How are you making money?
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I incorporate report time and and distance ($0.56/mile) to see if a shop is worth a drive. In addition, I use the reimbursement amounts to eliminate food expenses altogether, which in turn saves me at least $10 a day. $10 a day = ~$300 a month on food I didn't have to spend money on.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
That is helpful! I am hoping to eliminate the eating out budget for my family, so that is helpful! I am on a weight loss, eating clean plan, so the food shops usually don't work for me
The bigger your city, the more options there will be. Onw friend focuses on phone shops only. Another does apartment shops for $35/each. I prefer audits and will add other shops aeound those. For me, it hwlps to focus in on certain types of shops rather than tr ying to jump at every opportunity.
Thank you! Maybe food isn't for me then! They just barely pay! We don't have a ton of plAces, but we also don't have a huge number of mystery shoppers. People here have barely heard of it! Thanks again!
A word of advice for food shops is to always choose a "healthy" option. Granted, I know some placed you're limited to your selection. In those cases, focus on reducing your carbs (breads, tortilla, etc.) as much as possible and choose a non-sugar beverage such as tea.
Ex. If you have a Five Guys shop, order bunless and no cheese. If you have a dine-in shop, choose a salad with a low-fat / fat-free dressing and a protein (chicken, fish, etc.).
Yes, many food shops don't pay well, as say a typical bank shop; however, take into consideration the cost savings for food. Like I said, for me, $10-20 / day is what I consider how much I would typically pay in meals for a day if I didn't mystery shopped for food.
Ex. If you have a Five Guys shop, order bunless and no cheese. If you have a dine-in shop, choose a salad with a low-fat / fat-free dressing and a protein (chicken, fish, etc.).
Yes, many food shops don't pay well, as say a typical bank shop; however, take into consideration the cost savings for food. Like I said, for me, $10-20 / day is what I consider how much I would typically pay in meals for a day if I didn't mystery shopped for food.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
Yes I have a minimum. I won't get off my sofa for less than $15.00. I generally average about $25-$30 an hour.
Yes! Guess I'm thinking too in the box when it comes to food. I'm only shopping a few companies, so maybe if I expand I'll see that other places pay better. Can I realistically make $800 a month?
I conducted shops for 14 years as a hobby, mostly restaurants. I just started being more serious about 6 months ago. My method for accepting shops seems to be constantly evolving. A few months ago I wouldn't take shops that pay under $20, today I will completely take a shop that pays $6 if it means I'm in the shop for only a couple of minutes. But those types of low shops are rare for me and I would never make a route with them. Most days I make between $80-$150 and that is usually about 4-5 hours of work per day, including reporting time. I rarely take restaurants unless they also pay a decent fee.
I am registered with over 100 companies and will continue to register with new ones. Some companies have no work until suddenly they do. In just over 6 months, the amount of work available to me has increased greatly. Of course, this can vary depending on where you live.
I am registered with over 100 companies and will continue to register with new ones. Some companies have no work until suddenly they do. In just over 6 months, the amount of work available to me has increased greatly. Of course, this can vary depending on where you live.
Thank you!! How do you keep up with all the companies? Like, scheduling shops and keeping them all up to date and paid in full?
@dandl wrote:
Thank you!! How do you keep up with all the companies? Like, scheduling shops and keeping them all up to date and paid in full?
I have a spreadsheet that lists all of my companies with the login info. I also have two bookmarks with companies listed. One bookmark has companies with shops in my area and all the login info is saved. The other bookmark has companies with few to no shops listed.
I keep a monthly spreadsheet of all my work that lists the company, date, amounts, and pay dates. Then I keep a spreadsheet of all my expected pay dates (in date order), company, amount, and method of payment. At a glance I can see who owes me how much and when I expect the payment. It takes only seconds per day to keep the spreadsheet up to date and has made my accounting system so easy.
Looks like I need to work on my spreadsheet skills! Thank you!
