How much will mystery shopping pay?

There are many myths and impressions people have about the pay received from doing mystery shopping. We hope this blog entry will help clear up all your questions.

Here are 9 Frequently Asked Questions regarding how much mystery shoppers get paid. We hope this article helps you find the answers you were looking for.

Will mystery shopping make me rich quick?
No. Don’t believe the ads that say you will.

What is the hourly rate?
Mystery shoppers are generally not paid on an hourly basis. They are paid for every job they successfully complete and submit.

Will I be guaranteed work? 
No. There are many factors that that impact the amount of work you get. Some of these include: There are no jobs in your area, too many shoppers applying for the job, your profile does not suit the client’s needs, you have recently visited this location etc.

Am I an employee or a contractor? 
Most mystery shopping companies will hire you as a contractor.

If I am a contractor, will I need an ABN to become a mystery shopper? 
The short answer is no. However, it is best to consult your tax accountant or contact the ATO to discuss your circumstances.

How am I paid for my work? 
Not all jobs pay. Some offer reimbursements and others offer a hybrid of the two options. Most companies pay you in the following month from the time you completed your job. Some jobs transfer money into your bank accounts, others prefer to pay you through PayPal.

How much am I expected to be paid for every job I complete? 
The amount of pay and reimbursements vary depending on the nature of the job and how involved it is. It also depends on the mystery shopping company.

If I need to purchase something during my mystery shop will I be reimbursed for it? 
This depends on the job. The instructions will advise you whether or not you will be reimbursed for the purchase or not.

Will I make thousands of dollars every month by mystery shopping? 
It is possible but very unlikely. You will need to be signed up to many companies and be willing to travel some distances for some of the jobs. You will need to be extremely organised to keep track of all the jobs that are assigned to you. 

Mystery shopping for some is a hobby for some extra side money and to be able to visit and experience new venues. For others, mystery shopping is how they make a living. We just want to share some facts with you regarding payment before you sign up to a company. 

How to select a mystery shopping company to work for?

You may be unaware that there are several scams circulating around the mystery shopping industry. Those ads saying that mystery shopping will pay you thousands of dollars every month are all scams. If you are asked to pay money to an overseas country, that is also a scam.

So what steps do you need to take when signing yourself up to the mystery shopping company? Below are 10 things you can do and should be aware of.

1. Australian Business Number (ABN).
Does the company have one? Check to see if the ABN matches their business name. See here http://www.abr.business.gov.au/

2. Check the Company on ASIC.
See if the company is listed on the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. See here https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/SearchRegisters.jspx?_adf.ctrl-state=bld47arqg_28  

3. Contact the Company.
If you are unsure whether the company is real, you should try and contact the company and talk to them or drop them an email.

4. Email Address.
Legitimate companies generally have business email addresses. Be careful of emails that have a free domain name such as @hotmail.com @google.com @yahoo.com @live.com

5. Company Website.
All mystery shopping companies should have a website. If there is no website or the website looks amateurish, you should be on high alert. Our website is www.mysterycustomer.com.au

6. Online Activity.
Check to see when the company’s website was last updated. If the website was last updated years ago, it may not be operating anymore. Find out if they have an active social media network. Mystery Customer's Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/mysterycustomer

7. Paying to Sign Up.
We strongly advise against registering with companies that require you to pay money upfront to sign up. There is no guarantee that you will be provided with jobs, so save your money and register elsewhere!

8. MSPA Certified.
Check to see whether the mystery shopping company is a member of any professional association. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association is the professional association for mystery shopping companies around the world. Here's a list of Australian MSPA members: http://www.mspa-global.org/en/search-mspa-companies.html?company=&industria=0&servico=0&pais=-3&region=0&served=0

9. Get Rich Quick Claims.
Be careful of advertisements that claim to pay a lot of money. If the ad sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Mystery Customer always advise the remuneration or reimbursement when each job is offered.

10. Check to see if the scam has been reported.
Visit SCAMwatch at http://www.scamwatch.gov.au and see if you can find any scams that look similar to what you have seen. You can also find further tips on how to protect yourself from scammers.