@TravelGuru wrote:
I just learned something new today. I've been seeing emails pop up from a scheduler, about needing a shopper for a particular location. Someone signed up for it then flaked. So the urgent emails resumed with small bonuses. Because I would be in the area of one of the shops, I advised the scheduler that I could do it. There's only so much, "please help me", emails I can take. I was assigned the job and told if I needed to reschedule to a later date, that would be fine. I emailed the scheduler for some information. I got part of the answer to my question. I email the scheduler again, asking to push the date back 1 or 2 days and did not get a reply. I would have liked to take my son to a last minute Dr. appointment, but I did not hear back from the scheduler. It was also important (to me), to not be inducted into the Flake squad. So, I made other arrangements for someone else to take my son and I completed the job, as assigned. Today, I see that the same shop in a different town is twice the amount. Both of the, "please help me" shops were posted on the same day. The shop I did as a good samaritan had a smaller bonus. I guess it really pays to hold out. I feel like a sucker. If my emails were returned, I wouldn't feel so bad. I won't be in a hurry to help this scheduler anymore. Pushing the date back was more important to me then getting twice the pay. But the lack of consideration, that really bothers me.
@Canuck wrote:
An example: 80 mile return drive for 27.00
Can't do it.
I live in a remote area and have to drive many miles to get the shops done. I live in Texas with cotton fields surrounding me.
I ask for more money and usually get it to make it worthwhile, especially if I cannot route it with another shop or two. The shop has to get done and they pay me to get it done. Of course, if I'm in that area, I'll take it at regular fee. That's what I do.
@shopper8 wrote:
I have to laugh. Canuck you are so funny you make my day! CoffeeQueen you are runner up. Are you a New England shopper? I have so many shops in my area that I don't do, about 40 a day. I am picky, want the bonuses, and am reliable.
@BetteL wrote:
There were a lot of last minute shops, some of which are 20 to 100 miles away. The bonus offer was only $5, yes $5. Where do you get those $100 bonus?
@CoffeeQueen wrote:
I say no a lot. I decide on a price for an out of the way shop and I won't go for less. I get offered different bonuses but I just say "I'm going to have to decline, but thank you." More often than not they come around. And
if they don't I'm fine with that.
@Canuck wrote:
You wouldn't like it where I live. Very flat. Boring. Remote. Do not attempt to move here. You will be unhappy.
@CettiePosts wrote:
$350 was my bonus to take a 100 mile drive. I teamed that up with some other shops for 2 other companies and had a very nice day indeed.
@frank860 wrote:
I've never been offered a bonus of $350. I have SUGGESTED a bonus of that magnitude, for a shop that was a lot more than a 100 mile RT drive (with the intent of doing more shops while in that area). But they did not accept my offer. Driving costs are something few people consider. If you think your cost is the cost of gas, then you are fooling yourself. Why would the IRS pay you (is it $.58/mile now?) if the cost is less than that? Gas cost is down temporarily now. But if you think your vehicle goes 400 miles on a tank (assuming a generous 30 MPG, stop and go) and it costs you only $30 to fill it up, so that means $30/400 = $.075 per mile, then you don't know what you're talking about with regard to your REAL costs. If you buy a car for $20,000 and you keep it for 200,000 miles and sell it for say $2,000, then your cost for that vehicle alone is $20,000 purchase price-$2,000 sales price = $18,000. $18,000/200,000 miles = $.09/mile. You haven't done ANY repairs to it yet, or paid for insurance or registration fees. So just between gas and having enough left over to buy that new car when you need it, you are talking about $.165 per mile...and you are nowhere near the true cost, after considering tires, repairs, etc. Under the BEST SCENARIO, I figure it costs me about $.35/mile...and I drive a very efficient, 34 MPG vehicle on which I have the oil changed thru mystery shops and I do some of my own repairs. Anyone else who drives something with lower MPG or you never do your own repairs, well, then that is why the IRS compensates you at the rate that they do. So next time you have a route of 100 miles planned, be aware that your travel cost alone is AT LEAST $35...and likely MORE. So think again about running all over to catch that last $25 shop on the other side of the county...unless you had several more such shops set up along the way. Sure, I'll do a $5 shopper fee car wash...but only if I'm driving right by their driveway anyway on my way to somewhere else. Wish there were a way to better educate people on their true costs. Used to have a roommate who would think that the gas cost was his cost to get to/from a place. Until it comes time to buy $600 worth of new tires or you have a $500 repair bill...then where is the money you put aside (in addition to the gas that you thought was the only cost) so you can now buy those tires or fix that vehicle? Remember, AT LEAST $.25/mile, if you drive a beater car that you bought for a few thousand bucks, you do your own repairs (it's a reliable vehicle with few repairs) and it gets 35 MPG at currently low gas prices. MORE if any of those components do not apply to you.
@bgriffin wrote:
I skip his posts quite honestly.
@Sybil2 wrote:
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. Start writing in paragraphs. Your very long, one paragraph posts are hard to read. Do you write your reports in the same format?
Odd that you should say that about my reports, Sybil. I have had multiple reports commented on recently by multiple editors, who all said in their feedback to write all one paragraph, contrary to the way I had submitted it (in multiple paragraphs, which I agree with you would be the desired format). I just got used to doing it the way I have been forcing myself to do it. I would think they would be giving you the exact same feedback they are giving me.