Did you find yourself shopping more online these days? You are not the only one! According to a Parade Magazine study, 85% of internet surfers are also making purchases online. With gas prices climbing, this trend is expected to continue. But how do you know you are really getting the best deal and the best product? And how can you be sure you are protecting yourself online? Here are some tips to help you save money and stay safe:

1.  Check out shopping comparison sites for a quick comparison of prices. Basically, these sites are search engines for gathering prices of products from a variety of merchants. Enter the product’s model number if available, and be as specific as you can about its features. This way you can be sure you are comparing the same product. Examples include PriceGrabber, Shopzilla, and MySimon. Also, RoboShopper will do a meta-search of several comparison sites.

 

2.  Sign up for Ebates and Big Crumbs to get money back for every purchase at participating online retailers. Both sites have huge lists of merchants you can buy from, and both send you a rebate on your purchase via PayPal. (These sites allow you to search by either product or retailer, but I have had better luck finding the retailer myself and then just shopping through these sites.) I also check for rewards at MyPoints, as well as other sites with ‘Get Paid To Shop’ programs.

 

3.  Check coupon sites for current codes that can be used for your purchases. These codes can be by merchant or by product, so be sure to search for both. These coupon sites lead you to retailers, rather than selling you the merchandise directly. You can find relevant coupons by searching on Google for the merchant/product name AND (coupon OR promo*) AND code.

 

4.  Try auction sites, such as eBay, for great deals on used (or sometimes new) items. (FYI- Big Crumbs and MyPoints both reward you for shopping eBay via their sites.) You can even buy gift cards on eBay! Just be sure to read the description carefully and ask any questions of the seller before you buy. Also, check out the seller’s feedback.

 

5.  Be sure to factor in shipping & handling fees when comparing prices. Some sites low-ball on the published price to attract more buyers, but tack on excessive fees.

 

6.  Buy from a site that does not charge sales tax in your state, if possible. Online shopping is tax-free if a merchant does not do business in your state, so be sure to factor that into your price comparisons.

 

7.  Check the site’s return policy before buying. Beware of limited return policies, or “restocking fees.” Also note who will be responsible for return shipping.

 

8.  If you are shopping at a site for the first time, be sure to check out the merchant’s reputation. You can do this on Google by typing: “merchant name” AND (review OR feedback). To see if a company has any complaints listed against it, go to the Better Business Bureau website.

 

9.  Know what you are buying. Read the product’s description carefully to be sure you are getting what you expect. You can find reviews of all types of products by doing a Google search for: “your product” AND (reviews OR feedback). Amazon also has reviews of many products. If you have any questions, be sure to contact customer support before you buy.

 

10. When checking out with a credit card, be sure that the site address starts with “https://” or “shttp://”. This indicates it is a secure site and your information should be transmitted safely.

1.  Check out shopping comparison sites for a quick comparison of prices. Basically, these sites are search engines for gathering prices of products from a variety of merchants. Enter the product’s model number if available, and be as specific as you can about its features. This way you can be sure you are comparing the same product. Examples include PriceGrabber, Shopzilla, and MySimon. Also, RoboShopper will do a meta-search of several comparison sites.

 

2.  Sign up for Ebates and Big Crumbs to get money back for every purchase at participating online retailers. Both sites have huge lists of merchants you can buy from, and both send you a rebate on your purchase via PayPal. (These sites allow you to search by either product or retailer, but I have had better luck finding the retailer myself and then just shopping through these sites.) I also check for rewards at MyPoints, as well as other sites with ‘Get Paid To Shop’ programs.

 

3.  Check coupon sites for current codes that can be used for your purchases. These codes can be by merchant or by product, so be sure to search for both. These coupon sites lead you to retailers, rather than selling you the merchandise directly. You can find relevant coupons by searching on Google for the merchant/product name AND (coupon OR promo*) AND code.

 

4.  Try auction sites, such as eBay, for great deals on used (or sometimes new) items. (FYI- Big Crumbs and MyPoints both reward you for shopping eBay via their sites.) You can even buy gift cards on eBay! Just be sure to read the description carefully and ask any questions of the seller before you buy. Also, check out the seller’s feedback.

 

5.  Be sure to factor in shipping & handling fees when comparing prices. Some sites low-ball on the published price to attract more buyers, but tack on excessive fees.

 

6.  Buy from a site that does not charge sales tax in your state, if possible. Online shopping is tax-free if a merchant does not do business in your state, so be sure to factor that into your price comparisons.

 

7.  Check the site’s return policy before buying. Beware of limited return policies, or “restocking fees.” Also note who will be responsible for return shipping.

 

8.  If you are shopping at a site for the first time, be sure to check out the merchant’s reputation. You can do this on Google by typing: “merchant name” AND (review OR feedback). To see if a company has any complaints listed against it, go to the Better Business Bureau website.

 

9.  Know what you are buying. Read the product’s description carefully to be sure you are getting what you expect. You can find reviews of all types of products by doing a Google search for: “your product” AND (reviews OR feedback). Amazon also has reviews of many products. If you have any questions, be sure to contact customer support before you buy.

 

10. When checking out with a credit card, be sure that the site address starts with “https://” or “shttp://”. This indicates it is a secure site and your information should be transmitted safely.

With the plethera of scams on the Internet with various "Gurus" and "Business Opportunities" claiming they hold the key to your work at home happiness, it is important to do some due dilligence before forking out your hard-earned money. Beware: if you don't dig deep enough into your search, you may be blinded by the praise given to programs by affiliates. You may even notice when you try doing an Internet search using the word 'scam' and the name of the program, you will often get those affiliates trying to outsmart you!

