Market Force Information is a large customer experience company based in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, that uses mystery shoppers to evaluate restaurants, stores and other businesses for major brands. Shoppers are paid per assignment, usually with reimbursement for a required purchase, and payments go out once a month for the previous month’s shops.
At a glance
| Type of work | Mystery shops, mainly restaurants, retail, convenience and entertainment |
| How you earn | A set fee per shop plus reimbursement for required purchases |
| Cost to join | Free; never pay to become a shopper |
| Payout | Monthly, for the previous month’s shops, by direct deposit or PayPal |
| Requirements | 18+, reliable transport, smartphone or computer, attention to detail |
| Where it works | US and UK, among other countries |
How Market Force works
You sign up through Market Force’s shopper portal and complete your profile. Available assignments appear in your area, each with its fee, any reimbursement and the guidelines. Many are restaurant visits where you order specific items, observe service and timing, keep your receipt and submit a report.
Market Force is strict about following guidelines. If you order the wrong item, forget a required photo or miss a detail, the shop can be marked invalid, which can mean losing both the fee and the reimbursement. Read the instructions twice before you go.
A typical shop, step by step
On a typical restaurant shop, you accept the assignment in the portal, read which items to order and what to observe, and go within the assigned dates. During the visit you note times, staff names, cleanliness and whether the order was right, and you may need a photo of your table number or receipt. Back home, you complete the online questionnaire and upload the receipt the same day. Once the report is approved, the fee and reimbursement are added to the next monthly payment.
How you get paid
Market Force pays once a month for shops completed the month before. In the shopper portal, you choose direct deposit or PayPal; if you don’t choose, payment goes to PayPal by default. Your payment history is in the portal, so you can check each shop’s status.
What shoppers say
Market Force is a member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association and has a long track record. Shopper reviews are mixed: many report years of reliable payments, while others complain of strict invalidations and slow resolution when something goes wrong. The safest approach is to keep receipts and photos until you’re paid.
Avoiding scams
Market Force’s own help pages warn about fake offers that use its name, often with a check to deposit and money to wire back, or a “customer service evaluation form” sent unprompted. Real Market Force shops are only offered through its portal, and you never pay anything to join.
Making it worth your time
Pick shops at places you’d visit anyway, so the reimbursement covers something you’d buy regardless. Read the guidelines the evening before, save a checklist of required items on your phone, and photograph your receipt as soon as you pay. Submit the report the same day. Reliable shoppers see more assignments and occasional bonus offers on hard-to-fill shops, which is where the better money is.
Owen’s take
Market Force gives you access to shops for big, familiar brands, and free meals at chains you’d visit anyway are a real perk. The money is modest and the monthly pay cycle means a long wait. What decides whether it works for you is discipline: follow the guidelines to the letter, keep every receipt and photo, and submit reports fast. Do that and it’s a pleasant little earner. Cut corners and you’ll find yourself paying for lunch.
Who it suits
It suits detail-oriented people who eat out or shop regularly and don’t mind following precise instructions. It suits less well anyone who needs quick payment or dislikes paperwork.
Similar options
- BestMark offers mystery shops with more payment options.
- Sinclair Customer Metrics has shops in banks, retail and dealerships.
More local options are in Gig Work.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Shops for well-known brands
- Reimbursement for required purchases
- Free to join, with an established track record
Cons
- Paid monthly, for the previous month
- Strict guidelines; mistakes can void a shop
- Modest pay per assignment
FAQ
How often does Market Force pay?
Once a month, for shops completed during the previous month.
How does Market Force pay shoppers?
By direct deposit or PayPal, chosen in the shopper portal. PayPal is the default if you don’t pick one.
Is Market Force legit?
Yes. It’s a long-established company and a member of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. It never charges shoppers a fee.
Why would a Market Force shop be invalid?
Usually because a guideline wasn’t followed, such as ordering the wrong item or missing a required photo or detail.
