@jdp27 wrote:

I answered your question. What company are you an employee of?

If you answered my questions I did not see it. Perhaps I am stupid, can you point out where you answered it for me? I just want a specific example of what this organization would do. Perhaps I don't understand it and might want to help you start it. Or there could be someone else here who also doesn't understand and would like to help if they did. I fall to understand why you are pushing for such organization but seem reluctant to explain it.

I have not been an employee of a company of any kind since 12/31/2010 and never of one in the MS industry. I am merely a shopper just like you.

jdp,
I have met and had some long chats with bgriffin at a huge shopper conference. He is nobody's employee; that's for sure. He gives new meaning to the "I" in IC.

I feel that, essentially we are spies, and bottom line, spies wind up being expendable. What irks me is that "WE" are held to perfectionist standards that don't seem to flow uphill.

I have pretty much contained myself to doing banks.

The IMSC members are not ignored.

Shoppers have suggested programs such as paid legal, but since the inception of the IMSC, not one of our members to date has needed such a service. Any shopper with a payment issue where the shopper was not the fault of the non payment has received payment amicably with the IMSC member company involved. We work with the companies to rectify situations, not against them in a legal manner which is not needed. This service is provided to all IMSC members who are working with IMSC member companies.

Shoppers have suggested healthcare options as well and each time we say the same thing. "Great idea, do some research and get back to us with what you find out and the options." Since 2009, we have said this. We are still waiting for the research and options to come back to us. We have done on our research and it is not as easy as it should be to cover people in multiple states without paying a lot of money.

@Servanne

Has the IMSC ever thought about looking into negotiated rates with hotel chains?

Great idea! Who will do the research?

CRS1934 I agree fully. The forum is fine but if it's not what you like don't participate. If mystery shopping doesn't pay enough then do something else. If specific shops don't pay enough don't accept them and if there are msc's you don't like don't serve them as a shopper. Finally, we DO NOT NEED the kind of organization that has been suggested.

I actually would be very interested in working on it. It's been something I've thought about contacting Pam about for a few weeks.

That is a great idea! Please keep us posted.

bgriffin - I like the idea too. Please, please negotiate rates with IHG! They're quite broad. I stay with their brand quite frequently, so if you want help I would be interested too.

Like Servanne said, insurance is a whole other ball game. IF we had thousands, and I mean thousands of mystery shoppers who wanted in on group negotiated insurance across states it would be come probably more realistic. The deal is, the shoppers on this site and the shoppers who are IMSC members who would realistically be interested in group negotiated insurance is in the hundreds likely, maybe a few thousand. It simply isn't worth it. The other thing to remember - my work place offers relatively great health care through a group negotiated plan. (I work full time for a municipal fire department. In the past I worked for a hospital with similar health care). In both instances while *I* pay around $125-150/month for insurance, my *employer* pays an additional $1200-1500 per month for insurance. This is part of my employee compensation package. If the IMSC was able to negotiate good insurance for people at least somewhat interested, how many would be able to pay the full $1300-1700/month needed? Because every one of these "trade organizations" aren't out there making money (through taxes or sales of goods or services) so all of the costs are being passed on to the shopper.

Just my 2 cents!

Just one question though...If for example, IMSC (known for mystery shopping and if not, could easily be googled) gave a discount for a member to stay in Hotel X. Member accepted this discount. Would that not basically reveal to Hotel X that you are a mystery shopper? So later, when a shop comes available, the front desk would know who you are based on your profile in the computer? It would show a history of the last time you stayed and the discount you used.

$8000 in one month? This includes expensive hotel eval? What is the approx. fee after reimbursement?

I have been an entrepreneur since I was 15 years old, I was mentored to be cheerful, intelligent and perform with integrity,Those I SERVE appreciated the experience and relationship that exists when I help them.. I have had many clients give me the best complement a merchant can get, positive word of mouth, recommending me to others..

It has been my experience that many of the MSC's work on the opposite theory of operating a business. They abuse, mislead and attempt to cheat those that attempt to help them serve clients. They take advantage of desperate seniors and college students who will work for compensation that barely allows them enough to buy Mac and Cheese and Ramen noodles.

I am an independent contractor, I am fortunate enough that I can decline shops seniors and college students must take when they run out of money and are forced to take $2 shops,

If the assignment is NOT FUN and MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL I do not need to be a slave.To answer your question, I represent THIS INDEPENDENT mystery shopper!

If there is a shop in an urban location there is a risk. I know when a scheduler has been flaked and needs me desperately. Just as the MSC's takes advantage of desperate shoppers I do not feel any remorse in going on those shops because I was trained to "work the streets". They must pay me for my skills as a suburban shopper just flaked and lived to shop another day.

post removed due to some bullying issues

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2016 05:43PM by helpmehelpyou.

