I have addressed this topic previously. Yes, fees have gone down in many cases. How do we raise them? Stop performing underpaid shops. There are shoppers out there who really believe that performing a job that lies somewhere along their route and only pays $4 or $5 is really worth their time. Unless it is a SUPER SIMPLE shop with a five minute, no narrative report (is there such a report??), then there is NO WAY you are paying yourself fairly. Unless the service received is significant, my bare minimum is $10. I have a saying, "If the fee is a single digit, I'm probably not interested." Of course, in cases where there might be a $150 dinner involved and if the fee were to be $5, I'm probably ok with that. But there are banking shops that used to be $15 and now they are $9.50 (there are others that used to be in the teens and now they are finding people to do them for $5 and $7--really?). Nope...I will not do that...not when you consider that they want you to wait up to ONE HOUR for a banker to help you (YES, I've waited 30 minutes, 45 minutes and once was about to leave at the one hour mark). Most times it was much faster, but for $9.50 (and now I have to fill out a report afterward?), no, I'm not doing that. Haven't done those shops in more than a year now, though they keep calling me, asking if I will do some. Naysayers beware...the more of these that you accept (thinking, "Well, it's another five bucks in my pocket."
, the more fees will go DOWN. Soon, you may be saying, "Well, that's another FOUR bucks (or THREE bucks) in my pocket." Yet, your rent, electric and cable bills will continue to climb. Slow down the demand, hold your ground, and soon there will be no choice but to raise fees. The easier you cave in and "@#$%& yourself out" for a pittance (sorry if that offends anyone), the longer you will see lower fees. Stop working for minimum wage (or less, for those of you who know this because you actually know how to calculate the value of your time). Either the shops will remain undone, or they will have no choice but to offer bonuses and higher regular pay in order to get them done. It's all about the bottom line. MSC's have to make money, too. If they can get you to do the job for $5, why offer you $6? If I were them, I would keep the extra buck in my pocket, too.