Hello all I'm a super noob. I actually found out about mystery shopping 5 days ago. So many questions. I've been reading a lot of forums and have recently started here.

I can see Flash post a lot of great info. The problem I have is I suck at using search. So I'm going to do this a little different. Can you guys give me a few links or suggest what to search exactly to find out what I want?

I think you can safely eliminate the usual response. I've seen the "Check out this forum" advice. I fully plan on doing it. What I'm hoping to find is a little help getting to the info I really want to know.

First I'm looking to do this full time. I'm willing to put in as much time as it takes. 2nd I don't plan on doing routes for another 2-3 months. I'm currently trying to register with over 500 companies. I've only done about 30.

I'd like to start out doing phone shops. Anything that requires no/little money up front. I'd be willing to do online shops as well. I want to see what my options are and start doing shops for the companies I want to work with.

So where can I get more info on routes?
If I'm willing to put 80-120 hours of shopping in a week. What can I expect to make?
What are the most desired type of shop?
Which shops typically pay most?

I know my reports will be important. My business modules always start with "Excellent Customer Service". Like you guys have pointed out the MSC's are our customers. So when I take a shop I want to complete it to my standard. Which will be above and beyond whatever they ask.

So do companies dislike this? Sometimes too much is a bad thing. However I believe if I learn from the ground up what the MSC's clients are looking for, I'd be able to better determine what kind of report they are looking for.

I know I'm not allowed to contact the client. But say Coyle has an in depth section where they show you what they want. If I provided this type of detailed report to a company who doesn't ask that, would that dock me points?

How to I prove myself to be more valuable? I'm willing to travel internationally if I can find the shops. What I'd like to do is be the go to guy with shops in area's companies need to be completed. Regardless of where it's located.

I want to travel and would love to use this to stay on the road. I wouldn't mind staying on the road for a year. I know I'd have to have substantial cash.

So is it possible to schedule a hotel or timeshare and a rental car? Drive from one condo shop to another?

Any threads you guys suggest I'll read. And I'll continue to do my own research. If you guys could give me personal details to these questions or make that process a little faster. In a year or 2 once I have learned some tricks. I'll be happy to return any tricks I pick up.

Anyone who would like to work together or maybe interested in doing routes together let me know. I'd be willing to travel to pretty much any part of the country. I would need to find the best flights/method to get there. I'd be looking to do everything extremely frugal. I'd like to put 90% of the profit into more shops. I'm looking to advance and make as many friends as possible. Thanks all!

Welcome to the forum. Check out the first 11 threads here: [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Your Wish list is pretty long. I suck at reading long posts, but the above should get you started. I don't think it's so much as that you suck at using the search, I think it's more that the topics you want information on are not necessarily easily searched. Many of the questions you have asked are not things that have been discussed in single threads so it would be pretty hard to feed you links. I'd started with the New Mystery Shopper area. After reading everything there, you may have more specific questions.

And for route shopping, I suggesting using "Search." After putting "route" or "route shopping" in, change the date to "all dates" so you get everything.

You are right to continue to sign up with many MSCs.

I would suggest you start in the new shoppers forum reading. Then move on to the other forums. I would also suggest that as you have questions you ask them individually in relevant threads that are already out there. Not to criticize (you sound very gung ho, much like I was, and I admire that), but this post is basically asking someone to write a how to manual for you at no cost to you, and probable cost in lost shops for them.

Ishopforyou904, welcome to the forum. Settle into a comfy chair with a cup of tea, or drink of your choice. Read, read, and read. Your questions have already been answered, probably numerous times. Good luck with shopping! Looking forward to your shared experiences

I appreciate all forms of criticism and can take when people are blunt. I started on page 79 of the new member introduction. I made it to page 50 or so. In there it seemed like majority of the threads I'd be interested in had been moved.

I know I posted a lot. I think a common F.A.Q page at the top. Linking to the threads that all shoppers should read would be a great addition to this site.

If I knew how to use the search feature better maybe reading through thousands of post wouldn't seem like such a large task. I'm not sure if I should put the time in to searching the forum or applying for companies.

I can tell you majority of the topics I listed. If I went and read about them. I'd have more questions. And I'd be bumping multiple threads to get the answers. I'm almost conflicted if I should just try to learn all the info myself and just wait for another newbie to ask or bump the threads.

I'm an entrepreneur, so I'm looking at this as a business. I'm building a business plan and trying find very specific information but I'm new and don't know the terminology. So even if it's been discussed I may not know what I'm looking for.

Any specific threads can you guys suggest as "Must Reads" for route shoppers?

