Hello guys, I'm interested in jumping into the video shop world and trying to figure out which companies are reliable and best for getting your feet wet. Also who provide equipment because I don't have equipment of my own.

As far as I know you only have two choices if you need to borrow equipment. Ellis (EPMS) sends loaners and my understanding is their training is good. Measure is loaning it now, but I've never heard any feedback on how well they train you.

Yes, it looks like you will need to do some Ellis video apartment shops in order to learn on loaned equipment these days.

Remember, it is best to do several traditional (no video) shops of the same type before trying the video version. That way you will be confident about the shop and can concentrate on keeping the target in the picture, etc.

That's a good idea. Thank You, I have tons of Ellis shops around me I live in NYC. A friend of mines does tons of Ellis shops and is pleased. I may need to get my feet wet and get into them first.

walesmaven Wrote:
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> Yes, it looks like you will need to do some Ellis
> video apartment shops in order to learn on loaned
> equipment these days.
>
> Remember, it is best to do several traditional (no
> video) shops of the same type before trying the
> video version. That way you will be confident
> about the shop and can concentrate on keeping the
> target in the picture, etc.

That's a good idea. Thank You, I have tons of Ellis shops around me I live in NYC. A friend of mines does tons of Ellis shops and is pleased. I may need to get my feet wet and get into them first.

Sinclair Customer Metrics does video car shops and will loan equipment.

Yes, but nowhere near the NYC area.

James Bond 007.5 Wrote:
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> Sinclair Customer Metrics does video car shops and
> will loan equipment.


Yes in NY food and retail only. I've done a few for them.

Wait. Are you saying they have food and retail video shops in NY or are you saying yes you're in NY and they only have food and retail but no video car shops? lol

bgriffin Wrote:
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> Wait. Are you saying they have food and retail
> video shops in NY or are you saying yes you're in
> NY and they only have food and retail but no video
> car shops? lol

I'm saying I'm in NY and they only have food and retail lol!

AH. I was like, I'm gonna be in NY soon and if they have video there I need to know about it! lol

When you are ready to buy equipment get the PV-700, which can be bought used for less than $500.

Another way to give yourself an edge over your competition who still use motel internet is to upload files using Verizon's service and paying extra for their high speed data. I can upload 1 GB in 9 minutes while my competitor who uses slower connections (like at a hotel) takes 30 minutes to upload 1 GB.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2014 03:05PM by aggiejim72.

I would recommend you buy a new camera. Since the PV-700 appears to have been discontinued and replaced with the PV-500EVO, which many of us have. In the past Measure Consumer Perspectives has offered the rigs at a discounted rate. It will include everything you need to start shopping.

When looking for internet upload the speed will only matter to you. The higher speed connections will mean less risk of timing out, but I have uploaded video with various connections and the MSCs really don't care which you use.

Something else you might find interesting. With video shopping and shoppers, it is much more about cooperation than competition. So much of what we do has extremely long rotations. In some cases we can never return. I helped train a local shopper in video and if I know route shoppers will be coming through the area I make sure to watch out for assignments they can add while here.

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> I would recommend you buy a new camera. Since the
> PV-700 appears to have been discontinued and
> replaced with the PV-500EVO, which many of us
> have.

The PV-500 EVO 2 II HD 1080 could be difficult for a new shopper who is doing their first video shop because of the data compression, but it might not be. I am using this camera on strip-bar audits because of its superior night-vision capability. Not just working for companies but started doing my own company shops for clients that the other companies won't touch, like gentelmen's clubs and adult bookstores. There is bank to be made in video shopping.. In my case, a Texas club in Houston needed proof that a manager was working with some dancers who were going way to far in the VIP area where the club's hidden cameras couldn't see. I was able to video the activities which took place in the dark. This particular camera produces a crisp image for the client.

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> The higher speed connections
> will mean less risk of timing out, but I have
> uploaded video with various connections and the
> MSCs really don't care which you use.

