These shops have been clogging up the local job board for many months now. How long will they continue to post these? I know that you are only allowed so many times to use the membership they are checking per year. The pay does almost pay you for the full year's membership, though. I wish they would just disappear.

They aren't limiting the number of shops. AAA limits the number of free shops that come with your membership. And the MSC (and possibly AAA too) doesn't want you to use up all of your free service calls every year. So they increase the rotation so that you will still be able to use your membership in an actual time of need.

If you want them to disappear from your feed, on Presto's map page click on "list." At the top of the list is a dialogue box, type in AAA, then look under the dialogue box and click the box that says "hide from results." Poof!, they will all disappear. And everything else will still be there to search through.

I agree with Bob. They are frustrating. If you hide them, they only hide once. Every time you go on the app, you have to hide them.

@Bob Stone wrote:

These shops have been clogging up the local job board for many months now. How long will they continue to post these? I know that you are only allowed so many times to use the membership they are checking per year. The pay does almost pay you for the full year's membership, though. I wish they would just disappear.

Actually we will be lucky to break even on these jobs with the use of a call, plus gas, with nothing left for our time to make the call, wait for the truck, the tow, and time required for the report.

I have to wonder if they even researched the cost of the membership and how much these calls cost us. If they began at $75 with added bonuses it MIGHT be worth considering, but not if we actually need the service and it’s not there at $100+ per tow without it.

We’re not that easily sold on what amounts to paying to work …and that’s why they will continue to sit.

There shouldn't be a gas expense if you call and the car is sitting in your driveway. Stay in your house, call for a jump (provided by a suitcase battery), and write the report.

Can't comment on using one of the aaa allowed seevices.

My AAA membership renews for $43 per year. ONE shop will cover the cost of membership, the second will cover ALL of your other possible expenses. The other two, will provide a decent profit for your effort.

I don't understand the gas expense part of this question. You don't have to go anywhere, or you can take an extra few minutes at a place you're already going to be. You don't have to drive anywhere specifically to do this shop, it can be done ANYWHERE, that is not on the side of the road.

You can do a grocery shop, park your car, schedule your AAA service and go into the grocery store while you're waiting. They almost never take less than 30 minutes to arrive, that's plenty of time to do a grocery shop. Same goes for gas station shops, park your car, make your call, or use the app, go do the reveal and get your pictures, then wait with your car while you do your report. The tow truck will usually show up before you're done with your paperwork.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2025 09:59PM by Morledzep.

You can do these anywhere. I usually do them at my house. I sit in my house with the AC going, until the guy shows up. The cost of the call is free. I have an AAA membership already, so that does not cost me extra. Since I stay at my house, there is no gas cost involved.

Essentially, it is all profit! They are super easy to write up. I may spend a half hour to write it up. The guy usually takes maybe 15 minutes out of your life. For $50 pure profit? I’ll take that any day of the week!

$39 / year membership cost (look for deals).

$50 / shop fee per shop X 3 shops so far this year = $150.

$150 - $39 = $111 profit OR
$150 profit with the tax deduction of the $39 business expense/required purchase.

No gas, no travel, no printing. All done in my driveway during my housecleaning days.

There are two scenarios, neither of which allows for a tow. Both service options take the service person ten minutes or less.

I have not looked at the rules for this shop for years since I did my last one so they may be different now but I found, at the time years ago, the scenario uncomfortable to fake with my key fob I cannot lock into the car. I should recheck them but I may not be the only one who avoids them due to this reason.

Sandy, you can do the no start scenario. They don't test your battery, they usually just drive up, hook the jumper cables to your car and tell you to start it. They are supposed to test the battery, and offer to sell you one and replace it for you, but they don't. The testing takes time and they have more important things to do if you can start your car and make it home.

Especially if Sandy's car is sitting in her drivway.

doesn't even pay for the membership fee here. Is it different in different states?

Last time my battery did actually die it took a lot to get someone who even knew how to charge my prius battery or even figure out where it was. That was about two years ago not on a shop. I called both my ins and my friends AAA and with both cases it took til the next day before anyone came. . In the end both companies came the next day and neither had any idea why they were there. No one brought a tow truck but fortunatealy one of them figured out what to do with a Prius and agreed to follow me over to the service station after the jump as I was not sure which of my two batteries were out.
But i do have an intermittent electrical issue so I can prob use that as once every month or two my car wont start. I can start it with the key hidden in my key fob but they dont have to know I know that.

