Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

woodfairy

rchrisp wrote:

re the registering as self employed, where it says "what is your business name and address and position in the business?" on the forms what do you put?

I just put my own name and address and then put 'sole operator' as my position. I registered by phone and she was quite happy with those answers (nice to have immediate confirmation!).

kitchpoo

Dazzieboo wrote:

Ooopsie, GAP won't be happy with you naming a client on a public website, part of their T & C's are client confidentiality, I have known them sack shoppers for revealing details.

edited - wasnt aware of the privacy policy. By doing many searches for retailers and using 'mystery' you can usually find out some of the client base.


pps - Hopefully it wont lead to me being sacked - I enjoy doing their work.

Guinea_2

Have read a couple of pages of this thread but it seems to go on for ages! Have wanted to be a mystery shopper for ages but haven't done anything about it yet. We are planning out wedding for next year so really could do with the money at the moment. Just some short questions:

1. which is the 'best' company to sign up to?
2. do you have to register as self employed with tax office or do the companies do that for you?
3. approx how long does each job take to do?
4. approx how much do you get paid for each job?
5. I could only do jobs at the weekend (unless in school holidays) so would that be a problem?
6. would I have to tell my employer (a school) about this work?

THANKS EVERYONE!:happylove

jobbingmusician

Guinea, if you read this thread through, it will answer all your questions!

(Except possibly the last one. The answer is that it depends on your contract with your school whether you have to tell them about any other work which you do.)

chocaholic110

Guinea wrote:

Have read a couple of pages of this thread but it seems to go on for ages! Have wanted to be a mystery shopper for ages but haven't done anything about it yet. We are planning out wedding for next year so really could do with the money at the moment. Just some short questions:

1. which is the 'best' company to sign up to?
2. do you have to register as self employed with tax office or do the companies do that for you?
3. approx how long does each job take to do?
4. approx how much do you get paid for each job?
5. I could only do jobs at the weekend (unless in school holidays) so would that be a problem?
6. would I have to tell my employer (a school) about this work?

THANKS EVERYONE!:happylove

Hi, Guinea, I too work in a school. Have only been mystery shopping since November but have found plenty of places that can do Saturday / Sunday though have also done a couple of quickies on way home from work during the week!

I haven't told my school and looking through my contract can't find anywhere where it says I have to.

Genie75

Guinea, you will have to inform the Inland Revenue, otherwise they will fine you if you haven't told them within 3 months.

Also, as to how much you earn, fees can start at absolutely nothing at all! And minimum wage doesn't usually apply here. Be very careful when accepting jobs to think about how much it will cost you to do the assignment. It is very easy to make a loss mystery shopping - especially with the no-fee jobs. You need to think about how much it will cost you in petrol, parking, printing, internet, postage, insurance.... the list goes on.

As for time, it could take from a few minutes to most of the day per assignment.

Good luck.

Broken_hearted

Is it just me or is GAP paying rubbish at the moment.

Dazzieboo

GAP have more and more jobs on now which don't really pay a fee, just an expense allowance for food, petrol etc etc. The problem is, more and more people are willing to work on this basis and as long as that happens, the jobs will continue to be offered like this. I am doing more auditing and merchandising now to avoid situations like this. That is better paid and I am actually beginning to enjoy it more than the Mystery Shopping side of it.

Rachie_B

I guess people have different expectations of MSing ?

I ,personally am quite happy to complete "low fee" assignments if they are local to me etc

I like the shop ones where you can get shopping and a fee

same for fast food ones ,i always take the kids anyway every other week or so , so if im gonna be paid for it AND get the food free then why not ? lol

Genie75

Rachie_B wrote:

I guess people have different expectations of MSing ?

I ,personally am quite happy to complete "low fee" assignments if they are local to me etc

I like the shop ones where you can get shopping and a fee

same for fast food ones ,i always take the kids anyway every other week or so , so if im gonna be paid for it AND get the food free then why not ? lol

Of course, you're not taking the kids on the burger assignments.....

If you are happy with low/no fees that's one thing, but some people are expecting MSing to get them out of debt. MSing will (in most cases) not do that. It can actually cost you money and many people don't realise how much it has cost them until they fill in their tax return.