Who can become a mystery shopper?
If you are 18 or older, you may apply to become a mystery shopper with CALIBER. You must be reliable, able to adhere to deadlines, be observant, and have good written communication skills. All reports are submitted online, so you must be comfortable entering information into a computer. You must also be able to either scan or upload digital pictures of receipts from your shopping assignments.
What does a typical mystery shopping assignment entail?
Mystery shopping assignments can vary widely and that’s part of the appeal! Shoppers are always required to carefully review the written guidelines and the questionnaire in advance so they know the specific things they are to evaluate. Often the assignments involve going to a store, visiting specific areas of the store, and engaging in a transaction. All the while, shoppers must be making mental notes on things like cleanliness, whether or not they were greeted and/or thanked, how long the line was, etc. After you leave the store, you make written notes on your printed copy of the questionnaire (while out of view of the store). Then you return home and submit the questionnaire online. Most of the time the questions asked are objective ones. At times shoppers are asked for their opinions, but most commonly they are asked to just state the facts.
How can I find out about shopping assignments in my area?
You will receive e-mails from us regarding available shops in your area. You are also welcome to login to our website at any time to view available shops. Our assignments are also listed on www.jobslinger.com.
How do you decide who gets the assignments?
As you perform shops with us, you will begin to build up a track record based on your level of follow-through and the quality of your reports. To best serve our clients, we will always give preference to those shoppers who consistently follow the shop guidelines and who submit their reports accurately and on time. We also give some preference to shoppers who have attained MSPA Silver or Gold status. To find out more about becoming a certified shopper, visit: www.mysteryshop.org. However, we also regularly award assignments to new shoppers so don’t be afraid to go ahead and apply!
How will I get paid for my work?
We pay our shoppers monthly via PayPal, the most common form of payment in the mystery shopping industry. Visit www.paypal.com to sign up for an account if you do not already have one. Registration is free, and you can have your payment delivered to the bank account of your choice. Make sure your Paypal account is set up with the primary email address CALIBER has on file for you, or email us with the email address on your existing account if you have one. Incorrect email addresses will cause your PayPal payment to go to the wrong account. It is your responsibility to ensure that CALIBER has your correct email address on file at all times.
How much will I get paid?
Compensation varies depending on the assignment. Some shops are more involved than others and they require varying levels of commentary. When you log in to the shopper area of our website, the compensation amount for each assignment is listed with a general description of the job. Only apply for the assignment if you are comfortable with the compensation.
Would I have to incur any out of pocket expenses?
We provide specific guidelines for each shop, and these will contain information about whether you need to make a purchase during your visit and how reimbursement would be handled. In some cases, you will be asked to make a specific type of purchase for which you would be reimbursed. In other cases, you might be asked to make a nominal purchase at your own expense at a store in order to collect a receipt to validate the time and date of the shop (e.g., a beverage, a pack of gum, etc.). You will always know in advance whether or not there is a required purchase and what the reimbursement policy is for that particular shop.
Are there cases where I might do a shop and not get paid?
As long as you perform the shop in accordance with the written guidelines and submit your report on time, you will always be paid. However, if a shop is incorrectly done (e.g., you were supposed to shop the location on the weekend, but went on a weekday or you failed to make the required purchase, etc.) then we may not be able to pay you. In these cases, we would not be able to send the shop to the client and it would need to be redone. Similarly, if a shop is submitted past the deadline, we would not be able to pay you. Most shoppers do not have any trouble completing the assignments properly and submitting them on time.
Would I be considered an employee of CALIBER?
No. People who mystery shop for CALIBER are Independent Contractors. During the online shopper application process, you will be asked to read over the Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) and agree to it. Please review this document carefully and keep a copy so that you understand the difference between being an employee versus an independent contractor.
What type of commitment is there?
Upon applying to become a mystery shopper with us, you are under no obligation to request any specific number of shops. You might decide after doing one shop that mystery shopping isn’t for you and we will gladly remove you from our database. However, when you accept an assignment you are expected to do the shop and submit it on time and according to the guidelines. Failure to follow through may result in your becoming ineligible for future assignments. Just as shoppers are under no obligation to apply for shops, CALIBER is under no obligation to award shopping assignments to you. We value our shoppers, and those who have proven to be reliable and produce quality work will stand the best chance to receive more assignments.
Can mystery shopping be a full time job?
You should consider mystery shopping as part-time, even though many shoppers sign up with multiple companies and receive assignments on a regular basis. Be wary of any offers promising full-time income for mystery shopping.
Whom do I contact if I have questions or need to reschedule an assignment?
The best way to reach us is via e-mail at Please enable Javascript to reveal email address. If you have an urgent situation, you may call us at 1-800-532-1417.