Each shopper has their favorite target market due to personal circumstance. There is no right and no wrong. This is one of the wonderful things about mystery shopping and being an independent contractor. And just because a shopper takes the dining shops, it does not mean they are not serious about the job at hand. I take each shop seriously and professionally because I know that while I might not need to make a living shopping, somebody on the other end of the telephone or internet may need the job.
I started shopping in 2011 just to do something different. Admittedly I do not shop for a living. I prefer fine dining, hotel shops and high-end retail if there is a re-imbursement for purchases. If my expenses are covered, I am good. Of course since my husband and I run a business (totally unrelated to shopping), we have an accountant and do write off all our business expenses. Shopping helps reduce our taxable income and we enjoy ourselves on someone else’s dime. If there are additional costs because we want two desserts or desserts and appetizers it is still a cost of doing business and tax deductable. How is that bad?
So, bottom line, as long as the MSC covers most of the cost and still offer shops where I want to eat, sleep or shop, I will keep doing it. I will almost never ask for a bonus but I do ask to be pre-assigned! I will continue to delete the offers of IKEA shops no matter how high the bonus gets, so someone else can have it. I will not step into a McDonalds if I have to go by myself and then go through the drive thru as well. And no, I will not ask a bunch of questions in a grocery store so someone else will pay for a half pound of cheese and a gallon of milk. I might do a series of telephone shops if the inquiry is about something I find interesting and I will negotiate a deal on a new car, if I am in the market for one again. For the sake of full disclosure, I will be looking for another new car in about two years so those shops will have to wait.
In summary, please do not bad mouth other shoppers just because they do not have the same circumstances you have. Do not continue to think other shoppers are stupid because they do not fall in line with your way of looking at shops. Just thank the shop gods that they are different and you can have a job or hobby, whichever suits your circumstance. Also understand that free enterprise is just that! And you are free to go find something else to do.