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My Intellishop Review: Is This Mystery Shopping Worth it?

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IntelliShop is a company that specializes in researching and enhancing the customer experience. They are all about understanding how customers interact with businesses and finding ways to make that interaction even better.

One of their standout methods involves mystery shopping. This is where you might find an interesting opportunity.

If you’re looking to make some money on the side, participating in IntelliShop’s mystery shopping program could be a great fit. It’s a simple concept as all you need to do is shop incognito and then provide feedback on your experience. This helps businesses understand what they are doing right and where they need improvement.

Now, let’s dive into the part that’s probably caught your attention – the earning potential.

When it comes to making money with IntelliShop, it’s important to explore the different ways you can earn through their platform. Each task or project you take on as a secret shopper can add a little extra to your wallet. It’s not just about the money, though. You’re also contributing to improving customer service and business practices, which is pretty rewarding in itself.

So, if you like the idea of mystery shopping and want to help companies better their customer service while earning some cash, IntelliShop might just be the right place for you to start.

In today’s review, let’s explore IntelliShop and see if it’s a mystery shopping company worth joining.

Let’s begin!

Who Can Join?

If you’re thinking about becoming a mystery shopper with IntelliShop, here’s what you need to know. The great news is IntelliShop is open to people from all around the globe. No matter where you are, you have the chance to join in.

However, there’s an important age requirement – you need to be at least 18 years old. This age limit is mainly because you will need a PayPal account to receive your payments, and PayPal requires its users to be 18 or older. So, before jumping into the IntelliShop world, make sure you have a verified PayPal account ready.

When you’re signing up, selecting PayPal as your payment method is a key part of the registration process. You will also need to provide all the necessary information on the registration form. Just a heads up, this form is quite detailed and might take you about 15~ minutes to complete.

After filling out the form, you will then receive an activation link via email. Click on this link to activate your account.

Then, during your first log-in session, IntelliShop will ask you to complete a test. This isn’t a tough test, but rather, it’s more about checking how well you can remember information. You will read a paragraph and then answer some questions based on what you’ve read.

Pass this test, and you’re a provisional shopper with IntelliShop.



Earning with Mystery Shopping

Starting is pretty straightforward.

You will log into the IntelliShop’s website, look for shopping jobs, and apply. Sometimes you might need to widen your job search, especially if there are not a lot of options near you. Keep in mind, though, that by expanding your search could mean traveling farther for a job. So, think about whether it’s worth it, especially if you’re not planning any trips.

Once you find a shop that interests you, hit the “apply” button and then wait for them to approve you.  After you’re approved, you will receive specific instructions and a deadline for your shopping task.  Before you apply, however, you can click on the “more” button and see what the job entails.

It’s crucial to finish your shopping before this deadline to ensure you get your rewards. Sometimes, IntelliShop might assign you a shop directly, and you will see this in your Shop Log. Remember, you need to confirm these assignments within 24 hours of accepting it, or they get canceled. Missing this deadline could lead to a lower shop grade, affecting your future earnings.

I have to say, it feels a bit stressful to log in daily to avoid this lower grade, but it seems to be a way of keeping shoppers engaged.

When you’re out there doing your mystery shopping, it’s vital to understand the task’s specifics. You will often need to take clear photos of a product and the receipt to show your purchase, for example. After you have completed all the necessary steps, you will then submit your report in the Shop Log section.  Once you do so, they will review your work.

If everything is in order, you’re all set to receive your reward.

How Much Can You Make?

Your earning potential depends largely on how many jobs you can complete. However, there’s no guarantee you will get regular jobs just by signing up. Your success on the platform depends on a few key factors.

First things first, complete your profile. This is crucial, especially when you sign up for the first time. A well-filled profile increases your chances of finding available jobs, which can be location dependent. If you’re in a place with a high demand for mystery shoppers, like in many parts of the U.S., you’re more likely to see a steady flow of opportunities.

But there’s more to it than just having a complete profile.

