This is my first post, Hi everyone. I live in the outer part of Houston as well and we are so inundated with shoppers it is next to impossible to get gigs anymore. Even shops paying five bucks are snatched up as soon as they are posted. Gas has went up so fast and so high that it is impossible to do most shops I see posted. I use to take two pizza shops in the same area. I would let one pay the fuel and then the other pay my fee. The same two shops came up recently but when I put them in my calculater the fuel cost was 9.78 to get there and back so the total pay would be 22 cents. Have to take two pictures download, upload and then two pages of report. No I didn't take them. I need to make money not give them money.

Mary Smith: Nobody put a loaded gun to your head, to take any shop.

If it's too cheap, pass it.

If you want it, accept it.

If it's too low and you want it, negotiate for a bigger fee.

It's just that easy!

The mere suggestion that we do this for anything other than the money is just ludicrous. When you apply for a "real job", I'm fairly certain the person who interviews you knows you are looking for a job to MAKE MONEY, not for any other reason.

Canuck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I got a phone call the other day to do a 5 guys
> and I asked for $40 fee and got it. I didn't think
> they would pay that, but they did. I guess I'm
> lucky I'm in the boonies where there aren't that
> many shoppers. I can't imagine what it's like to
> be in a big city with a ton of competition,
> especially shoppers that take the low fees.


I would LOVE to be paid $40 bucks to eat 5 Guys!

The scheduler needed it done and there you were...Great!

Some people really need to learn what sarcasm is. I'm not going to call people out but when I titled this thread I was referring to how mystery shopping companies treat their shoppers. We all have standards and some companies are really trying to bank on that.

After being paid $40 last month for gas station shops that are age restricted and out in the middle of no where they won't go over $24 even though these shops are from last month. I asked for $30 and got turned down so guess we will see who wins the showdown in the end. I was warned that CORI/STERI won't be paying as much but damn.

Thankfully, the "scam" letter's that are being sent in emails are being noticed by nearly everyone. The TV just did another report on them so the audience was aware of the so-called mystery shopping scams.

My point being, with all of that bad publicity, people who do not know about the business are turning blind eye's and closed ears because they don't want to be involved, which is good for us. My friend who knew I was doing the shops, she fell for the scam, they got her for over three grand. Do not even mention the words mystery shops to her.

I am curious how the company's get their new shoppers if not by referral?

I also no longer do referrals; when someone asks me what I do, I just tell them that I'm retired and work odd/end's jobs. That satisfy's their minds.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2014 10:47PM by CotePony.

By the same technology that scammers have raped the shoppers financially with fake scams, that same technology warns us about the scammers... via computer, social media and word of mouth.

I was referring to some people as "money grubbers," because that seems to be their biggest motivation for working as a shopper. During the application process, how many companies would actually hire them on if they knew their main objective was money.

During a one-on-one employment interview, how many people actually sit there and say, "Well, my reason for working here is money." We have no choice than to learn to give the correct and positive answers to the interviewer, lest we are seen as a bad fit for the position, and our resume goes into the trash.

Of course I work for money, but I also have to see the administrative side of the situation. I have also recently seen shoppers hired in this part of the country to cover shops.

Again, since I have been doing this type of work for the past five years, it is very common to hear the money grubbers griping about new shoppers taking the low paying shops and edging them out of money. I am not a troll, d.a.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2014 10:01PM by Mary Smith xoxoxo.

Money is my biggest motivation for doing *anything*. Why wouldn't it be? Money is how we all live. Would I work if there was no need for money? For myself, like to maintain my family and pets and home and property, yes. For someone else's benefit? No! Why would I? Who in their right mind would?

And those new shoppers taking the low-paying jobs are hurting themselves as well as everyone else. And while I *hope* I'm the one who gets the job once the pay gets raised, if I'm not, I realize and accept it's a competition ~ sometimes I win, sometime someone else does. But at least whoever got it, got it at a better rate.

And jobs in other geographical regions don't affect me directly in the here-and-now, but may affect me in the future. If a majority take the dirt cheap jobs nationwide, it will eventually cause a drop in pay nationwide. If people hold out for a fair exchange of money vs. time/effort, then eventually there will be a rise in pay nationwide.

If the MSC has to raise the pay for a particular job frequently, just to get someone to take it; eventually the base pay will be raised. At least that's the theory and what should happen based on the supply-and-demand thing.

And as for the job interview comparison, it falls flat as MSing is *not* a traditional job.

So you go ahead and keep working for... whatever it is you work for, I'll keep working for money ~ and as much of it as I possibly can ~ so I can continue living.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2014 10:08PM by Stormcloud.

Angie, Sheri, HELLO FROM THE GALLERIA. (Actually, I'm moving soon, but I'll still be in the city.) If we're all here we should just quietly pact together to not take these shops until prices go up.

I live in Los Angeles, were the market is wide, traffic is a $$$ and time burner, and competition is tough. Jobs go fast. It's a tough economy, people live for coupons any thing for free including samples at Costco. Business are taking advantage of the hungry, not a job if your hungry but maybe to help supplement especially for those with kids or fun money. Funny my Gardner from Mexico and his wife who cleans houses make more than most Americans, they are smart. I do find productive scheduling a help. If I am in one town I try to do a few within the area. Jack n the box is not a option for 5.00 time is money that to much time.

I had a route in Jersey that the MSC cut 7 jobs from and $200 from the route. I let someone else take it. They did not finish it so I picked up the pieces. I only had to do a third of the work and they paid me $350 in bonuses.

You would think they would learn and let those of us who know how to do this do our thing...

I will keep fixing the screw ups and demanding more money for it. They gave paid me $100 bonuses several times to clean up odd shops.

$100 for a hooker? In my neck of the woods the local jiggle joint can make you happy for $20. Overhearing a few things while doing the adult store shop can really educate a person.

We have this place along the freeway, just north of here, that is actually *CALLED* 'Jiggles'. They've got a big sign so everyone can see it from the freeway. It's made me laugh ever since I was a little kid.. before I even *really* understood what it meant!

Where's the MS Cartel when you need it???!!!

BTW, with respect to the title of this thread, sometimes I feel like a cheap @#$%&...but then I just save up to buy an expensive one!
(Just kidding, of course!)