I signed up for GBW Mystery Shopping to see if its mystery shopping assignments are worth your time. It is legit and pays straight to your bank account, but you need to live in a big city and keep to fixed dates and times. Below is what I found, and which sites I recommend instead.
Legit mystery shopping, but only worth it in a big city
Around $10 to $17 per assignment in the US, paid to your bank account. Assignments have a fixed date and time, and small towns have few or none.
On this page
The short answer
GBW Mystery Shopping is legit. GBW is a company that helps businesses improve their customer experiences, and the mystery shopping assignments really reward you. It pays straight to your bank account, with no payout threshold.
But the assignments are location-based. In a big city, you can find plenty. In a small town, do not expect to earn anything. Every assignment has a fixed date and time, and you have to travel to the location. You will not get rich from it, but it can give you decent pocket money.
- No payout threshold
- Pays via direct bank transfer
- A good rate per assignment in the US
- Assignments usually take around 15 minutes
- You can download the instructions to your phone
- You can’t customize your login details
- Requires a certain level of commitment to do an assignment
- Fixed dates and times, so the schedule is not flexible
- Few or no assignments outside big cities
- You pay your own travel costs to the location
My experience with GBW Mystery Shopping
I signed up for GBW Mystery Shopping and looked at the registration, the member dashboard, the assignments, the payment setup and the support. This is what I did myself, and what I did not test.
- First tested
- January 2024Review first published Jan 3, 2024
- Latest retest
- Checked: assignments, payments, support
- Pay per assignment
- Around $10 to $17 in the USDepends on the country you live in
- Time per assignment
- Around 15 minutesPlus travel to the location
- Signing up, and the login details GBW sends by email
- The member dashboard and the assignments in my area
- The assignment details and the downloadable instructions
- The dashboard on a mobile phone
- The FAQ and the Contact Us form
- A payout. My review does not show a payment from GBW.
An inside look at GBW Mystery Shopping
These screenshots are from my test. My review does not show a payout.
Screenshots from my test
GBW Mystery Shopping at a glance
| What it is | A company that helps businesses improve their customer experiences, through mystery shoppers |
|---|---|
| Ways to earn | Mystery shopping assignments at a location in your area |
| Pay per assignment | Depends on your country. Around $10 to $17 in the US. |
| Time per assignment | Usually around 15 minutes, at a fixed date and time |
| Report deadline | 8 hours after the evaluation |
| Payout method | Direct bank transfer after each approved assignment |
| Minimum cashout | None |
| What you need | A photo of yourself and a government-issued ID, then your bank account details once you are accepted |
| App | No app. The member dashboard works on mobile. |
| Where you can join | Many countries. You see the list when you sign up. Most assignments are in big cities. |
| Support | FAQ, and a Contact Us form on the website (choose the option for evaluators) |
Is GBW Mystery Shopping legit and safe?
Yes, GBW Mystery Shopping is legit. The assignments really reward you. But being legit does not make it a good fit for everyone. Here is what you should know.
- Few assignments outside big cities
The assignments are location-based. In a big city, there are plenty of opportunities to earn. In a small town, do not expect to earn anything.
- Fixed dates, times and deadlines
Each assignment has a set date and time, so plan carefully before you accept one. After the evaluation, you have 8 hours to submit your results. If you miss it, you are not paid, and if you keep missing it, you can no longer accept assignments.
- Travel costs are yours
You have to get to the location of the assignment. Factor in your gas or travel costs when you look at the pay.
- Photo, ID and bank details
Before you can accept assignments, you upload a photo of yourself and a government-issued ID. Once you are accepted, GBW asks for your bank account details so it can pay you.
- Scammers misuse the GBW name
Scammers misuse the names of legit companies like GBW. A cashier’s check from someone who says they are GBW is a scam. GBW pays you by direct bank transfer after you complete an assignment. Read more about mystery shopping sites you can trust.
My takeIn my opinion, GBW is not a bad site to earn extra cash from. However, before you hit the sign-up button, set your expectations properly in terms of its earning potential. You will not get rich from this opportunity, but you can still earn a decent amount of pocket money from it. If you are looking for ways to earn with a more flexible schedule, then this is not for you.
GBW only works if you live in a big city. The top survey and GPT sites in your country work wherever you live, from home.
See the best sites in your countryHow you earn on GBW Mystery Shopping
There is one way to earn: mystery shopping assignments in your area.
Mystery shopping assignmentsAround $10–$17 in the US
Log in to the member dashboard to see the available opportunities in your area. First complete your profile: upload a photo of yourself and a government-issued ID. After that, you see all the available activities.
