I get frustrated when I hear people say things like "oh I could make more money doing such and such". Not everyone has the option to go out and get a part time job. If you can, great! You should do it! I take very few jobs at the initial fee offering because I have the luxury of being in an area that is not shopped by a lot of people. I don't, however, have the option to go out and get a part time job. If I could, I probably would. I have 3 kids 5 and under though and will not put them in daycare. Mystery shopping affords me the opportunity to help my family financially and still enjoy my children's childhoods. I understand the frustration with low paying fees. Really, I do. To make comments about how much more you could make doing something else is a bit pointless IMO. If you can make more doing something else, do it!

Every experienced shopper learns which shops are outside their comfort zone. I prefer certain companies and certain shops that suit me. For example this weekend I had stacked up a bunch of shops with a very low paying company. I felt no guilt canceling out of several of them. For example I hate doing car shops with a passion. I am actually shopping for a car right now and not being paid to do it.

If you people really understood how to value your time, gas, and misc costs, you would give up this silly hobby.

Along the lines of the people here who talked about the time ratio to pay - that is my metric for whether or not to do a shop. For example, I do a restaurant shop that involves counting and sitting down for 15 minutes at locations that are either close to my office or close to my home that I can either walk or take the subway to. My subway costs are capped via an unlimited monthly pass that I need to buy anyway. The write up is tedious but I can get them done in another 15 minutes. Usually pays $7 and reimburses enough for me to get breakfast and then a sandwich for lunch to fulfill the requirements.
This to me is better than the $25 luxury goods shop where the requirements all but ensure that you will be outed and involves charging an item that costs hundreds of dollars and requires you to go back and return this item. The write-up isn't that long but the shop and return takes almost two hours when you factor in waiting to be rung up, wait time, and time to return.
I get calls all the time from them asking me to do shops across the river in another state that involves travel not covered by my unlimited pass and also involves more time. I decline. I've asked them if they will pay the transit fare. They won't. It's funny because if I drive, they'll pay the $12.50 toll but not a $5.50 train fare.
That said for my particular circumstances where I live in the largest US city and those restaurant shops are as close as a block from my office - that's why this works for me. Last weekend, I happened to be in NJ waiting for my girlfriend so I booked out 4 shops: 3 wireless store ones and a burger joint shop. The burger shop paid my lunch and then the 2 wireless store ones took about 15 minutes. The last store was mobbed so that took me about 45. They also paid my tolls to cross the river so it worked out. That said, given the gas I burned and time spent - for my value system it wasn't worth it to do had I not been required to be in NJ for other reasons.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2016 11:01AM by coloneltigh.

Although we don't get reimbursed for mileage, I often decide whether I'll take a shop based on if I can make money. If the shop is 20 miles away (40 RT), the IRS will allow us $0.54/mile. That means that unless the shop pays enough for my time (not including driving time) above $21.60 (to cover the mileage). I don't take the shop. That's based on a single excursion for one shop. If I can stop at 2-3 other shops on the way or back, then I can spread out the mileage and possibly accept less per shop, although I always negotiate for the highest amount possible.

@Mother56 wrote:

I do not consider $13 a huge bonus do you???

It depends on the shop, but not usually. $13 bonus for a shop that takes 10 minutes would be good. Not for something that takes an hour. "Huge" to me would be $50.

I don't know which is worse --offering the same shop over and over and over again via email with no increase, or posting a "50% bonus!" when the shop is originally $4.

@Kr wrote:

Then there is the $5 Mall shop, which would have you running all over the mall and it's environs

I was at the mall today and smiled as I drove the parking lot and walked right by the places on the shop invitation. Keep your cheapo $5; it's an insult.

@ShopUntilYouDrop wrote:

If you people really understood how to value your time, gas, and misc costs, you would give up this silly hobby.

So when did you give it up?

Seen on Craigslist (this is how the upper crust shoppers are paid. Just kidding).


