Is no one upset by high gas costs? I've had to cut my number of shops in half because I can't afford to go out if there's no profit due to the high cost of gas. It seems like some MSCs really don't care to give a little to make mystery shopping profitable.

Do some gas station shops. Also, ACL has increased the reimbursement amount for fuel for the chain that it shops in the MidAtlantic region.

It will take awhile (if ever) for MSC to increase costs for the shoppers. Plus if some people are more desperate to make ends meet, they will lower their standards and take shops just to make some extra $ even though their time is not being fairly compensated. I'm pretty certain this is what MSC is banking on. Shoppers needing more money to make ends meet and taking shops even though personal costs have increased/ personal profits have decreased.

Mystery shopping is a supply and demand business that employs private contractors. We are able to decide whether or not a mystery shop is profitable or not. If someone else is willing to do the job for less money, or less profit, than we lose out. If not, the mystery shopping company will eventually have to either pay more or explain to the client why they were not able to get their locations done. Some contracts require 100% completion or close to it. Other contracts are more lenient. Don't do a job that isn't worth your time. If it has to be done, and nobody else is willing to do it, eventually the mystery shopping company will have to pay you more. However, it's impossible to say whether or not a different contractor will swoop in and do it at a less desirable level of profit.

In the regions where I work, I'm always balancing my need to make money, my expenses, and my guess on what other contractors are going to accept based on past history. Different quarters and different business environments are problematic when trying to make these decisions. Also, the mystery shopping companies are constantly recruiting, and occasionally they will find a sucker that will do a bunch of locations at base pay. Of course, that contractor won't ever do that again because it was stupid; however, if they can get a sucker to do it once, then that's less money for me and more money in the mystery shopping company's pocket. Anyway, I have rambled on. Hold out for more money if it's not profitable for you in today's environment. If another contractor in your area is willing to work for very little money, then let them; try to find a different line of work.

Gas prices were this high some years ago and fees/reimbursements never increased.

Lots of voters getting what they voted for and getting it hard. It seems like they don’t mind.

In addition to doing gas shops, sign up for apps the will give you cash back for gas. GetUpside [upside.app.link] is the one I have success with.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2022 04:56PM by HonnyBrown.

I get mad every time I see gas prices around town. My shops have decreased substantially as a result.
My request is for Shoppers to no longer accept shops where the pay isn't worth the drive.
All shop fees should increase to compensate for the increased gas prices. And the MSC know this and can afford to do so.
That is obvious when you see shops starting at $10 and are increased over five times the initial pay.
If we all were to hold out on accepting shops, we'd see the initial fees offered being increased. Schedulers get lots of bonuses. Bonuses for getting shops completed early, bonuses for not offering bonuses, bonuses for scheduling routes with no pay increase etc etc.
I held out on shops nearly two hours away. I submitted my pay request and was given over $200 the normal pay. And yes, Schedulers must get approval. So don't ever think they can't pay because Shoppers receive the least amount of compensation even though without us they'd have nothing to do.
Too bad we don't have a Shoppers Union. Lol

@DiannaL wrote:

I get mad every time I see gas prices around town. My shops have decreased substantially as a result.
My request is for Shoppers to no longer accept shops where the pay isn't worth the drive.
All shop fees should increase to compensate for the increased gas prices. And the MSC know this and can afford to do so.
That is obvious when you see shops starting at $10 and are increased over five times the initial pay.
If we all were to hold out on accepting shops, we'd see the initial fees offered being increased. Schedulers get lots of bonuses. Bonuses for getting shops completed early, bonuses for not offering bonuses, bonuses for scheduling routes with no pay increase etc etc.
I held out on shops nearly two hours away. I submitted my pay request and was given over $200 the normal pay. And yes, Schedulers must get approval. So don't ever think they can't pay because Shoppers receive the least amount of compensation even though without us they'd have nothing to do.
Too bad we don't have a Shoppers Union. Lol

I need to make demands instead of accepting the board. Once I got $350 for a remote location that normally paid $65. It doesn’t hurt to ask! Same company rejected me for $75 on a $50 job in a similarly remote location. Who knows!

Just my opinion….. regular employers aren’t going to raise pay due to increased gas prices so why would MS companies? Everyone is hit by this unfortunately.

