Your Area Competition
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I got to know a male shopper through the forum and we met in person at the IMSC in Chicago a few years ago. Because of the forum I also know or know of six others within my metro area and a seventh about 40 minutes west of here. Whether we are all actually competitors is another story. From what I know we don't tend to do the same types of shops.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
When I did the Ardent training I met a few of my local shopping competition. There were 6 of us, 4 men and another woman and myself. The other woman and I exchanged email addresses and have since become very good friends. Fortunately for us, we are not in competition with one another. She lives in the city 15 miles from me and she likes retail/mall type shops. I do the opposite and we kind of stay away from each other's "territory." And we help each other in spotting shops that one of us would like.
Oddly enough, we both ended up hating the Ardent reports. We each did a couple, decided it was not worth the time and energy and have not done any since. I developed such an aversion to the reports that I don't even eat at their restaurants. We did agree that the best thing that came out of the training was our friendship.
Oddly enough, we both ended up hating the Ardent reports. We each did a couple, decided it was not worth the time and energy and have not done any since. I developed such an aversion to the reports that I don't even eat at their restaurants. We did agree that the best thing that came out of the training was our friendship.
I don't know anyone who mystery shops but I saw a couple when I was doing the theatre checks and two young girls who were in my group when I did an overall open checking. I never saw them again. I am not too concerned about my competition because I am very choosy with what shops I do.
I've actually had two mystery shoppers over for dinner when they've been passing through my area. It was quite an enjoyable experience.
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Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
LIsa, I was wondering about this the other day. Thanks for the information!
LisaSTL Wrote:
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> I got to know a male shopper through the forum and
> we met in person at the IMSC in Chicago a few
> years ago. Because of the forum I also know or
> know of six others within my metro area and a
> seventh about 40 minutes west of here. Whether we
> are all actually competitors is another story.
> From what I know we don't tend to do the same
> types of shops.
LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I got to know a male shopper through the forum and
> we met in person at the IMSC in Chicago a few
> years ago. Because of the forum I also know or
> know of six others within my metro area and a
> seventh about 40 minutes west of here. Whether we
> are all actually competitors is another story.
> From what I know we don't tend to do the same
> types of shops.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
Whether we are competitors or how many shoppers are in the area?
I thought this was just about potential competition. I actually know quite a few shoppers outside my area. Three different video shoppers have been through here in just the last six months. One visit was so brief we could only meet up at Starbuck's, another was able to come to the house for dinner and the third stayed with me for a few days.
I thought this was just about potential competition. I actually know quite a few shoppers outside my area. Three different video shoppers have been through here in just the last six months. One visit was so brief we could only meet up at Starbuck's, another was able to come to the house for dinner and the third stayed with me for a few days.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Both, I guess.
I figure even though we live in the same area we're not really competition. I'm just paying my dues, but you have relationships with the MSCs. I understand that any jobs we both try to get will go your way because of it.
LisaSTL Wrote:
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> Whether we are competitors or how many shoppers
> are in the area?
>
> I thought this was just about potential
> competition. I actually know quite a few shoppers
> outside my area. Three different video shoppers
> have been through here in just the last six
> months. One visit was so brief we could only meet
> up at Starbuck's, another was able to come to the
> house for dinner and the third stayed with me for
> a few days.
I figure even though we live in the same area we're not really competition. I'm just paying my dues, but you have relationships with the MSCs. I understand that any jobs we both try to get will go your way because of it.
LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Whether we are competitors or how many shoppers
> are in the area?
>
> I thought this was just about potential
> competition. I actually know quite a few shoppers
> outside my area. Three different video shoppers
> have been through here in just the last six
> months. One visit was so brief we could only meet
> up at Starbuck's, another was able to come to the
> house for dinner and the third stayed with me for
> a few days.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
Video shoppers tend to see other video shoppers as brothers and sisters, rather than as competitors! (Yes, we have proof on the forum that there is at least one exception to this rule.) I know a bunch of video shoppers, in person, and many more from online visits.
I have met only one other non-video shopper who is in my locale and we have such different tastes that we really do not compete. And, when her partner is not available, I get to play guest on her high end lunch shops! Oh, almost forgot; I got one of my housemates started doing shops but, again, we do not compete.
I have met only one other non-video shopper who is in my locale and we have such different tastes that we really do not compete. And, when her partner is not available, I get to play guest on her high end lunch shops! Oh, almost forgot; I got one of my housemates started doing shops but, again, we do not compete.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Honestly, I doubt we even apply for the same shops most of the time and if there is a little crossover we always have rotation
A good example is your post on the PJ's thread
My response was to Kathy. My buddy wales jumped in between!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2014 10:18PM by LisaSTL.
A good example is your post on the PJ's thread
My response was to Kathy. My buddy wales jumped in between!