Ishop4you904 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I appreciate all forms of criticism and can take
> when people are blunt. I started on page 79 of the
> new member introduction. I made it to page 50 or
> so. In there it seemed like majority of the
> threads I'd be interested in had been moved.

New Member Introductions is just that and you will find very little of use to you there. Rather what you are being referred to is the New Mystery Shopper section of the forum, which is pretty much the FAQ you are looking for. We try not to reinvent the wheel for each new shopper.

After that post I clicked the link suggested. That's what I was looking for. I did do a few different searches for "Routes" and other keywords I thought would turn up post in that regard. I had no luck. I understand not wanting to have to say the same things over and over.

If after I read the first 11 threads. Where would I post questions I still have answers for?

The depends on the question. If your question is pertaining to starting out I would suggest posting in the same forum as the 11 threads you need to read. If your question is specific to a company then it goes in the Mystery Shopping Companies forum. If it's not specific to a company then it goes in the Mystery Shopping forum. I would suggest you try to find a recent thread that is relevant if possible and post there. For instance, if you have a question about Maritz, there are 834 threads about them already, please don't start another one.

Post any questions in relevant discussions. Or you can start a new thread after searching to be sure a thread does not already exist. We aren't crazy about multiple threads about the same topic - it's a real time-waster.

The posters here are glad to help. But keep in mind that most of those posting here are mystery shoppers who make money mystery shopping. We do not make any money posting and answering questions. That is done on our own time because we are here to visit - like an employee break room - and we want to help each other and mentor new shoppers. But everything is set up on a read-it-yourself-at-your-own-pace format. There are sites that do much more for you, but they cost money. Here you save the money by doing it yourself. It's set up so that a new entrepreneur, who is looking at this as a business, should easily be able to follow and get enough information to start their new business. When building a business plan, you need to realize you may not get very specific information. You will need to research and read. You will learn the terminology.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Welcome to the forum. Check out the first 11
> threads here:
> [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
>
> Your Wish list is pretty long. I suck at reading
> long posts, but the above should get you started.
> I don't think it's so much as that you suck at
> using the search, I think it's more that the
> topics you want information on are not necessarily
> easily searched. Many of the questions you have
> asked are not things that have been discussed in
> single threads so it would be pretty hard to feed
> you links. I'd started with the New Mystery
> Shopper area. After reading everything there, you
> may have more specific questions.
>
> And for route shopping, I suggesting using
> "Search." After putting "route" or "route
> shopping" in, change the date to "all dates" so
> you get everything.
>
> You are right to continue to sign up with many
> MSCs.


Thanks for your help! I'm afraid we may not get along as majority of the time when I post it is long. I get a lot of feedback about how unwanted that is, but hey I enjoy writing! I'm looking at your suggested post now. I'm not sure how I missed this but thanks for pointing it out.

I'll try to keep shorter responses and make new threads! Maybe I can start a go to thread for some of these topics. As I will most likely beat the topics until every shopper is bored from talking about them.

I do appreciate innovation and any industry I touch I seek to find out who the "Best" is. From that point I try to figure out how to defeat the best. Obviously I don't play for 2nd. I understand majority of people do this have other obligations and don't treat this as a full time job.

So that's what I'm really trying to figure out. I'll try to search again.

One last question about signing up with as many companies. I read Flash's response on signing up. He suggested that maybe new shoppers should wait for experience. I did write a 4 paragraph writing sample I've been submitting. After reading an example of one on the sites.

So far I've been accepted to every shop I've applied for I believe. Should I wait? I have a lot of free time now. But I don't want to invest much money into this. I'm willing to buy the video equipment once I've made a profit of the equipment. And I'm willing to put all the profit back into new shops and do phone shops to build my roll. I want to be get hotel shops and condos. I read that takes 6-9 months of great shops.

Whats my quickest path there? Time not being a factor?

bg and I cross-posted. Great advice. I'd advise lots of reading before asking the specific questions.

Just another bit. Long winded doesn't really do it here. You'll get better responses if you ask simple questions that can be answered easily. Want to know about routes? Start with simple questions about them instead of demanding a full explanation of them. Nobody is going to write you a 20 page manual on doing routes, but if you ask simple basic questions they are much more likely to answer if it can be done in one or two sentences.

