They aren’t the same stores as in the same address - they are the same store like in all the Walmart’s (they weren’t Walmart’s) on the east coast. I have had a few repeat locations but they were with several months between visits.

@MFJohnston

Okay - that is all ideal if the shops were all along a nice road, within 20-30 miles from each other. But you are not considering many factors here -
1) shops are not exactly where I want them but where the MSCs have them
2) one city may have 5 video shops and then the nearest one after that is 150 miles away, and I am driving through tiny little towns in Louisiana where there aren’t any shops!
3) store hours (video shops are only open 9 hrs per day and closed on Sunday)
4) time zones and issues surrounding that
5) weather delays
6) how long I can be gone from home
7) it’s FAR cheaper to pull my little camper (12-13 mpg) than to stay at an AirBNB (1bedroom at $25/night) or/and mixed with the cheapest hotel available ($40/night) or/and tent camping ($15-$20/night). I’ve done all three - many, many times.
8) all of the gas stations I have done don’t reimburse for gas but for a store purchase. (I’ve done at least 800 gas stations for 3 different MSCs)

Trust me - I am an analytical person and have done the math on every which way. I actually have a formula I created that helps me with ballparking new shops along the way.

Please don’t tell me “something doesn’t add up.” Are you implying that I am not being honest or something?

And I cannot believe you did all of the details of figuring it all out just to try to prove something to me. Wow. All I want is support not judgment and all of the math. Who are you people?? This is the strangest forum I have ever experienced.

They sre paid to do this, I'm sure of it.

@LisaSTL
I don’t have the same route at the same addresses. I have the same store name (like Walmart) but always in different cities and states. I go to 6-8 different states in one route - sometimes more. When I do have a repeat shop, it is usually 3-4 months since I last did them, so they don’t remember me. I actually rarely do the same exact address. The editing is just cutting off the beginning and end. I also start the video before I get there - that’s the part I cut off before sending it.
I make a profit each route - and it is enough. I only work 2-3 weeks out of the month.

You are the one whining about not being paid adequately for your efforts.

I'm not implying that you are lying, only that you should have more profit in those routes than what you are getting. I would not bother with the routes that you are describing without actively looking to improve their profitability.

1. Duh.
2. Little tiny towns have gas stations. Every little tiny town has at least one - even in Louisiana.
3. Duh. Don't shop them on Sundays.
4. Time zones... Going east to west, you gain an hour.... Take advantage of it.
5. Weather... We all have that.
6. We all have limits. I have never suggested lengthening your route.
7. That depends on how many miles you are driving. A small rental should cost you about $30/day and get 35 mpg. If you are driving 500 miles in a day the it will save you $95 in gas figuring gas is $3.50/gal. So, your $40 motel and car rental will save you $25/day. If you are driving less than that, you might want to look at doing day routes instead.
8. You need to find different MSC's if you are not getting reimbursed for gas at gas stations. I have done them for two different companies and always had a small gas reimbursement.

If support to you is:
"Great job. I'm so proud of you for working towards poverty!" I'll shut up now.

If support to you is:
"You've got a start to something decent. However, I have some ideas to help you make more money," you'll get a lot of ideas on this forum.

Who am I? I'm a guy who got a whole not of good advice and constructive ideas from posting and asking questions on this forum. I do this part time to supplement my salary from my full time work. Using the sage advice from some of the folks you are deriding for the comments to you, I have found a way to turn this part time gig into a fairly profitable endeavor. I have earned just shy of $3,000 this month from shopping (NOT including reimbursements) and am hoping to put together a $500 day tomorrow. The information I am sharing with you is EXACTLY what I do to earn said money.

Why do I take the time to share what I've learned? Folks like @bgriffin, @walesmaven, @roflwofl, @JASFLALMT, and @LisaSTL helped me out and I am very appreciative. The least I can do is pass knowledge on to others.

Or, you can choose to be offended and continue to work for scraps.

@CAGB33 wrote:

@MFJohnston

Okay - that is all ideal if the shops were all along a nice road, within 20-30 miles from each other. But you are not considering many factors here -
1) shops are not exactly where I want them but where the MSCs have them
2) one city may have 5 video shops and then the nearest one after that is 150 miles away, and I am driving through tiny little towns in Louisiana where there aren’t any shops!
3) store hours (video shops are only open 9 hrs per day and closed on Sunday)
4) time zones and issues surrounding that
5) weather delays
6) how long I can be gone from home
7) it’s FAR cheaper to pull my little camper (12-13 mpg) than to stay at an AirBNB (1bedroom at $25/night) or/and mixed with the cheapest hotel available ($40/night) or/and tent camping ($15-$20/night). I’ve done all three - many, many times.
8) all of the gas stations I have done don’t reimburse for gas but for a store purchase. (I’ve done at least 800 gas stations for 3 different MSCs)

Trust me - I am an analytical person and have done the math on every which way. I actually have a formula I created that helps me with ballparking new shops along the way.