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2014 10:18PM by LisaSTL.
I don't know if I consider the people in my area "competition". I do wish I could meet them and chat about best practices. I treat it like someone else in my professional industry...yes they be at my dream company, but I don't think they are necessarily my competition.
I wouldn't mind meeting a few competitors and seeing if we did the same shops. The conversation might get interesting after that.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
I was a little miffed when a new shopper came in and started scooping up my jobs. I have one that you have to live in my zip code and they would take it the first day it was available. Before that I got that job every month because they didn't have another shopper. RATS! I noticed other jobs in my part of town are always taken before I see them on the websites. It's a battle in my area to get shops. When I have to "apply" for shops I often don't get them, it is frustrating but I have a lot of competition.
I know I have some competition in my area. Heck, I'm relatively new, so in actuality I'm probably the newcomer competition to them. I've had one private message from somebody in my hometown, but haven't followed up to see what companies they do.
ok just kidding that status made me get a little miffed because TWICE this month I have gotten a email announcing a shop I have been wanting for a few months...4 hours later I see the email and the shop is gone...BOOO! Go away shopper who has taken that shop...I know you are a flaker!
Due to an email snafu (and my curiosity) I discovered two very young, very talented and incredibly beautiful ladies who work in my area. One is a high end marketing executive and one is a popular blogger. Of course both work for a certain hospitality company that we all know... I'm surprised to get any work at all with these two in my exact area.
mysteryshoppinggurl Wrote:
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> ok just kidding that status made me get a little
> miffed because TWICE this month I have gotten a
> email announcing a shop I have been wanting for a
> few months...4 hours later I see the email and the
> shop is gone...BOOO! Go away shopper who has taken
> that shop...I know you are a flaker!
I actually like the flakes. They're the main reason those last-minute shops come back on the board at high bonuses!
-------------------------------------------------------
> ok just kidding that status made me get a little
> miffed because TWICE this month I have gotten a
> email announcing a shop I have been wanting for a
> few months...4 hours later I see the email and the
> shop is gone...BOOO! Go away shopper who has taken
> that shop...I know you are a flaker!
I actually like the flakes. They're the main reason those last-minute shops come back on the board at high bonuses!
I would love to meet some other shoppers in person just to chat like we do here.
On the other hand I am sometimes miffed when shops disappear from my "home town"
I missed my haircut because it disappeared. It's an instant assign one, so I left it on the board until I was assigened to substitute teach there. (I live 50 km out in the countryside and sometimes substitute teach in towns in completely the other direction)
Someone took it! I paid for a haircut and then the mystery shopping company phoned me as the shopper had canceled. But my hair is way to short for another haircut two days later.
My husband used to do a couple of shops every month because they would extend their rotation until another shopper had done those shops. So he is the only shopper I have ever met.
On the other hand I am sometimes miffed when shops disappear from my "home town"
I missed my haircut because it disappeared. It's an instant assign one, so I left it on the board until I was assigened to substitute teach there. (I live 50 km out in the countryside and sometimes substitute teach in towns in completely the other direction)
Someone took it! I paid for a haircut and then the mystery shopping company phoned me as the shopper had canceled. But my hair is way to short for another haircut two days later.
My husband used to do a couple of shops every month because they would extend their rotation until another shopper had done those shops. So he is the only shopper I have ever met.
I have noticed that even the shops with a 60 day rotation are scooped up before I can blink. If I wait more than 10 minutes (which is the time it takes to check my records for rotation) large quantities of shops are GONE. This tells me I have at least two other shoppers in my immediate area or I have shoppers who are not following rotation rules. There is a certain superstore that is listed with 6-8 shops at a pop, and there are 3 locations within 15 miles. These are ALL snapped up, sometimes before I even get the e-mail (I have received an e-mail and clicked through immediately and shops were gone). This is not sour grapes, because everyone has to eat. I just wonder if they are following the rules, or if there is some inside track that I am missing.
Being in a major metro area, I'm sure there are many, many shoppers around me. In fact, there's an often-shopped location near me that I will occasionally visit when I'm not on assignment. About half the time, there'll be someone in there who seems to be following the shop guidelines exactly. Sure, it could be that the instructions were well-written to make us blend in with typical customers, but I always wonder.
The only shoppers I know in person are the small handful of friends that are mystery shopping because I introduced them to it. They're all in different geographic areas, but that's coincidental, not any strategy on my part.
Actually, based on some of walesmaven's posts here and location in signature line, I figure we probably have some overlap. That said, I'm a part-time, low-volume, non-video shopper who rarely travels outside the area for shops, so if we're ever really in competition, I'm sure it's rare occasion.
