@SteveSoCal wrote:
That's not necessarily industry related. I was paid as a full-time scheduler and editor in the past, and it was not related to my location. The reason why the job did not work for my was partly related to my location, and partly related to my lifestyle.
The question that that people should be asking, rather than an annual salary, is what the hourly average is for PT and FT shoppers. It's been my experience that FT shoppers earn less on average because they don't have the option to be as selective about the assignments they perform. Since I work full time outside of MSing, I can pick and choose my assignments to maximize my profit for the time I put in.
@bgriffin wrote:
@CaliGirl925 it absolutely is a perfect analogy. You don't find it rude that when a poster chastised me for having a problem with the question she acknowledged the fact that i asked the same question of her and she refused to answer?
Im sorry but i find it hilarious that all these people who want to know how much mystery shoppers make aren't willing to give the same information on their job. Perhaps i would like to change careers and its educational for me to know.
@Tarantado wrote:
If rates can help someone, I'd say my average, when accounting purely on the site visit and report time, but giving some leniency to commute (as some as "on the way" to places I'm going to regardless if I'm working or not), would be around ~$20-25 per hour AVERAGE."
@bgriffin wrote:
@CaliGirl925 it absolutely is a perfect analogy. You don't find it rude that when a poster chastised me for having a problem with the question she acknowledged the fact that i asked the same question of her and she refused to answer?
Im sorry but i find it hilarious that all these people who want to know how much mystery shoppers make aren't willing to give the same information on their job. Perhaps i would like to change careers and its educational for me to know.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@Tarantado wrote:
If rates can help someone, I'd say my average, when accounting purely on the site visit and report time, but giving some leniency to commute (as some as "on the way" to places I'm going to regardless if I'm working or not), would be around ~$20-25 per hour AVERAGE."
Bingo! That's the rate that I often come up with as well when I do track my time.
As has been pointed out, most shoppers do not keep well detailed records, have an understanding of the costs of operating their car, know their tax liability or even take the time to track reimbursements that would offset normal costs to them.
Here's the reality. You should be able to make around $20-25 on average if you are good at what you do and well organized. If you try to maximize that by working 60+ hours per week there's a very good chance you will see that number go down, and if you are a selective shopper, you may be able to consistently work at above that rate.
When I was an employee shopper for a company, they had an account crunch the numbers and decide that $15 per hour was the rate for a warm-blooded shopper that could follow orders, have access to the internet and get shops completed in time, so I see that as the base rate for new shoppers. It is specifically possible to work full time and not average $15 per hour at this if you are not organized and make poor decisions, however.
That said, in a perfect scenario where a shopper can upkeep a $25 rate for 45 hours per week, never gets sick, never takes time off and works consistently throughout the year, that's just under $60k of annual income, minus the business expenses and self-employement taxes, so those that claim to making $40k are or above are kicking some ass. Those making above $30k are doing well. If you are working FT at this and making under $20k, you need to take another look at your business practices.....
That said, I was paid above $40k as an editor and scheduler, and my lifestyle was still better as a shopper, so money is not everything!
@SoCalMama wrote:
[when I am doing the "grind" of regular shops, I keep it at $1/minute ($60/hour).
@schylarsok wrote:
I think this information is incredibly helpful. It helps me gauge whether or not this type of industry works for me in the end. And I see now difference between that and looking up how much you would get paid in a specific job. I don't want to see everyone's paycheck; but I would like to know what is possible by doing mystery shopping.
@Tarantado wrote:
If rates can help someone, I'd say my average, when accounting purely on the site visit and report time, but giving some leniency to commute (as some as "on the way" to places I'm going to regardless if I'm working or not), would be around ~$20-25 per hour AVERAGE. There are times this skyrockets due to the simplicity of the assignment, but dip below, as the focus is on offsetting my everyday expenses and how you like to say, "Enhance my lifestyle."
@Tarantado wrote:
I am curious how much you make then, bgriffin. If you want to know my full-time income and what I do for a living in exchange; OK.
I am a mechanical engineer in midstream oil & gas. I make a base salary of $77,000 per year. I mystery shop on the side. This year, I am on pace to gross a similar amount as last year (~$20,000 revenue and ~$10,000-11,000 in fees).
Happy?
@roflwofl wrote:
Simply telling "how much do you make MSing in a month" doesn't give any real information unless other qualifiers are added:
1. How many hours a month do you work at MSing to make the $X a month?
2. How many companies are you signed up with? How many companies do you actually work with on a monthly basis?
3. How many actual assignments do you perform in a month to make $X a month?
4. What type of assignments do you do to make the money?
5. What is the specific breakdown between fees and reimbursement of the $X per month earned?
6. What is your general area of the country?
7. Are you in a rural or an urban area?
8. How far do you drive each month to make $X?
9. What is your education/experience level? Do more educated MS-ers or MS-ers with more business acumen make more per month for the hours put in than the average shopper?
