Anyone do well with mystery shopping?

lilbooboo

I thought this might be an interesting sideline to try while I am jobhunting. Saw an article about it on Money Magpie site recently, it lists a few of the reputable ones, so thought i'd sign up with one of them. I chose one called Grassroots. This was a couple of weeks ago so could still be early days but I haven't heard a peep from them yet regarding any assignments. Is this the norm?

[Deleted User]

lilbooboo said:

I thought this might be an interesting sideline to try while I am jobhunting. Saw an article about it on Money Magpie site recently, it lists a few of the reputable ones, so thought i'd sign up with one of them. I chose one called Grassroots. This was a couple of weeks ago so could still be early days but I haven't heard a peep from them yet regarding any assignments. Is this the norm?

Hi there, I do a little bit of mystery shopping and but for family circumstances I would do a lot more so I 'make do' with more telephone/digital tasks at the moment.

Grassroots are ok but they do not send many jobs out, from memory I've done 3 or 4 jobs for them over the last year/18 months, usually leisure centres.

They send me Asda jobs but I don't fancy walking round taking pictures in a busy supermarket for £11.00!

Which other MS companies are you aware of? 

Largs

On paper is sounds great, I done it for a while, Storecheckers, Retail Eyes and a couple others I forget.  I felt exploited to be honest, too much involved for very little reward.

[Deleted User]

Largs said:

On paper is sounds great, I done it for a while, Storecheckers, Retail Eyes and a couple others I forget.  I felt exploited to be honest, too much involved for very little reward.

I think a lot depends on who you do the jobs for and how you fit things in. Tbh those are 2 companies I've not heard of before. I agree there are a LOT of tasks you think 'no sorry not worth it' but then there are those that pay £45-50 for 20 minutes work, did one last Friday, 4 x 3 minute phone calls and a digital task yesterday got me £40. Very easy money if not exactly life changing.

ziggycj

[Deleted User] said:

Largs said:

On paper is sounds great, I done it for a while, Storecheckers, Retail Eyes and a couple others I forget.  I felt exploited to be honest, too much involved for very little reward.

I think a lot depends on who you do the jobs for and how you fit things in. Tbh those are 2 companies I've not heard of before. I agree there are a LOT of tasks you think 'no sorry not worth it' but then there are those that pay £45-50 for 20 minutes work, did one last Friday, 4 x 3 minute phone calls and a digital task yesterday got me £40. Very easy money if not exactly life changing.

Which companies do telephone/online tasks? I used to do MS a decade ago then stopped but need to boost funds again but am now a carer.

[Deleted User]

ziggycj said:

[Deleted User] said:

Largs said:

On paper is sounds great, I done it for a while, Storecheckers, Retail Eyes and a couple others I forget.  I felt exploited to be honest, too much involved for very little reward.

I think a lot depends on who you do the jobs for and how you fit things in. Tbh those are 2 companies I've not heard of before. I agree there are a LOT of tasks you think 'no sorry not worth it' but then there are those that pay £45-50 for 20 minutes work, did one last Friday, 4 x 3 minute phone calls and a digital task yesterday got me £40. Very easy money if not exactly life changing.

Which companies do telephone/online tasks? I used to do MS a decade ago then stopped but need to boost funds again but am now a carer.

In the last couple of weeks I've done online and telephone tasks for Tern, Ipsos, MSL and JKS, there aren't many now before Xmas but hopefully in 2025 they'll have a few more.

I'm also a carer for my Mom and have other serious family health concerns so face to face tasks aren't appealling right now as I'm having to be ultra cautious.

