People of all ages can apply to become mystery shoppers, even children with their parents' consent. Special opportunities exist for representatives of particular groups, such as elderly, disabled, housebound, or of specific ethnic or religious persuasion. You can even be a mystery shopper working entirely by telephone or on Internet, without ever leaving home and still claim a handsome fee and valuable freebie incentives.

Not All 'Shopping' Involves Buying Something

For example, you might be asked to telephone a company service hotline, posing as a customer with a problem to see how well your case is handled and how long it takes.

The manager of a high street supermarket might commission you to stand outside another firm's store to count number of customers entering premises and determine which are busiest times, what complimentary transport is offered, how many packages are carried out, whether staff help customers to their vehicles, and so on.

Most tasks are simple and quick and involve little more than shopping, making a mental note of event, and later submitting a written or telephone report to employing company.

Marguerite Hegley who was instrumental in writing Get Paid to Shop has several years experience as a mystery shopper.

She says:

"I first mystery shopped a supermarket. It was a lot of fun being asked to spend a specific sum of money on goods which I kept, and I also received expenses and a tidy fee for my work.

The pubs were fun too and I was asked to order a meal and a drink in some and just a drink in others. The eight pubs I had to visit over a ten day period were in a twelve mile radius of my home.

I particularly liked working with a chemist chain, checking their photo service and make-up counters. The girl on make-up counter gave me some good advice about my skin type and a useful range of freebies testers which I am still using three months later. And I got paid of course!"

No Better Time to Become a Mystery Shopper ..... No Better Time to Start Your Own Mystery Shopping Business

The business is pretty new in most countries but catching on fast, and as talk of recession grows opportunities will grow for people to work as mystery shoppers for established hiring companies or even start their own business in this fascinating field.

Avril Harper is author of Get Paid to Shop and The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Own Mystery Shopping Business www.castleedenbooks.com

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