I just started back shopping recently, so haven't been keeping track too much, but have you all noticed any changes this year in terms of the number/type of shops, the fees offered, and bonus amounts?

I read the Five Guys bonus thread and it seems like the trend is less money for bonuses this year. That's been my experience w/ FG as well. I had gotten a $58 fee/bonus total last year (granted for a far away shop), as well as some 20's and high teens. Now, the highest I've gotten has been $14. When I bid in the 20's for FG, I see the note that says it was declined. I've bid 30's for far away shops and have gotten declined.

Papa John's is a few bucks cheaper in my area for what they'll bonus and it's only at the end of the month.

The number of sit down dining shops for strictly reimbursement in my area has increased. If I wanted, I could eat out several times a week and do those, but I prefer ones where I get paid.

How has 2018 been shaping up for your area? Last year was just better imho for fee jobs.

Fees are down. The identical route I earned $1175 last year now pays $785.

I would say base fees are slightly down or flat. I do see more bonuses more often as shops are seeming to get harder to fill.

Definitely down with bonuses taking longer and longer to go up. It also seems like there are fewer and fewer shops, but I'm starting to wonder if that's not because they are taken quicker. I'm really surprised sometimes at what my competition takes them for. That said, it seems like myself and everyone I know is having a harder time financially this year so maybe people, and the MSCs, are just desperate.

@MarionS wrote:

Definitely down with bonuses taking longer and longer to go up. It also seems like there are fewer and fewer shops, but I'm starting to wonder if that's not because they are taken quicker. I'm really surprised sometimes at what my competition takes them for. That said, it seems like myself and everyone I know is having a harder time financially this year so maybe people, and the MSCs, are just desperate.

I've noticed Papa John's getting taken at $0 bonuses to very, very low fees early in the month this year. Last year, people waited for the $15+ fees. It could be desperate and/or new shoppers.

It may be, too, that the MSCs themselves couldn't get as good of contracts with the clients. Very hard to know. But, that could be the reason for the low fees. Or, they could just be super greedy. And taking advantage of the bad economy. Don't believe the Trump propaganda! Lots of major news sources have debunked his employment and economy figures. Yes, more people are now working (that part is true), but they are working very low wage jobs and struggling to get by.

Hope others are hanging in there!

Could this be because there are more shoppers out there? I know for a fact that I have seen many people post questions about shopping on fb; and that there are fraudulent posts about shops on fb. Then I see hundreds of people start asking questions. Maybe there is more competition in the form of new shoppers, making the MSCs have enough of a pool that they can lower prices...because "SOMEBODY" will pick it up....(??)

I have found that, I am earning more for my efforts than I did last year. Some fees go down, so I have moved onto others. Some bonuses have been slower to rise, so I have found other shops that offer a bit more. Sometimes fees stay low for a while as a few new shoppers start scooping them up cheap. But, those folks either learn and start commanding higher fees or they simply give up as they realize that they can't survive forever off low fees.

Unemployment is down. This should create a larger need for shoppers and, at the same time, fewer available shoppers. If you are reliable and do great work, there is a market out there for you. However, you need to go out and find it. If you are not happy with the money you are making, seek out other companies. Expand to other types of shopping, etc. Consider: MarketForce, Intellishop, TrendSource, and a few others are fine companies, but they are companies that everybody finds first. They have a plethora of shoppers in most areas. Find the companies that demand high quality shoppers and make your mark there.

I am also finding, more and more, that schedulers network quite a bit. If you are looking to create a route and have good rapport with one, let the scheduler know as much. They will pass your name on to their friends as they know the favor will be returned to them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2018 03:18AM by MFJohnston.

@Jill_L wrote:

and that there are fraudulent posts about shops on fb. Then I see hundreds of people start asking questions

What did you mean by "fraudulent posts," Jill_L? Also, I agree more shoppers could be a possible cause.

I am making more this year than last year, but it is mostly because I have expanded my territory and am also doing different kinds of shops or shopping for different MSCs. For the same shops I did in 2017, fees are steady or slightly declining this year, and bonuses are lower or harder to get.

For I Secret Shop, have you guys noticed more/less/same shops and fees?

I've noticed dramatically less shops. And the ones that are route-able get grabbed up SUPER quick, leaving isolated undesirable locations. ISS was a good source for me last year, but I've not done a single shop on that platform for all of 2018 (albeit, I wasn't shopping for several months this year, but I was still logging in and could see things looking different).

@shoptastic wrote:

I've noticed Papa John's getting taken at $0 bonuses to very, very low fees early in the month this year. Last year, people waited for the $15+ fees. It could be desperate and/or new shoppers.

I’ve noticed that too. I only take well bonuses pizza shops because pizza isn’t good for me and I haven’t done a pizza shop in quite awhile.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2018 02:16AM by MarionS.

