I have a confession: I didn’t cook a single meal for over two weeks. I actually didn’t even buy groceries for almost two weeks but didn’t spend a single dollar (I actually earned money by eating!). I got over $1000 of food delivery over the past two weeks for free instead.
I’m generally not someone who eats out often. It’s expensive and adds up. So instead of blowing my budget on eating out, DoorDash, or Uber Eats, I actually got paid to order delivery.
Sounds too good to be true, right? But that’s the beauty of mystery shopping.
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Table of Contents
What Is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery shopping is when companies pay ordinary people like you and me to act like customers and report back on the experience. You’re essentially shopper under cover.
The company wants to know if the process works smoothly from start to finish. Some questions could range from was the app easy to use, did the food arrive on time, was everything correct, and how was the packaging? They might evaluate the packaging and ask you take closer pictures. It all depends on the shop!
As a shopper, your job is simple: order, take a few photos, and fill out a short report. In return, you’re reimbursed for your order and often paid extra cash for your time.
The Platform I Used For Food Delivery: Ipsos
There are a few mystery shopping platforms out there, but one of my favorites for food delivery right now is Ipsos. They partner with a food delivery app (can’t mention it here but you’ll find out which one when you sign up!)
Here’s how a typical assignment works:
- You’re given a budget (recently it’s been up to $250 worth of food)
- You place an order just like you normally would on the food delivery app.
- When the food arrives, you snap photos of the packaging and items
- You upload the photos and complete a short questionnaire in the Ipsos platform. Currently, this is all multiple choice or photos.
- Ipsos reimburses your order and pays you a $10-30 bonus for the assignment (subject to change). This particular shop with food delivery is with ShopMetrics (not Sassie)!
It feels almost unreal at first — because you’re literally getting paid to have food show up at your doorstep. I also love Ipsos because the reimbursement time is super quick I got paid for all my shops in less than 2 weeks after I did them.
My Experience: $1000+ of Free Food
Two weeks ago, I decided to test this out and see for myself. I started with a Mexican food delivery shop and filled out the requirements. It got approved within three days and I was stoked to sign up for my next one.
By the end of two weeks, I had racked up over $1000 worth of food. Sushi, Thai food, halal food, sandwiches, you name it. Every single meal was reimbursed, and on top of that, I pocketed cash for completing the shops.
My favorite part? Feeding the people I love around me. My parents LOVE sushi but are pretty frugal and rarely eat out so treating them to food and letting them know it was free was my favorite thing.
Each shop probably takes me around an hour. Snapping a few photos before digging into dinner is probably the easiest side hustle task I’ve ever done.
Why Companies Pay for This
You might wonder: why would a company spend hundreds of dollars just to give people free food?
The reason is quality control. Restaurants and delivery apps need to make sure:
- Orders are accurate
- Drivers follow delivery instructions
- Food arrives in good condition
- Customers are having a consistent experience
- Food is packaged in the right type of containers
Since they can’t monitor every single order, they rely on mystery shoppers to be their eyes and ears. It’s cheaper for them to pay a few people to test the system than to risk unhappy customers leaving permanently.
How You Can Get Started
If this sounds like something you’d want to try, here’s how:
- Sign up for a free account on the Ipsos mystery shopping portal.
- Search for available assignments in your area.
- Claim one that looks good — food delivery shops go fast, so be quick.
- Order your meal, take the required photos, and submit your report.
- Wait a few days for approval, reimbursement, and payment.
A Few Pro Tips
From doing this multiple times, here are a few things that helped me maximize my earnings:
- Act fast: There are a ton of these opportunities right now but you never know when they’ll be gone!
- Follow instructions exactly: If you forget a photo or skip a question, you might get your report sent back to redo. If it’s a severe enough mistake (i.e. you didn’t take any pictures), you won’t get reimbursed.
- Plan around meals: Instead of cooking or buying lunch, see if a shop is available first. It saves money and time.
Final Thoughts
Mystery shopping isn’t going to replace your full-time income, but it can be a surprisingly fun side hustle. For me, it’s been one of the most enjoyable ways to save money on meals while also making extra cash.
Last two weeks alone, I got over $1000 worth of food, without spending a dime of my own money. That’s a win in my book. Now I’m taking a little break to have some fun cooking at home haha.
So if you’re looking for a creative way to cut food costs, give Ipsos mystery shops a try. You might find yourself never wanting to cook again.
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Hello, I’m Chloe! I’m the primary author of Off Hour Hustle. Currently, I work as a software engineer, sell products through eBay, Etsy, and OfferUp, have 26+ credit cards, and am always working to diversify my income streams. In my spare time, I enjoy climbing, hiking, and other outdoor activities.