Each assignment has a specified date and time. If you accept it, you need to show up at the location on that date and time and do the tasks asked of you. All instructions are on the assignment’s details page, and you can download them. Read them carefully before you accept. An assignment usually takes around 15 minutes.
After the evaluation, you have 8 hours to submit your results, with a photo of the receipt if the assignment asked you to buy something. GBW then reviews your work. There is no set timetable, but in my experience it usually does not take more than a couple of days. See also the best mystery shopping sites.
How much can you make?
The amount per assignment depends on the country you live in. In the US, you usually earn around $10 to $17 per assignment, which is a good rate, in my opinion. But you also need to factor in the gas or travel costs of getting to the location.
How much you make in total depends mostly on where you live. In a big city, the earning potential is pretty good, because there are plenty of opportunities. In a small town, do not expect to earn anything.
It will not be anywhere near what you earn from a full-time job. But you can still earn decent pocket money, if you live in a city with plenty of assignments.
How you get paid
| Method | Minimum | When |
|---|---|---|
| Direct bank transfer | None | After GBW reviews and approves each assignment |
Every time you complete an assignment and GBW approves it, the payment goes straight to your bank account. You do not have to reach a minimum amount first. Once you are accepted as a GBW mystery shopper, you are asked for your bank account details.
Overall, the payment system is straightforward. For more sites with this payout method, see the top sites that pay via direct bank transfer.
Who can join GBW Mystery Shopping?
GBW Mystery Shopping is available in many countries. When you sign up, you see all the countries it is available in. If your country is not listed, do not sign up, because you will not find any opportunities to earn.
To join, fill out the sign-up form and answer all the questions. GBW then emails you your login details. Keep this email, because it is your only copy of your user ID and password. Unlike other mystery shopping platforms I have tested, you cannot choose your own login details.
There is no app, but the member dashboard is optimized for mobile, and you can download the instructions for an assignment to your phone.
What 2 readers told me
This review has 2 comments since January 2024: 1 from a reader and 1 reply from me. This is what the reader wrote about.
A reader received a cashier’s check from someone posing as GBW. That is a scam. GBW pays by direct bank transfer.
“I recently received a cashier check from someone who has been portraying that they are GBW, after reading your blog I believe this is a big scam.”
Mikael: Unfortunately there are many scammers that misuse legit companies like this. Never believe a cashiers check like that.
GBW Mystery Shopping alternatives I have tested
| Site | Best for | Min. cashout | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrizeRebel | Surveys, tasks and offers, with a very low threshold | $5 PayPal; some gift cards from $2 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Prime Opinion | Surveys only, fast payouts | $5 or $10, by country | 4.6 / 5 |
| Swagbucks | Many daily ways to earn, one of the biggest GPT sites | About $5 PayPal | 4.3 / 5 |
| iShopFor Ipsos | Mystery shops in stores, online or by phone, in more than 80 countries | None (PayPal) | 3.1 / 5 |
| Second To None | Mystery shopping in the US and Canada, paid monthly | None | 2.8 / 5 |
Want to earn from home, on your own schedule? See the top survey and GPT sites in your country. You will find a site you can join wherever you live.
How I scored GBW Mystery Shopping
I use the same 100-point system for every platform. Platform Information.
GBW Mystery Shopping scores 50 out of 100. If you want to earn from home, see these sites first.
See the best sites in your countryGBW Mystery Shopping FAQ
Is GBW Mystery Shopping a scam?
No. GBW is legit, and its mystery shopping assignments really reward you. But scammers misuse its name. Never trust a cashier’s check from someone who says they are GBW.
How much does GBW pay?
It depends on your country. In the US, you usually earn around $10 to $17 per assignment. You pay your own travel costs to the location.
How does GBW pay?
By direct bank transfer, after GBW reviews and approves your assignment. There is no payout threshold.
How long does an assignment take?
Usually around 15 minutes, at a fixed date and time. After the evaluation, you have 8 hours to submit your results.
Who can join GBW Mystery Shopping?
People in the countries GBW lists when you sign up. If your country is not listed, do not sign up. Most assignments are in big cities.
Does GBW have an app?
No. The member dashboard is optimized for mobile, and you can download the instructions for an assignment to your phone.
How do I contact GBW support?
Check the FAQ first. Otherwise, click the Contact Us link on the website, choose the option for evaluators and fill out the form.
Who tested GBW Mystery Shopping for this review
If you have any comments, questions, or experiences with GBW Mystery Shopping, I would love to hear from you in a comment below.
I recently received a cashier check from someone who has been portraying that they are GBW, after reading your blog I believe this is a big scam. Thank you.
Glad my blog helped you. Unfortunately there are many scammers that misuse legit companies like this. Never believe a cashiers check like that. You can read more about mystery shopping scams and how to avoid them here.