How much is too much?
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
By the way, I may be new to this forum, but I've been mystery shopping for over 4 years.
I thnk that if you are driving an hour each way, you are doing them a favor @ $50 a shop. Where do you live that is so far from everything? Just curious.
Just as a reference, to do shops for which I have to drive 1.5 hours away, I routinely ask and have been accepted for $125 minimum. I just did one yesterday for $95...for a 80 mile round trip. I would definitely say go higher but there is always the chance that they might not accept or negotiate.
I would go above $100 bonus, for sure AND ask for at least one other shop with a high bonus along that route or near it!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I think you're giving them a bargain at $50 + reimbursements! I'd ask for more next time, and if they ask why, since you've been doing them for $50, tell them that you've analyzed your costs vs. the pay, and have realized you're just not making any money.
I used to do a shop about 1 1/2 hours away for $50, mostly because I liked the drive and I could visit some stores I wanted to shop at (not MS'ing, just personal shopping). At the time, I wasn't doing any route shopping and finally realized that, factoring in time, mileage, gas expense, etc., I was losing money. I stopped doing it. Now, I would probably do it again and work in another couple of shops in the area (there always seems to be shops in that area), but I'd still ask for more than $50....
I used to do a shop about 1 1/2 hours away for $50, mostly because I liked the drive and I could visit some stores I wanted to shop at (not MS'ing, just personal shopping). At the time, I wasn't doing any route shopping and finally realized that, factoring in time, mileage, gas expense, etc., I was losing money. I stopped doing it. Now, I would probably do it again and work in another couple of shops in the area (there always seems to be shops in that area), but I'd still ask for more than $50....
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
My advice to you is "Take it". I had that happen late yesterday, get a frantic phone call from my #1 company, begging me to do a job about 10 miles rt.. from me, which I didn't want to do. I said, could I get more as I hadn't counted on this. I was finally offered 4.00 more. I refused, get another call an hour later, same scenerio, didn't do it I drive 60 miles RT. monthly with a 5.00 bonus for 4 jobs (20.00). I guess living in rural helps in this business, and again it's always supply in demand. They didn't get it down, and now I feel guilty.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2016 03:15PM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2016 03:15PM by Irene_L.A..
If you are getting called monthly for some shops it may be a good opportunity to plan in advance rather than waiting for last minute calls so you end up driving for just one shop. Imagine if there are five or more regularly needing to be filled. Negotiate early on and the $50 a shop becomes $250 to run errands you need to anyway.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Why on Earth would you feel guilty for NOT accepting an underbid job offer? You are running a business; no need to feel guilty.@Irene_L.A. wrote:
My advice to you is "Take it". I had that happen late yesterday, get a frantic phone call from my #1 company, begging me to do a job about 10 miles rt.. from me, which I didn't want to do. I said, could I get more as I hadn't counted on this. I was finally offered 4.00 more. I refused, get another call an hour later, same scenerio, didn't do it I drive 60 miles RT. monthly with a 5.00 bonus for 4 jobs (20.00). I guess living in rural helps in this business, and again it's always supply in demand. They didn't get it down, and now I feel guilty.
I didn't answer the question posed in the subject line. Here it is. You can never be too rich, too thin or ask for too much value for your time
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Unfortunately you don't recognize a quote widely attributed to the Duchess of Windsor. How about, "You can never be overdressed or overeducated," or "Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it."
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Thanks for your advice guys. The town I'm referring to is the nearest town to me, and I have to go there anyways to do my shopping. For this particular shop I just had to rearrange my schedule and go down on a different day than I had planned. I ended up getting two other shops, bringing my total to around $90 and free dinner for my family. Not bad considering I was going to go down there anyways with the potential for no income at all if I hadn't taken the shops.
I'm going to have to do several posts because I keep getting an error message :/
To answer your question SoCalMama, I live in the mountains of Washington State. The nearest thing to me is a lone gas station about 20 minutes away. I used to live in Lake Arrowhead, Ca
LisaSTL, if I plan the shops in advance they don't pay as much. The original payment for the cell phone shop I accepted was only $10. It's not worth it for me to do 5 small shops at $10 a piece. I'd rather wait until the end of the month and negotiate my own pay when the MSC's are desperate to meet their deadlines.
To answer your question SoCalMama, I live in the mountains of Washington State. The nearest thing to me is a lone gas station about 20 minutes away. I used to live in Lake Arrowhead, Ca
LisaSTL, if I plan the shops in advance they don't pay as much. The original payment for the cell phone shop I accepted was only $10. It's not worth it for me to do 5 small shops at $10 a piece. I'd rather wait until the end of the month and negotiate my own pay when the MSC's are desperate to meet their deadlines.
What is a fair amount for me to ask for? Is $1 for every mile I have to drive fair? Or should I ask for more? They occasionally ask me to do shops in my old town that's almost 3 hours away. I rarely go there because I don't need to. What if I asked them for $100 for every hour I had to drive? Would they freak out at that and stop calling me? I guess the worst they can do is say no
PS Lisa and Sybil, will you please stop trolling one another? Let's keep this conversation civil.