@Morledzep wrote:

My AAA membership renews for $43 per year. ONE shop will cover the cost of membership, the second will cover ALL of your other possible expenses. The other two, will provide a decent profit for your effort.

I don't understand the gas expense part of this question. You don't have to go anywhere, or you can take an extra few minutes at a place you're already going to be. You don't have to drive anywhere specifically to do this shop, it can be done ANYWHERE, that is not on the side of the road.

You can do a grocery shop, park your car, schedule your AAA service and go into the grocery store while you're waiting. They almost never take less than 30 minutes to arrive, that's plenty of time to do a grocery shop. Same goes for gas station shops, park your car, make your call, or use the app, go do the reveal and get your pictures, then wait with your car while you do your report. The tow truck will usually show up before you're done with your paperwork.

The aaa membership cost where I live is just under $120 for 3 calls per year regardless of the reason. So, that’s $40 worth of service I’m putting forth for each, plus my time etc to do the assignment for a $50 assignment fee (aka break even at $5/hour), or I’ll pay at least double if I max out my calls, then actually need them for a tow.

Even sitting in the driveway while hanging out cleaning house drinking margaritas (Im also providing) as I wait for them to arrive doesn’t turn a profit California.

Had a text exchange with a scheduler who wanted me to accept $30 fee for a recorded assignment involving 2 hours of round trip travel, at least 30 minutes on site, and a 60 question report due same day. When I showed a screen shot of the gas prices here she finally got the picture. Housing costs are over the moon as are recent food prices…and most thus nation’s food is grown/raised an hour or two away. The oil that becomes our fuel is extracted and refined within 2 hours of my home base but are the highest rates in the nation outside of NYCity.

I doubt most MSCs account for the actual cost of living in various areas when they calibrate compensation, or maybe they just think we can’t do the math, or they’re given unrealistic limits to operate within by “corporate.”

Had a convo with more than one scheduler who’s making no more than we do, and the jury’s still out on who has to deal with more headaches.

Need to make choices that are “sustainable” for our own situation.

Great discussion!

Be safe, have fun, and shop on!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2025 12:57AM by SBP.

So I’m in the field of consumer and user experience and do all of this for fun and to learn more about my industry. I actually confronted the Presto app on this crap back in July just out of curiosity. In the industry of my day job, we are always seeking solutions to improve efficiency and quality; something Presto obviously doesn’t give squat about—which is hilariously ironic, considering the ultimate purpose of their product: consumer experience management.

Here was my initial inquiry:

“I would really like a response to this. Why does Presto allow spam job posting? A good example are “Insurance Shops” and AAA shops.

How is this productive to your clients? Why would a legitimate provider be satisfied with the same vendor posting every 10 miles on your map? Your product would be much more productive with simple moderation or posting limits.”

Presto’s response

“These shops are not "spam" shops. You have contacted Presto Insta-Shops Technical Support. We can help with technical issues, but other issues should be referred directly to the mystery shopping company. Please contact the mystery shopping company using the contact provided in the shop guidelines if you have additional questions about these shops.

My second inquiry:

“So this is a confirmation that no one with Presto will comment on the quality of their product?”

Presto’s second response:

“ If you do not want to see AAA shops, you can filter those shops out. Here is an example on how to do that:

You can also use filter option to show you only shops that you want to see.

The Presto map has a lot of shops, and that's a good thing...but too much of a good thing is not so good! To help with situations where you simply have too man pins on the map, we've added a filter feature to the map.

To filter the shops you see, go to the List pane if you're using a computer (shown below). On a mobile device, click List at the top of the map. You'll see the new filter field at the top of the list view:

Type into the filter field to narrow down the shops to show what you want. In the example below, we're looking for automotive shops, so we start typing "automotive" -- and by the time we get to "auto", we can see the short list of automotive shops!”

!!! Get wrecked, Presto. Your “solution” doesn’t work half the time I’ve tried to utilize it in the past. I did not ask for a detailed instructions on how to filter out your spam postings. In addition, this is pointless when trying to utilize the search function as it is intended; to search for jobs. I don’t know what metrics you’re hiding or trying to hit, but the spam is ridiculous.

Hahaha antipop!

I reached out to The “Otter Guys” about the frequent and dreaded blank blue and white screen issue. It took 10 exchanges of canned responses to get an original reply.
I received confirmation that they’re “working on a new app that’s really sick.” There’s no release date because it’s not even in Beta yet but they “will be reaching out to shoppers when the time comes…”. I can’t wait…can you?

