LIJake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 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

I guess me and because I haven't achieved my goals. I guess if you aren't born with the goals you want to accomplish you should just "Give Up". I mean obviously I could never reach the likes of those people. They're just better people than me. Thanks for showing me the light.

Oh one question for you. If any of these people would of given up because a few people told them they couldn't do it, think they would of made it? Guess when you hear people say "Block out the haters" now you know what they mean. You're the type of people that should be blocked out.

Thank you for "Toggling" me. Whatever that means. Maybe someone should start a "How many toggles does ishop have".

You mentioned I was "Vindictive". Wrong - When have I tried revenge? I just responded to post. I thought that's what forums were for? People comment when they like to have a conversation or discussion about the topic. I must of missed something.

Self-Serving. LMFAO really? Who here doesn't self serve? Who here is 100% for others all the time and never cares about themself? Seems all the people telling me to "Search" and calling me names are self serving. They didn't want to take the time to help me. That's fine, however if the shoes were reverse I'd like to think I would have. But that's ok to each their own right? Unless you have very specific questions, aren't accustomed to the culture and format here, and you defend yourself against Negative Nancy's!

Egotistical - given to talking about oneself; vain; boastful; opinionated.

Well this is MY introduction. Sorry for talking about myself here. I guess this isn't the time or place to do that. So sorry.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
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> 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.


Thanks for the advice. I guess why I'm doing the research is this. I read it takes 3-6 months of solid shops of proving you will not flake and that you're an asset. Since I'm looking to travel and where go anywhere I was looking to see if anyone had any suggestions. As in I'd rather get that 3-6 month time card starting ASAP. While I think I would like to take jobs from every company or at least keep my options open. I was looking for the companies that are more route friendly and would seek out a shopper with my intentions.

I may sign up for example Market Force. In 6 months I've built my rep up and then I can't get routes nationally because they serve mostly only 1 region. I know they are one of the biggest but if I'm going to do routes consistently. I'll need more than just one company feeding me jobs. I know I'll have to search. I was more or less looking for route runners to tell me their favorite sites and the ones most willing to work with you.

While some may take the perspective of "Telling you this info only hurts me". It really doesn't because if you would have told me and next year I've found a company or 2 you may have over looked. I'd return the favor. Which would help you. I'm not going to be taking majority of your jobs. I may plan a route to your area and take some of your jobs once. But then I'll be moving on and unless there's strong reason I most likely won't return. And next if you're doing the job you're suppose to, I doubt they take a regular job from you and assign it to me. They use to tell me this in Poker when I started coaching. That I'm just helping the noobs get better. That boosted my bottom line exponentially. It's a strange concept, but when you help others usually that results in them wanting to help you.

So I know I'm ready to go and do shops. I'm looking into phone/cell phone shops at first. I've been in touch with a lady from the IMSC who called me and has been amazingly helpful. Has truly went out of her way. Did she owe me? No. She wanted to help me and I'm forever greatful.

So while I'm an entrepreneur and have other business's. I'm in the planning and research stage of starting this business. I'm looking to do this on a mass level. I'm sure I could go complete a shop. I just like to know my options and with mystery shopping there seems to be an overwhelming number of options.

A lot of people are complaining about what shops they prefer etc.. etc.. I just care about the money. It's all about the money. Pay me 5 million I'll go sleep in a pitch black room for 72 hours. No food water drink or anything. Will I like it? No I'll be miserable the entire time. But when I get out it'll be worth it. I guess I don't look at the shops and money I make by the hour. I look at it by the year.

Once you make this money and spend that time. That allows you to do things with the money. So if you add the return rates you expect to make off the profit of the first shops that don't pay well. Then at the end of the year add your total profit and divide the hours you'll be looking much better. I guarantee that.

If I were to go on and say how I see these same misconceptions in different forms of business everywhere. Which is true, which would help out almost any shopper tremendously. I would get a "You don't know what you're talking about" "This isn't any of the other business's you've been apart of"

So moral of the story. I wasn't planning on having the time to actually shop foolish time for 2-3 months. I'm trying to think of a viable business plan. And if you treat this like a business I can't stress how important it is to have one. Necessary ? Not at all.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/2014 03:55PM by Ishop4you904.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
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> 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.