Secondly, the attitude of wanting to find out who the best is and then beating them isn't going to win you any friends and influence people. The best shoppers get shops that no one else sees because they've turned in quality work for years. If someone has the attitude of specifically wanting to take their work from them, they will be less than helpful, for good reason. Find your own niche, figure out what works for you, and don't worry about what the rest of the shopper world does.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Post any questions in relevant discussions. Or
> you can start a new thread after searching to be
> sure a thread does not already exist. We aren't
> crazy about multiple threads about the same topic
> - it's a real time-waster.
>
> The posters here are glad to help. But keep in
> mind that most of those posting here are mystery
> shoppers who make money mystery shopping. We do
> not make any money posting and answering
> questions. That is done on our own time because
> we are here to visit - like an employee break room
> - and we want to help each other and mentor new
> shoppers. But everything is set up on a
> read-it-yourself-at-your-own-pace format. There
> are sites that do much more for you, but they cost
> money. Here you save the money by doing it
> yourself. It's set up so that a new entrepreneur,
> who is looking at this as a business, should
> easily be able to follow and get enough
> information to start their new business. When
> building a business plan, you need to realize you
> may not get very specific information. You will
> need to research and read. You will learn the
> terminology.


I understand the concept of a forum. I use forums as a tool. It's an accelerator. All the info posted here is based off experience right? You post to help speed the learning curve for posters. I kind of use that to the full advantage. I can tell you no matter what has been written here. I will make it a goal to try to take the furthest thought on said subject and push it a step further.

I'm good with numbers. I use to be a professional online poker player. There's a certain math that you use when playing cards. It's similar to financial math. Variance Risk of Ruin etc.. That I could see being applied to this industry as a shopper. I'm a very aggressive entrepreneur with my business plans.

I've been reading and applying pretty much for 8-12 hours a day for 5 days now. When it resorts to me having to click page by page through hundreds of pages. And you say most these subjects don't have a particular thread. That task alone sounds daunting. I may actually be one of the people who will click page by page. However a lot of the members will not.

Funny story is I actually found mystery shopping from another forum. Not relating to mystery shopping at all. I spend way more time than is healthy reading forums about different trades.

IF you aren't members of a finance community or a law community I can say you are personally missing out on 2 subjects in life everyone should spend time on. Know how many middle class people would retire millionaires if they researched the right subject? Know how many laws you break on a regular basis?

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just another bit. Long winded doesn't really do
> it here. You'll get better responses if you ask
> simple questions that can be answered easily.
> Want to know about routes? Start with simple
> questions about them instead of demanding a full
> explanation of them. Nobody is going to write you
> a 20 page manual on doing routes, but if you ask
> simple basic questions they are much more likely
> to answer if it can be done in one or two
> sentences.
>
> Secondly, the attitude of wanting to find out who
> the best is and then beating them isn't going to
> win you any friends and influence people. The
> best shoppers get shops that no one else sees
> because they've turned in quality work for years.
> If someone has the attitude of specifically
> wanting to take their work from them, they will be
> less than helpful, for good reason. Find your own
> niche, figure out what works for you, and don't
> worry about what the rest of the shopper world
> does.


I went and read the first post by Flash. One of the ones suggested. Lots of great information. Was very LONG WINDED. What if I suggested the most informative post take more words to explain?

I'm very good at starting business's in multiple categories. As mentioned here many times everyone does this for different reasons. Do I want to take other people's work? I don't know. Most people say there's more work than they can handle. My goal is to create a demand. I can go anywhere and do anything as far as mystery shopping. Any job. How many shoppers are like that?

I don't expect many so I don't think there's many who I'm competing with. The ones I will be most likely do not post here. Not to say there aren't people who post here with skills to do so. They just choose not. Therefore I'm not competition. I've been a gamer/poker player/fantasy player/bunch of other competitive.

Anyways a lot of you post that this is a small business. Another post said that 80% of business's fail. I offer no help in mystery shopping yet. I could offer help in business. Most people won't listen. Because they would have to read a mountain of text to learn some of the things I've learned. Because I've went on many forums and read the "First 11 post" of a lot of interesting subjects.

Good luck with your endeavors.

>I'd like to start out doing phone shops. Anything that requires no/little money up front. I'd be willing to >do online shops as well. I want to see what my options are and start doing shops for the companies I >want to work with.

From what I have seen, phone shops and online shops pay so little that they would not be a valuable part of a full-time shopper's work.

I would suggest that you sign up for some bank and cell phone shops, which require no money up front, as a rule, but will give you better experience for your long-term plans. There are also a lot of shops where you evaluate the salespeople, but put up no money of your own. Look for them. As a rule, you'll collect a business card for the shops where you do not buy anything.

And, I would suggest that, instead of trying to master it all on paper, you start going out and doing the shops, and see what questions grow organically from that. You've signed up with 30 MSCs. Pick a shop, any shop. Do it. Ask yourself how you could do it better, next time. Come here and describe how it went, and ask us how you could have done it better.

