Frequently Asked Questions

A mystery shopper is someone contracted to pose as a customer and report on the quality of service received. The mystery shopper is given a specific objective, such as purchasing a particular product or asking certain questions. A mystery shopper does not reveal their identity as a shopper. A mystery shopper does their best to blend in, and not stand out so that their identity is not revealed.

A reliable shopper demonstrates proper spelling, grammar, and sentence structure, and provides detailed narratives addressing survey questions. Timely report submissions and maintaining open communication with ACE staff about due dates result in positive notes added to their profile, improving future scheduling opportunities. Repeated cancellations or failure to respond to ACE staff may disqualify shoppers from future contracts.

Once you have registered, you will receive an email with your login information. If you do not see it right away, check your spam folder.

You can log-in any time and check for shops in your area. We will also email you as soon as we post one near you, so you don’t have to log-in all the time. Once you find a shop that interests you, you can request it online. Act quickly, because we assign shops on a first come, first serve basis.

If it’s awarded to you, you should read the guidelines for the shop, review the survey before visiting the location. You just need to make sure you complete it prior to the due date. After you submit your shop, our editors review the shop and send it to the client. 

No. All the shoppers we contract are independent contractors, who are responsible for their own tax records. We do provide 1099s to shoppers if their earnings exceed $599.00 per the calendar year. Being an independent contractor gives you the flexibility to pick and choose which types of shops interest you

Shopper pay is different for each client and/or type of shop. You are always reimbursed for any purchases that are required to make, in order to complete the shop. The pay ranges between $10-50 per shop, depending on the shop type, difficulty, length of the survey, etc. The higher-paying shops may require special video equipment, or the shopper may be required to meet specific demographics.

Payments are processed by the 15th of each month for the previous month’s shops. However, we begin processing payments during the first week of the month, so most shoppers receive their payments earlier. For example, if you complete a shop on the 15th or 20th of March, your payment will be processed and sent no later than April 15th, with many payments arriving sooner.

We offer two payment options: paper checks or direct deposit—your choice. When your first payment is processed, you will receive an email prompting you to select your preferred payment method.

If you choose direct deposit, you will be asked to provide your bank account information at that time. Once your payment method is set up, all future payments will be processed automatically.

If a shopper cannot complete a project, they must decline online in the “Action” column of their opportunities list prior to our client's due date. We use a shopper grading system and make notes of shoppers’ reliability. You always want to make sure you contact us to keep that good contractor relationship. If you miss a shop without letting us know, it will result in your account being suspended and the inability to be able to do shops in the future. Please email scheduling@acemysteryshopping.com to let us know, to avoid the inability to complete shops in the future.