@LisaSTL wrote:

I'm inclined to agree with mistry. But then again, I abhor mystery shopping and never have found it fun. It's a means to an end, nothing more. As soon as I come up with another viable business idea I'll be waving goodbye to this one in my rear view mirror.

Me too! I haven't been doing this for very long, but can already see so many aspects that have the potential to create more harm than good. I don't completely hate it, but am finding that There's a pretty short list of what types of shops I'm willing to do.

Some of what is required of us is borderline illegal, and then in order to do the shops, "we" have already agreed to assume all liabilities. For me, it turned up after MONTHS of searching online for some sort of income.

I do find values in it, because I am going into businesses that I might not necessarily have visited, and find it valuable for consumer research. My back is toast, and for the most part, it doesn't hurt my back, and there is a certain amount of wiggle room, time wise.

Scoring the occasional highly bonused shop is nice, but by and large, I see it as a dirty business.

All of the above and working my own schedule and the pay help. BONUSES GREAT.

I enjoyed mystery shopping, am grateful such as a thing exist. Sure the pay low, than add up the aggravation from a 8 to 5 job, still complaining. I wish i knew about it when I was much younger.

I love the flexibility of not punching a time clock, and not wearing a uniform (big, bulky, black sweatshirt) five days a week. YaY! I just quit my full time job, that I hated, to do this full time. I have been doing this for one year. It probably take's me at least twice as long as most people to do a report because I type so slow, but I enjoy it anyway. To me this is freedom to do what I want, when I want.

I am grateful that this wacky business exists and is a way for me to make money while traveling about and scoping out places. Sometimes it feels like a "job" when I'm doing a repeat assignment or one I don't care for, but mostly I feel like it's an adventure that I get paid for. I do love doing this.

@mistry wrote:

I don't think we should be grateful. We're independent contractors doing a job. I'm more inclined to be concerned at how low the pay is.

If you're still shopping the pay can't be that low. Anything we choose to do with our lives, we should be grateful for. Not everyone has a choice.
I'm grateful I am not on the other side of the counter, having to kiss the a**** of rude customers or ask people if they want fries with that.

Easy Money, flexibility, mostly fun aspects, except for long narratives...

Freedom of choice, what jobs to take or not...
No boss over me, no co-workers to deal with...
I can take as much breaks and finish my reports in pajamas....

It helps me with my transition phase right now...
I thank God for this LEGITIMATE job, on line.... easier than freelance writing or blogging, or selling on ebay or amazon

I am grateful that I am my own boss when choosing what I want to do and who to deal with. I am ever so grateful that I have not become so jaded to view everything or everyone as competition, YET. I hope it never comes!

I am grateful that I am able to move on and get out of territories which have become too crowded thanks to the thousand and one MSCs who allow me to choose a variety of shops and expand my wings. I am grateful that I am enjoying the adventures of mystery shopping and it has not gotten to my veins for me to consider it as just a job. I am grateful for the challenging shops which have allowed me to improve my organization, my tolerance, my concentration, my memory and to paraphrase the Serenity Prayer: to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can. I am still seeking the wisdom...

I am grateful in the Mystery Shopping World for saving my sanity during a very trying period.

And as @N-TownShopper, I am grateful that I am not the target of your shop.

I'm grateful that if something comes up...I know how I can make the extra cash.

I am grateful that I can do mystery shopping, outside of my full time job, to pay for my granddaughter's braces!

I'm grateful for bonused shops. Maybe I can do more bonused shops next month than I have before... cha-ching!

Hi,

The freedom mostly. Also all this information collection as I do multiple types of phone shops. To see different sales methods used by various companies and types of industries (I have various sales experience), terms behind everyday transactions (banking, car sales, home improvement, elderly related services...on and on), and dealing with multiple types of people throughout the country.

Another aspect, especially when you think of the low pay, all the nice juicy expenses that can legitimately be written off for home office and car expenses. The only requirement is the planning (also needed is home office & car). I do not make much but my lifestyle has improved and my skills are being maintained.

I'm grateful for the fact that whenever I travel or relocate I don't have to worry about finding a job. All I have to do is change my profile for my new location and BOOM! There are all those jobs just waiting for me to scoop them up.