Video shopping is NOT for beginners. Until you have done, say a dozen apartemnt shops, you will not be ready to do a video apartment shop. Same for auto sales, new homes, etc. Assisted living video shops are the graduate course.

We all appreciate that you want to sell yourself as a go-getter, but we are NOT the folks who want to read about your virtues. That may sound harsh, but we just do not have the time. If you want a question answered, just ask THAT question without all the fluff around it and without other, unrelated questions. That way, you will get more answers.
The best shops are ones that it may take you years to even hear about. And, yes, there are MSCs that will lower your score if you include too much detail and/or are just long winded. The editors tend to be paid by the report, not by the hour or the words in a report. Don't rile them up with unnecessary verbiage, lol!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2014 12:19PM by walesmaven.

Ok Ishop, let's see if I have this straight. You suck at Search so you want the members to give you suggestions and short cuts to links. You don't want the usual mundane responses just instant info. You want to put up little up front money but are willing to work 120 hrs per week. You want to be the go to guy and are willing to travel anywhere, even internationally. You want to find the best and defeat them, 2nd place isn't for you. You want a quick fix and not invest much money into this. You're a former professional online poker player and good with numbers. You ask "Do I want to take other peoples work? I don't know."

Let's answer your question first - of course you do. And you think it will be a simple matter to elicit information from the simple people who post on this forum. Your real competition, of course, are the more sophisticated shoppers who remain anonymous. You're good with numbers - if you work 120 hrs per week that leaves you just 48 hrs. Perhaps you only need 5 hrs of sleep per night - that leaves you 13 hrs of free time. If you do that for a year no doubt you will reach your goal of being the best mystery shopper. And you wouldn't even have to concern yourself with taking other peoples work.

You also asked what you can expect to make. Not nearly as much, not a fraction as much, as you can if you were the best online poker player.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2014 01:06AM by LIJake.

Just another Pan Handler!...

LIJake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ok Ishop, let's see if I have this straight. You
> suck at Search so you want the members to give you
> suggestions and short cuts to links. You don't
> want the usual mundane responses just instant
> info. You want to put up little up front money but
> are willing to work 120 hrs per week. You want to
> be the go to guy and are willing to travel
> anywhere, even internationally. You want to find
> the best and defeat them, 2nd place isn't for you.
> You want a quick fix and not invest much money
> into this. You're a former professional online
> poker player and good with numbers. You ask "Do I
> want to take other peoples work? I don't know."
>
> Let's answer your question first - of course you
> do. And you think it will be a simple matter to
> elicit information from the simple people who post
> on this forum. Your real competition, of course,
> are the more sophisticated shoppers who remain
> anonymous. You're good with numbers - if you work
> 120 hrs per week that leaves you just 48 hrs.
> Perhaps you only need 5 hrs of sleep per night -
> that leaves you 13 hrs of free time. If you do
> that for a year no doubt you will reach your goal
> of being the best mystery shopper. And you
> wouldn't even have to concern yourself with taking
> other peoples work.
>
> You also asked what you can expect to make. Not
> nearly as much, not a fraction as much, as you can
> if you were the best online poker player.


Whats the hourly rate of the best poker player? What's the hourly rate of the best Shopper? What's the salary of the best poker player? What's the salary of the best shopper? I bet all 4 of those answers give you 4 different people. If you don't know these answers. You are not qualified to make the comment you made. At least there is no way you're correct. Can you prove that the best shopper doesn't make a fraction of the best online player?

I do only sleep 5 hours a night. I understand I could take time off as I see fit? I know what 120 hour work weeks feel like. In fact I've clocked in 135 before.

I choose to work this hard now to retire earlier and with more money than most people retire with. I'm taking 30 years of work and combining it into 10. So I can live "retired" for 40-50 years instead of 10-20. I'm halfway through my plan I started 5 years ago.

I start all of my business's with little money. I usually push 90% of the profits into anything I do into making more. This is the only way to achieve my goal. I'm willing to start with 2$ phone calls. I wonder how many I could do in a day.

I worked at a call center before and made close to 500 calls in a shift. I can tell you I averaged no where near 2$ a call. If I could do that everyday for 30 days. Well that's 30k. Not bad. I'm trying to figure out why more people don't do this?

I'm not looking for a quick fix for money. I'm looking to start with phone calls or online purchases or shops that are free. Take my fees and then apply those to shops that cost money. When my money runs out resort back to where I started until eventually I have more money than shops.

I was looking for a quicker way to answer the questions I have. Besides clicking through every page. I'll get to that. Thanks for all the help guys.