I'm not even complaining or suggesting they should change the forums layout. I may have provided some tips on how new users would better learn. That's an opinion and I'm ok with people not agreeing with me. Someone built this forum therefore they have the rights to do whatever they want with it. The members are what drives a community, and as long as the core group is happy then what else matters? I was mostly just trying to point out why I was personally having trouble so if someone was in a good giving mood wouldn't mind helping me. Was I expecting someone to help? No, I was asking for someone too.

I use multiple forums. Even if I left I'd still read here because yes there are some members here who have been extremely helpful. Only a hand full has put me down and berated me but that's ok. I'm use to the controversial discussions. That's not what I was searching for, but I don't mind it. I was just trying to learn and couldn't find the info I was looking for in the search bar.

So I was looking to swap tips, I figured i'd disclose my business plan. So other similar thinking people would offer me some tips and I'd return. I was expecting a person or 2 to answer a question or so. Not for every person to answer every question. I just have a ton of questions. Which answers usually lead to more questions. Which I was hoping another route shopper was interested in discussing. I know a lot of question's I'll ask most people won't be able to answer.

I'm intentionally trying to do this a different way than told here. Because if I do it exactly how people suggest I can only expect to achieve what they achieve. Which is great there seems to be a lot of very successful shoppers here. It's just I'm trying to use the benefits of shopping to help other business ventures. If I become a shopper and a forums members berate me like some have done here, I just read. Then I go to the forum I participate in and I make positive contributions.

Thanks for all your help. I'll be starting to shop very soon. I'm getting a house line installed and setting up a more traditional office. I'm so OCD with organization that's why I plan so much. I do enjoy the thinking part, planning. It's fun to me and it's like a chess match. Except I don't have opponents. But if I do write myself off, I'll still be lurking . But now I know what toggle is I will stick around and toggle the haters!

If you were going to mix me up with another member who posted to "your" thread, I am certainly glad it was Austin Mom. That is the only explanation for your assertions about my other comments since the only other one from me was wishing you well. Now I will happily say farewell.

Hi...I'm clueless about this forum. Stumbled upon it by accident. Looks interesting though. Just getting started with mystery shopping...two months now but having a great time!! I will just be reading posts until I figure this out.

Welcome to the forum, babs2348. Let me suggest you start with the New Mystery Shoppers section of the forum, then progress to the Mystery Shopping Discussion and then on to the Mystery Shopping Company discussions. I think it will make more sense that way.

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> If you were going to mix me up with another member
> who posted to "your" thread, I am certainly glad
> it was Austin Mom. That is the only explanation
> for your assertions about my other comments since
> the only other one from me was wishing you well.
> Now I will happily say farewell.


Opps, I did make a mistake and I'm sorry to AustinMom. She offered great advice. I guess the point I would make would be that some people don't enjoy reading thousands of post to find answers to specific quesions. I also figured since my situation was a bit different maybe there would be some altercations some members may suggest to help me. I'll figure it out one way or another.

Ishop4you904 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
..........
>
> Opps, I did make a mistake and I'm sorry to
> AustinMom. She offered great advice. I guess the
> point I would make would be that some people don't
> enjoy reading thousands of post to find answers to
> specific quesions. I also figured since my
> situation was a bit different maybe there would be
> some altercations some members may suggest to help
> me. I'll figure it out one way or another.

I'd say that as most of us saw it, you didn't have specific questions. You had vague, over-arching questions. I would suggest that you come up with specific questions and ask them in the appropriate forum--probably Mystery Shopping Discussion, or, if you're curious about a specific company, Mystery Shopping Company Discussion.

By the way, the word 'altercations', above, might be viewed as a Freudian slip.

As a career coach in my office once said, "If three people tell you you're an ass, buy a saddle."

Love that post. That says it all.

Bayberry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a career coach in my office once said, "If
> three people tell you you're an ass, buy a
> saddle."



