1. Forums
  2. Mystery Shopping Discussion

Some shops are just not worth doing

March 18, 2018 12:54AM
@johnb974 wrote:

This is the ONLY shop I've seen that requires 2 sets of timing for each step. It's not really necessary and just gives them an opportunity to deny the shop. I'm sure they will correct any of your mistakes, turn in the report and get paid themselves. You do all the work and get nothing.

You could also make up your own time. Just start an estimate of when you got in line and estimate your time through the process. It's not like they're going to spend all day timing videos of all the shops.

They aren’t requiring 2 sets of timing. They want you to time the steps in the process as you work your way down the counter. Then in the report, they want you to break it down further and say how long each step took.

In their defense, the guidelines make it abundantly clear that this precise timing is pretty much the most important part of the shop. Other pizza shops care almost exclusively about the photo.

They aren’t just handing out free food and asking for a guesstimate of the timing. It hurts shoppers as a whole anytime someone suggests/does make answers up as they go along.
Reply
Log In
x

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

March 18, 2018 12:57AM
If they have the times for each step through each process, why do they need you to do the math on how long each step took, when you've already given them the times? It's just doubling the work for the shopper, and not necessary. That's why I stopped doing their shops. I found other pizza shops that required just the complete timing and paid much better. They also didn't ask you 30 questions about the whole process.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2018 01:00AM by johnb974.
Reply
March 18, 2018 01:00AM
Because they are paying you to do it....

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Reply
March 18, 2018 01:02AM
@MFJohnston wrote:

Because they are paying you to do it....

They don't pay me enough to do it. smiling smiley I'll take the other pizza shops that pay more and require far less work.
Reply
March 18, 2018 05:11AM
Once you sign up with 30+ companies, you'll have more opportunities for bonused shops. I do this part-time but I managed to build a $300 route today and a small $80-100 route for tomorrow. I only do a 1-2 routes a week - apart from my full-time job.

I don't do a lot of pizza or fast-food shops anymore, unless it has a big bonus(which is rare)

Reply
March 18, 2018 06:50AM
@johnb974 wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

@johnb974 wrote:

$5000 a month? You have got to be kidding. LOL

No, I am not kidding. Minimum daily rate for me is $200/day fee for any on site work (hotels, casinos, etc). That is if I don't find other things to do in addition to the main job I am doing.


[www.indeed.com]


Secret Shopper Mystery Shopper yearly salaries in the United States.....Average salary
$30,663 per year

Well, if you are making so little, you are bringing down the average aren't you?

I went back to my regular Monday to Friday job after taking 20 years off to MS full time. I will shop tomorrow for about 6 hours and make $300 in fees, plus reimbursements. I put a whole bunch of jobs together. Better than an average day.

ETA: I forgot one project. Add 2 hours. Could be up to another $250. Glad I checked in here. I am pretty sure I'd have forgotten all about it!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2018 07:02AM by SoCalMama.
Reply
March 18, 2018 07:19AM
lol
Reply
March 18, 2018 01:03PM
SoCalMoma, typical of you putting down the hard work of anyone else doing mystery shopping.
Reply
March 18, 2018 02:45PM
@SoCalMama wrote:

I will shop tomorrow for about 6 hours and make $300 in fees, plus reimbursements.

Either I'm doing something wrong, or my area has too many shoppers keeping fees low. When I can get an $80 day from 5 or 6 chained shops, I consider it a huge victory. Which is weird when my normal jobs pays so much better.
Reply
March 18, 2018 02:52PM
@ShopGuy9 wrote:

Either I'm doing something wrong, or my area has too many shoppers keeping fees low. When I can get an $80 day from 5 or 6 chained shops, I consider it a huge victory. Which is weird when my normal jobs pays so much better.

What kind of shops are you looking at?

______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Reply
March 18, 2018 03:09PM
A lot of it depends on where you live and they types of shops. My area most shops pay between $ and $15. A few pay $20. Even from there pay is dropping. I've done money transfer shops that paid $20. Another company took over and now they only pay $10 for the same report. I stopped doing them.
Reply
March 18, 2018 03:19PM
Ever consider about moving?

Reply
March 18, 2018 03:36PM
In ALL areas, most shops pay between nothing and $15. Most pay less than $15 and a few pay more. Sure, there are times of great bonused shops and there are some shops that pay more such as video, that has been explained ad nauseam. So, I can do a non-video apartment shop for $35 or a video one for $50.