Oh H$$ NO....
Your 'request' can go take a long walk off a short pier. I'm free to take jobs at the price that works for me! I will not allow anyone else to dictate the amount I will work for.

@DiannaL wrote:

I get mad every time I see gas prices around town. My shops have decreased substantially as a result.
My request is for Shoppers to no longer accept shops where the pay isn't worth the drive.
All shop fees should increase to compensate for the increased gas prices. And the MSC know this and can afford to do so.
That is obvious when you see shops starting at $10 and are increased over five times the initial pay.
If we all were to hold out on accepting shops, we'd see the initial fees offered being increased. Schedulers get lots of bonuses. Bonuses for getting shops completed early, bonuses for not offering bonuses, bonuses for scheduling routes with no pay increase etc etc.
I held out on shops nearly two hours away. I submitted my pay request and was given over $200 the normal pay. And yes, Schedulers must get approval. So don't ever think they can't pay because Shoppers receive the least amount of compensation even though without us they'd have nothing to do.
Too bad we don't have a Shoppers Union. Lol

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2022 08:27PM by luckygirl0100.

One shop increased the gas reimbursement a little but, like the "reveal" requirement, it is conditional. The shop requires a minimum of one gallon of gas so if, AND ONLY IF, the price of gas is more than $5 for that one gallon, it can be fully reimbursed.

@grille wrote:

Just my opinion….. regular employers aren’t going to raise pay due to increased gas prices so why would MS companies? Everyone is hit by this unfortunately.

I was told today my boss will “try” to get us 3% raises this year. ???? So inflation is at LEAST 8% and could keep going up. That’s the trouble. If you’re making money and inflation is this high you’re working a month of your life for free! Then you pay taxes and work another one or two months for free! Wild system. They love inflation. It’s like a tax without their names attached to it. Meanwhile US Bonds pay 2% So they’re actually profiting by going into debt. Crazy!

We will see in Nov2022.

@Tanischri87 wrote:

@grille wrote:

Just my opinion….. regular employers aren’t going to raise pay due to increased gas prices so why would MS companies? Everyone is hit by this unfortunately.

I was told today my boss will “try” to get us 3% raises this year. ???? So inflation is at LEAST 8% and could keep going up. That’s the trouble. If you’re making money and inflation is this high you’re working a month of your life for free! Then you pay taxes and work another one or two months for free! Wild system. They love inflation. It’s like a tax without their names attached to it. Meanwhile US Bonds pay 2% So they’re actually profiting by going into debt. Crazy!

Inflation is not 8%. The inflation index includes a lot of items people don't buy on a regular basis. From Dec 20 to now, every item i buy at the grocery has increased by a minimum of 40% but most near 50%. Utilities increased by almost 50% also. Average gas price for OK a year ago was 2.649, current average 3.809.

A head of lettuce is $6.45 and a loaf of bread is over $4. I don't even look at meat anymore.

They don’t want to have a recession under their leadership -might be unavoidable anyway- they should probably announce rate hikes to create deflationary action on the dollar, increase savings, and beat inflation. They don’t want to because it’ll shrink the economy, and cause more unemployment.

@ceasesmith wrote:

A head of lettuce is $6.45 and a loaf of bread is over $4. I don't even look at meat anymore.

Huh?

@ceasesmith wrote:

A head of lettuce is $6.45 and a loaf of bread is over $4. I don't even look at meat anymore.

Cease, if you have an Aldi, or even a Walmart store w/grocery in it, you'll get lettuce and bread for 25% of what you quoted above.

How is a head of lettuce $6?

@grille wrote:

Just my opinion….. regular employers aren’t going to raise pay due to increased gas prices so why would MS companies? Everyone is hit by this unfortunately.

You are likely right there. Lots of my friends in the corporate world are still working from home, so it hasn't impacted them really except for personal use. Retail workers would be another story. The only ones who will make out somewhat are those who get mileage reimbursement. That is only if and when the IRS increases the rate per mile. If that happens, this could be us, for those who calculate miles as a deduction on their tax return. I've always used the expense deduction which includes gas, repairs, car wash, etc., and don't think I'll be changing my mind on that this year.

