Anakin - I have been shopping since December 2009, so less than two years. At first I was doing really low fee shops and I was glad to get them. I knew I had to get some experience. I was a real disaster when I started so I needed a lot of shaping up. I don't know for sure what people are talking about when they talk about high fees. Everything is colored by my own experience.
I know that Corporate Research starts out posting a shop at a modest fee, but they have an escalating program that increases the shop steadily during the month until someone picks it up. This works out great for me. I do a lot of shops for them that add up to some very good days. When you're getting good shops, it doesn't take a lot of them to make up a good day. Lots of the stations and ice cream shops will get up to $20 to $40, sometimes $50. I've discovered that watching their website on a regular basis pays off for me.
I also shop a lot for Market Force and I've done three shops for Sentry. I don't take a shop unless I feel like I'm getting a fair deal. It doesn't have to be spectacular, but it has to be reasonable and fit into my day. I know everybody is in this to make money. (Me too, me too.) There are a lot of companies and a lot of shops out there. I can find jobs I want to do that I think are reasonable and paid fairly, and those are the ones I take.
I concentrate on doing what I can to run a better business for myself. I can't change how others run their businesses. When I find one of their businesses that fits in with my business, BINGO, I win. I'm always looking for someone with honest work, clear guidelines, reasonable expectations, and fair pay. I have not been disappointed.
I've been shopping for two years this coming December. As time goes by, I've become more efficient at planning and execution. At the same, the work seems easier and I'm getting shops that pay more. I'm making more money for less hours expended. I'm working some hard, long days on the road because I work the boonies, but I'm also getting a lot of lazy days hanging around the house.
I do a lot of things wrong. I haven't signed up with enough companies. I'm not technically proficient. I haven't attended conferences and established networks with others who might be helpful, or at least friendly and supportive. I could do a lot better if I worked harder and applied myself more consistently. I thought about video shopping, which I understand pays better. I spent some time investigating that, and many shoppers were willing to share helpful information. The upshot of that was I decided I didn't want to be a video shopper. I didn't think I'd like it. That might have been a mistake. But actually, this is working out pretty well for me anyway.
From some of your posts, I'm sensing that you may be frustrated at the large number of low paying shops, and how hard it is to get real information about the nickels and dimes of this business. I don't think there are large numbers of high paying shops, whatever "high" means. I believe there are a few high paying shops here and there, but I could be wallowing around in ignorance. Maybe there are tons of them and I just haven't found them, or I haven't met the criteria to learn about them.
This business is just like any other business. We'll all trying to make a nickel, and it's hard to come by. Those who work the hardest, the smartest, and the longest are probably going to get the most rewards. That won't be me. I'm 73 and I'm only going to work hard, smart, and long every now and then. I do sincerely believe, though, that mystery shopping can be a pretty good job for someone who goes at it seriously and full time.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.