My favorite secret shopping app, hands down, is Field Agent. Yeah there are other sites out there, but 90% of my money comes from Field Agent, which is why I’m choosing to spotlight them! They’ve been around since 2010, so this is an app with staying power- not a fly by night “get in, cash out as quickly as you can and hope the money comes” situation, like so many apps we see these days.
So what is it?
Field Agent is an app available for either iphone or Android that harnesses smartphones across the country to collect photos, video, and information about retail operations, products, and shoppers. This information is often used by businesses to better serve customers just like you. Not only do you get to earn cash while using Field Agent, you get to make a difference in retailers, products, and your community.
In effect: They pay you to do audits of nearby stores, buy and test products, and more! I’ve been paid to eat pizza, paid to take a photo of how weed killer worked on weeds in my yard, paid to look at recycling piles behind stores, go to product demos, or take photos of signage- if you can think it up, Field Agent probably pays you to do it!
After you sign up, you will have the option to view shops in your area. You can sort by zip code or by shops within a certain distance of your current location.
Once you click on a shop, you will be given information before you sign up to do it, so you know if it’s right for you. Don’t want to take 25 pictures? Don’t take the job! Not comfortable doing a video? Pass! I’ve been pleased with the amount of information given before I actually chose a gig. You will also be given an amount of time to get your job done. Since The Rumpus happened, Field Agent has been flexible, giving us significantly more time to complete shops and making changes so that we can score buy and tries or product insight shops through grocery pick-ups, instead of having to go in store.
Now for what you’re most interested in…the payment information!
You WILL have to link your Field Agent account to your bank account in order to cash out. This is the only way to get paid for the work you do! I have been entirely pleased with Field Agent in this regard- after years of shopping with them, they’ve never had a data breach, I’ve never had questionable transactions with them, and I’ve always been paid the full amount for my jobs and my reimbursements.
Some folks aren’t comfortable with giving out their banking information. That’s understandable! As always, do what you feel comfortable doing.