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    <title>Member Introductions</title>
    <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/list/11</link>
    <description><![CDATA[This is the place to introduce yourself to the community--tell us a little about yourself.  Share your story.  Or just say hi to let us know you're here.]]></description>
    <language>EN</language>
    <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:39:13 -0500</pubDate>
    <lastBuildDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:39:13 -0500</lastBuildDate>
    <category>Member Introductions</category>
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    <item>
      <title>Re: Keeping track</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47417/47468#msg-47468</link>
      <author>nicelytwicely</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I use Excel as well, but with date of shop, company, business shopped, base pay, total reimbursement/pay due and a column for any notes, I put down new shops in bold, and unbold them when they're completed. I also insert shops I've applied for in red, modifying or deleting them, depending on whether they're assigned.

When I'm paid for a job, I move it a duplicate section lower on the page. I do like using auto-sum for both sections, seeing not only what's been paid, but what's to come.  

Whatever system works to keep track for each of us but yes, we must keep track!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47417/47468#msg-47468</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:39:13 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Saying Hi!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47415/47421#msg-47421</link>
      <author>Mert</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi, MrsFrank.  Welcome.  We love swapping stories.  Soon, you'll have your own to share!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47415/47421#msg-47421</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:31:36 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Keeping track</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47417/47417#msg-47417</link>
      <author>MrsFrank</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi, all -- Seems that organization is key and that keeping track of payments is key. I would like to share what I do and solicit your comments and suggestions. Perhaps there could be a place on this forum for forms submitted. (?)

I set up an Excel spread sheet, and have column heading of: Job #,Shop Name, TargetPerson, Location, Date Sched, Assigned by Co, To be Paid,	Mileage/Reimb?, Completed/Submitted, Paid, RT Mileage.

Under Mileage/Reimbursement, I record the amount of if relevant. I like the Excel spreadsheet so I can sort by company and hope to make less than $599/company. This spreadsheet will let me do that.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Comments?]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47417/47417#msg-47417</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:28:44 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Saying Hi!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47415/47415#msg-47415</link>
      <author>MrsFrank</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hello, all - I'm new, too and just getting into Mystery Shopping. Looking forward to hearing your stories!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47415/47415#msg-47415</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:19:35 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Car lot shops</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47406#msg-47406</link>
      <author>dee shops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[SteveSoCal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

&gt; 
&gt; Mert, at least the Toyota shop would give you
&gt; something to talk about on the test drive! 
&gt; &quot;So....what's the recommended action to take if
&gt; the car won't stop?&quot;


LMAO!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47406#msg-47406</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:14:28 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Car lot shops</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47405#msg-47405</link>
      <author>SteveSoCal</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Back when I was a FT MSer, I would get $75 for new car shops with test drives.  No price negotiation or credit check required, so you could give a fake number.  

It was hard for me to stomach at that rate, but I very good at getting in, asking for a test drive and getting out ASAP.  Anything paying less than that seems unbearable to me.

Mert, at least the Toyota shop would give you something to talk about on the test drive!  &quot;So....what's the recommended action to take if the car won't stop?&quot;]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47405#msg-47405</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:10:49 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Car lot shops</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47400#msg-47400</link>
      <author>Mert</author>
      <description><![CDATA[The last car shops I did were Toyotas.  I would imagine their dealerships may be a bit slow, but their shops are still being offered.  Hazardous duty pay?]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47400#msg-47400</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:49:58 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: New Forum Member-Looking for Movie Checking CO and GOOD mystery shop companies</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47350#msg-47350</link>
      <author>NeedsGoodJobs</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I'm new to the forum, but not to mystery shopping, been doing it for about 5-6 years at least.

 I'm trying to find some companies that do both, mystery shops or audits AND Movie Checking,as I did hundreds of movies for a company out of Los Angeles, CA.

 Now. though, in the past few years, their dispatchers are awful in our area.. They had one who always screwed up the asssignment and then we went through a phase where there was hardly ANY shops available in our area.

 They were called TES, and I don't know if I can ever work for them again, they were so horrible to work for, in the end, though they were very good to work for in the beginning.

 There's got to be more than 2 Movie Checking companies in the whole United States.

 How do you find out about them, and how do you know if they are even WORTH working for?]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47350#msg-47350</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:34:43 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Cool Motorcycles shops!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47339#msg-47339</link>
      <author>moreshops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hey anyone in the houston area and love to ride a motorcycle? www.montereymysteryshopping.com need shoppers the pay is $25.00 that should be fun i do not ride motorcycle lol.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47339#msg-47339</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:33:09 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: New - Quick Question About Earnings</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47317/47330#msg-47330</link>
      <author>Flash</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Don't plan on it as regular full time employment.  Job availability varies greatly by area--major metropolitan area, large city, small city, town, rural.  It also varies by shopper saturation in your area--areas of higher unemployment and/or retirees tend to have a lot more shoppers.  It varies by how far you are willing to travel--if I doubled the distance I would almost double the number of jobs available.

Several years ago, while the economy was still booming, there were a lot more clients being shopped.  With the collapse of the economy, some clients have gone out of business entirely, some have reduced the number of locations open, some have reduced the frequency of shops and some have eliminated shops entirely.  This combined with significantly more shoppers in my area has led to most shops being grabbed quickly at their original fee.  Shops that have been $7 for years I rarely did three years ago until the fee was raised to $14 or $21 and still that client was good for 15 jobs per month.  These days you grab them at $7 because they will all be gone from the job board within an hour of the time they are posted.  The client has also cut back the number of shops by 50% so it is even tough to get 15 of them per month any more.

