$5 travel expense for 144 miles!!!!
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What I do is calculate the actual cost of gas for my car (12.5 cents per gallon) and make sure that I account for that. I then figure how many total hours the shops will consume. So say it's 2 hours of driving plus 2 hours onsite/reporting, for 4 total hours. I usually want to make at least $20/hour.
So for this job, I'd need $18 to cover gas plus $80 ($20/hour), for a total of $98. I would ask for a $39 bonus for each shop, on top of the $10 fee. If they counter offer, I'd deduct the $18 and then divide by 4 to arrive at the "hourly rate." If it's too low, I won't accept. So a counter offer of $20 bonus per shop would equal out to $10.5/hour.
So for this job, I'd need $18 to cover gas plus $80 ($20/hour), for a total of $98. I would ask for a $39 bonus for each shop, on top of the $10 fee. If they counter offer, I'd deduct the $18 and then divide by 4 to arrive at the "hourly rate." If it's too low, I won't accept. So a counter offer of $20 bonus per shop would equal out to $10.5/hour.
I would ask the bonus the others calculated, tell them how it comes per shop, but that they must accept all shops as a package. You do not want to be stuck with a counteroffer/acceptance for only one.
Thanks Tlt14, that gives me an idea to work with, I'm still fairly new although I have done a ton of shops since August, I never really knew how to figure them I just have been throwing something out there and if they accept okay and if not okay lol. For instance one shop pays me $40 plus food reimbursement to go 37 miles, (one way). Most of the time the others have worked out to be the cost of one way miles. (ex. $25.00 for a shop 25 miles away). I never really tried to work it out by gas and hourly rate. And figuring like you do, this shop would pay $5.00 an hour!! NO way.
I just don't want to get a reputation for being too pricey or demanding but I also don't want to be working for nothing.
I just don't want to get a reputation for being too pricey or demanding but I also don't want to be working for nothing.
Two and a half hours driving at $12.50 per hour = $31.25.
177 miles on my car at 35 cents per mile = 61.95
$93.00 bonus. Firm. Thank you for calling me, and I'll need an answer in the next twenty minutes.
177 miles on my car at 35 cents per mile = 61.95
$93.00 bonus. Firm. Thank you for calling me, and I'll need an answer in the next twenty minutes.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Thanks MDavisnowell, I like that too! Unfortunately they "can't" give a higher bonus on these shops, maybe in the future if I am traveling that way or have some other shops in that area they can award them to me! (that was their response to me). So "unfortunately" they can find someone else :-). I'm "a little dumb, not a lot of dumb"!!
Good for you. That $30 offer was incredibly exploitative. What's sad is that someone will probably do it, spend most of a day on it, and lose money. Meanwhile, the MSP is yukking it up they've found another sucker. Congratulations on taking a hard look at it. While I like to maintain good relations with MSPs, let's all remember they're in business to make money and so are we.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Depends on your situation.. How much gas does it take to fill your tank? How far can your car go before having to fill up again? MSCs do not pay by hour as shoppers are not hourly employees... I personally would ask for $90 plus the shop fee.
Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond
Thanks all, I really appreciate the input, you have all given me excellent methods to work with. The gas thing is an issue because I drive a Suburban! Not the most efficient but its what I had when I started and it's paid for so unless I make a mint doing these I will keep it. I get about 18 miles to the gallon, sometimes less, sometimes more. I basically was charging .50 cents per mile and nothing for my time, etc. it was just easier to figure that way. Now I have some new ways to figure.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
There are some costs associated with a vehicle that don't have anything to do with my mystery shopping. Insurance, tag fees, inspection fees, and age related depreciation are fixed if I own a car and are not affected by how much I drive it. Gasoline, oil changes I have to pay for (sometimes), tires (ouch!), depreciation attributed to mileage and general maintenance such as tune ups and parts replacements are affected by the mileage I drive to shop. In 2014 I have so far spent $800 in repairs and $551 in tires. I want part of that back, so I don't figure my bonus request on gas only. Gas for my car will range from ten cents to fifteen cents per mile depending on the price of gas and the type of driving I'm doing. The remainder of the thirty five cents a mile is for maintenance, tire replacement, and depreciation attributed to mileage driven while shopping which is more than 90% of my driving. If I weren't shopping the car I'm driving would last me the rest of my life. If I continue driving to shop, I'll have to replace it. I'm keeping that in mind when I decide how much money I want to drive.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
I'm going to be a contrarian, here. Their attitude is not necessarily exploitive.
