pretty good pay for a couple hours' work.

night-ice

Zoos, movies, hotels and restaurants...even airport restaurants and shops are available. Most will be reimbursements, which is pretty good still. I saw a few assignments in Florida at one of their airports that wanted you to "apply" for credit cards from the people who are usually asking people if they want to earn free flights. Once you accepted assignment, they filtered so your credit wouldn't be pulled or anything. But as many shops as you wanted for $50 payments but had to wait 30 minutes in between kiosk visits and couldn't use same kiosk.

adamak

So they pay you some money and refund the dinner / drink costs?

DrRodneyMcKay

Yes, but obviously you have to fill out a survey (sometimes it's just question and answer, sometimes you have to write narratives of your experience) and provide detailed feedback. Sometimes they'll ask things like how long (in minutes) it took your food to come, how many servers there were, etc... so it's not going to be the most relaxing dinner out. Sometimes they have requirements for what you order (i.e. an entree and an appetizer) and sometimes you need to come with a second person. But if you're willing to do the legwork, then yes, you essentially get a free meal and some money (plus whatever points you get on your CC for restaurant spend).

kipper

Sometimes. Some will only reimburse for your meal, up to a certain amount.

diburning

I just signed up for market force and Coyle. Coyle only seems to have Starwood properties and nothing else. I'm still waiting for market force to approve my application.

Perhaps I'll do the Starwood stays for Coyle when I want to take a staycation.

Am I allowed to take assignments while traveling? For example if I know I'm in Chicago, could I take an assignment there even though I'm not based there? The T&Cs don't seem to say much about this.

DrRodneyMcKay

Sometimes they also have some independent bed and breakfasts, though they tend to be located outside major cities. Sure, you can take an assignment while traveling, but your stay is limited to one/two nights and there's no guarantee they'll give you the assignment so it can be a hassle when planning travel. For starwood stays, I've found they don't give them to you unless you've done a bunch of other assignments (the cheaper restaurant etc..) ones...I haven't been approved for a starwood stay. But if you're thinking of a restaurant, etc.. then absolutely you can do it while traveling, they usually email to confirm a date/discuss a date with so you can time it properly.

sfgiants13

I mystery shop quite a bit. I've been trying to work my way into hotel shops but have had little luck. Most of my shops have been airport restaurants. I usually wait until they are bonused or reach out to the scheduler and tell them I'm an airline employee and am willing to do x number of shops in return for a bonus in whatever city. I've spent a few weekends doing a bunch of shops. It pays for my hotel cost, and I make some decent money on top of that. It usually takes a good chunk of the day but I usually have some down time. I also do some restaurant shops and a ton of alcohol/tobacco ID compliance checks. Those are my favorite because I go in and out and the reports take 2 minutes since all they really care about was if I was IDed or not. I spent about 4 hours in the bay area last week doing 20 tobacco shops (they wouldn't let me do more). I earned almost $300 in pay and that time spent was mostly driving. Add in another hour for the reports and I'm done. It was also nice that they were all gas station purchases so I got 5x Hilton points and it was all fully reimbursed on top of the pay.

DrRodneyMcKay

Nice! I haven't come across many airport shops at all with Coyle or Market Force - any advice for where you find them?

sfgiants13

For those who want to look more into it www.mysteryshopforum.com is a great resource.

DrRodneyMcKay

Also quick question - if they reverse the charges on your CC (such as for hotel stays) I assume that means you don't get any points for that spend?

kipper

I would assume so.

adamak

Will they deny your report and not reimburse any of the bills? Like I'm new and my reviews may not be up to par even if I try, so should I assume they won't reimburse the tabs initially?

kipper

If you don't follow guidelines, they may leave it up to the client (the company you are shopping, i.e. the restaurant or hotel chain) to decide if they will reimburse you. This means if you submit your report late, don't do everything they want, don't take the proper photos, etc., they can deny your payment, or leave it up to the client as to if they will pay you.