It's apparent I most likely will not fit in here. I can handle that. I look forward to meeting shoppers on other forums and at the shopper conferences. After I scour through the 250k post here and on volition and other forums. I'm sure I won't have time to post on all those forums. I'll post on the ones whose members were willing to help me.

P.S I seen somewhere that said Volition isn't really "Noob Friendly". If I had done a shop on this forum. My experience on this forum and some of the answers on other post would confirm the said could be said about here.

To everyone who would like to PM me and discuss these topics. I'll welcome the conversation. Thanks Again!

Ishop, it's really up to you whether you fit in or not. I hope you'll find the information already provided helpful to you but none of us have time to provide what you are asking. You can learn a lot by going through the orientation material furnished by each mystery shopping company, and by reading current and older threads here. You can learn to search for what you want on this forum. Just think it through. If you really want to be a shopper, this is one of the best places to pick up information. You seem very put out with us that we're not lining up to provide all the information you want right now. That's not the way it works. If you have a specific question, ask in the appropriate thread. Someone will address that. But no one here, as far as I know, will provide you with a free detailed course in how to be a mystery shopper. I am somewhat taken aback by your attitude and surprised that you would even expect that. We are all self taught, and although we often share information and welcome newcomers, your education is not our responsibility.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ishop, it's really up to you whether you fit in or
> not. I hope you'll find the information already
> provided helpful to you but none of us have time
> to provide what you are asking. You can learn a
> lot by going through the orientation material
> furnished by each mystery shopping company, and by
> reading current and older threads here. You can
> learn to search for what you want on this forum.
> Just think it through. If you really want to be a
> shopper, this is one of the best places to pick up
> information. You seem very put out with us that
> we're not lining up to provide all the information
> you want right now. That's not the way it works.
> If you have a specific question, ask in the
> appropriate thread. Someone will address that.
> But no one here, as far as I know, will provide
> you with a free detailed course in how to be a
> mystery shopper. I am somewhat taken aback by
> your attitude and surprised that you would even
> expect that. We are all self taught, and although
> we often share information and welcome newcomers,
> your education is not our responsibility.


Well I had mistaken the search function. Maybe I was doing it in the wrong place. I guess when I did the search "Route" and didn't really find the info I was looking for I asked the questions. The answers I got told me to use the search function. I tried to explain that.

Now I'm being labeled as having some attitude? I do not. I said I understand if you don't wish to help me. I'm not offended in the least. I also understand what it's like to deal with the same questions over and over. I put it out there to get some info. I was told to search.

Honestly I found this place using search on google. I have a list of about 500 things I need to research. Things I find interesting and never get around to searching. It's on a giant to do list. A lot of the questions I ask should have a thread that answer them or more. At least I think a lot of shoppers would find it useful. Maybe the attitude you sense is me being a well seasoned forum junkie. I understand the issues and I really thought the questions I asked wouldn't be too hard to answer and would easily proceed to a thought provoking conversation.

It's really amazing at the information I'm reading on these forums. Hell on google period. If it's going to take me hours to research those questions it's almost better to just use google and find info from tons of sources. Which doesn't make much business sense for the owners of this forum. Unless they really don't like making money from this site. The goal should be to make it easier for new shoppers to learn. Not to guide them through the same trials and tribulations. I think a lot of people would be even more technically impaired then they are now. Hey someone had to answer these same types of questions over and over. Imagine a teacher! I guess if someone ask a question. Posters should ask themselves "Will my post help answer this persons question?"

To be completely honest I would answer no for majority of the responses here. I'm being left to play a game of hot and cold. I'm close to finding my answer. I've narrowed down where I want my search to go. I just gotta keep looking for that buried treasure and piece it all together guys!

I made friends with someone in this industry. Who went out of her way to contact me and point me in the right direction. I am who I am and I'll post how I post. IF you guys like me and respond and help me I will return the favor! If not I completely understand but don't offended next time the shoe is reverse. There is nothing in this world someone can't google and find an answer to.

I guess none of you who advise to use the search feature should ever have another question again! At least not if it's been answered on the internet somewhere at some point!.

Pointing me to the first 11 post in the new mystery shopper discussion helped me a lot. It was right under my nose. Still don't know the answers to my questions. But I'll figure them out eventually.

But so you guys know. From reading some of the post here I know majority of you have great intentions. For guys like me who search many answers on certain projects this forum isn't near as organized as many forums I have been to. I'm not sure what it is exactly. But if I was asked about my experience with this site. My review would say the content is great but not easily found. That it's more beneficial for shoppers to use a basic google search. But that's just one experience. I'm still reading. Thanks for all the feedback.

OP toggled! Just another Prince Stompy Foot.

