I do this just so I can "steal" all the shops in AZwolfman's area.@MA Smith wrote:
No one knows why anyone mystery shops. Some do it full time. Others do it to get out of the house pay down debt or a date night.
I work consistently throughout each month, each quarter, each year. It does slow down in general by the third week in December thru the beginning of the New Year.@PasswordNotFound wrote:
AZWolfman, do you make a consistent amount throughout the month? Most of my MS income comes from schedulers who give me shops at the beginning of the month and schedulers who beg me to take shops at the end. In the middle, there is quite a bit of free time, and time to do multi-day shops and/or shops that I know don't usually get bonused
I assumed that most shoppers work this way, and would be curious to know whether or not I am off-base in my assumption.
LOL! I know you're joking, but I don't think there are enough hours in the day for you to "steal" all the jobs in this area. Rotation requirements help keep me from considering other shoppers my competitors, especially on video shops. C'mon down Sybil; there are plenty of shops here for you.@Sybil2 wrote:
I do this just so I can "steal" all the shops in AZwolfman's area.@MA Smith wrote:
No one knows why anyone mystery shops. Some do it full time. Others do it to get out of the house pay down debt or a date night.
@guanadu wrote:
Some MSPs have clients who only have shop locations in large metropolitan areas and thus, can come out paying more because they have a large pool of shoppers. But, some MSP's have places like Dairy Queen, Sonic, Arbys, McDonalds - who thrive in small rural towns where they don't have shoppers - or very many shoppers. So, the MSPs with clients like these have to hope that a lot of people in the large cities will take the shops at the lower price - and they usually fill most of them that way - and they use the extra that they have saved to fill the small town shops. It's not about the MSP having a 'heart', they are a business.
I now live in a small city and although shops are not nearly as plentiful as they were when I lived in a GIGANTIC city, I find that I get more bonused shops, especially if I'm willing to drive 30-50 miles on a route. So, in my new city, I do less shops with a much higher shop fee/shop than I was able to do in the big city.
Just my 2 cents...
@alanwest276 wrote:
If you want people to do a good job you have to pay themm fairly.
@rchipe01 wrote:
I am sure most MSC's that have been in business for a while and are seemingly successful have a formula that works for them. Don't forget the most important piece of the puzzle for them: They have little of NO money invested each month in their operation as far as wages to shoppers go. Their business plan is very little like most other types of business. In retail the business buys goods and then resells them at a profit, but up to the time they are sold they do not get a return to pay their employees or expenses. On the other hand MSC's don't pay their contractors for anywhere between 25-60 days after they have completed their work. This gives them plenty of time to be paid by the companies that hire them. So ultimately they have little of no cash outlay until they are paid and then they eventually pay us. They are the middleman who manipulate us to do the work and they definitely take their cut before we even see a dime.
@alanwest276 wrote:
If you want people to do a good job you have to pay themm fairly.
@Pop wrote:
There seems to be a number of criticisms of shoppers who take shops for low pay. I suggest we get off that kick and quit belly-aching about low pay and other shoppers. The shoppers who take low paying jobs have every right to do that. If you don't like the pay you're being offered then get out of the mystery shopping business.
@parkcitybrian wrote:
@Pop wrote:
There seems to be a number of criticisms of shoppers who take shops for low pay. I suggest we get off that kick and quit belly-aching about low pay and other shoppers. The shoppers who take low paying jobs have every right to do that. If you don't like the pay you're being offered then get out of the mystery shopping business.
no offense, but...a suggestion to you: stop reading these kind of posts and you won't elevate your blood pressure and/or it will reduce your sense of outrage. this reminds of a few simpsons episodes where "old man yells at cloud". are you one of the "kids, get off my lawn" kind of person?
I suggest that those who are complaining about those who are complaining get off that kick. Shoppers who complain have every right to belly-ache.@Pop wrote:
There seems to be a number of criticisms of shoppers who take shops for low pay. I suggest we get off that kick and quit belly-aching about low pay and other shoppers. The shoppers who take low paying jobs have every right to do that. If you don't like the pay you're being offered then get out of the mystery shopping business.
... She said critically@ninamartin wrote:
I disagree with your suggestion that @Pop stop reading these kinds of posts and expressing his opinion about them. The point of this site is to provide information, tips and support to other shoppers. Criticizing shoppers for making decisions based on their financial needs (of all things) is unnecessary and not supportive. And let's face it, it's one thing if someone criticizes a CEO for taking a $50,000,000 salary year after year, but if someone is taking a job that pays $7 or $10 they must really need it. The Forum's posting guidelines clearly say, "Add a positive contribution to the community". Criticizing other shoppers is not providing a positive contribution. @Pop is suggesting that people actually follow the guidelines set forth by the forum and be supportive. Maybe if enough shopper's voice their opinion then people who criticize other shoppers might stop.
@TeriW wrote:
... She said critically@ninamartin wrote:
I disagree with your suggestion that @Pop stop reading these kinds of posts and expressing his opinion about them. The point of this site is to provide information, tips and support to other shoppers. Criticizing shoppers for making decisions based on their financial needs (of all things) is unnecessary and not supportive. And let's face it, it's one thing if someone criticizes a CEO for taking a $50,000,000 salary year after year, but if someone is taking a job that pays $7 or $10 they must really need it. The Forum's posting guidelines clearly say, "Add a positive contribution to the community". Criticizing other shoppers is not providing a positive contribution. @Pop is suggesting that people actually follow the guidelines set forth by the forum and be supportive. Maybe if enough shopper's voice their opinion thven people who criticize other shoppers might stop.
@parkcitybrian wrote:
@Pop wrote:
There seems to be a number of criticisms of shoppers who take shops for low pay. I suggest we get off that kick and quit belly-aching about low pay and other shoppers. The shoppers who take low paying jobs have every right to do that. If you don't like the pay you're being offered then get out of the mystery shopping business.
no offense, but...a suggestion to you: stop reading these kind of posts and you won't elevate your blood pressure and/or it will reduce your sense of outrage. this reminds of a few simpsons episodes where "old man yells at cloud". are you one of the "kids, get off my lawn" kind of person?
"Fairly" is the amount for which you negotiate. Any job you agree to take should be done well because it's what you agreed to.@alanwest276 wrote:
If you want people to do a good job you have to pay themm fairly.