Before I shelled out for the expensive data plans I used the hotels internet and during the hours it sometimes took to upload I had to always worry about the connection dropping and then having to start the whole upload again. If you are on the road and you have to be out making money by 8am and you find out at 6am that your video didn't upload then you are screwed and will feel sick all day that it was your fault the client didn't get their video. Also, I can do many more shops than my competitors because I know that I can upload in minutes so I can output more video. Verizon allows me to add data anytime so I only pay for what I'm going to use. By doing more video shops I make my nut faster each month.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2014 03:30PM by aggiejim72.

Seeking out Airbnb locations that have proven fast Internet is another way to go. You can email the host a link to a site to test upload speed, to verify that it will work.

In addition, when I am on a road trip, I have always negotiate deadlines with evry MSC that I am shopping for. As long as they know that the shop is complete and I say that the product is good, they are happy to wait. In rare instances, the MSC sends a prepaid FedEx label and I overnight the SD card. More than just your way to skin a cat, Aggie.

As for me, you are more than welcome to my share of the "gents' club" market.

I've never gotten up at 6 am and found my video didn't upload. Funny. And your still obsessed with video shoppers being your competition. SMH.

Ditto to what Lisa said. At the hotel, I'll upload any "orphan shops" [one or two shops for a MSC while I'm awake, then I'll upload the 3-5 shops for one MSC to do during the night. I plug in a USB drive and let the laptop run a slideshow while I sleep, just to make sure it doesn't accidently shut down. Also, nature will usually call about 3AM and I'll check to see how the upload is going. Usually it's done by then, so I can go ahead and shut down the laptop.

And most of the hotels I stay at have upload speeds between 2 and 4 mbps. In fact I find one particular brand in the Choice family to have exceptional upload speeds...and the rooms aren't that expensive.

What brand is that 007?

And to add this, upload speeds have never determined the number of shops I can or cannot complete in a day. That is dependent on the type of shop and how much driving is involved, nothing more.

I don't want anyone to get the impression video shopping companies operate like Market Force does with their traditional shopping, have that report in by midnight or you won't be paid. Our videos do not go directly to the client and, just like traditional shops, there is a lag time for editing of both the report and the video. Video shopping MSCs and schedulers have usually shopped and traveled so they are well aware of any issues that might arise. They are not ogres who would ever expect you to delay your entire route because you have a problem uploading one night. They also don't keep some super secret algorithm system that kicks you out because you used slow hotel Wifi one too many times. Provide quality video and keep in touch about any issues and you will be in demand.

As to buying a used camera, be very careful. Some components of these rigs are sensitive and easily damaged. When checking places like ebay or Amazon you also might think you are getting a complete rig when in fact you are just getting the DVR. To then buy the individual components can easily jack up the price to just buying a complete new set from a reliable source. I haven't checked lately, but AFAIK the PV-500 is still the model preferred by most of the video companies. Bgriffin probably bought his rig more recently than even James. Hopefully he will weigh in on the subject.

I bought my cam in march but actually did get a used rig. I did not get it on eBay though, I bought it from a shopper who was getting out of the business.

I will say when you get a cam, don't get discouraged if breaking into video isn't an overnight thing. I was almost to the frustrated point before I started doing well with video.

Quality Inn, everyone I've stayed at since I started video shopping has at least 2 mbps upload speed and there are a handful that have in excess of 3 mbps.

rovergirl529 Wrote:
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> What brand is that 007?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/27/2014 05:42PM by James Bond 007.5.

And for ideas on protecting your investment in a video rig, here's an article from Mystery Shopper Magazine:

[www.mysteryshoppermagazine.com]

I'm actually looking at another possibility--modifying a hardshell makeup case for camera storage. The only drawback is it doesn't have room for the power strip.

To those who might read this article that are in the Western United States Eagle Eye Retail Intelligence provides the necessary equipment for doing shops. Their site is [www.eagleeyeshops.com]