How many people here would think twice about asking for full value gas/mileage/time to a place that you were going to visit anyway?
I thought so. That being the case, there's nothing wrong with the company offering a ridiculously small bonus, just in the hopes that they'll catch someone either driving over to see Aunt Evelyn, or having gotten a superlative bonus from SOMSC (Some Other Mystery Shopping Company) to go to the place.
How many people here would think twice about asking for full value gas/mileage/time to a place that you were going to visit anyway?
I thought so. That being the case, there's nothing wrong with the company offering a ridiculously small bonus, just in the hopes that they'll catch someone either driving over to see Aunt Evelyn, or having gotten a superlative bonus from SOMSC (Some Other Mystery Shopping Company) to go to the place.
You're right, Ishmael, if they're just throwing that out there on the job board to see if someone will pick it up. But, if they're calling a shopper not headed that direction and expecting them to make a dedicated trip for $30.00 total for two shops and 177 miles, then you're wrong. In any case, it's up to the shopper to take care of himself/herself.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Well, if they expected the shopper to make a dedicated trip, then they would be very, very wrong. For that matter, if they phoned the shopper with an adequate bonus, and expected the shopper to make the trip, they'd be very, very wrong, unless there was some sort of a relationship beyond the usual independant contractor one.
And that's the point. They contacted me wanting to know if I wanted the closest shop. When they contacted me that shop was only paying $10.00. I emailed her back and said that I could not do that shop for $10.00 because it was 70 miles round trip and there just aren't many shops in that small town. I said if you can get them to bonus it adequate to make the 70 mile round trip I "might" consider doing it. The next thing I know I get an email this morning that said. "Congratulations I have assigned you two Apple shops and gotten you a gas bonus of $5.00 for both. Then I see the two shops and one is the original shop and the second was 39 miles on past that. She had gone ahead and assigned them to me without coming back and checking with me. Granted when I wrote her back and told her that I still could not do it for that price because I couldn't pick up any shops from any other company in those remote places, she was quick to remove them from my assigned board.
Wow! She had better have been nice about it! Scheduler FAIL!
@Tawana1956,
instead of telling them that when they can get the bonus to an acceptable level then you can talk, it is better to state how much you want and explain why you want that. Some of the schedulers have no clue about the geography, location, difficulty, filling certain area and bonus for them is $2. I get calls with $3 bonus and they reply in shock "but it is only 3 miles from your house according to the map" when I ask them for a $20 bonus. So I have to explain to them that 3 miles through rush hour traffic leaving the city since the shop needs to be done eg 6pm will require for 1 hour to be stuck in traffic. Yes I receive calls by the same scheduler the last day of the month and they assume I will still take it for that $20, but know the last day of the month the rate has gone to $35 and if there is snow $50. You bet next time they just assign the shop in the middle of the month with the $20 bonus.
instead of telling them that when they can get the bonus to an acceptable level then you can talk, it is better to state how much you want and explain why you want that. Some of the schedulers have no clue about the geography, location, difficulty, filling certain area and bonus for them is $2. I get calls with $3 bonus and they reply in shock "but it is only 3 miles from your house according to the map" when I ask them for a $20 bonus. So I have to explain to them that 3 miles through rush hour traffic leaving the city since the shop needs to be done eg 6pm will require for 1 hour to be stuck in traffic. Yes I receive calls by the same scheduler the last day of the month and they assume I will still take it for that $20, but know the last day of the month the rate has gone to $35 and if there is snow $50. You bet next time they just assign the shop in the middle of the month with the $20 bonus.
Thanks Kate, that is excellent advice and some I will follow from now on. I saw something about counter offering in some of the other replies so at least that would give them the opportunity to come back with another offer. Thanks again.
Don't spend all that $5 bucks in one place!