I live in Texas and travel a 150 mile radius twice a month. I have a small travel trailer so my accommodations are much lower than hotel rates. I take restaurant jobs for meals and I always ask for s take home container making one meal last as two. My vehicle gets about 25 mpg. Traveling to metro areas grosses me about 700.00 each trip but I do work 12 hour days when I travel. In town jobs produce additional income. My gross income is about 2,000.00 per month. Mystery Shopping is not an easy road income.
How fun is that! Wow! I have considered doing out of town shops. I do have kiddos so I can't do that, but love the sound of it! How inspiring! I would love to make $2,000! What kind of shops do you do other than meals? How do you stay organized?
@dandl wrote:
How fun is that! Wow! I have considered doing out of town shops. I do have kiddos so I can't do that, but love the sound of it! How inspiring! I would love to make $2,000! What kind of shops do you do other than meals? How do you stay organized?
Thanks. It is both fun and hard. After the assignments are completed (4-5 days) I play. See the sights, shop, theaters, local attractions. I never work and play same days. I have a book on small business operations which provided info on organizational skills. Also, I hold an MBA and worked many years before I was able to build up my MS job base to go full time. No children. My Bichon Frise doggie likes to travel with me. Gold certified, 11 years doing this. It was a hard start but did get easier as I learned the ropes. Good work for me to work independent of the office politics, the backstabbing coworkers and erratic behavior of bosses. Money not as good, but the happy level much higher.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2015 01:56PM by camelliac612.
I've only been shopping for 6 months, but I usually make 800-900 per month. There are numerous small town within a 70 mile radius. I take bonused shops in those towns when they appear, and when I know I'm going a particular place, I start looking for other jobs to do on the same day, either on the way or in that location.
My goal is $40 per day, but I regularly make more than that. I go to any length to fix anything I screwed up, and I also complete every assignment no matter how much I don't want to in the moment.
I want to be known as someone who is so frickkin reliable that they give me a job and then never give it another moments thought. Nothing will keep me from completing a shop except weather conditions so horrible that my life is in danger.
I rarely do food shops. They take an inordinate amount of time, plus they don't usually pay well. I don't like fast food and I do have to be paid to eat it. I will do most any other kind of job as long as it meets my $10 per hour, and 55 cents per mile requirement. Even if it only meets that when bundled with other jobs. Thats fine.
I take gas station routes when I can.
I agree with camelliac about the happy level.
I thrive on mystery shopping for some reason.
My goal is $40 per day, but I regularly make more than that. I go to any length to fix anything I screwed up, and I also complete every assignment no matter how much I don't want to in the moment.
I want to be known as someone who is so frickkin reliable that they give me a job and then never give it another moments thought. Nothing will keep me from completing a shop except weather conditions so horrible that my life is in danger.
I rarely do food shops. They take an inordinate amount of time, plus they don't usually pay well. I don't like fast food and I do have to be paid to eat it. I will do most any other kind of job as long as it meets my $10 per hour, and 55 cents per mile requirement. Even if it only meets that when bundled with other jobs. Thats fine.
I take gas station routes when I can.
I agree with camelliac about the happy level.
I thrive on mystery shopping for some reason.
CoffeeQueen, I see a good future for you in everything you do. My dad would teach, "whatever it takes to be the best." And that included what you stated. Jobs to completion, providing exceptional and accurate reporting no matter the pay rate. Become that shopper everyone wants. I read many books ordered thru Amazon. Best to you.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2015 03:21PM by camelliac612.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2015 03:21PM by camelliac612.
Id go for happiness everyday! I don't mind putting in elbow grease! Really excited about this journey! Love your dedication!
You mind sharing the books? Thank you so much! I have a passion for customers getting the experience that the company wanted to portray. I love being the voice of that!
dandl -
Check out the archives of Mystery Shopper Magazine (link at the bottom of Forum pages). There has been an ongoing series of interviews of shoppers who each make $2K/month or more. Plus the treasure trove of 100 issues worth of invaluable info. will get you to your own next level, no matter what level you're at now.
Check out the archives of Mystery Shopper Magazine (link at the bottom of Forum pages). There has been an ongoing series of interviews of shoppers who each make $2K/month or more. Plus the treasure trove of 100 issues worth of invaluable info. will get you to your own next level, no matter what level you're at now.
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