One woman explains to 236,000 viewers how masquerading as a customer at Old Navy earned her a $200 paycheck in one day.
“Today, I am gonna get paid $200 to shop at Old Navy. So, let me tell you how I’m gonna do it,” TikToker Shalyn (@shalynkay) says.
Shopping at Old Navy
She continues, “I‘m gonna shop around. I will get reimbursed $250. I can spend more if I want but the cap is $150 and I’m getting paid $50 for the service.”
Then, she lists the requirements she must fulfill. “I have to take a picture of the front mannequins and submit [it], I have to see if I can ask for a credit card at the register, and I just have to evaluate the customer service, and then the cleanliness of the store as a whole,” she explains.
Since there are several secret shopper apps to sign up for, the content creator reveals which one she uses.
“I use an app called isecretshop. It’s a third-party contractor position,” Shalyn says. “Companies hire me to go into their stores, see if they’re following company policies that they want me to check for and then they reimburse or pay you anywhere between 30 to 90 days later.”
Afterward, she embarks on her adventure to Old Navy. “Let’s see what we can find,” she says, trekking toward the building and opening the entrance door. However, she doesn’t take her 28,000 followers with her.
Instead, the video cuts to her sitting in her car. “That was easy peasy,” she proclaims, pulling out an Old Navy bag. “I found plenty of stuff for my son. Nothing for me, but I did get some basic tees so that I can donate them just so I meet my $150 mark [and] max everything out.”
“Now, I’m gonna submit everything and wait to be reimbursed,” the content creator concludes.
What is a secret shopper?
A secret shopper, also known as a “mystery shopper,” is a person employed by a third party to evaluate businesses on their customer service by disguising themselves as a customer. These employers juggle multiple responsibilities, including interacting with or discreetly observing employees, inspecting the store’s cleanliness, assessing their overall satisfaction, and providing a written evaluation of their experience.
In the comments section, some secret shoppers bemoaned their luck.
“Ohhhh that was a good shop!! That doesn’t come up around me,” one viewer revealed.
“I never get these good ones!” a second remarked.
However, others were skeptical of the iSecretShop app.
“30-90 days for reimbursement? I kind of want to do this but don’t want to get scammed,” one commenter stated.
“The App Store reviews aren’t good. How fast do you get reimbursed?” a second inquired.
“The app she claims to use has horrible reviews and is likely a scam,” a third remarked.
Is the iSecretShop app legitimate?
The app has a rating of 3.6 out of 5 on the Google Play Store. The reviews were mixed, with both negative and positive. Several reviewers criticized the app’s performance, citing crashes, freezing, and glitches.
Additionally, they complained about the jobs themselves, including long payouts, filling out the account profile, and the demands. Although there is no tangible evidence that the app is legitimate, it isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau. To be verified, the company must be willing to undergo vetting and agree to the Bureau’s standards For Trust.
A business does have the option not to be BBB-accredited.
Be aware of scammers
There are a variety of secret shopper apps besides iSecretShop, including Market Force, BestMark, and Intellishop, among others. From there, you sign the form and proceed. Inevitably, scammers are lurking to take advantage of people on any platform. Here are the red flags to spot from the Federal Trade Commission:
- Paying to receive work or see job listings
- Sending money to accept an assignment
- Depositing a check and returning the money
- Accepting a gig where you will earn tons of money
- Answering a job offer from a lister claiming to be with the Mystery Shopping Professionals Association (MSPA)
@shalynkay #secretshop #secretshopper #secretshopping ♬ original sound – Shalyn G
The Mary Sue reached out to Shalyn via TikTok comment and direct message.
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