To everyone: This "experience" is not regional, nor is it because of something you did or who you are as a person. Sure, there are more shops in Urban areas and so there are more chances of shops being bonused, but there are many more chances that there are more shoppers in those areas also. Absolutely, if you happen to have $1,000 or more hanging around, you can front hotel expenses and land some of those assignments. Most of those high-end restaurants and high-end hotel shops pay a $5 - $25 dollar fee and count on you counting your blessings to have had the "experience" rather than pay.

I have access to most shops and these are the facts.
Reply
March 18, 2018 03:55PM
Some things that might help to improve your bottom line:
* Types of shops: Banks, car dealerships, apartments and video shops tend to pay well. Sometimes you can do well at a restaurant where there is a flat fee instead of a reimbursement if you order cheap - or if you are not required to bring a guest.
* Expand your range. I beat traffic in my area by leaving home very early in the morning at times. (4:00-6:00 AM). If I can get out of the city before the worst traffic hits, I save a lot of time. I'll get to a coffee shop near my first stop a couple of hours early and do work I'd otherwise do at home. (planning my route, look for filler shops, finish reports, log into this forum, etc.). Doing this had greatly expanded my range.
* Sign up for more companies. If you are not seeing shops advertised for more than $20, you are missing some good MSC's.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Reply
March 18, 2018 06:19PM
@MFJohnston wrote:

I beat traffic in my area by leaving home very early in the morning at times. (4:00-6:00 AM). If I can get out of the city before the worst traffic hits, I save a lot of time. I'll get to a coffee shop near my first stop a couple of hours early and do work I'd otherwise do at home. (planning my route, look for filler shops, finish reports, log into this forum, etc.). Doing this had greatly expanded my range.

MF, how do you find time to do lesson plans, grade papers, etc.?
Reply
March 18, 2018 06:23PM
In my experience, those shops with higher fees also require a bit more time, especially if there is a target involved.
Reply
March 18, 2018 06:25PM
I’ve been mystery shopping very sparingly for a couple of years so I’m no expert compared to the seasoned people on this board but there are shops that I just refuse to do. I just had a bad experience with a printer shop that had about 50 questions some of those questions being narratives for only $10. There was no purchase necessary so I figured it might be worth it but it took over an hour between going to the shop and doing the questionnaire.
Reply
March 18, 2018 06:35PM
I only shop part time.
I do one or two shops most days after work - something I can generally do on my way home - frequently an apartment at $50-$70. I put together a route on most Saturdays and usually take Sunday off shopping. If I have days off work, I put together routes.... I get to work by 6:30 each morning and my first class is at 8:30. That gives me two hours each day, in addition to my planning time, to plan lessons and grade papers.

@MSF wrote:

@MFJohnston wrote:

I beat traffic in my area by leaving home very early in the morning at times. (4:00-6:00 AM). If I can get out of the city before the worst traffic hits, I save a lot of time. I'll get to a coffee shop near my first stop a couple of hours early and do work I'd otherwise do at home. (planning my route, look for filler shops, finish reports, log into this forum, etc.). Doing this had greatly expanded my range.

MF, how do you find time to do lesson plans, grade papers, etc.?

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Reply
March 18, 2018 06:39PM
@MFJohnston wrote:

* Sign up for more companies. If you are not seeing shops advertised for more than $20, you are missing some good MSC's.

This.