Bwa-hahahahaha!!!!! I'm going to have to remember that.

I don't have the time to read the OP's long-winded and redundant posts. I am too busy grabbing all the phone, apartments, new cars, new homes, hotels, condos, timeshares, airline, car rentals, rural routes, city routes and international routes so I can beat the OP at being the busiest and best shopper in the world. And I am not stopping there. I want to be the best shopper in the universe. But I bet the OP will be the first shopper to shop Uranus.

Bayberry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a career coach in my office once said, "If
> three people tell you you're an ass, buy a
> saddle."


Lol a Career Coach? I should apply for that job. I don't mind being an Ass. I mean that's just an opinion anyways. Much rather be an Ass than Ignorant !

I've done my first few shops, ALL 10s. YAY me. This is way too easy. I can't believe half the @#$%& I read on here. All the negativity and all the strong opinions. How wrong they are!

So funny how I'm being criticized for wanting to be the best. In all reality I just wanted to know what the best do so I would understand how professionals make money in this industry. I really do wonder how many of you would have the guts to say this in person. I mean it's so easy to make fun of people online.

This is high school all over again. There's 10-15 "Cool Kids'. Whenever someone disagrees with them it's Mean Girls forum edition. Should all be ashamed of yourself. Especially this shop2liveinFL. How sheltered were you as a child?

Here's a quote for you guys. "If you think you Can, you can. If you think you can't, you can't." You all have huge life flaws. You all care way too much how many people put a "like" by your comment. You try way too hard. I think it's time for you to start over.

If any of you ever WANT anything and CANT because of money. I'm the guy you should PM because I have learned how to work for anything I want in the world. How many of you can say that? I have an ability to be able to accomplish any goal I set my mind to. I feel sorry for you shop2liveinFL. You will never be nothing more than average. Sad really.

[readwrite.com]

It sounds like you are on track and on your way. Good luck and best wishes.

bgriffin Wrote:
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> [readwrite.com]
> ields/shutterstock_troll_0.jpg


I'm confused. Can you troll your own thread? Forum noobs I swear you guys are so cute. Using terms you aren't even sure what they mean. Unless you meant how all the people telling me to use the forum to search were trolling then yes you are correct! Good job email betty crocker for your cookie. If we wanna play a game of flame wars we can. I'll prolly win I usually do.

Also about your quote. Yes I learn from my failures and that's a huge reason why I'm able to be successful!

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It sounds like you are on track and on your way.
> Good luck and best wishes.

Thanks. Still need answers to most of the questions I asked here. But I'm learning as I go. I do appreciate all the people who actually tried to help. And hope the trolls enjoyed a little of their own medicine.

I came on here to look up a company that sent me either a scam email or has a terrible web creator. Do these companies know they can get someone to build a professional site for as little as 5-10$ ? I feel like the reason why majority of people fail in life is because of what happened here.

They think they have it all figured out. That once something works until it breaks why fix it? Then guys like me do succeed and are able to go further than the average person. Because nothing is ever good enough and we're always looking for ways to make more or do better.

If people only knew the secret was work ethic/innovation. Oh well more for people like me!

You're coming on pretty strong, Ishop, but now that you have all the answers you're all set to go. Watch out on having all the answers though, guidelines change without notice. You caught some flack at first but if you want this forum to work for you and you're interested in mentoring others, it would be good if you backed off a little and decided to get along. If you want to scrap, you'll find plenty of accommodators here but the best thing to do about people who irritate you is click on Toggle User Visibility under our names and like magic, away we go.

To get the best out of this forum, you have to have fun and fit in. If you continue to show up every time swinging a hammer at somebody, pretty soon you'll be all toggled out. We're all trying to make a little money here and we don't have time to fight with you or anyone else. Hope you do well and if you have any particular questions, please ask. Hope to still see you around in a few months, but not likely to happen. You sound unhappy and stressed out, and the unhappy and stressed out usually fade away. Hope you can stick with it. Let's see what you're really made of two or three years from now. Looking forward to it.