@helpmehelpyou wrote:

no one, market force just dropped their fees again to an all time low for all of their july shops. you make one remark, or comment or complaint and you will be deactivated by companies that you have worked half a decade for. there are too many shoppers, too many people out of work, and everyone is out for themselves. no one is willing to help anyone, even on this board, good luck, sincerely, its awful right now. the few that are making, 500 dollars for hotel shops and 50 dollars for restaurants shops are a dying breed and clinging on for dear life. those jobs don't exist, and its perpetuating the false myth that you can actually make a living doing this. not any more, its not possible. what a terrible few days for the world in general, so I should not complain. I was tricked into taking a large amount of work for someone, who I thought was a friend, for what turns out to be less then 7.00 dollars an hour. am i the only one......

ummm...yep, you're probably are the only one.

again, another who posts things without substantiation or any kind(s) of specifics but just generalizations and is the kind who is stuck at earning the cursed $7.00 per hour.

@treydawgmt wrote:

bgriffin - I like the idea too. Please, please negotiate rates with IHG! They're quite broad. I stay with their brand quite frequently, so if you want help I would be interested too.

Honestly I go where the bonuses give me the most free nights and yeah, for the past 3 quarters a ton of my stays have been at IHG properties. Somehow I've still managed to only be 10 stays away from requalifying for Hilton Diamond though. I'm fairly certain I'll make Spire in IHG this year.

@lbw1000 wrote:

Just one question though...If for example, IMSC (known for mystery shopping and if not, could easily be googled) gave a discount for a member to stay in Hotel X. Member accepted this discount. Would that not basically reveal to Hotel X that you are a mystery shopper? So later, when a shop comes available, the front desk would know who you are based on your profile in the computer? It would show a history of the last time you stayed and the discount you used.

I have never seen a hotel that would allow you to use a negotiated rate for a shop. Or at least I've never used one. They reimburse it anyway so really it's no different if you spend $100 or $200. Either way I would imagine that if you are not intelligent enough to not use the MS negotiated rate on a shop then you probably wouldn't make a very good shopper anyway. Secondly when you use a negotiated rate the hotel only sees a portion. I often use the IBM rate for some chains (I used to be an employee) and they see that, but for Hilton Properties I use a rate that starts off with Hilton Worldwide. It has nothing to do with Hilton, but more than one occasion the hotel has thought I was a Hilton employee. So yeah, if they just saw IMSC they would have no clue what it was.

@helpmehelpyou wrote:

no one, market force just dropped their fees again to an all time low for all of their july shops. you make one remark, or comment or complaint and you will be deactivated by companies that you have worked half a decade for. there are too many shoppers, too many people out of work, and everyone is out for themselves. no one is willing to help anyone, even on this board, good luck, sincerely, its awful right now. the few that are making, 500 dollars for hotel shops and 50 dollars for restaurants shops are a dying breed and clinging on for dear life. those jobs don't exist, and its perpetuating the false myth that you can actually make a living doing this. not any more, its not possible. what a terrible few days for the world in general, so I should not complain. I was tricked into taking a large amount of work for someone, who I thought was a friend, for what turns out to be less then 7.00 dollars an hour. am i the only one......

I'm calling BS on this whole post. I make a pretty good living doing this. I've met at least a dozen others who are as well.
I'm calling double BS. Because you complain about MF and then say nobody is getting $50 a shop for restaurants when in fact I did a restaurant shop for MF in May for $65.

@bgriffin wrote:

@helpmehelpyou wrote:

no one, market force just dropped their fees again to an all time low for all of their july shops. you make one remark, or comment or complaint and you will be deactivated by companies that you have worked half a decade for. there are too many shoppers, too many people out of work, and everyone is out for themselves. no one is willing to help anyone, even on this board, good luck, sincerely, its awful right now. the few that are making, 500 dollars for hotel shops and 50 dollars for restaurants shops are a dying breed and clinging on for dear life. those jobs don't exist, and its perpetuating the false myth that you can actually make a living doing this. not any more, its not possible. what a terrible few days for the world in general, so I should not complain. I was tricked into taking a large amount of work for someone, who I thought was a friend, for what turns out to be less then 7.00 dollars an hour. am i the only one......

I'm calling BS on this whole post. I make a pretty good living doing this. I've met at least a dozen others who are as well.
I'm calling double BS. Because you complain about MF and then say nobody is getting $50 a shop for restaurants when in fact I did a restaurant shop for MF in May for $65.

i'm in

You're talking about anomalies. Most Market Force restaurant shops pay the standard $5-$7. Very, very occasionally they need to fill one at an almost absurd fee. But those are not normal.