Here's one trick to using the search function. A lot of times I'll search and not get anything, before I remember to go down to the bottom of the page and change the time searched from the default time, the last month, to something more broader, like the last year, or ever.

>I understand the issues and I really thought the questions I asked wouldn't be too hard to answer and >would easily proceed to a thought provoking conversation.

Here's one thing you did completely wrong. You asked in the wrong place. This board, 'Member Introductions', isn't one of the places designated for substantive questions, as you can see by reading the posts.

So, I looked at what you've posted on the other boards, and the only question you've asked is a classic, "Give me your trade secrets so I can take your work away from you without doing any research," question. I know you didn't mean it that way, but that's how it looks to other people. Note that phone shops can often be done from anywhere in the country.

>So where can I get more info on routes?
The boards. If you have a more specific question, and you should, by now, why not ask it?

>If I'm willing to put 80-120 hours of shopping in a week. What can I expect to make?
Depends on what you're shopping, what part of the country you're working from, how good your reputation is with the companies you're shopping for, and a whole bunch of other things.

>What are the most desired type of shop?
Ask ten people and you'll get ten answers. Or possibly, eleven answers. However, I'd say that phone shops are one of the least desired, except for people who find it difficult to leave their homes, for one reason or another. Personally, my most desired type would be something highly bonused, in my home town, with neither extensive narratives nor split-second timing. Unfortunately, I haven't found one of those, yet.

>Which shops typically pay most?
It's got to be the kinds I haven't done yet. Actually, probably the heavily bonused ones,

@#$%& doesn't begin to describe how demanding and downright arrogant this has become. Yes there have been some who ask for the best companies or the a shortcut here and there. Never in my time on this forum have I seen someone who expects every question and every bit of information wrapped up in a neat little bow and handed to them on a silver platter. Perhaps spending more time reading the responses and a little less in writing a novella would do you some good because somewhere in all of this you must have missed the part where someone told you none of us get paid a dime for our participation and help.

Despite the fact that you started by being arrogant and have finished by insulting us and the owner of the forum, since you do not want to wade through pages of free information I will gladly give you this advice. There are a number of books about mystery shopping. Some are quite good and informative and many were written by both current and former mystery shoppers. Naturally, you will have to purchase them. If you have more money than time they are your best alternative.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @#$%& doesn't begin to describe how
> demanding and downright arrogant this has become.
> Yes there have been some who ask for the best
> companies or the a shortcut here and there. Never
> in my time on this forum have I seen someone who
> expects every question and every bit of
> information wrapped up in a neat little bow and
> handed to them on a silver platter. Perhaps
> spending more time reading the responses and a
> little less in writing a novella would do you some
> good because somewhere in all of this you must
> have missed the part where someone told you none
> of us get paid a dime for our participation and
> help.
>
> Despite the fact that you started by being
> arrogant and have finished by insulting us and the
> owner of the forum, since you do not want to wade
> through pages of free information I will gladly
> give you this advice. There are a number of books
> about mystery shopping. Some are quite good and
> informative and many were written by both current
> and former mystery shoppers. Naturally, you will
> have to purchase them. If you have more money than
> time they are your best alternative.


I'm going to remain professional and not resort to name calling. You are cancer to forums and helping people learn. Your attitude is ridiculous.

You keep making this comment that no one pays you to post. Great who said they did? Want the name of a few websites that will? Never mind I don't think you'd qualify. Have to have something to talk about!

I find your comments in this thread very hypocritical. Your first post said how you won't read my post. Then you complain because I wanted to reduce my reading. Every now and then I find your type on a forum. Who thinks everything should be your way.

I never asked your opinion. Not you personally. I posted an introduction, in which I explained in pretty good detail how I'd like to proceed with mystery shopping. In my first post I said "I'm going to do things a little different".

"I can see Flash post a lot of great info. The problem I have is I suck at using search. So I'm going to do this a little different. Can you guys give me a few links or suggest what to search exactly to find out what I want?"

So I came for help. Said I was a noob and HAVE BEEN READING THE FORUM. I said I suck with the search. Implying that I have tried to search. That I tried searching for a lot of different things and were unsuccessful. So I asked if someone could provide a few links or suggest exact words I should try to search. Because I needed help.

And this is the help you give people. I'd like to take this time now to inform you of something very important. After this comment I never wish to communicate with you again. I see no benefit in associating with you. I asked for help and you refused to give it. Instead you berate me.