Please don’t tell me “something doesn’t add up.” Are you implying that I am not being honest or something?

And I cannot believe you did all of the details of figuring it all out just to try to prove something to me. Wow. All I want is support not judgment and all of the math. Who are you people?? This is the strangest forum I have ever experienced.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2018 09:16PM by MFJohnston.

@MFJohnston
I wasn’t complaining about not being paid for my efforts, but an MSCs not giving me more shops after my history and reputation with them. You obviously didn’t read the thread.
Please don’t go back and read it and then send me a response. I’m good now.

I've read everything.... I took your message about sleeping in Walmart parking lots because gas had gotten too expensive and you couldn't afford lodging as a complaint about your compensation on routes. I guess you could simply like spending the night outside Walmart? Me? I am partial to showers on my overnight routes.

Yes, you opened up by whining about not getting some shops. I responded to that in plenty of detail. You seem to think that the MSC owes you something other than your contacted payment. Though, to be honest, if you do as a great a job as you claim and work for as cheap as you suggest, I'd love to contract you for as much work as I could were I an MSC owner....

That's ridiculous.

@spicy1 wrote:

They sre paid to do this, I'm sure of it.

I don't understand, then, how they can be so ugly. School teachers that tell people that they are "whining" when they have a perfectly valid concern? Where does that come from? Some personalities on here make it OBVIOUS which forum names are the same person.

@spicy1
Yes, I am so ugly. I tell myself that every day when I look in the mirror. Thank you.
Whining is whining. OP was whining and was looking for sympathy - not ideas or suggestions. OP made that clear.

If you are suggesting that I have more than one username here or am getting paid to post, you are completely and totally wrong.

Oooops. Sorry I took all of your bank of Walmarts this quarter.

@bgriffin
I used “Walmart” as an example to clarify my point (see one of my replies above. I said it wasn’t Walmart). Loll! Congrats on all the shops though! Lol! By the way, anyone who has 9,800 posts in 5 years needs to get a life! Lol!!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2018 09:28PM by CAGB33.

@MFJohnston
My camper has a hot shower, and WiFi/internet, AppleTV, electricity and a fridge/freezer, and a stove, even when I’m boondocking at Walmart - for free! It’s quiet and very nice!

Originally it sounded to me like this was a route with the same stores rather than just the same clients. I still think you are missing the boat by taking long routes without additional compensation. More so if you are expected to do some type of editing although, for the life of me, I can't figure out what or why you were be editing video. Every MSC I've worked with wants unadulterated video.

If your preference is your camper over a hotel, that's your decision. Just be sure you are not taking shops where they see you coming in because it will make you memorable and wouldn't fly with most of the video shops I have completed over the years. As someone who has never driven while hauling a camper, does it slow you down? I'm thinking about how quick it is for me to get in and out of places in my smaller car. You may want to factor that in when deciding on the camper versus hotels. An extra hour or two of shop and drive time each day can make a big difference over the course of a long route. Even saving one hour a day for one week adds up to seven hours and one less day on the road.

TO EVERYONE - I AM MAKING A GOOD PROFIT AND I AM NOT DETECTED AS A SHOPPER WITH MY CAMPER. I HAVE THIS MASTERED!! I DO NOT NEED HELP IN THAT AREA!! I AM JUST SAD THAT I DIDNT GET AS MANY SHOPS WITH THIS ONE MSC - WHICH I HAVE LEARNED WAS A MISTAKE, ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY. GEEZ LOUISE!!! I make a post about my frustration and just looking for someone to say “I know how you feel!” And I get all this unwanted advice about mpgs, mileage, filler shops, and a ton of other mean criticisms and judgements based on wrong assumptions made by you. Are some of you guys just sitting around waiting for your next victim to attack, or is this just a forum for those who lack basic social skills? Wow! I have learned my lesson. Everyone just leave me alone now. I’m good!!!

I learned much from the replies and will employ some of the suggestions that I had not previously thought of. I am always willing to reassess my ways and consider different ideas. So, even if OP does not want advice, you have helped others like me. Thank you, forumers!