There is certainly one thing the OP cannot boast about being the best at, judging anyone else.

I have found it utterly fascinating that rather than be judged on the pages and pages of posts on this forum, many of us are being unjustly accused simply because we do not repeat it all again in a format most suited to the OP. Not a day goes by that I do not have a good experience here, whether it is enjoying the jocularity (some of which is incredibly clever) or learning something new from both veteran and newbie shoppers. There is a long list of veteran shoppers who have offered the kind of advice only available by purchasing a book. In addition to posts on the open forum, many have taken the time to mentor new shoppers via private message, emails and even personal meetings. At least one shopper attempted to start a mystery shopping blog and virtually every story and every piece of advice was taken directly from these pages. She certainly thought the information on these pages had value and did her best to turn it into monetary value for herself.

I am quoting Flash because she summed it all nicely. "Being a mystery shopper does require a fair amount of patience as well as resourcefulness and if you have neither you are pretty much doomed before you start."

And I hit send way too soon, forgetting to address two comments.

"I've done my first few shops, ALL 10s. YAY me. This is way too easy." People have different strengths and weaknesses. This kind of a comment is denigrating some who may have found the learning curve a bit steeper than you.

"I really do wonder how many of you would have the guts to say this in person." I can't speak for anyone else, but I would have no compunction about saying the exact same things as here and probably more.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And I hit send way too soon, forgetting to address
> two comments.
>
> "I've done my first few shops, ALL 10s. YAY me.
> This is way too easy." People have different
> strengths and weaknesses. This kind of a comment
> is denigrating some who may have found the
> learning curve a bit steeper than you.
>
> "I really do wonder how many of you would have the
> guts to say this in person." I can't speak for
> anyone else, but I would have no compunction about
> saying the exact same things as here and probably
> more.


Well good for you. It would be an interesting conversation I don't think it would go how you in-vision.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There is certainly one thing the OP cannot boast
> about being the best at, judging anyone else.
>
> I have found it utterly fascinating that rather
> than be judged on the pages and pages of posts on
> this forum, many of us are being unjustly accused
> simply because we do not repeat it all again in a
> format most suited to the OP. Not a day goes by
> that I do not have a good experience here, whether
> it is enjoying the jocularity (some of which is
> incredibly clever) or learning something new from
> both veteran and newbie shoppers. There is a long
> list of veteran shoppers who have offered the kind
> of advice only available by purchasing a book. In
> addition to posts on the open forum, many have
> taken the time to mentor new shoppers via private
> message, emails and even personal meetings. At
> least one shopper attempted to start a mystery
> shopping blog and virtually every story and every
> piece of advice was taken directly from these
> pages. She certainly thought the information on
> these pages had value and did her best to turn it
> into monetary value for herself.
>
> I am quoting Flash because she summed it all
> nicely. "Being a mystery shopper does require a
> fair amount of patience as well as resourcefulness
> and if you have neither you are pretty much doomed
> before you start."


I'm only judging what I see here in this thread and the few I've seen. And I'm not judging everyone just the ones who are judging me.

Ishop4you904 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> This is high school all over again. There's 10-15
> "Cool Kids'. Whenever someone disagrees with them
> it's Mean Girls forum edition. Should all be
> ashamed of yourself. Especially this
> shop2liveinFL. How sheltered were you as a child?
>
> If any of you ever WANT anything and CANT because
> of money. I'm the guy you should PM because I have
> learned how to work for anything I want in the
> world. How many of you can say that? I have an
> ability to be able to accomplish any goal I set my
> mind to. I feel sorry for you shop2liveinFL. You
> will never be nothing more than average. Sad
> really.


Really? Is THAT the best you got? Weak. Really weak.

Holy crap. What did I just read??