What did I do that was so wrong? I'm overly confident ? Maybe you should try it sometime. Wanna know who else has pretty big egos ? Oprah, Flloyd Mayweather, Richard Sherman, Bill Gates, Muhammad Ali, Brad Pitt, Steve Jobs.. Every other person who is the best at anything. These are the people I take advice from. I'm not given some magical talent, unless you include work ethic as a talent. I work for everything. Judging from your poor misjudgment and lack of reading comprehension I doubt you've ever been the best at anything. So I doubt anything you may have to say will be hard to learn without you. Apparently I can learn everything you know by reading the forums. You aren't interested in thought provoking conversation or discussions of new and better ways.

Now anyways. This is my introduction. MINEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. I can say whatever I want as long as I'm respectful and follow the rules.

So as I said. I read and read and read as much as I could for 5 days. I finally made an account because I felt 5 days and the hour or so I spent researching were sufficient. That maybe I could INTRODUCE people to my plan and what I'm trying to do and seek advice from others who. And this is the big part you need to get through your head. SEEK ADVICE FROM OTHERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN MY INTRODUCTION AND WANTED TO HELP.

This comment is mostly directed towards this ladystl person.

Some of you have provided help. And I thank you so much. I hope you're members of other forums and maybe we will cross paths and discuss some of these topics there.

I did do more search's and founds tons of info on other sources. I'll now relocate !! I look forward to working with any and everyone. If ANYONE but LADYSTL needs help with anything or has any questions please feel free to PM me.

I WOULD LOVE to provide links to helpful info on some of these subjects. I'm not lazy like some people.

Oh and Lady here's some advice. Spend less time on forums. The moment a "Long" post causes you to flip out like a teenage girl with her first miracle of nature. Maybe that's the time you should step away. There's so many post here. You don't have to read them all. No one pays you to do this. So you're not obligated at all. And you didn't help me at all. So I would of appreciated it if you never posted in the thread IIIIIIII created in the first place.

Ishmael Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here's one trick to using the search function. A
> lot of times I'll search and not get anything,
> before I remember to go down to the bottom of the
> page and change the time searched from the default
> time, the last month, to something more broader,
> like the last year, or ever.
>
> >I understand the issues and I really thought the
> questions I asked wouldn't be too hard to answer
> and >would easily proceed to a thought provoking
> conversation.
>
> Here's one thing you did completely wrong. You
> asked in the wrong place. This board, 'Member
> Introductions', isn't one of the places designated
> for substantive questions, as you can see by
> reading the posts.
>
> So, I looked at what you've posted on the other
> boards, and the only question you've asked is a
> classic, "Give me your trade secrets so I can take
> your work away from you without doing any
> research," question. I know you didn't mean it
> that way, but that's how it looks to other people.
> Note that phone shops can often be done from
> anywhere in the country.
>
> >So where can I get more info on routes?
> The boards. If you have a more specific question,
> and you should, by now, why not ask it?
>
> >If I'm willing to put 80-120 hours of shopping in
> a week. What can I expect to make?
> Depends on what you're shopping, what part of the
> country you're working from, how good your
> reputation is with the companies you're shopping
> for, and a whole bunch of other things.
>
> >What are the most desired type of shop?
> Ask ten people and you'll get ten answers. Or
> possibly, eleven answers. However, I'd say that
> phone shops are one of the least desired, except
> for people who find it difficult to leave their
> homes, for one reason or another. Personally, my
> most desired type would be something highly
> bonused, in my home town, with neither extensive
> narratives nor split-second timing. Unfortunately,
> I haven't found one of those, yet.
>
> >Which shops typically pay most?
> It's got to be the kinds I haven't done yet.
> Actually, probably the heavily bonused ones,


Did anyone pay you to type this ? I wish more people like you posted! I'll provide initial thoughts after reading your post. After I'll try to give you a few tips that have helped me.

I know I've said it a few times about being on other forums. Well what I'm use to is when large forums with hundreds of thousands of post. They usually try to consolidate most of the topics. Or provide a FAQ. Kind of like the first 11 post that I was told to read. Which I did and would recommend to any shoppers to read. I've booked marked to re-read.

Anyways usually someone would consolidate everything about "Routes". Or some members may write how to do routes effectively into 1 thread. When I did my search I was mostly looking for this. Searching Routes turned up many threads. Most of which would appear in topics that weren't originally created for such discussion. Therefore a 20 reply post may have 2-3 about routes. So I'm left to read through a bunch of threads I don't care about reading at the moment. As I'm researching Routes.

Usually I'm pretty good with search, just not on this site.

The next spot about it not being in the right place. My initial request was asking for links (So I can read) or specific search terms other users have found to be useful. Seems like this is an unreasonable request for some reason. I said I was going to do it different. I not only introduced myself, I introduced my initial thoughts after reading. At first I thought Member Introduction was a sub forum of New Mystery Shoppers. So sorry I confused "New Mystery Shoppers" being the place to post introductions for "New Mystery Shoppers". I should prolly be crucified for the confusion.

