Is there a list of Companies that's categorized by Timezone ?

Am wondering the easiest way to make sure I apply only to
companies that actually have work near me. Spent about
an hour signing up to freshen up my list only to realize the
majority of them are on the West Coast and I am East Coast.

Appreciate any ideas lists etc.

Just because a MSC is located in a different time zone does not mean that their clients are not located in your time zone. I work for several MSCs who are not even located in the United States but they have plenty of work for me where I live.

There is no short cut in this business and yes, it is a business. You need to do the legwork and register with as many companies as you can. As many people have mentioned in other threads, start with the "Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies" at the bottom of this page.

It really does not matter what time zone they are in for the most part. Sure, some of the smaller companies only have their local clients, but as a general rule companies have clients across the country. Think about it, generally we are shopping outfits that are franchises or have a lot of company stores. Exxon gas is not limited to one time zone, nor is McDonalds, Wells Fargo, IKEA, Macy's or the United States Postal Service. Time zone becomes important only if they specify that shops must be reported by midnight their time.

Also, just because a company does not have work in your area now doesn't mean they won't in 2 months.

Thought I might kick this off with some Mystery Shopping Companies with work on the East Coast:



About Face
Amusement Advantage
Ann Michaels
Ath Consulting
Cirrus Marketing
Ellis Management ---EPMS
Gfk
Iccds
Imyst
Ipsos
Marketviewpoint
Measure Consumer Perspectives
Mysteryshopper.net
Ritter Associates
Second to None
Service Excellence
Service Sleuth
Trendsource

Thanks shop2liveinfl

Not really looking for a shortcut more of a timesaver.

They all have jobs posted in the central time zone also...

And of the above list just off the top of my head Ann Michaels is located in the Chicago area which is a CST so the whole theory doesn't work with them...although ironically I am in IL and the work I do for them is mostly done in FL. It just proves the point that it doesn't matter where you are, where the company is, or what time zone it's located in...the work can be anywhere.

Liz

Hi Traveliz

Thats why I was hoping everyone would chime in to start a running list. I try to spend my whole 1-2 hours of spare time
wisely each week. Keep thinking I can't be the only one hoping to start my list with the companies that are known to
have work in my immediate area.

Thanks

The problem is most of the companies you listed truly have shops across the country, though there may be only a handful in your state. There are very few companies I am aware of that truly shop only a very small region. They are more likely to be client focused. There are not any real shortcuts. The only way I would truly know if there were shops in your area would be if I also shopped there, which would make me less likely to give you all the names.

Also that clients change hands frequently enough that I would not consider the time spent signing up a waste because they may get a new client a few months down the road. If you avoided signing up for those companies, you would not know when the new client arrives.

Thanks Shelly. I probably should have mentioned that I am a newbie here. Just found the job board and think its great that the locations are listed within the posts!!!

Some companies like About Face and Service Impact have websites that detail what states they have assignments in while others don't. Decided to stick to the job boards as some of these companies have very long sign up processes to be bothered with to receive endless emails with work on the wrong coast.

Ps why wouldn't you share your leads here? The world is big enough for the both of us to shop no? Thats why I posted my list
but to each his own I guess

Personally, I have way to much competition for jobs where I am. Since I do this as a side job, I am not always available, so I am sure that there are others who have direct contact with schedulers to get shops before they hit the boards, but I have a tough time finding more than a handful of jobs each week. I truly can't afford to say which companies have great jobs near where I live. It is about 90 minutes in any direction to the closest city even approaching 100,000, so that comes into play.

It is work to sign up for companies, but that is part of the cost of doing any business. Most people in business won't hand over a list of their best leads to their competitor.

When I think of my best shops both as ranked by pay and by enjoyment of the experience, they both came from companies I had been signed up with for many years when I got an email asking for assistance getting them completed. They were my first jobs with either company.

If you have questions about a specific company or how to do a specific shop, I will answer those questions when I am able.

I know you mentioned being busy, but it really see it as valuable to take the time to sign up with a variety of companies. When I started MSing, I was working full time as a teacher which included 5 weeks of summer school, working on my Master's degree, and had 2 kids in high school sports. Free time was not a luxury I had, but the money paid for grad school.

I agree with Shelly. My area is saturated with MS'ers and since this is a business, I am unlikely to randomly share my contacts and companies especially on a public forum. Sorry if this sounds harsh but the majority of us are MS'ing to make money or get reimbursed for food.

If you are in a generous mood, don't forget the homeless. I have given many a pizza, Coke or bottled water to someone down on their luck. I believe it was Servanne and her family who were giving out toiletry items to homeless people. Who knew a toothbrush and toothpaste could make someone's day?

Well that makes sense to me now! Its the opposite on the East Coast more shops than shoppers! In your position I probably wouldn't share so freely either.

MSPA will show you which MSC's have shops in your area.

buzz49202 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MSPA will show you which MSC's have shops in your
> area.


To be clear; MSPA will show you which member companies have posted shops in your area. That list is by no means a complete example of what shops may be available in your area.

busybme Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thought I might kick this off with some Mystery
> Shopping Companies with work on the East Coast:
>
>
>
> About Face
> Amusement Advantage
> Ann Michaels
> Ath Consulting
> Cirrus Marketing
> Ellis Management ---EPMS
> Gfk
> Iccds
> Imyst
> Ipsos
> Marketviewpoint
> Measure Consumer Perspectives
> Mysteryshopper.net
> Ritter Associates
> Second to None
> Service Excellence
> Service Sleuth
> Trendsource

Almost all these MSC's have work in Texas too.

When I went on vacation in Pennsylvania I was able to go to lunch for free with friends and treat my Grampa to dinner by signing up for shops with Marketforce and BARE. Warning, don't try this with the day of the week shop from BARE. I had to tell the scheduler's supervisor six months later that I was considering deactivating my account because I should not have to explain three times a week by email and text that NO, I would not do the Erie location, I was on vacation and live 1500 miles away only to be told each time "oh, we're contacting people who did it before."