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You're coming on pretty strong, Ishop, but now
> that you have all the answers you're all set to
> go. Watch out on having all the answers though,
> guidelines change without notice. You caught some
> flack at first but if you want this forum to work
> for you and you're interested in mentoring others,
> it would be good if you backed off a little and
> decided to get along. If you want to scrap,
> you'll find plenty of accommodators here but the
> best thing to do about people who irritate you is
> click on Toggle User Visibility under our names
> and like magic, away we go.
>
> To get the best out of this forum, you have to
> have fun and fit in. If you continue to show up
> every time swinging a hammer at somebody, pretty
> soon you'll be all toggled out. We're all trying
> to make a little money here and we don't have time
> to fight with you or anyone else. Hope you do
> well and if you have any particular questions,
> please ask. Hope to still see you around in a few
> months, but not likely to happen. You sound
> unhappy and stressed out, and the unhappy and
> stressed out usually fade away. Hope you can
> stick with it. Let's see what you're really made
> of two or three years from now. Looking forward
> to it.


I get what you're saying. I'm not really concerned with a lot of the points you make. Like people togging me out. I came on here to search for a company and seen where a few people made some rude comments and wanted to throw stones. As long as they can take it then it'll be ok. Or they will toggle me off and I won. As far as 2-3 years, I don't want to be shopping for awhile. I may do it here and there, but for the most part I'm just wanting to do it for a little over year. Then I should be ready to move on to something else.

I must have misunderstood you. I thought you said you were planning on making substantial money doing this and you were going to figure out how to be the very best shopper and then you were going to share with others what you learned.

You won't be able to surpass the current leaders in only one year. Won't work. No way. You might get going and do pretty well in one year, but you won't be anything special. It takes longer and that's the truth. Also, learning how to do it does not equate to being able to teach or mentor how to do it. That's another skill. If you only have a year for this, you got here too late and you'll be leaving too soon for it to work out the way you expect.

Google all you want, blog all you want, post all you want. None of that substitutes for getting out there in the field and getting the experience. That's where, as the tire company said, the rubber meets the road.

Hoju Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Holy crap. What did I just read??


And how the hell did shop2 get singled out? I think (s)he only posted once?

@ StormCloud ~ Thanks for noticing. I guess I have a knack for making my point and quickly moving on. Really, who has time for this BS? May 1st is here. Time for another very busy month for me and time for me to conquer the universe.

Too bad I already conquered it this morning and you can't have it!

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I must have misunderstood you. I thought you said
> you were planning on making substantial money
> doing this and you were going to figure out how to
> be the very best shopper and then you were going
> to share with others what you learned.
>
> You won't be able to surpass the current leaders
> in only one year. Won't work. No way. You might
> get going and do pretty well in one year, but you
> won't be anything special. It takes longer and
> that's the truth. Also, learning how to do it
> does not equate to being able to teach or mentor
> how to do it. That's another skill. If you only
> have a year for this, you got here too late and
> you'll be leaving too soon for it to work out the
> way you expect.
>
> Google all you want, blog all you want, post all
> you want. None of that substitutes for getting
> out there in the field and getting the experience.
> That's where, as the tire company said, the
> rubber meets the road.


I wanted to know what it took to be the best. I was trying to describe the mentality I have to defer the answers I had already read on the forum, that many people serial post. I think I said I plan for Mystery Shopping to be the 1st part of my plan that will make substantial money. I may have said I could make tons of money from Mystery shopping. I didn't mean doing the usual, whatever that is. A year is a long time.

You seem to know what the best shoppers do? I'm very curious because I'm not sure how it could be done much better than what I think I'm looking for. Given that it will take time to research and crunch numbers to make what I'd like to make. How many of you have a cash back credit card? With great credit you can get more than 6%.

Some people actually make money taking advantage of flight rewards. Where they pay 500$ for a flight and get enough points for a 900$ flight/reward. If you took this strategy and booked hotel/other shops in the city you're going to as well as airport shops. You could most likely negotiate the shops you want wherever you're going. Just by telling them you're flying and need it to help cover the cost of the shops they need. If you target rural area's with lots of shops but seem to be on the board. This would take a crazy amount of research to target exactly where to go. You also have to do "Extreme Couponin" you should be able to do very well. Do internet surveys phone calls and such in your spare time. You could make 6 figures here.