I am in mostly in the "just for fun" category of mystery shopping, though I also do it for income at times.
While I try to keep my MS income in the $20/hour range, I accept different shops for different reasons.
1. PAY ME enough and I'll do anything: I don't shop McDonald's for "fun." I do them only when they pay well. If I have to eat anyway, then I might consider the reimbursement part of the compensation. If I do six fast food shops in a day (and yes, I've done that many times and more), it's not about reimbursement, it's about earning fees. I have a healthy credit life, so it's never a problem to spend and get reimbursed 4-8 weeks later.
2. Things I HAVE to do but don't want to pay for: Oil changes, haircuts, and routine meals on the go fall into this category. A fee is nice, but if I can save $30 on an oil change by writing a 30-minute report, I've just made $60/hour. I'm not counting the time it took to get the oil change, because I would have spent that time getting it whether it was a shop or not. In this case, the reimbursement IS income.
3. Things I LIKE to do but really can't afford: I LIKE to eat at Texas Roadhouse, but it would be a rare treat were it not for MS'ing. With two locations nearby and wifey shopping, it's now a regular date-night option every few weeks. The better the restaurant, the less they need to offer a fee or bonus. ACL falls into this category. I did a great location last night for a $50 reimbursement only. If I spent an hour on prep, post-visit call, and the report, then I feel like I made $50/hr and spent it on a nice dinner. They have other locations that I don't like as much, but I'll do for a small $5-$10 bonus.
ACL communicates well, pays on time, and provides somewhat picky but fair feedback. I enjoy working with them and take pride when they find my report to be flawless (as they did last night!)
However, if you live in central Texas, I should warn you that the locations are terrible, the communication is horrible, the reports are onerous, the editors are unfair, and the pay is terribly weak. Please avoid central Texas locations!
AndrewTX
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