As my regular readers know I am a serial
mystery shopper, and I like to look for new opportunities all the time. I am
constantly looking for mystery shopping companies that can help you to go out
there and earn some extra money in a fun way while getting your hands on free
clothes, food and drinks. I was clicking through the internet the other night
while the TV was on, and I found a great site called A Closer Look. I just loved the name to
begin with, so I decided to read on.
Being an established mystery shopper, I actively
search for features and strong reputations that will set a mystery shopping
company apart from its competitors, making it most appealing to my readers. A
Closer Look has just won the 2016 Shoppers’ Choice Award through the Mystery
Shopping Providers Association (MSPA), so you know that they will be offering
you some great opportunities to get paid to shop and experience fun nights out!
It is the flexibility in scheduling and variety of shops A Closer Look offers that
really wins over their shoppers.
They have a great client list, so you can
get your hands on drinks, food and your favourite items from retail stores and
be reimbursed (and sometimes even paid)for doing it. You’ll need an eye for
detail, access to the internet and be able to post your reports within 12 hours
of carrying out the shop, but these are all easily achieved. In return, there
are plenty of assignments available all over the United States and Canada in
locations such as:
- Bars
- Restaurants
- VIP lounges
- Shops
- Movie Theaters
- Hotels
- Gyms
- And more
A Closer Look has an easy-to-use website
that shows you all the available mystery shopping opportunities near you. Pop
out on your lunch break and get a bite to eat, go to the mall on your day offor
enjoy a weekend away. Once you have signed up with A Closer Look and carried
out a few assignments, the number of shops available to you will grow. You can
sign up at https://insight.a-closer-look.com/ShopperApplication-Start.aspx;
please
quote reference STT001 when you apply for a chance to win $50 in a quarterly
drawing!
The beauty of A Closer Look is the wide
range of clients you can shop for. The details of each assignment can be found
on the website, and it outlines all the things that are expected of you:
- What times and dates you can shop
- Whether you have to shop alone or bring a friend (great for a girlie meal out)
- If you have to buy anything specific
- The amount of money you will be paid and/or reimbursed
This last part is important when it comes
to your taxes. The money you are reimbursed just repays what you had to spend
on the mystery shop. This is not taxable. The fees that you may be paid need to
be reported as income if you make over $600.
The amount of money you will earn depends
on the type and number of mystery shops you carry out each month. The pay is on
the 4th Monday of the following month, so you never have to wait
long to be reimbursed for your shops! Reimbursement is sent in the form of a
check. A Closer Look doesn’t need you to carry out a minimum number of shops
per month, so they offer the ultimate in mystery shopping flexibility. The
focus on fashion (retail shops) and eating out (restaurants/bars) means that 21
to 29 year-old shoppers will see more jobs available for them to conduct. Some
bars and restaurants want to ensure their bartenders and servers are asking for
ID, so those in the 21-29 age group are ideal candidates to check out age compliance
shops in their area. There are plenty of mystery shopping opportunities for all
ages, so don’t let the age compliance shops deter you from applying!
Let me know in the comments if you have any
questions about A Closer Look.
