Shadow Shopper is an online mystery shopping program. It acts as the middleman between hopeful shoppers and large mystery shopping companies. They provide their members with lists and email notifications of which companies currently have available work.
ShadowShopper was one of the first companies to create an online database and service for these types of opportunities, they have been around since 2002.
They are now one of the largest providers of these types of jobs and boast a database of over six million accounts. They claim to have anywhere from 120,000 – 160,000 new jobs posted every month.
They also have working relationships with 250+ mystery shopping, merchandising, demonstrating and market research companies in North America and are members of the Market Research Association and World Alliance for Retail Excellence & Standards.
How Does Mystery Shopping Work?
Mystery shopping is a great way to participate in market research and earn some extra money. Companies pay mystery shoppers to visit their establishments and interact with their employees, ultimately reporting and evaluating on the entire experience.
This arrangement greatly benefits both parties. As a shopper you get paid and rewarded with free food, items, or services. Meanwhile the business owner gets a detailed account of what goes on in their shop while the boss is away.
The information that you provide is then used to improve employee practices and finetune the overall shopping experience.
Depending on the job you may be asked to report on a variety of aspects such as restroom cleanliness, temperature of the food, timeliness of service, and so on. The types of businesses that you will be asked to frequent vary as well with restaurants, banks, and theaters in the mix.
Upon completion of the tasks you will be paid after submitting your reports and/or invoices.
Cost and Price Plans:
Shadow Shopper membership is based on two levels, Gold and Bronze with corresponding levels of amenities.
The free membership allows you to apply for job listings posted more than 7 days ago. You also get added to their database for potential employers to contact you directly. You can also apply for Promoted Jobs – ones posted on top of the list due to immediate need of shoppers).
The Gold membership costs $6.95 per month and provides you with all of the benefits of the Bronze membership plus access to the most recently posted jobs. You also get first priority listing when employers search Shadow Shopper’s database.
Customer Support:
If you need assistance you can submit their online contact form and someone will get back to you shortly. They also have a helpful FAQ section and an article explaining how mystery shopping works for your benefit.
Online Reviews/Complaints:
There are mixed reviews for Shadow Shopper, and they currently have a D rating with the BBB. However in regards to those complaints it is clear that the company has made an effort to resolve the issues with their unsatisfied customers.
Some other issues that people have posted about are in regards to the amount of jobs that are available – however keep in mind that there is a difference between the paid and free memberships, so those paying will have a much higher chance of landing a job.
Overall mystery shopping can be a fun way to get some extra cash but know that these jobs are in high demand and don’t pay that much.
Competitors and Alternatives:
If you do not want to work with Shadow Shopper you can take the time to seek out local market research companies and try to find these opportunities yourself. Some other companies that provide listings for mystery shopping include A Closer Look, ShoppingJobs.com, and Jobs2Shop.com.
If you have a membership with Shadow Shopper or have previously used them please leave a detailed review below.
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