Find out more about the company behind the program. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to start. Check out if the company has a record of complaints. A search on the Federal Trade Commission website can help identify potential illegal pyramid schemes.

The best "work at home" product and "money making system" review site I have found is Work At Home Watchdog. The programs are reviewed by users, and given grades (A through F) to reflect user opinions. In addition to WAH Watchdog, I also recommend visiting forums that discuss these types of opportunities and programs, such as scam.com, Work at Home Forum, WAHM Message Boards, and Why Do Work? Do some searches on the forums, or post your questions about the programs.

To get paid for a Mystery Shop, you must perform it correctly. Using information that is accurate and objective allows the client to receive valuable feedback on its customer service. To ensure accuracy, some companies even check your report against in-store security videos. Others will throw in a bogus question as a quality check. Thus, it is important that you do your shop per the instructions provided.

 

Make sure you read the shop directions carefully for each shop, and know your due date. Marking your calendar right away when you are accepted for an assignment will make it easier to manage your time, so you have a big picture of your week. Even if you have performed a shop in the past, be sure to check for changes in shop requirements.

 

Know where you are going! To be sure you can find your way, either keep a map handy, print online directions, or get a GPS unit for your car. Also, some chains may have more than one location in a town, so double check that you are going to the right place.

 

Always carry a pen and small pad of paper with you when doing a shop to jot down names and important notes. Just be discrete! If available, ask for business cards or brochures to help recall details when doing the write-up.

 

If you can find an affordable one, get a small digital voice recorder (MP3 Player) you can stick somewhere inconspicuous. This will help tremendously in keeping track of timing and quoting an employee interaction. Make sure to carry extra batteries and check how much power you have left before starting a shop recording.

 

Always keep a backup of your report and any necessary proof (i.e., receipts, business cards) at least until you get paid. Sometimes systems go down, and receipts get lost. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to getting paid. Plus, you may be able to reuse your original report as a template for recurring shops.

Are you going to get rich being a mystery shopper? No. But it can help you make a little extra money, and afford you the opportunity to treat yourself and your family. Some companies are better than others for the amount of effort they expect you to put into a shop versus what they are willing to pay. The great thing is you can pick and choose which assignments you would like to do. You make your own schedule.

 

It is essential that you keep track of the companies you have applied to, along with usernames, passwords, and log-in sites. Also, as you go along you will find that many companies ask for similar writing samples and ask similar essay questions. I find it handy to have a Word document with all the writing samples and answers I have submitted, so I can reuse as much as possible. Also, having a list of the zip codes in your surrounding area can be handy.

 

Check your email frequently for job offers—many are on a first come, first serve basis. Sometimes shops are made available on a “self-assign” basis, which means you will get the job if you are the first to respond. For other shops you will have to be diligent about applying multiple times until you are selected by the scheduler. Some shopping companies only post to their internal boards, so be sure to make note of which ones you should check for jobs directly on their website.

 

It is important to keep track of your expenses and income throughout the year. Most often you will be a self-employed independent contractor, and be expected to pay for all your own business related expenses, including taxes. However, this means that you will be able to claim any business expenses as tax deductions (mileage, postage, home office, computer, etc.). As a starting point, the IRS publishes information for independent contractors on its website (http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=115045,00.html). Consult a tax professional for additional details.

 

Put some time in upfront to establish a system to keep track of your mystery shopping activities. Come tax-time, you will be grateful to have all your information organized and ready to use.

Anyone who is observant and can follow directions can be a Mystery Shopper. It helps if you have flexibility in your schedule. This makes it an ideal opportunity for Stay-at-Home Moms, students, and retirees. A good mystery shopper must be detail-oriented, very reliable, an excellent multi-tasker, and have the ability to be discrete when needed. It is also important that the mystery shopper prepare before an assignment to assure the objectives of the shopping program are met with accuracy. Using information that is accurate and objective allows the client to receive valuable feedback on its customer service.

 

The first step is to apply with as many shopping companies and scheduling companies as possible. You can find a list of Mystery Shopping companies to apply to at http://www.momswallet.com/mysteryshoppingcompanies.html. Legitimate Mystery Shopping companies do not charge an application fee, so beware of companies asking for payment. You may be asked for your social security number for tax purposes. Just make sure this information is submitted securely, which can be verified by looking for https:// or “shttp://” before the website address.

 

I suggest doing some research on Volition and JobSlinger to see who is offering assignments in your state. This will give you a good chance of getting more immediate assignments. Also, sign up with the Scheduling Companies right away, as they often recruit shoppers across the country. For a list of Scheduling Companies, visit http://www.momswallet.com/mysteryshoppingschedulers.html.

 

You may also want to get at least Silver Certified via the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA). Although not required, many shopping companies ask for your MSPA Certification number on the application and having it when you apply will save you the time of having to go back to enter it later. Some companies also give priority to Certified Shoppers, as it shows you have already invested time into getting to know more about the industry.

 

Pick up those “hard-to-fill” assignments to get your foot in the door with a company. These may be shops in out-of-the-way places, or low paying jobs. Look at these as being good training to get comfortable with the process. It may take some time to get your first assignment in an area with many mystery shoppers, but your chance will come to prove yourself.

 

You can find answers to frequently asked questions about Mystery Shopping at http://www.momswallet.com/mysteryshopping.html.