Burned out on mystery shopping?
There definitely are cycles in it. And generally a 'burn out' has either a shop rejection or a stinker rating in it. I'm not sure whether you are burned out a bit, not performing at peak and the rejection or stinker rating just seal the deal or whether they simply stop you in your tracks wondering "Why the heck am I wasting my time on this?"
I find that when the burn out occurs, I simply become more selective about the companies I will work with and the jobs I will perform. It takes only a couple of good jobs to get you back into the game, but there does need to be monitoring of how much you are taking on and the strain it has on you. This is not a job that pays well enough to justify ulcers.
I find that when the burn out occurs, I simply become more selective about the companies I will work with and the jobs I will perform. It takes only a couple of good jobs to get you back into the game, but there does need to be monitoring of how much you are taking on and the strain it has on you. This is not a job that pays well enough to justify ulcers.
Thanks, Flash. I think you hit the nail on the head. I received the 8 out of 10 score which irritated me, especially after this company literally BEGGED me to do this shop.
Also, some of the shops I've done recently have had me thinking, "Why on earth did I waste my time on this?" I did a gas station one where I had to take 20 photos and fill out 26 pages of questions. Right at the end their system crashed and I was up until midnight trying to re-do everything. I explained this to the evaluator, because I had to submit the report late, and she then "un-assigned" me from the job!
So yeah, a combo of low scoring and cruddy-paying assignments has left me feeling a little dejected
Also, some of the shops I've done recently have had me thinking, "Why on earth did I waste my time on this?" I did a gas station one where I had to take 20 photos and fill out 26 pages of questions. Right at the end their system crashed and I was up until midnight trying to re-do everything. I explained this to the evaluator, because I had to submit the report late, and she then "un-assigned" me from the job!
So yeah, a combo of low scoring and cruddy-paying assignments has left me feeling a little dejected
And you realize what companies 1) take you for granted, 2) play power games with you, or 3) are the south end of north bound horse all while paying you peanuts for your time. You decide which types of jobs you really like and are comfortable doing and find the companys that treat you decently both in pay and professionalism and work with them. This is why it is so terribly difficult to tell someone they can make a living doing this. Yes, if I took every available job I could find in my area I could probably pay my bills. But my bills are pretty low and 2/3 or more of the work I see in my area either pays too little or are working with jerks or are just plain uninteresting.
hello i am secret shopper virgin, how do i get started?
Welcome to the Board! Just start reading the topics...
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
When I am feeling burned out, I too become very selective about choosing shops.
When I get burned out, like now, I step back a week or so and breath, the start over.
I find I get burned out when I no longer am excited about a shop. When you dread having to do one, don't have any idea what you want to get for the purchase and find a few weeks of laying low generally helps . You feel the need to add some money to your bank account comes back around. Mostly its fun and games but some make it difficult to do so.
And sometimes just a little creativity can add a spin that makes the shop more interesting for you while at the same time getting the information needed. I faced a just awful sounding job within the past week by turning it into a piece of cake 'gathering information for my son's MBA thesis.' The store was just more than happy to be helpful and help me fill out my homemade checklist.
I wrote the exact thread "Retiring"...finding I have cut back for the rest of this month, hardly doing anything, and getting "myself" back...feels good!
Live consciously....
I'm with the majority of the ladies here. I generally give myself a one or two week lay off and then select the jobs I want to do when I'm ready to get back into it.
I get burned out (being out of work) when focusing only on the highest paying jobs - all of which are in the same company and are the exact sane shops with long write ups. So sometimes I'll take a low paying one that seems like fun or I can use to take friends out for dinner free or accept one with a long drive that's near a beach etc. I accepted one once that was an hour and a half away just because it was in a Casino and I'd never been to one before!
Trying new things, and being given a reason to get out of the house, are two of the draws for me. Fees and reimbursements are the other
Yes, you can do too much. Back up, regroup. The gas stations are asking too much for such small incentives. Sometimes you wonder who makes up the questions and if they really want you to get spotted with silly details a "normal" shopper would never observe.
Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There definitely are cycles in it. And generally
> a 'burn out' has either a shop rejection or a
> stinker rating in it. I'm not sure whether you
> are burned out a bit, not performing at peak and
> the rejection or stinker rating just seal the deal
> or whether they simply stop you in your tracks
> wondering "Why the heck am I wasting my time on
> this?"
>
> I find that when the burn out occurs, I simply
> become more selective about the companies I will
> work with and the jobs I will perform. It takes
> only a couple of good jobs to get you back into
> the game, but there does need to be monitoring of
> how much you are taking on and the strain it has
> on you. This is not a job that pays well enough
> to justify ulcers.
Not quite burned out, but I definitely get tired after doing 8-14 shops between 9am-7pm where I then file reports until 1am...usually ends up costing me a day of rest soon after, where I just chill and play with my dog or hang out with friends.