There is no comparison, it doesn't make sense to pit that one golden egg against their entire post, that's just asinine. It doesn't make anyone look like a bad-ass by making fun of other people and their experiences, I don't know why you keep doing it, it's old already.

@spicy1 wrote:

You're talking about anomalies. Most Market Force restaurant shops pay the standard $5-$7. Very, very occasionally they need to fill one at an almost absurd fee. But those are not normal.

There is no comparison, it doesn't make sense to pit that one golden egg against their entire post, that's just asinine. It doesn't make anyone look like a bad-ass by making fun of other people and their experiences, I don't know why you keep doing it, it's old already.

what's old is the continual bashing of mscs, schedulers, etc. by making ambiguous, unsubstantiated, generalizations. and..yep, mf does pay $5-$7 fees because there are folks out there that will take those fees, sad as it is. they do it cuz they can...pretty simple imho.

@spicy1 wrote:

You're talking about anomalies. Most Market Force restaurant shops pay the standard $5-$7. Very, very occasionally they need to fill one at an almost absurd fee. But those are not normal.

There is no comparison, it doesn't make sense to pit that one golden egg against their entire post, that's just asinine. It doesn't make anyone look like a bad-ass by making fun of other people and their experiences, I don't know why you keep doing it, it's old already.

I am not talking about anomalies. My average MF fee this year is $36.25. Which is actually down from last year.

If my posts offend you the feel free to use the toggle button. I am not making fun of other people and their experiences. I am trying to show other people that their experience isn't the whole world. I've done shops in 16 states this year. What I do is obviously NOT geographically dependent. But you an do what you want. Say hrm, this bg guy is getting more than me, I need to figure out how and do that too. Or you can say woe is me I can only get $1.50 a shop I think I'll go cry in my coffee. Your choice but honestly the whining about not making any money has to be way older than my supposed making fun of other people.

You're calling someone else's experience bs because theirs is not like yours.
You don't see what's wrong with that?
Couldn't you just stick your chest out at home and be proud of yourself instead of calling other people's experiences bs?
It's not you, per se, I don't care.
I don't like it when the people who get the cream antagonize the people left with the 2%! It has to do with self-esteem, don't you think?

If someone says nobody is getting $50 for restaurant shops and I just did a restaurant shop for $50 one of us is wrong.

I completely agree it is entirely about self esteem. You can spend your time whining about $5 shops or get some self esteem and figure out a way to market yourself and get $50 shops. Self esteem is 99.9% of the problem. Absolutely. I'm so glad we agree on this.

I'm fairly certain I've never had a MF dining fee over $25 in 17 years. I got $25 to buy potting soil and a screwdriver though. Easy and mindless. 5 miles from home.

I did two $75 dining shops (Fee + no limit) already this month. My hotels are only $200 this month, but I have some big ones lined up for July and August,

I think that's wonderful that you are being paid so well. And, I do, truly hope that there are others that are prospering so well, as is SoCalMama. I am pretty sure that I have done a good job marketing myself, and perhaps my experience is not like what everyone else is experiencing lately, I hope its just me. I love to read when people are doing well, and yes I have been feeling sorry for myself as I work very hard, try to help others, and am loyal to a fault. Many congrats and I hope that your success and beating the system continues for a long time.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2016 06:31AM by helpmehelpyou.

To the people who are only getting $6.00 for home improvement shops, $10 for fitness shops, and the occasional $25 apartment shops, please don't feel bad. It's not your fault. You may live in an area where there are not giant fees to be had. Small to medium towns just don't have concentration of the high priced stores or fine dining restaurants. You may pick up a nice fee from Monterey if they have something in your area as they are pretty consistent with fair pay for work required. But don't feel like a failure if you don't get $100 grocery shops, or some other large fee posted about on the forum, you just are not in a high priced market. I have checked other areas compared to this area. Amusement shop -$120 here, $625 west coast. It's just location, location, location, and competition. Sign up with as many companies as you can, get your feet wet, and don't have expectations of $60 home improvement shops or $150 retail shops.

I am happy to read that you and BGriffin are doing so well. My post did not list more specifics in regards to client names and schedulers names as we are not allowed to do so. I do hope that your experiences continue to be triumphant and prosperous. I acknowledged that my post was a complaint and is based on my recent experiences as of late. I try not to do this, and I apologize for insinuating that others are not extremely well paid for their shopping experiences.

My first year of shopping I was torn between being agog and thinking bull---- about some of the fees and success stories. I was working my arse off and not seeing anything near what was being discussed, it was depressing as hell and I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. Afterwards I took it as a challenge and figured if others could do it, so could I.