I ask for a minimum of $5 for every 30 miles. One of my grunt shops takes me past 2 heavily fortified prisons on back country roads, I up the money for those. Don't get me wrong, it is TX, so I drive by at least one prison per day on my normal routes. It's just that some look safer than others.
I definitely agree with Kate, tell the scheduler the total up front. My experience is the scheduler will come back with a counter offer. If the counter offer isn't worth it, just say no. If they can't get it done, they'll contact again.
Remember your vehicle will need maintenance. My car isn't a year old and I only have one free maintenance check/oil change/tire rotation left on its warranty. My tires are going to cost $800. My $5 isn't going to come close to paying for everything that will need to be done in January.
I'm learning how to stack shops. Luckily, my favorite scheduler has always wanted me to succeed so she has given me all kinds of excellent advice to make this a successful endeavor for me.
I definitely agree with Kate, tell the scheduler the total up front. My experience is the scheduler will come back with a counter offer. If the counter offer isn't worth it, just say no. If they can't get it done, they'll contact again.
Remember your vehicle will need maintenance. My car isn't a year old and I only have one free maintenance check/oil change/tire rotation left on its warranty. My tires are going to cost $800. My $5 isn't going to come close to paying for everything that will need to be done in January.
I'm learning how to stack shops. Luckily, my favorite scheduler has always wanted me to succeed so she has given me all kinds of excellent advice to make this a successful endeavor for me.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
I personally think that we should consider our gas.. The car you have you already have to pay insurance, maintenance, etc cause you have it already. It is something you would be responsible for even if you weren't mystery shopping. I think we should ask for what's fair and not bankrupt the MSC. Most MSCs go by cents per mileage/km, something to keep in mind. Like Kate said, tell them a number.
Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond
dixiewhiskey Wrote:
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> I personally think that we should consider our
> gas.. The car you have you already have to pay
> insurance, maintenance, etc cause you have it
> already. It is something you would be responsible
> for even if you weren't mystery shopping. I think
> we should ask for what's fair and not bankrupt the
> MSC. Most MSCs go by cents per mileage/km,
> something to keep in mind. Like Kate said, tell
> them a number.
Almost any company that pays you mileage takes into consideration wear and tear/maintenance of the vehicle in addition to the gas.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I personally think that we should consider our
> gas.. The car you have you already have to pay
> insurance, maintenance, etc cause you have it
> already. It is something you would be responsible
> for even if you weren't mystery shopping. I think
> we should ask for what's fair and not bankrupt the
> MSC. Most MSCs go by cents per mileage/km,
> something to keep in mind. Like Kate said, tell
> them a number.
Almost any company that pays you mileage takes into consideration wear and tear/maintenance of the vehicle in addition to the gas.
Not any MSC I deal with. I guess I see things differently because I play dual roles now. It seems ridiculous to consider anything but gas especially if one doesn't take care of their vehicle in the first place 
Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond
To me it seems ridiculous to ONLY consider gas. If I left my car in the garage that day instead of driving for that shop, I'd have extended the life of all my vehicle components by another day.
Tires aren't free. And if I stayed at home all day playing Farmville instead of mystery shopping they would last me a hundred years or so. Mystery shopping... not so much. I am a homebody, I'm not out running around unless I'm shopping. Also, I've always taken care of my vehicle. Always. The dealer has the record of everything it's ever had done to it. I don't know why anyone would assume that a mystery shopper isn't taking care of their vehicle. Can someone clear that up for me?
So yeah, a car is nothing but a bunch of moving parts, and the more they move the faster they wear out. That is just the fact. I ask for bonuses that take into account the wear and tear on my car, not just gas, and my time. If they don't want to pay, I'm just fine with sitting that one out and letting my car last a little longer. But usually they call me back near the end of the month and ask me to go ahead and do it.
So yeah, a car is nothing but a bunch of moving parts, and the more they move the faster they wear out. That is just the fact. I ask for bonuses that take into account the wear and tear on my car, not just gas, and my time. If they don't want to pay, I'm just fine with sitting that one out and letting my car last a little longer. But usually they call me back near the end of the month and ask me to go ahead and do it.
The MSC reps are just trying to find shoppers. They do not know where we work or where we might be traveling. They do not make assumptions.
I am not sure I see how this could be exploitive?