-------------------------------------------------------
> There definitely are cycles in it. And generally
> a 'burn out' has either a shop rejection or a
> stinker rating in it. I'm not sure whether you
> are burned out a bit, not performing at peak and
> the rejection or stinker rating just seal the deal
> or whether they simply stop you in your tracks
> wondering "Why the heck am I wasting my time on
> this?"
>
> I find that when the burn out occurs, I simply
> become more selective about the companies I will
> work with and the jobs I will perform. It takes
> only a couple of good jobs to get you back into
> the game, but there does need to be monitoring of
> how much you are taking on and the strain it has
> on you. This is not a job that pays well enough
> to justify ulcers.
Not quite burned out, but I definitely get tired after doing 8-14 shops between 9am-7pm where I then file reports until 1am...usually ends up costing me a day of rest soon after, where I just chill and play with my dog or hang out with friends.
I've been feeling burnt out not by mystery shopping but some of the companies. I've deactivated myself from two, both of which I had 10/10. I can't deal with the insane and the insane can't deal with me. I take a vacation from the narrative loaded and do the simple under 500 character shops. I've learned my limit and mix them up, long reports with brief ones. Yeah, some do get boring so I recharge with an upscale kitchen ware shop or can you believe it buy myself something small at a never "shopped" store, without engaging an associate, without looking for their name, age, hair color and DO NOT RETURN IT.
I am burned out on gas station shops. I took the photos. Their system crashed twice. I decided to just let it go. I was not getting paid enough for the effort I was putting in.
Hi. I have been mystery shopping for the past five months, and I too, get burned out. I have done a few of those gas station shops, and I won't do them anymore. I was shocked at how much work it was for very little pay. To help me with my burn out, I am trying to stay away from the shops that require lengthy narrative reports. I also try to choose the lower paying shops that do not require too much so that has helped a little with feeling burnt out.
I can relate, carolynmystery. Higher paying shops pay more because more time is required to completed the assignment. Recently, I took a Cori shop. I had not shopped with them since last year. I completed the onsite, and came home and answered yes/no/NA questions. In less than 5 minutes I was done. It was refreshing No, I did not feel abused. I felt good!
No, I did not feel abused. I felt good!
One thing about CORI, the report is usually pretty quick and easy.
Regarding "Burn-out"... Anytime I start having a negative feeling towards something that I should be getting enjoyment out of, I stop and ask myself "Why am I doing this? What drives me?" Why do we (or YOU) mystery shop in the first place?
Is it for the "excitement" of MYSTERY shopping?
For the money?
For the FREE stuff?
For the freedom to work around your schedule?
Did you need to earn money and there were no "jobs" out there?
Do you like getting a Deal?
Looking for personal validation (getting a 10/10 evaluation)?
Give me your feedback about why you wanted to mystery shop to begin with.
Is it for the "excitement" of MYSTERY shopping?
For the money?
For the FREE stuff?
For the freedom to work around your schedule?
Did you need to earn money and there were no "jobs" out there?
Do you like getting a Deal?
Looking for personal validation (getting a 10/10 evaluation)?
Give me your feedback about why you wanted to mystery shop to begin with.
I'm kind of at that point right now, I'm taking a month off from mystery shopping after next week. I'm working a summer job, I'm about to start a new semester of graduate school. I got a lot of stuff I need to be doing to prepare, so I'm gonna take a brief hiatus. Also if you notice you are feeling a burn out, you should not take certain shops, be a bit more selective. I'm a fairly new shopper myself, and I'm learning that. Some shops are just not worth it(i.e. some shops require too much work for the little compensation offered).
I will say that last night, I was at the mall doing one shop, one return from a previous shop (the return did not have to be reported on), and one return of a personal purchase. I discovered that I REALLY like it when I don't have to keep track of times, exact words of employees, how many light bulbs are burned out, etc. basically, what marijaldm said ;-)
So I guess that's how I know when I am getting burned out--I start to enjoy NOT having to do it immensely. At the same time, though, I suspect that I will get to a point (if I haven't already) where I will not be able to turn my brain off . . . sigh.
So I guess that's how I know when I am getting burned out--I start to enjoy NOT having to do it immensely. At the same time, though, I suspect that I will get to a point (if I haven't already) where I will not be able to turn my brain off . . . sigh.
The flip side is that the other day I needed to run errands and I had no shops in that direction that I could make quick stops along the way to take care of personal business. It was amazing how annoying I found it that my miles traveled were not going to be deducted as an offset against shop income! Needing to pay 100% for something myself has taken on similar annoyance.
LOL, true, Flash. Don't even TRY to tell me to mail something now on my own dime!!!
I agree with Flash, I only want to get in the car with purpose, the mall holds nothing for me anymore without a couple shops to do...it has become a way of life and I get bored without the interaction and reports....the secret for me is not to push myself. I won't go "over the hill" into the city without work to do, doesn't make sense anymore.
Live consciously....
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.