BY MELISSA MANSON
REIMBURSEMENT As a secret shopper , you are considered an independent contractor for the mystery shopping company . As an independent contractor , you must report your income if you make over $ 600 . However , this is where two important terms come into play : Shopper Reimbursement and Shopper Pay . Reimbursement does not need to be reported . You are simply fronting the money and are reimbursed by the mystery shopping company for the money you put out . Shopper Pay is money paid to the shopper for completing the shop .
A Closer Look allows you to view your shop history and the pay / reimbursement , which is helpful in remembering what should be included when filing your taxes . Restaurants and Bars are typically reimbursement shops with no shopper pay . Retail shops are most typically paid shops . Read your shop instructions carefully to find out if you are required to make a purchase . In my experience , you are typically not asked to make a purchase ... but if you do , it ’ s essentially covered by what you are getting paid to complete the shop ! The reimbursement amount is generally enough to cover both you and a guest .
The maximum reimbursement amount ( including the tip ) will always be listed on the shop guidelines . The guidelines will always indicate if you can perform the shop alone or if you are required to bring a guest . Whether you complete the shop on the first or the last day of the month , A Closer Look will issue you a check on the 4th Monday of the following month . There are very few clients that will pay you before the shop , so you should be comfortable with fronting the money of the maximum reimbursement .
WANT TO JOIN ? If you are interested in joining A Closer Look , please click here . Want a chance to win $ 50 cash for signing up ? Use referral code MMM001 when you apply . The entire application process should take about 20-30 minutes . The application will consist of a brief information page , a 10-question test to test basic spelling , grammar , and math , and a brief paragraph about your most recent fine-dining or casual-dining experience . Don ’ t stress about the test . You only need a 7 / 10 to pass . Anyone who is 18 years or older can apply to be a secret shopper , but most shops require diners to be 21 years of age or older . Look at the specific shop guidelines to see if you are eligible to complete the shop and to identify what age / gender your guest should be .
BONUS TIP If you are traveling through select airports ( or have clearance to pass security in airports ), you can qualify for restaurant shops in the airport . If you are a shopper between the ages of 21-29 , you can often qualify for shops that others wouldn ’ t . Certain clients are looking for younger shoppers to perform age compliance shops ( making sure that bartenders / servers are checking your ID ). These age compliance / airport shops often include shopper reimbursement AND shopper pay .
After you have completed your shop , you will need to submit your report within 12 hours of the shop completion ( though extenuating circumstances can be approved for an extension of that time - you will
Melissa Manson is a Media Planner and Buyer at the Buckhead advertising agency Chemistry Atlanta . She resides in West Midtown with her fur baby , Tang , and can often be found adventuring with her boyfriend , Mark . She enjoys wine , glitter , crafting , traveling , all things Lilly Pulitzer , and scouting for the best deals in Atlanta . She is an alumna of The University of Georgia ’ 15 , where she graduated with degrees in Theatre and Advertising . Melissa serves on the Alumnae Advisory Committee of Pi Beta Phi at The University of Georgia and is secretary of the Pi Beta Phi Atlanta Alumnae Club .
have to contact your scheduler to ask ). The questionnaire can and should be viewed before you visit the shop so you know what you are looking for . You will be asked to fill in yes / no / N / A questions and will then write a section of narrative to “ tell the story ” of your visit . Reports are broken into several sections . For example , a restaurant shop might include a section on the restroom , the valet , the host , the server , the timing of your food , the quality of your food , etc .
I have now been acting as a mystery shopper for over 2 years . My boyfriend and I have planned entire weekend getaways using A Closer Look shops . Our date nights and gatherings with friends are more fun ( and less expensive !) than they once were .
While you will not “ get rich quick ” by becoming a mystery shopper , you will gain experiences that you might otherwise not have had the opportunity ( or funds ) to discover . While I cannot list the names of the specific clients I have worked with in this article , please feel free to connect with me on Facebook or through e-mail . I would be more than happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have about becoming a shopper .
HELPFUL HINTS ( FOR BECOMING A BETTER SECRET SHOPPER )
• Always read the shop guidelines and questionnaire well before you go to complete your shop . If you have questions regarding your shop , you should ALWAYS contact your scheduler for clarification . Shop rejections are rare , but they can happen if you don ’ t follow the guidelines .
• Check the available shop list frequently . After you complete a few shops , you may be eligible for new ones . Shops for the following month are typically listed around the 20th of the current month .
• Write objectively and concisely . You should report on the facts of what happened on your shop . Only give your opinion when it is asked for .
• Make sure to address all “ no ” answers in your report . While it may seem like common sense , the editor of your report will contact you if you don ’ t specifically address the “ no ” answer in your narrative . Example Question : Was the salt shaker 2 / 3 full ? Answer : No . Narrative : The salt shaker was empty .
• Be honest . Report on both the positive and negative aspects of your visit . If a staff member went above and beyond their normal duties , include it in your narrative . While clients are looking to ensure that all guidelines are being followed , they also want to make sure that the customer is having a great experience .
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