Threads here rarely stay on topic so this one is no exception.
Only you can decide how much you want to make. Some shoppers want $10 an hour, some want $20 and others more.
I wasn't suggesting you take shops early in the month for the base rate. If the same shops keep going unfilled month after month, that is your in to try to negotiate them as a standing route. You may be able to get those bonuses earlier when you can plan appropriately once the schedulers know they have a reliable shopper to take the jobs off their hands.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2016 11:08PM by LisaSTL.
Only you can decide how much you want to make. Some shoppers want $10 an hour, some want $20 and others more.
I wasn't suggesting you take shops early in the month for the base rate. If the same shops keep going unfilled month after month, that is your in to try to negotiate them as a standing route. You may be able to get those bonuses earlier when you can plan appropriately once the schedulers know they have a reliable shopper to take the jobs off their hands.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2016 11:08PM by LisaSTL.
I see. That is a good idea. I will keep that in mind. Thank you.
I am all for (at times) helping out my #1 company, who I know only gives pads up to 4.00 for driving 4 miles.
Question answered, lets not read more into it.
Question answered, lets not read more into it.
Live consciously....
WTF are you talking about? I don't know you or LisaSTL.@taitsj wrote:
PS Lisa and Sybil, will you please stop trolling one another? Let's keep this conversation civil.
Mountains of Washington State? I'm in Seattle. I find that once jobs get close
To $100, somebody snatches them up - even in the most rural areas. Most of those areas are pretty far for me, so I don't venture that far unless I can group several with healthy bonuses or pick up one at $100.
To $100, somebody snatches them up - even in the most rural areas. Most of those areas are pretty far for me, so I don't venture that far unless I can group several with healthy bonuses or pick up one at $100.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
@Sybil2 wrote:
Unfortunately you CAN be too thin.
Anyone who says you can be too rich or too thin has never been really poor or really fat.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I guess that you have never had to deal with anorexia or bulimia.@bgriffin wrote:
@Sybil2 wrote:
Unfortunately you CAN be too thin.
Anyone who says you can be too rich or too thin has never been really poor or really fat.
I'm guessing that's another quote you've never heard.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I thought quotes were supposed to be written in quotations and credit given to the person/people/group who made the quote.
For example, "I'm very free-spirited and crazy. I love to have fun, and I like doing stupid things. At the same time, I'm like a 35-year-old. I have a house. I have a car. I have a steady job. I have a business, and I have to make serious decisions." -Avril Lavigne
Sorry but I don't have a date for the above quote.
For example, "I'm very free-spirited and crazy. I love to have fun, and I like doing stupid things. At the same time, I'm like a 35-year-old. I have a house. I have a car. I have a steady job. I have a business, and I have to make serious decisions." -Avril Lavigne
Sorry but I don't have a date for the above quote.
@Sybil2 wrote:
For example, "I'm very free-spirited and crazy. I love to have fun, and I like doing stupid things. At the same time, I'm like a 35-year-old. I have a house. I have a car. I have a steady job. I have a business, and I have to make serious decisions." -Avril Lavigne
Sorry but I don't have a date for the above quote.
does quoting avril lavigne make you a pre pubescent pre teen? lol
Will you please stick to the topic at hand? Since I have your attention, how do you guys feel about Satisfaction Services Inc? I've just applied to shop for them, and their site feels very unprofessional and poorly made. I'm getting a bad feeling about them, and I don't want to be scammed or taken advantage of. Why do they charge $9.99 to get better shops? They pay me, not the other way around.
Avril is getting old now; early 30s. But I did listen to her music when I was a younger skater. Nothing wrong with quoting someone from your childhood.@indianyooper wrote:
does quoting avril lavigne make you a pre pubescent pre teen? lol
From what I can see, the title of this thread is called "How much is too much?" and it is in the Mystery Shopping Discussion category in the forum. Now you are asking questions about a specific MSC which makes your own post OFF TOPIC. And in the wrong category; it should be in the Mystery Shopping Company Discussion category,@taitsj wrote:
Will you please stick to the topic at hand? Since I have your attention, how do you guys feel about Satisfaction Services Inc?
So, "Will you please stick to the topic at hand?"
@Sybil2 wrote:
From what I can see, the title of this thread is called "How much is too much?" and it is in the Mystery Shopping Discussion category in the forum. Now you are asking questions about a specific MSC which makes your own post OFF TOPIC. And in the wrong category; it should be in the Mystery Shopping Company Discussion category,@taitsj wrote:
Will you please stick to the topic at hand? Since I have your attention, how do you guys feel about Satisfaction Services Inc?
So, "Will you please stick to the topic at hand?"
I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the humor in the OP saying "Will you please stick to the topic at hand?" while completely changing the topic at hand!
NOW - while I have your attention ...... I ....... I ....... forgot what I was going to say. Oh, well, I can go off-topic and add it to another thread when I remember.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.