In my area, shop fees and sheer numbers of shops have gone down. My favorite, easy peasy Regal theater shops, RIP No more bundt cake shops, no more $300 hand made leather shoe shops, no more veterinarian shops.....heh. Smh. I am semi retired and don't want to expand may area - except for the rare resort/casino shop. Shopping is something my husband and I do for fun and keep our expenses down.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2018 02:38PM by Monk-N-Nut.

I've been a shopper for about 18 years. Some fees have gone up with different MSCs, a few have lowered their fees, and some are tighter with bonuses, while others give me larger bonuses than previously because I am a proven shopper who has developed relationships with schedulers. Over the years, I have seen slumps and trends, up and down. When I am not making as much as I want, I go back through the MSC list and sign up with "new to me" companies. I do merchandising and other IC work besides mystery shopping, so I am making as much money as I want and need.

Los Angeles seems to bucking the trend at the companies I work for. Whereas for years I have been reading of large bonuses every where and only saw an occasional bonus here for .50 (yes I mean 50 cents). Even with MF there was a long period of time when I had no idea what people were talking about with their name your bonus tool. (I admit I have seen too many of those Progressive Insurance ads). Now I see the little green button on MF almost monthly and other companies are offering bonuses of $2-$7, sometimes as much as $12. And even bonus offers mid month. These additional amts are not enough to get me to get in my car and brave the traffic for shops more than 5 miles from home though. But at least the bonuses have risen by over a thousand percent in the past two years or so.

@Monk-N-Nut wrote:

In my area, shop fees and sheer numbers of shops have gone down. My favorite, easy peasy Regal theater shops, RIP No more bundt cake shops, no more $300 hand made leather shoe shops, no more veterinarian shops.....heh. Smh. I am semi retired and don't want to expand may area - except for the rare resort/casino shop. Shopping is something my husband and I do for fun and keep our expenses down.

i loved the Regal and bundt cake shops.

Job fees go down for one reason only. They go down because shoppers agree to do the jobs for less pay. It's pure economics of supply and demand. If you want fees to rise, then you need to stop doing the jobs for less money than you think you are worth. Simple solution.

@AZwolfman wrote:

Job fees go down for one reason only. They go down because shoppers agree to do the jobs for less pay. It's pure economics of supply and demand. If you want fees to rise, then you need to stop doing the jobs for less money than you think you are worth. Simple solution.

Not so simple....I feel I am worth a lot more than someone who is just scraping by and is willing to work for less than minimum wage just so they can pay their rent etc. might feel at the moment. I can hold out and take the better paying jobs because I am not in that situation but if there are 10 other shoppers in my area who are having financial woes they may either feel worth less this month/year or feel they have no choice....so my holding out will not matter one bit if the jobs are taken by many other someones. We cannot dictate to someone else what price point they need to make it worthwhile.

Fees are going down; however, like MFJohnston, I'm finding there is a higher need for excellent quality shoppers. I've already made almost as much as I did in 2017 and I've worked less. I've been shocked more than once to have someone contact me with a shop I had no idea they had -- so, yes, they're networking.

My area is at what's considered full employment, though my recent graduate is one of those still looking for the right job.

My 2018: Less work and more happiness. Larger tax withholding at one job and more freedom with job types in this industry. Looming decision: retire from this or just radically change my participation.

Fees are less important than job satisfaction. Fees are negotiable, but the tasks are given. Hmm. What to do, what to do....

@Shop-et-al wrote:

My 2018: Less work and more happiness. Larger tax withholding at one job and more freedom with job types in this industry. Looming decision: retire from this or just radically change my participation.

Fees are less important than job satisfaction. Fees are negotiable, but the tasks are given. Hmm. What to do, what to do....

What types of ms jobs give you the most satisfaction, S-e-a?

I would guess you both like shops with long narrative.

I get the most satisfaction out of jobs where I can help the scheduler out of a bind AND I am generously compensated. I won't be a happy camper helping out a scheduler desperate (again/still) to have pizza shops done - even with a $20 bonus. It's not worth it to me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2018 09:36PM by Monk-N-Nut.

My observation is that fees have been down but bonuses have been up. Quite substantially in some cases.

@iShop123 wrote:

Fees are going down; however, like MFJohnston, I'm finding there is a higher need for excellent quality shoppers. I've already made almost as much as I did in 2017 and I've worked less. I've been shocked more than once to have someone contact me with a shop I had no idea they had -- so, yes, they're networking.

Same for me.

I now have a regular resort weekend with a $500 fee that I do 1-3 times a month.

More special projects with higher fees as well. These were assigned by text by request the the MSC owner who I met in 2003.

I pick up the easy shops going to and from work or to and from resorts.

One of the companies that I work for just cut fees by a dollar. They also seem to have made the surveys harder.