Your rating plays a big role in how much you can make per job. IntelliShop keeps the details of how this rating is calculated under wraps, but you can boost it by writing detailed reports, sticking closely to the guidelines, and completing jobs on time. Avoid canceling jobs at the last minute, as that can harm your rating. Another great way to improve your rating is by taking on jobs that offer a “Hero Citation.” This citation is like a gold star on your record, showing you’re reliable and boosting your overall rating.

Now, let’s be real.

The potential to earn well with IntelliShop is okay if you’re in a city with lots of jobs. However, if you’re outside these hotspots, particularly outside the U.S., the opportunities might not be as lucrative.

And don’t forget to consider the practical side of things. Consider the travel time and transportation costs when you’re applying for jobs. It’s all about planning wisely. If you don’t, you might find the job isn’t as profitable as you hoped. So, keep these things in mind, and you could have a rewarding experience with IntelliShop.

All in all, you can expect to make $5 to $15 per job plus reimbursement, which can be more than $50 to $100 in some cases.  The expenses can be great, as you can find yourself getting free oil changes, overnight hotel stays or even a free dinner.  So, while you won’t always get paid cash, you can often get a lot of value in services.

Getting Paid

When you complete a shopping task, not only do you get reimbursed for your purchases, but you also earn a little extra. This extra amount depends on your shopper rating, which I will talk more about later.

For example, imagine you spend $10 on a task. When IntelliShop pays you, you might get $25 in total. This figure is just an example, though, as your actual earnings will vary based on your shopper grade.  Again, you will know everything up front before committing to the job.

Now, about getting your money.

IntelliShop uses PayPal to send payments, usually around 30 days after the end of the month in which you completed your jobs. They generally make these payments on the 20th of the following month. The good thing here is you don’t have to ask for your payment each time you complete a job. IntelliShop does all this automatically, and if you have completed multiple jobs in a pay period, they will combine them into a single PayPal payment.

It’s important to keep track of the payments you’re owed. This helps you make sure what IntelliShop sends through PayPal matches up with what you expect. Remember to use the same email for IntelliShop and PayPal, as that’s where they’ll send your earnings.  It is a legitimate company and you shouldn’t have any problems, but with any system, it’s best to keep track of your jobs.

I find it convenient that IntelliShop handles payments automatically, but it’s worth noting that there’s a bit of a wait involved. If getting paid faster is important to you, it might be a good idea to explore other sites known for quicker payments.

The Pros:

  • IntelliShop simplifies the payment process. They handle everything automatically, and you get your earnings through PayPal. This means you don’t have to worry about requesting payments manually.
  • There’s no minimum payout threshold. Once your earnings are ready, they send them straight to your PayPal account, no matter the amount.

The Cons:

  • The opportunities to earn can be a bit limited. It’s not a one-size-fits-all deal.
  • The availability of jobs heavily depends on where you’re located.
  • There’s a bit of a catch – if you’re not logging in regularly, you risk your shopper rating dropping, which can affect your earning potential.

Final Thoughts

What I really appreciate about IntelliShop is how they have made the payment process so effortless. As a member, your main focus is on picking up shopping jobs, without the hassle of tracking payments.  Just complete your job and wait for the payment.

However, it’s important to note that IntelliShop tends to work best for people in busier areas, particularly in U.S. cities. If you’re in the U.S., you’re more likely to find a good number of jobs and earn a decent amount.  If you’re outside of a bigger city, you may not see much in terms of work.

In the end, this is a legitimate company and you will get paid.  Depending on your area, you can make about $10 to $100 per month with ease.

For those outside the U.S. or anyone looking for a consistent side hustle, it might be worth exploring the top survey sites. These sites usually offer more regular earning opportunities. Plus, you can participate from the comfort of your home, no matter where you are in the world.  It’s a great way to make a few dollars on the side.

That does it for now.

If you want to comment on your experience, feel free to do so below.

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Tom Nathaniel

Hi! My name is Tom Nathaniel, and I created LushDollar to help share my honest thoughts on everything money. You won't find gimmicks here. It's the Internet's most honest money site after all. I graduated from Arizona State University, and I have worked in the finance industry since 2006, consulting with multiple Fortune 5000 companies.

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