Keeping shops efficient

I notice I have been avoiding certain shops (bank, cell phone, and definitely car sales) because they take entirely too long when doing them right. Most shop guidelines state you cannot state you're in a hurry to teh sales person. I'm not in this to do an hour shop at 17-25 an hour, so I avoid them. But I could really use the money right now.

Please give me your best tips on how to effectively do a shop BUT keep the time to a minimum. What am I missing here??

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The key is to remember to think of the average time for a scenario. If most Scenario A cell phone shops take 15 minutes but one in 5 takes 30 minutes, look at the average per hour yeild across those shops. If that still is not sufficient, then don't do them. But don't rule out any shop just becasue it might, sometimes run long, without first making a similar calculation. That's my view. That said, I do not do new car shops with a test drive for less than $60. Bank platforms shops? In my experience, one in 10-15 of these will run 20 minutes. The rest will come in at between 5 and 10 minutes, just because the targets are often so disinterested in in doing thew job right. If I can make a route of these, and the reports are simple, I will grab them at $15 and up.
I only do video cell phone shops, due to the calculations I have made.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I think 17-25 an hour is not a bad hourly rate.

I have cheat sheets for each shop report. Makes my report time go quicker.

I calculate shops on a 2:1 ratio. My general rule is that it requires 2 minutes of report time for every 1 minute of shop. 20 minute shop = 40 minute report, so 1 hour total. My hourly minimum is $25. So a 1 hour shop, for me, needs to pay at least $75 to be worth it.

The waiting game (for bonuses) works for me because of where I am, but may not work for you if you have good shoppers in your area willing to do it for less. I find it pays off... I get the same amount of money for way less work.

There is one car shop I'd do for $25, but that's because the report only takes me 20 minutes. Plus I like the car.

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Plan the work. Work the plan.

In other words, don't rush the shop, get the right fee for the shop.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut

To me being efficient is getting paid to eat a free lunch or dinner during my normal routine.

Being efficient is treating my wife to a nice (and fully comped) meal at a quality restaurant around once a month. She also enjoys helping me remember details.

Being efficient is stretching my budget while converting my fees into investments and savings.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

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Keeping shops efficient

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