Also, do a great job on every report. Most of the best jobs never hit the job boards. When they need shoppers, they just directly contact those who have done great work. Some of the worst paying companies are hiding their best shops.
Reply
March 18, 2018 07:44PM
In a twist of irony, I can't afford most shops. If I used the time to shop, instead of devoting it to my other activities with a greater payback, I would be losing $. I can afford shops that save me time and earn a bit of money like restaurants or businesses where I need to go anyway. For example, I have done a bank shop at the bank where I have my existing accounts and needed to go there anyway.
If I did not already have a full-time job,I would be inclined to learn about video shopping and branch out to bigger $$. I have a third small self-employment job I do from home....so, of these three income-producing activities, MSing has the lowest rate of pay for time expended....and yet I still like learning more about it, mostly for future planning.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2018 07:45PM by BarefootBliss.
Reply
March 18, 2018 08:51PM
It's similar for me, mystery shopping is a second job I'm using to pay for house upkeep and try and get the mortgage paid off faster. I have read about the video shops, but it looks like the kind of thing I wouldn't enjoy. I hadn't thought about them having a higher fee attached. I suppose I'm fairly happy with the shops I currently pick up, and I can't complain too much since it's an excellent thing for getting me out of the house much more than I used to be. smiling smiley
Reply
March 18, 2018 09:02PM
One thing mentioned here was that there are more shops in urban areas...If that means city centers where you can walk or take the subway, that probably works out...but I live in a dense suburb where vehicle traffic makes it prohibitive to get around quickly, except for the middle of the work day or certain times during the weekend. I'd pull my hair out if I tried to complete several shops, while driving crowded suburban roads during most times of the day. Another thing to keep in mind, earning $ is an offensive move, saving $$ is a defensive move - with the amounts some of these shops pay, it would make more sense to look for discounts or rewards programs that help you save more than the time it takes you to earn more. Enough already, I am starting to repeat myself lol.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2018 09:07PM by BarefootBliss.
Reply
March 18, 2018 10:53PM
Access to the shop to Barnes and Noble and found out that it paid nothing required a store purchase which have a book nowadays is the least 10 to $15 minimum and the shop doesn't pay anything in it takes 40 minutes to do plus 20 minutes to entet and all you get is a cup of coffee reimbursed at the coffee shop no payment at all an only up to $5 reimbursement at the coffee shop. Is there any repayment schemce than this?
Reply
March 18, 2018 10:56PM
@Hydra777 wrote:

Access to the shop to Barnes and Noble and found out that it paid nothing required a store purchase which have a book nowadays is the least 10 to $15 minimum and the shop doesn't pay anything in it takes 40 minutes to do plus 20 minutes to entet and all you get is a cup of coffee reimbursed at the coffee shop no payment at all an only up to $5 reimbursement at the coffee shop. Is there any repayment schemce than this?

I tried to do one of those shops last month. Walked around the store for 20 mins. Couldn't find anyone on the floor to talk to. I gave up. I won't do another one. The shop only paid $5.
Reply
March 18, 2018 11:07PM
Shy of *some* phone shops, unless their is also a reimbursement for something you want/need, $5 shops should be completely ignored.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Reply
March 18, 2018 11:39PM
No one should do the $5 bookstore for $5. but I've read on here that some people do. The coffee is at least $2.50 and a deck of cards is $3.50, the minimum should be $6.00 lol. There are other trinkets at the front of the store, ask them where their cheapest items are. However, to make it worth the 15 minutes in the store, including the 5 minutes in the coffee shop, the drive there unless you are close and the 10-15 minutes to do the report it needs to pay $20. I wait until it goes to $25.

You only "must" to interact with the two Associates for the book question and the "is it on the shelf" and do they walk you there questions. I'm not chicken to ask for help loudly and walk right on up to the Associates so they can see my nose hairs. The rest, if no one is there then run on in and out of that area. If there is someone in the other areas you only need to walk by them to see if they interact with you. If not, say "see ya" and walk on by them. Get names and descriptions, take a pic of the store front and done.
Reply
March 19, 2018 12:19AM
The highest I've seen the bookstore shop go for is $10. Just try and find someone working on the floor. They also require you to purchase something in the book store and tell you, you can return it if you want. You have to talk to 3 employees...all this for $5? No thank you. I completed one, just because I was in the area and wanted a book.
Reply
March 19, 2018 02:25PM
Knowing which shops are not worth the time takes a little time to figure out at first. Market force is currently peddling a 39 question, 20+ photo audit shop for $10. I accepted them at first in handfuls, once I printed out the 25 page guidelines I cancelled every single one. Even if these shops were across the street from me they are a no go.
Reply
March 19, 2018 03:30PM
@jlovesnyc wrote:

Knowing which shops are not worth the time takes a little time to figure out at first. Market force is currently peddling a 39 question, 20+ photo audit shop for $10. I accepted them at first in handfuls, once I printed out the 25 page guidelines I cancelled every single one. Even if these shops were across the street from me they are a no go.

I agree. They have mystery shops for the same stations. You get 2 gallons of gas, make a $5 purchase, look at the inside, take 4 pictures and your done. For the same pay as a full audit. I'll do the mystery shop, but not the audits.
Reply
March 19, 2018 03:33PM
As mentioned by OP earlier, most shops are not worth doing. It takes some skill to filter out the ones that work for you, your route, revenue expectations/needs, etc. For every 300 email blasts that come my way, perhaps 10 shops in those emails might work for me.
Reply
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login