If offered a shop too far away or in a congested area I say such. The MSC usually moves on or makes a bonus offer.
As for travel costs I consider that all the time. But I haven't accepted shops outside of 25 miles.
I am not sure I see how this could be exploitive?
If offered a shop too far away or in a congested area I say such. The MSC usually moves on or makes a bonus offer.
As for travel costs I consider that all the time. But I haven't accepted shops outside of 25 miles.
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
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
I disagree that we should consider gasoline only and I'm going to tell you why I disagree with that position.
Insurance, tags, inspection fees, and age related depreciation are fixed expenses related to OWNERSHIP of a vehicle. Mileage related depreciation, maintenance, repairs, tires, and gasoline are variable expenses related to OPERATION of a vehicle. You will note I did not list gasoline first, the reason being it is not the major portion of the cost of operating a vehicle.
In addition to recognizing the burden of all variable costs related to operating the vehicle, it's important to grasp that the more the vehicle is driven the sooner it will have to be replaced. If the shopper recovers ONLY the cost of the gasoline related to operating the vehicle the shopper will lose money that should have been recovered on each and every job. Therefore, the more jobs the shopper does that require driving, the more total money the shopper will lose.
We have a little saying about that in the south. If that's your plan for hauling watermelons, you need a bigger truck.
Insurance, tags, inspection fees, and age related depreciation are fixed expenses related to OWNERSHIP of a vehicle. Mileage related depreciation, maintenance, repairs, tires, and gasoline are variable expenses related to OPERATION of a vehicle. You will note I did not list gasoline first, the reason being it is not the major portion of the cost of operating a vehicle.
In addition to recognizing the burden of all variable costs related to operating the vehicle, it's important to grasp that the more the vehicle is driven the sooner it will have to be replaced. If the shopper recovers ONLY the cost of the gasoline related to operating the vehicle the shopper will lose money that should have been recovered on each and every job. Therefore, the more jobs the shopper does that require driving, the more total money the shopper will lose.
We have a little saying about that in the south. If that's your plan for hauling watermelons, you need a bigger truck.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Okay, let's analyze this. They knew she had nothing else that direction. They offered her $10 extra to drive 144 miles to do two shops that paid $10 each, so they offered her less than seven cents a mile to cover her driving time and her vehicle expense. Does that sound fair? Okay, then, I need some yard work done and some outbuildings painted. My neighbors are hiring, too.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Time plus gas is what I do and I travel frequently for mystery shopping. Like up to 200 miles one way. Sometime I have to add in hotel costs. I mean I build routes so I make sure its worth it but what they offered op is an insult. Now heres a example of what I had recently msp calls me can you do shop that is 40 miles one way takes 80 minutes round trip plus 1 hour total time for shop. That is 2 hours 20 minutes times my rate of $20/ hr plus gas for me I do $6 rounded up. So time (46.67) plus gas ($6) equals $52.67. I ask for what I did shop for last time and end up at $60 bonus plus $12 shop fee after negotiation. Now if I had other shops in area I can come down a little. I try to maximize and only come down when I can and have to.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Buffalo, your method produces almost the same rate as my method. I figure 12.50 an hour to drive and thirty five cents a mile for the car. Driving at 2.333 hours is 29.16 and vehicle at thirty five cents a mile is 28.00, total of 57.16. Real close to your 60.00 bonus.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Thanks again everyone for the input. Here's a haha moment: a different scheduler emailed me offering me the same shop again .... for the $10.00 shop fee, ONLY. Without mentioning the MSC, I did notice that all 3 schedulers have a different country under their name so I'm thinking that is where they are maybe? If so it makes a little sense that they don't know how far we drive HOWEVER, it doesn't take a genius when you say, "it is 144 miles round trip in my car", to figure out $10 or $15 is not feasible. Or that's my thinking anyway, maybe I'm the dummy!
No matter how you figure it, you are either paying to do the job or giving them a freebie.
I can see from all the examples that I may been a little high, at least next time I will have a method.
Thanks again all,
No matter how you figure it, you are either paying to do the job or giving them a freebie.
I can see from all the examples that I may been a little high, at least next time I will have a method.
Thanks again all,
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