I also reached out to GSpot several times about longtime issues that make my life very unpleasant. I posted their truly unprofessional reply in another thread that basically said there are no plans to fund improvements to thier dinosaur age infrastructure the (industry’s current security protocols block) to enhance shopper and MSC experience anytime soon, so live with it.

And yes…it’s all very counterintuitive, short-sighted…and maybe why so many clients dropping one MCS in the hopes of better results with another…or maybe they’re too focused on short term gains to authorize fair compensation to those on the front lines, so they move on to outfits notorious for offering bottom feeder and “pay to work” pittances hoping we can’t do the math.

In the end they’re burning thier best people, it’s not sustainable, and costs everyone more.

Welcome to late stage capitalism…where common sense…is measured in “non-cents.”

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2025 02:51AM by SBP.

Ding ding ding!

Late-stage capitalism at work, indeed.

Like many other industries, mystery shopping is dying out due to everyone tightening their belts and trying to save a buck. Excellence is being exchanged for increasing profits year upon year upon year until everything is just crap quality.

I just can’t get over that it’s happening to the industry of consumer experience in this manner right before our eyes. And the irony of the corporate mentality of “how can we cut corners gauging our consumer experience and sales patterns so we can therefore improve our experience and sales patterns?”

Quality is dead. Excellence is dead. And yes, corporate greed and pleasing shareholders is 100% to blame.

All of these corporations (and MSCs) will receive a ROI in proportion to their (pitiful) investments. When you don’t pay people to do the work, you’re going to receive @#$%& returns. Any crackhead with a data plan can submit these shops now.

I, for one, will gleefully admit that I put in the work that I’m getting paid for. If I’m doing a low-paying shop that was listed for triple the amount last year, then I’m reducing my efforts by triple the amount. Did I miss something in a shop that’s reimbursement only? I’m not going to let you know that. I’m doing you a favor and here for my free sub. It’s not like I’m getting paid, after all.

Oh, and all of the employees are getting raving reviews and clean marks as long as they’re nice to me and put in the most minimum effort. I know they’re not getting paid much. I know how cheap their employer is, after all.

/end rant

@SBP wrote:

The aaa membership cost where I live is just under $120 for 3 calls per year regardless of the reason. So, that’s $40 worth of service I’m putting forth for each, plus my time etc to do the assignment for a $50 assignment fee (aka break even at $5/hour), or I’ll pay at least double if I max out my calls, then actually need them for a tow.

ok, I don't know where you live in CA. And it's really none of my business.

I went on the AAA website and put in my old zip code in Riverside County, CA and the memberships came up. Classic is $52 per year. Plus is $87, and Premier is $116. Classic gives you 4 free service calls and towing up to 7 miles for free. But the scenarios for the shop only require a jump start or get the car unlocked. So there is no reason to be towed. And the rotation says that you can only do one shop every 3 months, so you always have at least one service call available for emergencies.

I don't know why you think that AAA roadside assistance is $120 per year. You don't have to buy AAA auto insurance to get roadside assistance.

They are a pain in the butt. I resent them so much. Plus, sometimes you wanna hide more than one shop but you can't do that, so I find myself almost always hiding AAA only (because there are hundreds of them) and then I have to sort through the remainder which is a pain.

@Morledzep wrote:

@SBP wrote:

The aaa membership cost where I live is just under $120 for 3 calls per year regardless of the reason. So, that’s $40 worth of service I’m putting forth for each, plus my time etc to do the assignment for a $50 assignment fee (aka break even at $5/hour), or I’ll pay at least double if I max out my calls, then actually need them for a tow.

ok, I don't know where you live in CA. And it's really none of my business.

I went on the AAA website and put in my old zip code in Riverside County, CA and the memberships came up. Classic is $52 per year. Plus is $87, and Premier is $116. Classic gives you 4 free service calls and towing up to 7 miles for free. But the scenarios for the shop only require a jump start or get the car unlocked. So there is no reason to be towed. And the rotation says that you can only do one shop every 3 months, so you always have at least one service call available for emergencies.

I don't know why you think that AAA roadside assistance is $120 per year. You don't have to buy AAA auto insurance to get roadside assistance.

Yes, I just checked. They did not care where I lived but I am pretty sure from my computer credentials they can see they know I am in a very expensive city...and it is $52 with the first time $20 fee waived...And I truly have a dead battery right now....So once I can figure out where I want to go for my new battery I might actually do this job. (Its not my Prius but a gas vehicle I also own)

They’re also being pitched as “Insurance research” assignments.