I'm grateful savak seems to have found their way back to the forum after such a long absence

I like the fact I can do whatever I want, when I want, decide I will never do this one or that one, ever again, etc. And know that I do not have to depend on anyone but me. Trust my employer, me. And taking my dogs with me out of town.

@LisaSTL wrote:

I'm grateful savak seems to have found their way back to the forum after such a long absence

I was ill and offline for a couple of years. Still having a transporttion problem so I am seeking out those shops I can do from my phone. I fully plan to get back in there. I can't stand this sitting around doing nothing. lol.

I am grateful that I am able to supplement my income and keep a roof over my head- seriously. I feel I fund much of my life mystery shopping. Plus, I may not be rich, but I am certainly living a richer life! I get to do fun things with my family- dinners out, movies, and luxurious hotel stays. I've furnished my home with some beautiful things, and haven't had much of a grocery bill in years. Yes, I wish I could have all these things without having to do some of the dreaded reporting and getting names of employees, tracking down absentee managers, things not going smoothly etc... I will forever be grateful for this industry, and plan on shopping even when I'm old to live better during my golden years.

Today I am grateful because I was able to get my carpets cleaned because of mystery shopping. We are putting our house on the market next week and I was going to get the carpets cleaned anyway, doing it via mystery shopping saved me $160.

Also, I was able to schedule a dinner shop on my anniversary at one of the finest restaurants in the city. Call me crazy but I will take it.

I really like this thread. I recently discovered mystery shopping, and I love it. I'm grateful to a certain forum member that helped and mentored me and got me pointed in the right direction. I'm grateful for schedulers who call me and offer me good bonuses to jump in the car and go, because that is my favorite part. I'm grateful that they see me as a "go to" shopper even after such a short time. I'm grateful for gas stations that need to be audited. I'm grateful for the long drives that give me a chance to think and to rediscover the world around me, to see it in a different way each time. I'm grateful for the blues because I get to rediscover them on every drive. I'm grateful for the small towns and the wacky people, the smiles, and the stray cats I carry cat food in my trunk for.

But mostly I'm grateful for the coffee that helps me get through the reports.

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

I really like this thread. I recently discovered mystery shopping, and I love it. I'm grateful to a certain forum member that helped and mentored me and got me pointed in the right direction. I'm grateful for schedulers who call me and offer me good bonuses to jump in the car and go, because that is my favorite part. I'm grateful that they see me as a "go to" shopper even after such a short time. I'm grateful for gas stations that need to be audited. I'm grateful for the long drives that give me a chance to think and to rediscover the world around me, to see it in a different way each time. I'm grateful for the blues because I get to rediscover them on every drive. I'm grateful for the small towns and the wacky people, the smiles, and the stray cats I carry cat food in my trunk for.

But mostly I'm grateful for the coffee that helps me get through the reports.

Just wanted to say that given that I am a cat person I very much respect you for having cat food in your trunk to feed strays with. The thought of that really makes me smile.

Ditto about the cat food and the COFFEE. People I know always ask if I really work at Starbucks because I always have their signature venti cups in my hand. I carry dog food, too, and extra leashes in my trunk.

Enhanced lifestyle it is for me and my family. I love the food perks and extra's that I exchange for a report. Yesterday, I picked up a Chipotle and bakery job at the last minute. DH was coming home late, older kids had obligations and would not be home. Me and my baby girl had dinner and dessert and enjoyed some quality time together. Did the quick and easy report for the dessert shop last night. Started Chipotle during my commute into work and finished it during my lunch hour. I feel great and am loving life. Just recently, we've gotten clothing, beauty items/cosmetics, frozen yogurt, a $300+ jacket, toys for our adorable 2 year twin old grand-niece and nephew and chocolate. I would love to do more but won't commit as I work full time. I pass on the $15 bank shops most of the time and $12 and under retail no reimbursement shops. I'm not into it for the money although I do take $$$ paying jobs here and there if I feel like it. Performing a cell phone shop for $8-12 is not my cup of tea. I understand that everyone does this for a different reason. It's funny how people don't understand that. It's all good. It's a great balance. I just have to be careful not to overbook. Enjoy everyone!

Why am I grateful for mystery shopping?

Good question.....

Lets see...for one, its a great way to score a free meal every now and again (and to discover restaurants I never knew existed!) I did a shop tonight for a chain of vegan restaurants (that I do every couple of months) that I would have never tried had it not been been for mystery shopping. That and the fact I can go out and enjoy a "free lunch" every so often.

