Author Login | Popular Articles | RSS Feeds | Sitemap

Home | Uncategorized


Is Secret Shopping a Scam?

By:

Of all the classic work at home jobs, secret shopping, also called mystery shopping, has to be one of the most questioned. There's good reason for this - there are scams associated with it, even though secret shopping itself is often legitimate.

It's so much that secret shopping is a scam. It's that companies can sell false information about secret shopping.

Some companies offer lists that they claim is of companies looking to hire mystery shoppers. But too often the information provided is of companies aren't actually hiring individuals to do secret shopping for them. Some have their own staff who handle this while others go through services that provide shoppers for them.

That's information that can often be found for free online. There are many free lists of secret shopping companies. Paying for this information isn't necessarily wrong, as it can save you a lot of research time, but you have to pick your resources carefully. Buying the wrong list is quite simply a waste of money.

But there's one other scam associated with secret shopping. This one can be even more devious.

You get an offer to do a secret shop. You're given a check and told to go cash it at a particular location, forwarding the cash minus your fee to the company. The fee is delightfully high.

There's just one problem. The check is stolen or forged.

Care to guess who is going to be held responsible for paying the money back? Yes, you.

Fortunately, there are tons of legitimate companies out there that you can work for. Most secret shoppers who work from home contract with multiple companies and keep their eyes open for opportunities that they would be willing to do. You may shop a department store, an apartment building, a restaurant then a smaller store.

You can expect it to take time to build up to a decent level of income doing mystery shopping. You have to build up a reputation with the companies as a competent and observant shopper.

There's one final consideration when you want to be a secret shopper. There are services out there that can help you to spot the jobs sooner. These are subscription services.

They are not for all shoppers. Some people are good at landing the shops and don't need to pay for help. Others aren't so serious about secret shopping and really don't need to find regular work. But other shoppers find these quite beneficial. I wouldn't recommend signing up for one of these right away. Get yourself going as a secret shopper, then decide if you need the extra help.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Stephanie Foster runs http://www.homewiththekids.com/ as a resource for stay at home moms. Her site offers resources to help you find legitimate secret shopping opportunities.

| Print | Ezine Ready | |

Recent UnCategorized Articles

  • Access Database Optimization: First Normal Form By: Christine Harrell - Proper database design goes beyond techniques learned in Microsoft Access courses. Experience and further training will be necessary for all but the most basic database projects. The practice of database optimization, also called database normalization, is a collection of best practices in database design.
  • Microsoft Project Server vs. Microsoft Project By: Christine Harrell - There are a number of project managers today that use Microsoft Project to create and track project plans to keep tasks on schedule. Project is a fine application for small endeavors with one person in charge.
  • How To Use Video Effectively By: Gregory McGuire - I watched a video on YouTube a few minutes ago. A very large man spoke about how important leadership is to your network marketing success. His holey ACDC t-shirt almost covered his navel, and he looked like he hadn't shaved in days.
  • How To Have An Exciting First Date By: Wayne James - Everyone's nervous when it comes to the first date. It is in the first date that impressions are built. Whatever you say or do in this date will become a reference on whether or not there's still a second date to anticipate.
  • An Investors Guide To Italy By: Karl Hopkins - Italy, a founder member of the EU, is a relatively young country which was only unified as a nation in 1861. It has land borders with Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia, and Switzerland while the Vatican City is a separate state within Rome.
  • Useful Facts About Feng Shui Bedroom Color By: Patrik Karlsson - Feng shui bedroom color equals defining the personal and private space. Since we spend fifty percent of our life within the bedroom, it's easy to understand why it's so crucial to choose the right colors on the walls.
  • Serious About The Best Vegatables Do Organic Gardening! By: Jimmy Woodall - If you think you are very serious about organic gardening, maybe you feel it is time to start getting educated on the subject that used to be know and referred to as- all muck and mystery- thanks to the work of many pioneers and early organic gardeners,...
  • The History of the Hawaiian Islands By: Michael New Jr. - The Hawaiian Islands are the most familiar archipelagos in the world with a collection of islands, atolls, smaller islets, and undersea formations that create much beauty. There are more than 130 different, identified, islands and atolls that have a land mass measuring near 6,500 miles.
  • How The Credit Crunch Effects Home Business By: Koz Huseyin - Have you seen TV recently? It seems like everyone is talking about the credit crunch. And now, we are hearing talk of being in the middle of a recession. If you are in a home business, this likely concerns you.
  • What Are The Most Popular Designer Prescription Glasses On The Market? By: Amy Nutt - Once upon a time, women and men lamented getting glasses, but today, glasses can be worn by even the fashionably elite. Rock stars, and popular statesmen wear eyeglasses now, making them trendy and hip.

Search Ebay

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!


Submit Your link to the Open Link Directory Project

Copyright 2005-2008 MJE Sales, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Proud member of the ArticleCkr Search Network Search Network!
ArticleSnatch.com is free for both publishers and authors to use and is supported entirely from advertising revenue.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.