Mystery shopping job hide this posting
compensation: $350 per assignment

PAY OPPORTUNITY! EARN $350 PER ASSIGNMENT
AS A MYSTERY SHOPPER!
===========================================
•Posting Description
---------------------------
We are accepting applications from individuals to
become Secret-Shoppers. There is no charge
to become a shopper and you do not need previous
experience. Your wages would be $350 per assignment.
No commitment is made on this job and you would
have flexible hours. For more information
Text Mr Robert show contact info
do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers
post id: 5730423427 posted: about 15 hours ago email to friend ♥ best of [?]

Edit
Here is his contact info:
Text Mr Robert (512)859-4087.
Sorry for grammar errors. I don't do well typing on my phone.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2016 06:28AM by August 2016.

August 2016, you know this is a scam, right?!

Just finished a job for Bestmark. I haven't done one in a very long time and was reminded of why I have resisted. Four department evaluations, two in-depth interactions, some general observations as well as a subjective analysis. Survey form: (drum roll) ..... over 1100 questions and five detailed written sections. $15 reimbursement and a $20 shop fee.
I used to have a ten-foot pole rule, I am now developing a China wall rule. As well, I am reminding myself that I am an IC and have the ability to accept or reject assignments. I tend to be a softy and get rubber-armed by schedulers who are in dire straits because I believe that we sometimes have to take the bad to get the good. But come on MSC's, do you really have to mug us?
More and more I am thinking that if they MSC's just leveled the playing field by offering fair fees across the board, rather than having to resort to large bonuses, all sides would be happy. But then again ...... there are those ridiculous 1100+ assignments for low fees ..... sigh ..... how to deal with that?

1100 questions? I can't fathom that. All my shops so far this year probably don't total that number of questions. They owe you a BIG favor for doing that shop.

@bgriffin wrote:

@ShopUntilYouDrop wrote:

If you people really understood how to value your time, gas, and misc costs, you would give up this silly hobby.

So when did you give it up?

Actually, I was wondering how many days @ShopUntilYouDrop has been a mystery shopper.

@ChrisCooper wrote:

1100 questions? I can't fathom that. All my shops so far this year probably don't total that number of questions. They owe you a BIG favor for doing that shop.

I sent a friend a screen-shot of the last page of the report at 1:30 a.m. She was shocked I was still working, then had the audacity to break it down into dollars and cents for me. ie. value per 1100 questions. After a long silence, she declared I had "No $ents!"

@glennice2003 wrote:

Whenever going on an assignment, I walk in with the attitude this person is going to give me 'excellent' service because I will do nothing to prevent them from getting a superb report. I have heard or read some comments from shoppers who go in looking for something wrong.​

I walk in with a neutral attitude, no preconceptions of good or bad. I handle my reports the same way; I am Switzerland. We as MS'ers need to stay neutral and just report the facts. On the rare occasion that there is one of those pesky "in your opinion" questions, I will then give my honest opinion just like what the client wants.

Indy 101 you do NOT have my sympathy. You are an independent contractor and you have expenses and a value. If you choose to pass and leave it for the desperate that wish to buy Ramen Noodles and mac and cheese to get by until the end of the month they will appreciate it.

As for me, If it is not fun AND A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL EXPERIENCE I AIN'T GONNA DO IT!

Unfortunately there are Newbies and suckers who can not calculate the profitability of a shop that is born every minute. The Newbies will acquire wisdom and the suckers will go broke.

@AZwolfman wrote:

@bgriffin wrote:

@ShopUntilYouDrop wrote:

If you people really understood how to value your time, gas, and misc costs, you would give up this silly hobby.

So when did you give it up?

Actually, I was wondering how many days @ShopUntilYouDrop has been a mystery shopper.

"Hobby" is the key word here. definition, " an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for PLEASURE."
Different strokes for different folks. If you are a senior for example and go to the mall on a shop for a doughnut and coffee and the mystery shop company pays for it and you talk with the other seniors some days you get a doughnut for the effort it takes you to report the shop. like doing a crossword puzzle, also a hobby.