.
@Tarantado wrote:
I understand the argument that this industry as Independent Contractors throws in another wrench of variables. As I stated already, how can someone understand how much someone can make doing this kind of work without seeing any numbers? Sure, the numbers will vary whether some rely on this as full-time work, part-time work or less than part-time work. But it's still interesting to see some real numbers.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
bgriffin could be my next door neighbor and would probably make more money that me as a shopper because I can't resist an opportunity to shop a fine dining establishment, and he's going to take a few heavily bonused smaller shops while I'm bogged down writing a report for 4 hours.....
@CaliGirl925 wrote:
(Also, you're delusional, my ass looks spectacular in these jeans)
@SteveSoCal wrote:
The question that that people should be asking, rather than an annual salary, is what the hourly average is for PT and FT shoppers. It's been my experience that FT shoppers earn less on average because they don't have the option to be as selective about the assignments they perform. Since I work full time outside of MSing, I can pick and choose my assignments to maximize my profit for the time I put in.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
That said, in a perfect scenario where a shopper can upkeep a $25 rate for 45 hours per week, never gets sick, never takes time off and works consistently throughout the year, that's just under $60k of annual income, minus the business expenses and self-employement taxes, so those that claim to making $40k are or above are kicking some ass. Those making above $30k are doing well. If you are working FT at this and making under $20k, you need to take another look at your business practices.....
!
@aayaey wrote:
In the US that is rude to ask how much someone makes, however, in Asia it's common practice. People will also walk into your house and ask how much you paid for this and that and the house. We also have a right to answer or not, up to what makes you feel comfortable.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
when I am doing the "grind" of regular shops, I keep it at $1/minute ($60/hour).
Yes, but what do you include in that "hour". Time reporting it, time on site + reporting, travel + time on site & reporting...and what about the time spent searching for jobs and handling payments? The time spent searching airfares and making reservations? There are a lot of variables.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
For most of my shops, I only take assignments for things that I would do on my own anyway, so I only count my 'working time' as the time spent writing/submitting the report. If the diner pays $15 and I can submit it in under an hour, then I'm making just above $15 per hour.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
I also have a 'rate' that's related to reimbursements, however. That's $100 per hour with a max at $1,000 per day. That means If I'm spending 2 hours making a reservation and then dining out, I'd expect the shop to reimburse a minimum of $200. If I'm taking a trip where I combine a group of hotels for 8 days, I'd expect at least $8,000 in reimbursements.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
Yes, but what do you include in that "hour". Time reporting it, time on site + reporting, travel + time on site & reporting...and what about the time spent searching for jobs and handling payments? The time spent searching airfares and making reservations? There are a lot of variables.
For most of my shops, I only take assignments for things that I would do on my own anyway, so I only count my 'working time' as the time spent writing/submitting the report. If the diner pays $15 and I can submit it in under an hour, then I'm making just above $15 per hour.
I also have a 'rate' that's related to reimbursements, however. That's $100 per hour with a max at $1,000 per day. That means If I'm spending 2 hours making a reservation and then dining out, I'd expect the shop to reimburse a minimum of $200. If I'm taking a trip where I combine a group of hotels for 8 days, I'd expect at least $8,000 in reimbursements.
@Tarantado wrote:
@SteveSoCal wrote:
Yes, but what do you include in that "hour". Time reporting it, time on site + reporting, travel + time on site & reporting...and what about the time spent searching for jobs and handling payments? The time spent searching airfares and making reservations? There are a lot of variables.
For most of my shops, I only take assignments for things that I would do on my own anyway, so I only count my 'working time' as the time spent writing/submitting the report. If the diner pays $15 and I can submit it in under an hour, then I'm making just above $15 per hour.
I also have a 'rate' that's related to reimbursements, however. That's $100 per hour with a max at $1,000 per day. That means If I'm spending 2 hours making a reservation and then dining out, I'd expect the shop to reimburse a minimum of $200. If I'm taking a trip where I combine a group of hotels for 8 days, I'd expect at least $8,000 in reimbursements.
If your business allows, the extra 1-10% cash back from credit cards + signup bonus minimum spending requirements for credit card churning can add on hundreds of thousands of miles and a decent "bonus" cash amount, tax-free, if done right.
Something for others to consider when using credit cards to pay for shop expenses. But that might be a topic all on its own
I would file for divorce asap!@LisaSTL wrote:
You're married to a house? Interesting.