The I want to take your work stuff. I don't know how people came to that conclusion. Because I said I want to be the best? There is no "The Best". "The Best" is usually a group of people who sit at the top. It's more like a tax bracket and imagine all the oil/pharm/tv owners at the top. I just want to learn whatever it may be to be recognize as very valuable asset in this business.

What's so wrong with that? I'm not out to steal anyone's business. In fact I'm the complete opposite. I find I'm able to succeed more by not being greedy. If I were to be successful at this, I would take 3-4 shoppers with me. Front all of the fees and ask for a small % of profits back in return. So believe it or not. I return favors and I never ask anyone to do something for me I'm not willing to do in return for them.

I guess I was asking what would the most optimal plan would be. If I was ever successful I would come here and tell other's what I have learned. I like to travel I won't be in one place for very long. Unless it's Vegas, I'm taking Vegas over. I just want to have fun and make money doing it. If a scheduler says "Hey if you can come to Jersey I got 40 shops needing to be done". Great I'll get on all the other company's and figure out how to work around those 40. Then after work I spend a few days exploring and planning my next trip/shop. I was asking people who would never do this how they would if they had the desire or were able to. Most people here aren't willing to travel internationally to do shops for months straight. Does that make me the best? Well it may make me the one who makes the most money. But I put in the most hours that should be expected. I don't think being the Best and who makes the most money. I was just trying to share my idea's and get feedback from people who were WILLING and wanted to help. I only come across the way people choose to take me.

I'll reword the desired question. Are any shops consider "Prestigious" ? Is there a position or something a mystery shopper wish's they could do? Say a promotion or a certain job? I guess another way to put it would be supply/demand. Which type of shops are harder to come by? I kind of feel like a spy and I like that.

I see what you're saying about phone shops. But I was wanting to start with about 500-1000 and reinvest all of the profits/reimbursements to my shopping funds. It takes money to make money. If you spend 1000 and get 1400 back. That's a 40% ROI. That's really good. Most checking accounts don't clear 1%. So being able to do a 40% ROI is a great investment. I can say most people aren't looking at this the optimal way. I see all these people saying they are running a business. Then I see them complain.

There's a post asking about 5$ for a 12 minute shop. That's 5 shops an hour for 25$. Most 4 year degrees don't make 25$ an hour starting out. There's so much money to be made here. I mean this is advertising. This is business. If you think you can run a business without being educated in business finance. I'm not saying you need to go to college, I've never been. I'm just saying you have to learn it.

Let's say you find a shop. 5r + 5f. The shop takes 5 minutes. You have a route where you can do 20 of these shops a day. 365 days that's 3,000 a month. Now if you flake in say 500$ in phone calls, and you do 5 shops a day at 15r + 40 fee. You're making some serious money. If you can figure out how to get that 5r to be profit. You're rolling in money in 4-5 years if invested properly. I've looked up some key business/financial terms I draw blanks.

The only thing I've learned here is if people have successful business's with this. They aren't telling. I came to this forum from reading and doing search's. Telling me to do search's is like telling an author to write. I said I'm not looking for the usual responses. I think someone who wanted to help who read my post. Would know the questions I'm trying to ask. If I knew the question exactly I wouldn't of posted. Yet it seems like only a few took my post in the context in which it was presented.

She said I've insulted the owners and people of this forum. I don't know where I insulted anyone.

Ishop, you have to start shopping to be a shopper. You can research forever but that won't get you started. Pick a major company and do a shop for them. Analyze that shop and figure out how to do it more thoroughly and better. Refine your system until you have what works best for you. Reading your many detailed posts here, I believe you are much more interested in exploring, thinking, and writing than you are shopping. Fortunately, you can use those interests to become a fine shopper. You've done enough basic research on the depth of the water - time to jump in there and best of luck to you.

I agree this forum is not well organized, but its loose format makes it more intriguing. The forum is not intended to be a "how to" book. Most of us use it for two purposes: swapping tips and having fun. Perhaps a more organized forum would suit you better at this time, but I'll bet if you really get into shopping this one will be your "home" forum. It would be in your best interest not to write yourself off in the best shopping forum available.

Oprah, Floyd Mayweather, Richard Sherman, Bill Gates, Muhammad Ali, Brad Pitt, Steve Jobs, Ishop4u904
Who doesn't fit and why?

I never realized what the toggle button is for - thanks Walesmaven. It works great in blocking out arrogant, vindictive, egotistical, self-serving blowhards.

Bye, bye