A typical weekend night begins for me a lot because it does for a lot of others: I’m going out to eat, typically with a pal. I get pleasure from making an attempt new locations or returning to common favorites. Nevertheless, the distinction between me and most different company is that I’m not taking photographs to share on social media; I’m taking photographs to document 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 pal I’m eating with as a result of I’m listening to how a bartender makes the drinks as a result of I wish 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 analyze the toilet sooner or later throughout my meal, no matter whether or not I would like to make use of it, as I have to test if the counters are moist or wiped down.
And the most important 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 procuring. A pal talked about it, and I used to be intrigued. I did some research on-line and discovered that secret customers are compensated for consuming at eating places, procuring at shops, or utilizing providers to judge the standard of the expertise.
I used to be instantly drawn to the thought of secret procuring, 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 immediately. Secret procuring as a aspect hustle shortly grew to become my lifestyle.
Each month, I select from totally 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 accessible 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 high quality eating expertise.
Typically, I pay instantly (yay, bank card factors!) and am reimbursed afterward; different occasions, I’m supplied a present card.
Thriller Eating Necessities
Every task 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, similar to:
- Did the server test again inside 3 minutes of a dish being delivered?
- Was the dish set down in entrance of me with the protein going through 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 surface sidewalk freed from particles?
- Had been all of the lights functioning?
Here is an instance of what an analysis sheet appears like.
I additionally present a story of my expertise.
Increased-end institutions require probably the most in depth and detailed evaluations, typically asking about issues I by no means would have seen. These could take an hour or extra to put in writing up absolutely, 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 shocked 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 money (to do extra secret retailers!).
I’d not usually go for supply given the extra charges, however they’re coated for me with the key retailers. The best possible? Utilizing my retailers to get groceries delivered. It is a good way to economize 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 once I journey, as the corporate works with shoppers nationwide. I merely let the schedulers know when and the place I’ll be touring, they usually attempt to line up jobs for me.
This enables me to maintain my general journey prices down, as eating is the most important part of journey prices for me exterior of flights and motels. It additionally provides me a simple itinerary for eating in a brand new metropolis!
Thriller eating is not about being profitable as a lot as it’s about permitting you to deal with your self and splurge once you usually can be extra frugal.
Typically, assignments require evaluators to order an appetizer, dessert, and drinks together with the meal, so reasonably than minimizing my prices, I get pleasure from a full-course meal. I really like doing assignments that permit me indulge within the extras or require me to take a look at higher-end locations which can 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 reward playing cards or reimbursements. In 2023, the entire was ~$4800, and the yr earlier than was $7111 (a really lively yr for secret procuring!).
In case you do not have a calculator helpful, that is over $12,500 price of tasty meals!
I don’t have a automotive, so I solely take alternatives inside strolling distance (or supply). Nevertheless, I might simply double my thriller retailers if I traveled additional or needed to dedicate extra time to the assignments. I usually do one in-person weekly task and as many supply ones as attainable.
My associates additionally profit financially from my secret retailers, as their meals are coated after they be a 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 customers after listening to about my “gigs,” as I name them.
Need To Turn out to be a Thriller Diner? Here is My Recommendation
I counsel anybody all for making an attempt out this aspect hustle to make sure you have the time, focus, and discretion required to do a great job. Being a profitable secret shopper requires robust statement expertise, memorizing directions, and a real curiosity in offering sincere suggestions, all whereas staying undercover.
If I needed to pursue secret procuring as a aspect hustle once more, I’d in all probability be extra selective about assignments.
I began by taking practically each provided task, however I’ve discovered that some assignments are extra pleasurable and a greater match for me. I’ve discovered to be extra selective concerning the assignments I settle for, selecting solely people who supply the most effective compensation, probably the most fascinating eating experiences, or are extra handy. I shrink back from people who have prolonged evaluations, are far-off, or serve delicacies I’m not all for.
That stated, 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 procuring a novel, rewarding, and customarily fairly tasty aspect hustle that permits me to get pleasure from eating out whereas saving cash.
I’ve additionally discovered so much concerning the restaurant business. I’ve develop into extra conscious of what goes into making an important eating expertise and, for higher or worse, discovered to be a extra vital client.
Whether or not you are on the lookout for a option to complement your revenue or cut back your eating bills (whereas having fun with new eating places), secret procuring is a good possibility. I turned my love of meals and a spotlight to element right into a worthwhile and pleasurable aspect hustle I want I had found sooner.