I do not engage in that hobby myself

If you go to the beach and do a convenience store or fast food shop and maybe a gas shop or bank and do the reports on the beach instead of doing crossword puzzles the experience is free, You do not pay for gas, you do not pay for food, and you do not pay for a crossword puzzle book.

When the summer is over you go back to your school guard crossing post (also a hobby) as it does not pay well but it is community service and you are appreciated. and it pays better than mystery shopping.with none of the negative aspects of Mystery shopping.

When the mystery shop companies start tossing nickles around like they are manhole covers I just step back, hope they get a hernia or flaked by disgruntled newbies who give up mystery shopping forever on the lat day the shop can be performed.

Piled hip deep.

It amazes me the number of people who seem to be perpetually pissed off at this industry yet still continue to be a part of it. If it pissed me off that bad I would find something else to do.

I saw a shop for a Mexican restaurant. I checked Yelp and found that the reviews were poor. It is one of those shops you get NO PAY because you have to go elsewhere and get dinner.

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

I saw a shop for a Mexican restaurant. I checked Yelp and found that the reviews were poor. It is one of those shops you get NO PAY because you have to go elsewhere and get dinner.

But the diarrhea is FREE!

Yes, those questions take over 12 hrs & plus a night of lost sleep since its due the next morning..

I had a scheduler send me an email requesting I consider performing an assignment which he needed performed urgently. He mentioned I could request a bonus, but then indicated up to $5 is what they consider a large bonus. In response, I advised him of the location and the cost for me to drive two ways. He sent me a smirk response stating 'Teamwork' is what they considered when sending these request. In addition, he said I had performed this job before and so they were trying to see if I would "Help Out." I had never performed the shop before in my history of shopping. I would take a loss driving the distance with only a pay of $15 and $5 bonus. So, I then asked if there were at least two or three other assignments in the area and that would help. But, he said they do not have info on other companies and I could look around. So, I respectfully declined and thanked him for considering me. I mean today, in this world, $5 is nothing. The buying power is similar to 1 cent. $20 would half fill my tank, but I shop to pay bills, not create them. I wonder how much he is paid for manipulating.

Actually I was wondering what business it is of yours how long I have been a mystery shopper.

I'm not going to comment on whether or not your experience is germane to this thread. IMO, particulars like the number of years we have been shopping, whether we shop as a hobby or income, etc., are absolutely appropriate. How we shop, how long we have shopped and why we shop all contribute to the opinions we have developed and how we approach problems.

There are many times I'll do the $5 grocery shops so I can get the reimbursement. Now, I don't want to sign up but only if I really need food. If I have to spend 30 mins in a store and spend 30-40 mins on the write up. $5 isn't enough. I won't be as detail and it will be $5 work.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2016 11:26PM by rosaestanli.

@LisaSTL wrote:

I'm not going to comment on whether or not your experience is germane to this thread. IMO, particulars like the number of years we have been shopping, whether we shop as a hobby or income, etc., are absolutely appropriate. How we shop, how long we have shopped and why we shop all contribute to the opinions we have developed and how we approach problems.

jeez, lisa, i've spent hours (literally) researching almost every topic/comment/thread on this site trying to find anything or even some kind of silly reference in german. i've found some spanish, some french and even something in arabic but...nichts in german. what gives???? i kinda/sorta expected a little better from you and you've disappointed. a 4 point deduction for a posting that is other-than-factual... for you.

@Sybil2 wrote:

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

I saw a shop for a Mexican restaurant. I checked Yelp and found that the reviews were poor. It is one of those shops you get NO PAY because you have to go elsewhere and get dinner.

But the diarrhea is FREE!

If I do not take the shop I do not get the experience thay talk about on yelp or the diarrhea

Oh,@bubbabubba, it's not just the moderators. Pretty sure everybody does a face palm after reading your posts. And it's Mrs bubbabubba who is the real hero.