The only shoppers I know in person are the small handful of friends that are mystery shopping because I introduced them to it. They're all in different geographic areas, but that's coincidental, not any strategy on my part.
Actually, based on some of walesmaven's posts here and location in signature line, I figure we probably have some overlap. That said, I'm a part-time, low-volume, non-video shopper who rarely travels outside the area for shops, so if we're ever really in competition, I'm sure it's rare occasion.
There's some competition in my area; however, I feel I can easily obtain my rotational shops every month and get my fair share of movies, drinks and meals.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
I suspect my area has a high amount of shoppers. Shops get picked up pretty quickly here, yet a few cities 45 minutes away always have jobs on the board. The summer wasn't as competitive, so I'm guessing there may be a lot of university students who picked up shopping when classes started back up in September. Being a relatively new shopper, I'm still trying out every type of shop until I discover my niche, so everybody is my competition at this point.
I don't complain too much though, because I've likely taken a slice of the pie that the other shoppers in the area previously enjoyed.
I would be interested in finding some of the other shoppers here, though. It's fun to compare stories.
I don't complain too much though, because I've likely taken a slice of the pie that the other shoppers in the area previously enjoyed.
I would be interested in finding some of the other shoppers here, though. It's fun to compare stories.
I worked really hard to create a competitor--my sister, who lives about 20 minutes from me. She worries that she might be taking shops from me, and I remind her about rotation. Also, she loves bank shops and hates gas station audits, and, me, I'm the opposite. She's three months into this, and I've just finished my first year, so we're both new as can be.
I was doing a BestBuy exit interview, and when I got to the part where I say that I am not a Best Buy employee, etc., etc., the customer said, "I know just what you are! I signed up for that company, but I haven't gotten any work yet!"
I think that someone has moved into my area who likes pizza. I haven't been getting the bonus offers lately. That's just as well, I shouldn't have been eating it, anyway.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2014 04:42PM by Ishmael.
I was doing a BestBuy exit interview, and when I got to the part where I say that I am not a Best Buy employee, etc., etc., the customer said, "I know just what you are! I signed up for that company, but I haven't gotten any work yet!"
I think that someone has moved into my area who likes pizza. I haven't been getting the bonus offers lately. That's just as well, I shouldn't have been eating it, anyway.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/2014 04:42PM by Ishmael.
Cubbiecat and I live in the same town, but do different shops. She does all of the 7-day all inclusive Jamaican resort assignments; I do all of the all-inclusive FF and 5 Guys shops.
(heart)
(heart)
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
I don't know anyone in my area, but there is a new person. There is a Sonic shop 36 miles from me that I got paid $40 to do, usually three times a month. Super easy drive, bumped up my check each month. Somebody else has started picking them up. I got a call last week to do it for $25, I said no, I have been paid $40 for over a year. They said they couldn't bonus higher yet.
Hopefully whoever is doing them lives closer, or they are losing out! Not that big of a deal, I only shop 2-3 days a month now. I would be interested in talking to someone in my area, though.
Hopefully whoever is doing them lives closer, or they are losing out! Not that big of a deal, I only shop 2-3 days a month now. I would be interested in talking to someone in my area, though.
8 million stories in the naked city I can't be the only story pretending to launder money
There is no real competition if you widen your shopping radius and stay on the move.
Good question. I've only met "competition" when doing theater audits.
I know there are other Shoppers in Toronto but I try to be quicker than them and also shop other areas most people won't go. I'd love to meet a local shopper and have a warm drink
Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond
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I live in Phoenix, Arizona, a metro area of four million plus people, and I don't get all the shops I apply for. Far from it. I suspect I have a great deal of completion as just this past Sunday I received emails from two MSCs urgently seeking shoppers for shops with nice bonuses attached to them - and they went lightning fast. All I can do is check the boards regularly, do the best work I can, and hope for the best.
Anyone living in Phoenix or thereabouts though - I'm not your competition for high end restaurant or hotel shops, nor will I do auto shops. And I rarely will do or apply for targeted shops. And I'm passing on assisted living facility shops, too. I also have been willing to show my face in some dicey areas on the West Side when I thought it was worth my while to do a given shop and have gotten some nice bonuses for being willing to show my face on the West Side - doesn't seem like I have much competition there nor do I worry about posting this here about my West Side shops as most people are not going to venture over into this area.
Anyone living in Phoenix or thereabouts though - I'm not your competition for high end restaurant or hotel shops, nor will I do auto shops. And I rarely will do or apply for targeted shops. And I'm passing on assisted living facility shops, too. I also have been willing to show my face in some dicey areas on the West Side when I thought it was worth my while to do a given shop and have gotten some nice bonuses for being willing to show my face on the West Side - doesn't seem like I have much competition there nor do I worry about posting this here about my West Side shops as most people are not going to venture over into this area.
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