🛍️ Mystery Shopping: Get Paid to Shop, Eat & Review

Imagine getting paid to visit a café, check out a store, or try on some clothes — sounds too good to be true? That’s exactly what mystery shopping is all about. It’s one of the more fun ways to earn a little extra money, and it’s ideal if you like giving feedback and don’t mind a bit of undercover work!

💡 What is Mystery Shopping?

Mystery shopping is when companies send you out to pretend to be a regular customer. Your job is to assess the service, look out for specific things (like how long it takes to be greeted), and then fill out a short report afterwards.

You might be asked to:

• Visit a shop or restaurant

• Test out customer service

• Try on clothes or ask about a product

• Time how long it takes to get served

• Give detailed feedback after your visit

In return, you either get paid, reimbursed, or both!

💷 How Much Can You Earn?

It varies depending on the assignment:

• Some pay £5–£25 per task

• Some only cover your purchase or meal (reimbursement only)

• A few higher-paying tasks might offer £50+, but those are rarer

📱 Where Do You Find Mystery Shopping Gigs?

There are a few legit UK sites you can sign up with:

• Grass Roots (now Ipsos iSay / iShopFor Ipsos)

• Market Force

• ESA Retail

• Serve Legal (great for younger shoppers)

• RedWigWam

• Tern

• BeMyEye (app-based)

• Roamler (app-based)

Most of them are free to join and will email you when jobs are available near you.

✅ What I Love

• It feels more exciting than just doing surveys

• You get to try new places or products

• Some gigs include free meals or shopping

• A great excuse to get out of the house with purpose!

⚠️ Things to Know

• You usually have to follow the instructions exactly

• Reports need to be detailed and written well

• Some jobs are first-come, first-served

• You may need to pay upfront (e.g. for a coffee), then get reimbursed later

📝 Final Thoughts

Mystery shopping is one of those “secret side hustles” that people don’t always realise is legit. It’s not going to pay your rent, but it’s a fun, flexible way to make a bit of extra cash — especially if you’re already out and about or fancy trying somewhere new.