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What do you consider your mystery shopping niche, if you have one?

August 18, 2024 08:21PM
For me it used to be banks before the pandemic and then of course we were sidelined for awhile and I was caretaking a relative in poor health for awhiile. Now I am back mystery shopping again and this time around my niche seems to be the airport - something I would not have expected but airport shops really work for me these days. i guess it helps that I live close to the airport but still - these shops "fit."

what is your niche?
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August 18, 2024 09:14PM
Gas audits were mine before I shifted away from shopping to focus on my other business. In 2023, I completed nearly 500 of them across about 10 different brands. Some were just mystery shops, most were shops/audits. They were my favorite.
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August 18, 2024 09:20PM
I don't have enough of one type of shop locally to have that type of niche. I like grocery stores, gas stations and bottle depot as I have to go there anyway.
I like audits where I introduce myself and a manager takes me quickly around the store to show me everything on my check list.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
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August 18, 2024 11:16PM
I, too, would say airport shops. Between frequent traveling and doing assigned airport evaluations, I feel it is my strongest area. Having worked in Retail Management in a previous life, I am also hyper aware of service at any retail establishment. My favorites are hotels. Dining shops are the least favorite, but only take them out of necessity or when the pay is right.
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August 19, 2024 01:33AM
I would say luxury retail, sit-down dining, fine-dining. Hotels and resorts to some extent. I’ve done well on all of them so far, and gotten better with each shop, but I don’t think I’ve done enough yet.

Financial and banking have come very easy and natural to me. However, I don’t consider it a niche for me.

In a previous life, fast-food, grocery, alcohol and drug compliance.

In the future, maybe gas station, retail merchandising, product recalls.

When I’m old enough, maybe assisted living tours and Medicare.
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August 19, 2024 03:13AM
Anything where I set the pace and (for the most part) control how long the job takes. I move quickly and prefer to maximize my profits.

I hate when a salesman is in control of how long I'm going to be on site.
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August 19, 2024 12:57PM
If they pay well:
jewelry, clothes store.
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August 19, 2024 01:55PM
Use to be gas station audits. I would do so many i would have to also use my daughter's car as my gasxtank became full.

Now i am retired and grocery stores is my niche.
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August 19, 2024 03:03PM
For years Cirrus was my #1 vendor.

I was OK with the late pay (and sometimes having to chase it) as my economic situation at the time made it desirable to build up A/R balances. As long as some cash was coming in weekly, I didn't care where it was coming from or how long it took to arrive.

Post-pandemic I'm all about cash flow. Lost a great P/T gig with Foster Grant (they shut down an entire division, letting 13K+ people go), and had to increase my shopping to offset that income loss.

As such, Ipsos has become my #1 vendor, with gas stations being my preference. Unfortunately, I got banned by the Green Dinosaur, so my prospects are negatively affected somewhat, but I can usually stay pretty busy, and operate profitably.

If I weren't shopping, I'd be driving rideshare to generate income. To be able to work with someone else paying for my gas is obviously the preferred route.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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August 20, 2024 10:52PM
It used to be post offices! (sob!)

Shopping domestic and international locations since 2003.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/2024 10:53PM by pambam.
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August 21, 2024 08:52PM
I would have to say Fast Food as long as they pay. I give them to the homeless as a treat for them. They are quick and mostly easy. High end if I feel like only the experience. Some if I have friends wanting a night out for free food. Never felt comfortable with electronics, banks, credit cards, phone calls. Oh and car washes I love too lol.
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August 22, 2024 03:14AM
For anyone reading of my payment issues with the airport shop msc, I guess I'll be looking for a new niche now LOL. At least i live in a large city and there are many mscs and other niches to be found. And there are also other MSC's with airport shops, too.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/2024 10:47AM by morocco77.
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August 22, 2024 03:54AM
@morocco77 wrote:

For anyone4 reading of my payment issues with the airport shop msc, I guess I'll be looking for a new niche now LOL. At least i live in a large city and there are many mscs and other niches to be found. And there are also other MSC's with airport shops, too.
You have a good attitude. You're one step closer to finding a better MSC to work with.
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August 22, 2024 04:05AM
Gas stations, or any revealed audit.
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August 22, 2024 10:48AM
@Okie wrote:

@morocco77 wrote:

For anyone4 reading of my payment issues with the airport shop msc, I guess I'll be looking for a new niche now LOL. At least i live in a large city and there are many mscs and other niches to be found. And there are also other MSC's with airport shops, too.
You have a good attitude. You're one step closer to finding a better MSC to work with.
Thank You!
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August 22, 2024 07:36PM
I got a phonecall about doing a post office shop for $5. I turned them down and explained the reasons why the fee was too low. It’s not always on a route and sometimes there is a line. One particular post office I had 15-20 min wait plus drive time and report entering.
I also did a recently bonused one with the new company and my report was rejected because the post office scale was off. I shipped a packaged with an unopen 1lb bag of rice and small object and the post office scale said it was 12 ounces. I told the MS manager that the scale was not calibrated and sent a picture of what was mailed with no reply.
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August 22, 2024 08:15PM
I am comfortable talking about looking for a loved one's future residence whether it's memory care or assisted living.

Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994. I am an undercover connoisseur of customer service, a master of disguise in the aisles, and a sworn enemy of subpar experiences. I blend in, observe, and report—because excellence should never be a mystery.
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August 22, 2024 10:56PM
buying food inside gas stations like, Wawa or Turkey Hill

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
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August 22, 2024 11:23PM
Any shop that I feel has a decent time to pay ratio as shopperbob says.

I don't have a niche. Although the more times you do a certain type of shop, the more efficient you get at doing them.

But after 12 years, there's not many shops I don't think I can complete. Now it's all about the pay for the time expended

Three years ago I did a gas station for $100. I created a very profitable route around that shop. Never saw it get anywhere near that price again. BTW, unless the requirements have changed, I think most gas station shops are underpaid. Hell it takes at least a half hour to read the guidelines to see if anything changed.
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August 24, 2024 12:59AM
I like restaurants. Fast food and casual.
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August 24, 2024 07:44AM
So we shouldn’t tell them when the scale is off.

@Swimgirl123 wrote:

I also did a recently bonused one with the new company and my report was rejected because the post office scale was off.
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August 24, 2024 08:14PM
With the previous company there was one location where the scale underweighed my package at least 3 times..same counter..same clerk. I reported it each time and all were accepted. I even weighed the package with the shipping label showing the location and took a photo of it when it came back to me (I frequently mail to myself) in case they questioned it, but they never did. This was of course when there was a narrative box to explain situations. I've recommended that a narrative box be added to the form, but so far I don't see one. It would certainly help to explain extenuating circumstances.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain
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