Heading to get groceries and want to break up the monotony? Maybe you’d like to get a free product to try or earn some extra cash for taking some photos at the store and answering a few questions? I have enjoyed using several apps in the mystery shopping realm and wanted to share my two favorites in case you’re interested in trying them out.
Field Agent
The first app is called Field Agent. I was drawn to this name because I’ve always loved watching TV shows and movies about the CIA and other clandestine agencies. Though the app doesn’t turn you into a spy, it’s still fun to pretend! If you are interested in free food, they typically have a variety of “Buy & Try” jobs ranging from ice cream bars to hard seltzer, free pizza, and even chicken fries at Burger King.
Once you buy the product, you save the receipt and take a photo of it at home, then leave a short review in the app in order to get reimbursed and usually earn a few dollars on top of getting reimbursed for the product. It’s not a money-making scheme by any means, but it’s fun to try new things and share your input.
This is a job I recently completed – you can give your permission to have your review published like mine was here. As you can see below, they also have some in person mystery shops that require interaction with store personnel. I’m not always interested in doing the jobs they have listed, but they add new ones fairly often so I check back once a week or so.
Once you submit your work in the app, it usually takes about 24-48 hours for them to review it and determine if you completed it correctly. The better your accuracy score, the more jobs you can qualify for. Once your work is approved by the app, the payment you earned will show in the app for you to cash out. I like that unlike some other apps, there is no minimum you have to earn in order to cash out your payment. Even if it’s only $1, you can get that paid to you immediately!
Interested in trying it out? You can get it here and use my code cnpsaex.
Mobee
I was a little unsure about this second app because I didn’t know of anyone who had used it, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. This one doesn’t have free products to try, but does have a variety of “missions” for you to complete which involve taking photos in store and answering questions about certain types of displays and product availability.
In case you’re wondering about the type of photos they ask for, one mission I completed was to capture photos of the various types of battery displays in a hardware store and how they were oriented (pallet style vs. endcap). The app gives you a brief training on terms and commonly used store displays in case you aren’t familiar with them already. I don’t usually head to the store just to complete these missions, but if I already have plans to be in a store, I figure I might as well check for any available missions to complete if I have enough time while I’m there!
Since the app asks that you remain incognito, I tend to stay away from jobs that are in smaller areas like gas stations because I found out the hard way that it ends up being pretty obvious when you’re in there snapping 20+ photos and looking sketchy for not buying anything, so I have steered clear of those. Shout out to those who can complete those missions while looking normal and natural! I’ve found completing the grocery store or hardware store jobs are a better fit for me as I can remain more inconspicuous.
As you can see below, the app shows you options filtered either by distance or by points you can earn. After your first mission, you earn a “newbie” badge and I had enough points to redeem for a $10 Amazon gift card after 2 missions (1200 points). The missions I’ve completed have not been difficult, but they do require more photos and answers to questions than the Field Agent app does, so it really just depends on your preference.
If you want to give the app a try, go here and use my code KWPX to get your first 300 points!
What are your thoughts? Have you ever used any mystery shopping or product review apps? If you have, I’d love to hear your favorites in the comments!
Bonus Tip
I have also enjoyed using Social Nature – there is no app for this one, just the website, but you can apply to try free organic and natural food products. They either send you free vouchers or mail the actual products to you. The only catch is that you must agree to write a review on their website within 2 weeks of trying the product. They have some popular brands like Primal Kitchen, Ocean’s Halo and Caulipower, just to name a few. Here is one of my reviews – as you can see, they don’t have to be long at all!
Let me know what you think if you sign up!
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great week!
Emily
The Planking Traveler 