Is they an easy way to find out which MS companies have shops in your area?

I am new to mystery shopping, just started in late March. However, I have already completed over 100 shops for 16 different companies. I have spent MANY hours doing online research and completing applications. The biggest problem I have is that you have to fill out the applications before you can see the job board to see if they even operate in your area.

That is so time consuming, and I have applied to over 20 companies who never have anything near me. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions with this? I'm trying to find companies that work in the Tulsa, OK area. I am doing this full time, so I need more companies to sign up with!

Thanks so much!

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Bearclaw -
Welcome to the forum and to MS'ing!
Way to go with 100 shops and 20 companies in your first month and a half. You're on your way.
Check out Jobslinger's job board. Just browse and see what MSCs are posting jobs in your area. You'll double your active MSC list in a day.
And keep applying. If you've got 16 that you've shopped for after only 20 applications, then you're doing stellar! I shop for 12 out of 45 registrations (up from 5 out of 9 at the start of this year), and I keep applying to another couple MSC's every week.
Great that you got on the forum early. I only found it four months ago after going it alone for three years. You'll be amazed at what you learn here.
Thanks for the information! I should clarify to say I have applied to over 20 that have nothing near me in addition to the 16 I am currently shopping for. I actually found Jobslinger last week, which was a great help and I check it every day. However, I also know those are only for companies using Sassie, so that still leaves a lot that are hard to find.

I will continue my efforts and keep applying, it just seems like such a waste of time, I wish there was a way to find out if the company actually is active in your area BEFORE you spend time applying for it!
Very few companies are going to say they are active or not active in your area and they have a good reason. Other than a few MSCs who are strictly regional, most work with clients who have a nationwide presence at some point. A month and a half is not near long enough to write off any company. One of the perennial favorites of every shopper is Research Services Group. Months go by with nary a shop in my area and then a bunch will hit. The pay is always decent and relatively fast.

Keep in mind you are starting a business. Most businesses involve a great deal of research and time along with a large financial investment. Your new mystery shopping business will not take a big investment of cash, but it will still take time and research. If you have not done this yet, take a little time to create several writing samples and a brief resume. Find a program to fill in some of the basics fields on a MSC registration. These days registering with a new company takes me an average of five minutes, ten if the application is extensive. And yes, I have been at this for five years, have registered with around 150 companies and I still register with new ones.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2013 02:09AM by LisaSTL.
You will probably apply with a lot more who currently have no work in your area. Although some MSCs require writing samples and a few have tests, most have just a short application form. The way I look at it is that if I were unemployed and looking for a job, I would have to provide job applications to companies, many of which would not result in a job interview. And I would spend time interviewing with a company or two that would likely not make me a job offer.

Everything is relative. Applying with mystery shopping companies is relatively fast and easy. The list of Official Mystery Shopping Companies (the blue link at the bottom of the page) makes it very easy. JobSlinger can help you identify some companies who currently have work in your area. Think of the time spent applying with companies and researching as an investment in your business.

Good luck with shopping!
The other point is that a company that doesn't have work in your area today may get a new client tomorrow and all of a sudden there is work for that company in your area. I started this in 2010 and this year did some work for 6 companies that I had never before worked for.
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