Speaking like the ppl who hoard all the toilet paper during the start of pandemic… always me me me first.

@luckygirl0100 wrote:

Oh H$$ NO....
Your 'request' can go take a long walk off a short pier. I'm free to take jobs at the price that works for me! I will not allow anyone else to dictate the amount I will work for.

@DiannaL wrote:

I get mad every time I see gas prices around town. My shops have decreased substantially as a result.
My request is for Shoppers to no longer look accept shops where the pay isn't worth the drive.
All shop fees should increase to compensate for the increased gas prices. And the MSC know this and can afford to do so.
That is obvious when you see shops starting at $10 and are increased over five times the initial pay.
If we all were to hold out on accepting shops, we'd see the initial fees offered being increased. Schedulers get lots of bonuses. Bonuses for getting shops completed early, bonuses for not offering bonuses, bonuses for scheduling routes with no pay increase etc etc.
I held out on shops nearly two hours away. I submitted my pay request and was given over $200 the normal pay. And yes, Schedulers must get approval. So don't ever think they can't pay because Shoppers receive the least amount of compensation even though without us they'd have nothing to do.
Too bad we don't have a Shoppers Union. Lol

We had hail today so local produce is still months away. However, I paid $2.49 for a head of iceberg lettuce and $0.99 for a loaf of white bread today at ShopRite. I have always heard that domestic (as in California) produce is the least expensive in Boston because they put the produce on railroad cars and sell it en route. Boston is the end of the line, and they have to take whatever is offered.

@guysmom wrote:

@ceasesmith wrote:

A head of lettuce is $6.45 and a loaf of bread is over $4. I don't even look at meat anymore.

Cease, if you have an Aldi, or even a Walmart store w/grocery in it, you'll get lettuce and bread for 25% of what you quoted above.

@myst4au wrote:

We had hail today so local produce is still months away. However, I paid $2.49 for a head of iceberg lettuce and $0.99 for a loaf of white bread today at ShopRite.

WOW, that's awful expensive for iceberg, isn't it??? I live in SC and I can still get a head of iceberg at Aldi for about $1.20.

I'm dreading my next trip to the grocery store. Gas is limiting my traveling for shops. Today, however, I'm driving a long way (@80 miles r/t) for a bonused gas shop..one lonely shop. UGH. It will cost @ $20 in gas.

Anyone know why the new Chevron mystery shop reimbursement is $7.50? Guidelines still say $5 for gas and $1 for store, and haven't received a response from the MSC yet.

Honestly, I thought that $2.49 was expensive for iceberg lettuce. But it was there. I just checked online out of curiosity and it is $2.49 at Acme (owned by Albertsons). I can't see Aldi prices online.

Alas, I remember when a roll of toilet paper was $0.05 and iceberg lettuce was $0.29, so I lose track of what things "should" cost.

@guysmom wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

We had hail today so local produce is still months away. However, I paid $2.49 for a head of iceberg lettuce and $0.99 for a loaf of white bread today at ShopRite.

WOW, that's awful expensive for iceberg, isn't it??? I live in SC and I can still get a head of iceberg at Aldi for about $1.20.

Why are you so rude and condescending to other people, @luckygirl0100? I have seen your posts in other forums and this one is very much like the others. The person made a request. She did not demand that you do anything. I hope you are not this hostile in actual life. If you are, I hope that you can learn to be a happy person :-)

@luckygirl0100 wrote:

Oh H$$ NO....
Your 'request' can go take a long walk off a short pier. I'm free to take jobs at the price that works for me! I will not allow anyone else to dictate the amount I will work for.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2022 02:59AM by patman9760.

All I've learned from this is that there are still people buying iceberg lettuce.... Why?

@boridi wrote:

Anyone know why the new Chevron mystery shop reimbursement is $7.50? Guidelines still say $5 for gas and $1 for store, and haven't received a response from the MSC yet.

sestrahelena 2k 5yMarch 29, 2022 09:07PM

One shop increased the gas reimbursement a little but, like the "reveal" requirement, it is conditional. The shop requires a minimum of one gallon of gas so if, AND ONLY IF, the price of gas is more than $5 for that one gallon, it can be fully reimbursed.