@LisaSTL wrote:

Every MSC I've worked with wants unadulterated video.

Advanced Feedback charges you if they have to edit out pre or post shop footage.

Although I'm guessing the OP isn't as familiar with them as he thinks if he thinks the company is just Mark and a scheduler.

Oh my. If the profit is so slim that sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot is the only way to make this work, you aren’t doing this correctly.

Is this your only income? How will you handle retirement or illness? This thread is really sad.

@SoCalMama wrote:

Oh my. If the profit is so slim that sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot is the only way to make this work, you aren’t doing this correctly.

Is this your only income? How will you handle retirement or illness? This thread is really sad.

? The OP reported that they are satisfied with their profitability. They stated that they wanted empathy from us regarding a change/loss of work. We did not do well with empathy. Even though we usually are not tested on our empathy when we are working, we could try to develop at least a little skill in this area. I will put this on my priority list. Thanks, OP!

Sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot is only an issue for the snobby, methinks. If the OP is satisfied with this condition, so be it.

I have camped during overnight trips simply because I love to be in nature and the weather permitted me to avoid staying in a stuffy building. I could afford a snob's hotel. I chose the beautiful nature. I am also a recovering snob, so I know that camping for love of nature is just as good as sleeping in a closed and possibly sick hotel building.

I love camping. And I have seen some seagulls, pigeons, and sparrows in Walmart parking lots. I also have seen other interesting creatures that could pass for Sasquatches or some other sort of humanoids...

So you didn't get the shops you wanted. Perhaps there is a rotation required on the shops.

Perhaps you'll get all the shops again next month.

Not doing the awarded shops doesn't spite them as they have been successful in scheduling the other shops. If you drop the assigned shops, there is no reason the person that got the shops you thought you should have received would pick up the shops you are now cancelling.

Do the shops and get paid, or don't, it's your choice.

Pictures or it never happened!

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I also have seen other interesting creatures that could pass for Sasquatches or some other sort of humanoids...

I'm starting to notice just recently more shop instructions that specifically state - no recording devices allowed on this shop- Interesting.

I haven't gotten video training as I can't make it to the places and time frames of the training conferences. The training on the website where I bought the video camera is not open to me. So I've been using it on my regular shops to practice. I imagine I'm not the only one. to do this.

@CAGB33 Mark gave me several of those shops in a couple of states, yet to be fair, he only approved about 90% of what I applied for. I think that he wants to rotate new faces into the rotation. I don't think that he means it to be a personal slight against you.

Also, if you aren't using the Murphy Gas at Walmart, try Kroger's, or Costco if you have a membership. Certainly helps keep the gas expenses down a bit. Also, I wouldn't get gas from stations that are directly adjacent to the highway off ramps either. They are easily an additional $0.10-13 higher than those that may be an additional kilometer or so away.

@CAGB33 wrote:

I hear you! I think some of these MSCs need to value us more and realize with us none of them would have a job. I don’t like being taken advantage of.

No matter what, you are always replaceable. Thinking any company owes you something is a bad idea. They are never going to go out of business due to lack of people to shop for them.

My only remaining suggestion, which I'm sure will be taken as criticism, when all you desire is sympathy don't end your post with, "Any thoughts?"

Now to comment on the many suggestions which were not really criticism. If it was not for many more experienced shoppers being willing to offer advice on forums, I would have quit the business almost as soon as I started. Instead I used their experiences, good and bad, to build a successful business.

@Eric in Tampa
Have you tried GasBuddy? It tells you all the prices of gas anywhere you are or want to go. Also, using their card, you get .05 off every gallon.
Also, which states?

@jasimon1
Yes, we are replaceable but they are too. Their are gazillions of MSCs to work for. And there are that many shoppers too but how many are dependable and good? I’ve seen some companies struggle and then eventually go out of business bc all the good shoppers won’t work for them. Bad shoppers = poor work = unhappy clients = losing contracts = go out of business.

I find OP's situation sad and instead of calling OP names, same words in a nicer way may help. MJF, if you gave me that advice in the same way, I'd have to reject it, there are times when the way words are used could be more important that what is said.....I wish OP to learn and improve, of course Op wants to make money, sleeping in a parking lot must be a necessity and he/she will find their way...definitely should be encouraged, education always important, but a teacher speaking to anyone that way, not acceptable and needs a human injection..... good luck.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2018 07:59PM by Irene_L.A..