Its a great way to learn about bigger ticket items. I have done shops for the big box retail stores that sell electronics and even appliances. By doing these shops I've been able to be a more informed customer and know what to look for when I might be in the market.

Its also a great way to get a little extra spending money. I have a full time job so to be able to go out and "shop" and earn extra money here and there is a nice little bonus. Although I've been shopping for a number of years, I haven't done many while on vacation....hope to change that later this year if I go out and get either a notebook or laptop I can take on the road.

Speaking of my job, mystery shopping is a natural extension of what I do at work...I work in Customer Service for a book distributor, so I deal with all kinds of people...buyers, professors, authors, and paying customers on a daily basis. I can take what I know about Customer Service and apply it to the mystery shopping jobs that I perform to see if folks are doing their job.

@Phoebe70 wrote:

I'm grateful for the opportunities that allow me to try new restaurants, stores, etc. Before mystery shopping I'd never been to Five Guys, Curritos, Final Cut (a fancy steakhouse in my area), Pandora, Lego Store, Aveda, etc. When we went on vacation I was able to score a bunch of Ripley's shops (aquarium, hall of mirrors, moving movie theater, etc) and we had a blast.

How are the Ripley reports? Do the observations distract from the fun at all?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2015 02:47AM by quiettime.

I'm actually grateful for the really incredible relationships that I have with MSC owners and schedulers, as well as for other shoppers that I've met all across the country over the last three years. I have fully appreciated the new friendships that I've forged while in this business, including that of the remarkable hospitality that has been given to me as guests within their homes. And plus, there are some shoppers on this forum that I've met that can really cook a meal, which goes a long way whenever traveling.

Even more, I'm grateful for the fact in experiencing new shopping genres with products and services that I've always dreamed about experiencing. Its been a very fun and remarkable experience thus far in the mystery shopping world, and I can't wait to see what is next.

With regard to stray animals: A mystery shopper's story.

Last spring, whilst was driving hubby's old SUV on a route in the rural part of Illinois, I noticed two large Labrador Retrevior type dogs running down the county highway. With a farm very nearby, I made the assumption that they were part of that farm and continued on.

However, as I passed them, I saw a leash being dragged by one, and as I watched in my mirror, an auto coming from the opposite direction narrowly missed hitting one of them. The larger of the two, sat down in the middle of the road and the other one came over to him.

That's it! I thought, I have to go back!

I turned my SUV around and returned. By this time, they had run further down the road. When I did catch up to them, I stopped and opened the rear door. They both hopped in, without a moment's hesitation.

Once again, I turned around and headed toward the nearest farm, thinking they had wandered away. One of them jumped over the rear seat, licked me on my neck, its drool running down my back. That is when I noticed a collar and a tag. Stopping again, I looked at the tag. It had a telephone number! I called the number on my mobile and a man answered.

Quickly I described what happened. He was on his mobile as well, searching for the escapees. They had been missing for hours he said.

We agreed to meet at an intersection, where they could be reunited.

All ended well. The two dogs howled, almost crying with relief and joy upon their master's arrival. He told me he lived in the little town a few miles away and that the pair escaped when his young daughter attempted to walk them.

I wore a silly grin the rest of the day.

I am so glad to read about people like you that do so much good in our world. Good for you for taking the time to get the dogs back to their owner.

Grateful for the opportunity to be able to be paid for work I can schedule around my life. Grateful for the friends I've made doing this. Grateful for the opportunity to 'act.'

Now, my gratitude about the Forum and kind posters. I am grateful that in the wee hours of the morning when I cannot sleep, or in the midst of my report, the Forum is alive. There is someone online to ask advice or chat with about almost anything in the mystery shopping world.

Most of the time, we know what we are talking about because we had been there. And if we have not been there, we know we are in the same independent contractor (mystery shopping) boat. We may not have had exactly the same experiences, or even be in the same continent; we are able to learn from each other, no matter how we refuse to admit it.

I wish I could meet some mystery shoppers as I have not had the opportunity to actually, personally know one or know one in my vicinity or consider anyone competition. Maybe in person, there is no reason to 'toggle.' You never know.

I am grateful for mystery shopping because it gives me the option not to do anything at all or be as busy as a bee.

Thank you!