PNSR22

Hi I have been doing mystery shopping for quite a few years now on and off. This year in particular I have been using it more and the best for me is Roamler - if you send me your email address I can invite you in. (But I only have one invite left) if you enjoy taking photos sometime discreetly but not always, enjoy checking stock or just checking stores or pubs to check to see if they have received merchandise - it’s a great way to earn a few extra pounds. Sometimes it may only be a few minutes to do the job and payment is usually quite prompt, customer service is very good if you have any problems. It’s usually supermarkets but it may be pubs or restaurants, post office, wholesalers etc etc Mostly everyone i have dealt with is kind and respectful out there and if you show them your letter of authority, as it’s not always a mystery visit, then the job can be completed with no hitches. I also use Shepper, Be My Eye (also have an invite code) Field Agent (also have a code) IPSOS,  Redwigwam, and Grassroots, - it also depends where you are in the UK too, on how many jobs are out there. It’s great to plan your day around the jobs available, be your own boss and be paid sooner than when in an employed job! Suits me and I enjoy it.  

[Deleted User]

PNSR22 said:

Hi I have been doing mystery shopping for quite a few years now on and off. This year in particular I have been using it more and the best for me is Roamler - if you send me your email address I can invite you in. (But I only have one invite left) if you enjoy taking photos sometime discreetly but not always, enjoy checking stock or just checking stores or pubs to check to see if they have received merchandise - it’s a great way to earn a few extra pounds. Sometimes it may only be a few minutes to do the job and payment is usually quite prompt, customer service is very good if you have any problems. It’s usually supermarkets but it may be pubs or restaurants, post office, wholesalers etc etc Mostly everyone i have dealt with is kind and respectful out there and if you show them your letter of authority, as it’s not always a mystery visit, then the job can be completed with no hitches. I also use Shepper, Be My Eye (also have an invite code) Field Agent (also have a code) IPSOS,  Redwigwam, and Grassroots, - it also depends where you are in the UK too, on how many jobs are out there. It’s great to plan your day around the jobs available, be your own boss and be paid sooner than when in an employed job! Suits me and I enjoy it.  

I'm glad you enjoy Roamler but for me they are not worth it.

Just looked for the first time in a while and they're no better, tasks such as 'lightbulb checks' in Asda.

All well and good but when you see the number of questions you need to answer (which will involve numerous searches and checks of stock) for the princely sum of £4.00?

Its really not worth it, especially when there are (or will be again in the New Year) many banking tasks where you can get anything between £20 and £50 for a few minutes work, or tech tasks where you can get £15-20 for literally a minute or two's worth of research.

Even the digital and phone tasks I do pay double that Roamler pay.

emsi_b

I've done 3 market research tasks. One was with ipsos, and it was reviewing a soft play- not massive pay, but nice trip out for the small boy. A pay-less one where I reviewed some supplements (only worth it because I wanted the supplements). And the one that soured me to it all, a spirits for Christmas tasks that took me 40 mins for £5. I do not want to stand in a heaving supermarket at Christmas and take endless photos of different spirits whilst a member of staff is working right there. 

I check every now and then on ipsos and field agent, but unless you want to record people doing their jobs 🤢 or faff about for a long time, I don't think it's worth it. I prefer doing surveys sat on the sofa- fewer people to contend with!

[Deleted User]

emsi_b said:

I've done 3 market research tasks. One was with ipsos, and it was reviewing a soft play- not massive pay, but nice trip out for the small boy. A pay-less one where I reviewed some supplements (only worth it because I wanted the supplements). And the one that soured me to it all, a spirits for Christmas tasks that took me 40 mins for £5. I do not want to stand in a heaving supermarket at Christmas and take endless photos of different spirits whilst a member of staff is working right there. 

I check every now and then on ipsos and field agent, but unless you want to record people doing their jobs 🤢 or faff about for a long time, I don't think it's worth it. I prefer doing surveys sat on the sofa- fewer people to contend with!

I agree about the supermarket ones, I avoid those in the main. There are very simple one product enquiry tasks which don't involve many photos but like you no way do I want to be in a crowded shop, I've got serious health problems in my family and avoid crowds like the plague.

Its why Roamler doesn't appeal to me, loads of pics required.

Just one thing though, Ipsos are decent. Simple banking tasks, meals out (pick a quiet place!), tech stuff etc.

But yes I do agree if you can stay at home and make a bit, good on you.