We are in an industry where the talent spectrum ranges from absolute incompetent and "one-off, do this on a lark" shoppers to full-time professional shoppers. Challenges with the industry include:
1) MSC never know where new shoppers fit on the spectrum until the first shop - or first few shops are complete
2) This industry requires a large pool of new talent every month due to rotation and turnover
3) Good paying shops are infrequent, making great shoppers choose their shops carefully & leaving the low paying shops to the newbies (See challenge #1)

So I see email requests for shops that initially annoyed me, but I have now learned to simply shrug off. You know the emails: where they give you a long list of demands and dumb instructions.



"I need you help getting these shops done. COMMUNICATION is very important.
IMPORTANT! New Rules:
1) The shopper MUST confirm receipt of their shop(s) ASAP. Until you confirm receipt, the shop(s) can be removed and reassigned to another shopper.
2) The shopper MUST Download, Print, and Read the guidelines of the shop(s)
3) The shopper MUST print out your REPORT and take it with you just leave it in the car or in your bag until you leave out of the location. Then fill out all of your answers on the printed REPORT copy, (while you are in the car) so when you get home a fill out the online report you can have all of your answers ready. The purpose of this is...we all do not have the best memory and we will forget some of the answers, so this can avoid your report being sent back to you for more details or answers by the reviewer.
4) The shopper MUST make sure you get all supporting documents to serve as your proof of visit i.e. Printed Quote, Business Card, and/or Receipt.
5) The shopper MUST save my contact information in their mobile cell phone. So if something comes up they can communicate effectively.
6) Shoppers MUST make sure the narrative (Overall Summary) on your report is unique to the visit if you are doing multiple shop(s) and use the Geo Verify App if possible, if the shop requires it.
7) The shopper MUST submit their shop(s) report on time. Example: If your shop(s) have a due date of 03/01/2016 the report MUST be submitted by 12 midnight your time on 03/01/2016, not the morning of 03/02/2016.
8) The shopper MUST call me if he/she has multiple questions or concerns.
9) The shopper MUST send me a text message once your shop(s) have been completed and report submitted online to XXX



You see, there are a lot of demands on this shop. A lot of MUST {in capital letters) and this is a shop where there is a purchase and return on a different day...all for $15
Long ago, I would get annoyed at these emails. I would think, "Do you believe we are stupid? That we aren't trustworthy?"

But now I realize that industry challenges I listed above are true. And thus the MSC must communicate for the very lowest denominator. They must protect themselves for when the lazy screw up the shop or flake, the boss asks, "Did you do everything you could to ensure the stupid shopper knew what to do?" the scheduler can say, "Yes. It's not my fault."

So I no longer complain about these emails. I know where I fit on the spectrum and if a shop interests me I ask for a bonus. I ask to be paid what I am worth. Not what the lowest common denominator is worth.

Unfortunately, the majority of MSC prefer to pay at the lowest common denominator rate regardless of our skill level.

If the shop is a lowest common denominator shop why should they pay more?

@bgriffin wrote:

If the shop is a lowest common denominator shop why should they pay more?

You and I know that there are cases when shoppers are awarded higher pay depending on multiple factors like your relationship with the scheduler / MSC, location, etc. While you pose a question on why the companies should pay more, the wise (and lucky) shopper can manage to squeeze out bonus pay, travel expense reimbursement, etc.

@miketfse wrote:

But now I realize that industry challenges I listed above are true. And thus the MSC must communicate for the very lowest denominator. They must protect themselves for when the lazy screw up the shop or flake, the boss asks, "Did you do everything you could to ensure the stupid shopper knew what to do?" the scheduler can say, "Yes. It's not my fault."

I honestly wish the MSCs would have a stricter screening process. Besides a basic writing sample, quizzes could possibly rule out some of the "pulse only" shoppers. I know background checks cost money but they would weed out many of the undesirables. But it is what it is so I don't lose sleep over it.

@Sybil2 wrote:

@miketfse wrote:

But now I realize that industry challenges I listed above are true. And thus the MSC must communicate for the very lowest denominator. They must protect themselves for when the lazy screw up the shop or flake, the boss asks, "Did you do everything you could to ensure the stupid shopper knew what to do?" the scheduler can say, "Yes. It's not my fault."

I honestly wish the MSCs would have a stricter screening process. Besides a basic writing sample, quizzes could possibly rule out some of the "pulse only" shoppers. I know background checks cost money but they would weed out many of the undesirables. But it is what it is so I don't lose sleep over it.

After the month April, I couldn't agree more. This month of May, I'm starting out as an original shopper, not doing re-shops or the flake shops, & I will say it out loud it does hurt my wallet. I do love me some flake bonuses...LOL

I will admit my allergies have ripped me to shreds, & I haven't been as dependable as normal. There has been some rescheduling: OK a lot of rescheduling over the last 2 months. But I did do the shops I signed up for and have rearranged my days to help out with other shops when I could.

There really isn't any point of complaining.

The only thing we can do is show up, do our jobs and do our job as professionals. What I love about this work is I do not under any circumstances have to accept any job I'm not willing to accept.

I love this job! Does it wear me out, yes it can. Does it pay enough, nope! Has it made me more observant of everything, you betcha!


If nothing else my writing skills have improved. Typing WPM has gone over the top.

It's all good.

The detailed nature of the instructions is amusing. But, that's actually one of the things I like about this kind of work; it is easy to get started in mystery shopping.

The "You MUST----" written multiple times, especially in RED and YELLOW highlighting, can be initially annoying but after I rest my eyes from two pages of demands....

I realize those things were written because shoppers "have" sat in their cars filling out forms in view of the store window, they have texted answers in front of the associate, they have fabricated part or all of their shop by saying they were there when they were not (this is where receipts, pictures of the location, names of the associates to prove you were there came into play....) and in the end, the client wants and expects an honest and legitimate shop for what he/she pays for, so while it is irritating to lump all shoppers into the "dishonest pool" with all the warnings, just like any other shop, I can be offended by it or I can take the shop knowing I will do a great job.

We like to laugh or grouse about some of the insane guidelines, but it really isn't limited to this industry. The one that always comes to mind for me is taking a job with a large multi-national corporation. My first and only time working for a corporation since my preference was small companies. One of the rules actually written in their extremely large handbook was, "No running in the halls." Made me feel like I'd just stepped out of a Tardis into my old elementary school.