As a follow up to Top Three Perks of Mystery Shopping, I thought it would be appropriate to provide the top three negatives of mystery shopping. While flexibility and discounts are great positive aspects of being a mystery shopper, there are significant negatives that people looking into this type of work from home opportunity should understand in order to determine if mystery shopping is a good match for their interests and needs. If you go into mystery shopping with all the facts, it can be a great way to supplement your income.

Mystery shopping can be time intensive.

With each shop a mystery shopper accepts, there are several steps that must be followed to the letter or the shop can be deemed invalid resulting in nonpayment. First, the shopper may have to complete an online training course and test to conduct shops for some clients. Sometimes the training can take several hours. Second, the shopper will receive extremely detailed and specific instructions related to the shop itself as well as a blank report questionnaire, so he or she knows what they need to look for and make note of during the actual shop. Reading the instructions and blank report can take as much as a half hour or more. Third, the shop itself may be time intensive. The instructions may require the shopper to ask questions, wait for help, make a purchase or return, take pictures and more. Fourth, it can take hours to complete a report, upload pictures, prepare and submit expense reports, etc. Once you add all of those requirements together, the time it takes to complete the shop may not be worth the pay.

Mystery shopping typically does not make one a millionaire.

Generally, mystery shops don't pay much. Sometimes mystery shoppers will receive reimbursement for a purchase made during the shop, so if they purchased something they would have bought anyway, the reimbursement can be a great incentive. Assignments are paid based on the amount of time and effort the client and mystery shop company deem the shop should require. Often, their assumptions are very wrong, and the pay does not equate to the amount of time and effort actually expended on the shop from start to finish.

Mystery shopping can put the shopper in awkward situations.

A critical component of mystery shopping is deception and secrecy. Mystery shoppers must not reveal the fact that they are secretly evaluating the store and employees. If store employees recognize the shopper as a mystery shopper, the shop will be deemed invalid resulting in nonpayment. Mystery shoppers may be required to lie and create false stories about products they want to buy or merchandise returns. Sometimes the requirements of a shop could put a mystery shopper in an uncomfortable position.

If you enjoy shopping, can be secretive, have a great memory for details and just want to make a few extra dollars, mystery shopping may be a great opportunity for you. Evaluate each assignment independently to make sure it's worth your time based on the pay. Most importantly, when you're conducting a mystery shop be thorough and have fun.