A typical weekend night begins for me a lot because it does for a lot of others: I am going out to eat, typically with a buddy. I take pleasure in making an attempt new locations or returning to common favorites. Nevertheless, the distinction between me and most different friends is that I’m not taking pictures to share on social media; I’m taking pictures to file timestamps of when a dish was delivered to my desk.
I’m not simply feigning curiosity because the server mentions the housemade lemonade, I’m actively listening to make sure they did name it out within the first place.
I’m solely partially listening to my buddy I’m eating with as a result of I’m being attentive to how a bartender makes the drinks as a result of I need to see if they’re persistently measuring the pictures they pour.
I’ll stand up to make use of the toilet, or extra precisely, I’ll stand up to research the toilet in some unspecified time in the future throughout my meal, no matter whether or not I would like to make use of it, as I have to examine if the counters are moist or wiped down.
And the largest distinction? On the finish of the meal, I’m not spending my very own {dollars} to pay for the expertise. That’s as a result of I’m there as a secret shopper or thriller diner.
How Thriller Eating Works
Earlier than a number of years in the past, I had by no means heard of secret buying. A buddy talked about it, and I used to be intrigued. I did a little analysis on-line and discovered that secret consumers are compensated for consuming at eating places, buying at shops, or utilizing providers to guage the standard of the expertise.
I used to be instantly drawn to the thought of secret buying, particularly restaurant eating. I really like consuming out and am at all times on the lookout for new locations to strive, however I’m additionally extraordinarily cost-conscious. I made a decision to enroll to be a secret shopper for EyeSpy, not figuring out what I used to be moving into.
Signing up was very easy, and I used to be capable of get began straight away. Secret buying as a aspect hustle shortly grew to become my lifestyle.
Each month, I select from completely different restaurant assignments, starting from fast and informal takeout to time-saving supply to high-end eating. The assignments embrace descriptions of particular duties, the compensation, and the out there dates. I usually tackle about one in-person store per week.
Relying on the shopper, the compensation might be $60 price of takeout, $125 for an off-the-cuff dine-in, or as much as $250 for a multi-course nice eating expertise.
Generally, I pay instantly (yay, bank card factors!) and am reimbursed afterward; different instances, I’m offered a present card.
Thriller Eating Necessities
Every project has particular directions tailor-made to the shopper’s pursuits however usually focuses on the service parts, meals high quality, and cleanliness.
On the finish of my expertise, I full a web based analysis, answering focused questions, comparable to:
- Did the server examine again inside 3 minutes of a dish being delivered?
- Was the dish set down in entrance of me with the protein dealing with me?
- Once I ordered a generic cocktail (as instructed), did they attempt to upsell me to a premium spirit?
- Was the toilet clear and effectively stocked?
- Was the skin sidewalk freed from particles?
- Had been all of the lights functioning?
This is an instance of what an analysis sheet appears to be like like.
I additionally present a story of my expertise.
Larger-end institutions require probably the most in depth and detailed evaluations, typically asking about issues I by no means would have observed. These might take an hour or extra to put in writing up totally, however most are significantly shorter and take half-hour or much less.
Repeat evaluations of the identical enterprise usually take much less time, as I’m already acquainted with the questions and may write them up extra shortly.
Takeout evaluations are at all times shorter than dine-in evaluations, usually specializing in order accuracy (you’d be stunned how typically an order is lacking one thing!) and packaging.
Whereas most secret retailers are centered on thriller eating at eating places, the corporate I secret store for works with supply providers too. These save time and cash (to do extra secret retailers!).
I might not usually go for supply given the extra charges, however they’re coated for me with the key retailers. The very best? Utilizing my retailers to get groceries delivered. It is a good way to save cash on my on a regular basis bills.
These supply evaluations are usually very brief and quick to finish.
I’ve additionally been lucky to choose up assignments after I journey, as the corporate works with shoppers nationwide. I merely let the schedulers know when and the place I’ll be touring, and so they attempt to line up jobs for me.
This permits me to maintain my total journey prices down, as eating is the largest element of journey prices for me exterior of flights and accommodations. It additionally provides me a straightforward itinerary for eating in a brand new metropolis!
Thriller eating is not about creating wealth as a lot as it’s about permitting you to deal with your self and splurge whenever you usually could be extra frugal.
Usually, assignments require evaluators to order an appetizer, dessert, and drinks together with the meal, so fairly than minimizing my prices, I take pleasure in a full-course meal. I really like doing assignments that allow me indulge within the extras or require me to take a look at higher-end locations which might be usually exterior my worth vary.
How A lot Free Meals Did I Get?
Within the first three months of 2024, $664 price of meals was coated through present playing cards or reimbursements. In 2023, the overall was ~$4800, and the 12 months earlier than was $7111 (a really energetic 12 months for secret buying!).
In case you do not have a calculator helpful, that is over $12,500 price of tasty meals!
I don’t have a automobile, so I solely take alternatives inside strolling distance (or supply). Nevertheless, I might simply double my thriller retailers if I traveled additional or wished to dedicate extra time to the assignments. I usually do one in-person weekly project and as many supply ones as doable.
My pals additionally profit financially from my secret retailers, as their meals are coated after they be part of me, in trade for the truth that I’ll pay barely much less consideration to them whereas we eat. A lot of them have additionally signed as much as be thriller consumers after listening to about my “gigs,” as I name them.
Need To Develop into a Thriller Diner? This is My Recommendation
I counsel anybody taken with making an attempt out this aspect hustle to make sure you have the time, focus, and discretion required to do job. Being a profitable secret shopper requires robust remark expertise, memorizing directions, and a real curiosity in offering sincere suggestions, all whereas staying undercover.
If I needed to pursue secret buying as a aspect hustle once more, I’d most likely be extra selective about assignments.
I began by taking practically each provided project, however I’ve discovered that some assignments are extra fulfilling and a greater match for me. I’ve discovered to be extra selective in regards to the assignments I settle for, choosing solely those who provide the perfect compensation, probably the most attention-grabbing eating experiences, or are extra handy. I shrink back from those who have prolonged evaluations, are far-off, or serve delicacies I’m not taken with.
That mentioned, evaluating locations I by no means would have chosen has led me to find new favorites.
After a number of years, I nonetheless discover secret buying a novel, rewarding, and customarily fairly tasty aspect hustle that permits me to take pleasure in eating out whereas saving cash.
I’ve additionally discovered so much in regards to the restaurant trade. I’ve turn into extra conscious of what goes into making an amazing eating expertise and, for higher or worse, discovered to be a extra crucial shopper.
Whether or not you are on the lookout for a strategy to complement your earnings or cut back your eating bills (whereas having fun with new eating places), secret buying is a superb choice. I turned my love of meals and a spotlight to element right into a worthwhile and fulfilling aspect hustle I want I had found sooner.