My own shopping looks at the overall value of the shop to me, both in terms of the fee and the reimbursement.  Half to two-thirds of the value of the shops I do is in goods or services.  It is fees that pays your bills and reimbursements that can supplement your household budget when reimbursements are for items you would need to spend your own money on anyway.

In my current market, with my parameters about how far I am willing to travel, I earn around $500 in fees per month and $500 in reimbursements.  I view this as a very part time employment during retirement, but I am cherry picking what jobs are available.  If I took as many shops as I could schedule into a day I would be taking a whole lot of low value jobs and would work 4-6X as hard and perhaps double the fees monthly.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47317/47330#msg-47330</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:04:12 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Car lot shops</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47319#msg-47319</link>
      <author>iblessyah@yahoo.com</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Several just got bonussed here and I created a route with several of them in more rural areas, added in some quick retails that had been bonused in the same areas and then added a bunch of gas shops at $7.75 + $2.00 to make a fairly nice chunk of change tomorrow.  I've done the new car shops here in town and they were very easy to me and reports didn't take very long.  The route takes me south to Bowling Green where I'll spend the weekend with friends and teach one of them about mystery shopping and do a couple of shops while there to feed us.  lol  What a great perk.

Some of the regular car shops here went cheap.  I drove an Audi Q5 on Monday though and it's a dream.  And it's $50,000.  Wonder how long it would take me to save up on mystery shopper pay.  lololol  How many $7.00 gas shops?  700!!!  I've done the lesser priced ones and now will hold out for the higher end cars that pay more.  I find it fun to test drive the cars and I'm a talker so it's fun to talk to salespeople who love to hear themselves talk.  ;)

Happy shopping!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46664/47319#msg-47319</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:22:38 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>New - Quick Question About Earnings</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47317/47317#msg-47317</link>
      <author>moverton</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi There,

I am new to mystery shopping and was wondering if you tried to do this as a full-time job, what are the average earnings per month once you get rolling?  I am unemployed and just want to get an idea from people who are actually doing it successfully.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47317/47317#msg-47317</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:01:43 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: New Forum Member</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47316#msg-47316</link>
      <author>iblessyah@yahoo.com</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Welcome, welcome, welcome!!!  I'l learning lotsssss!!!!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47316#msg-47316</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:48:24 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: New Forum Member</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47315#msg-47315</link>
      <author>mrcomputer101</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Welcome to the Board! There is a Wealth of info here...]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47315#msg-47315</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:13:19 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: new as a shopper!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47307#msg-47307</link>
      <author>moreshops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Thank you all for the info!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47307#msg-47307</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:12:05 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: new as a shopper!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47306#msg-47306</link>
      <author>moreshops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Thank you for the info!Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
&gt; Great start!  Pay with most companies comes in
&gt; 30-45 days and it is a thrill to have your first
&gt; check and/or Paypal payment arrive.  Just make
&gt; sure you keep track of the jobs you have done and
&gt; the mileage driven.  The jobs done is to be able
&gt; to note when you were paid and that the amount was
&gt; correct.  The mileage is so that when you file
&gt; taxes for your 'business' that you have all the
&gt; deductions you are entitled to.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47306#msg-47306</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:06:31 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>New Forum Member</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47304#msg-47304</link>
      <author>bcavallero</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi Everyone,

I have been a Mystery Shopper &quot;dabbler&quot; for the past year, but would now like to become more involved in Mystery Shopping.  Since I am still new in this field, I am really looking forward to reading all of the information that seems to be available here.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47304/47304#msg-47304</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:54:26 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Hi all</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46269/47302#msg-47302</link>
      <author>dee shops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Thank you, rockrains, for the compliment.  :-)  Made my day.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46269/47302#msg-47302</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:43:18 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Hi all</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46269/47234#msg-47234</link>
      <author>AustinMom</author>
      <description><![CDATA[There's certainly plenty of information here!  Welcome!]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46269/47234#msg-47234</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:14:11 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: new as a shopper!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47233#msg-47233</link>
      <author>AustinMom</author>
      <description><![CDATA[The first month is hard ...... work, work, work, and no pay coming in.  Just wait, it'll seem like all the checks (or paypal deposits) will come at once and it'll feel great.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47233#msg-47233</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:13:28 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Introduction</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46936/47232#msg-47232</link>
      <author>AustinMom</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi, Candy, welcome - this is a really fun forum.  And lots of good information available.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46936/47232#msg-47232</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:12:18 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: JC AND ASSOCIATES</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47177/47211#msg-47211</link>
      <author>Flash</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Glad you got paid.  In the Mystery Shopping Discussion section there is an ongoing conversation about these companies.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47177/47211#msg-47211</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:35:42 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>JC AND ASSOCIATES</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47177/47177#msg-47177</link>
      <author>ladycakes</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I too was frustrated by JC and Associates. I was waiting for a payment from JULY,09 and just received payment thankfully from Market Stat. I hope they will be quicker paying than JC was and don't take shops away from me after I shopped them and was unable to do the report. Thus not getting paid for an additonal shop. I've been shopping for almost 4 yr. and I enjoy them when I get my just reward.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47177/47177#msg-47177</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:06:10 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: HOW DO I START MAKING MONEY?</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/42755/47103#msg-47103</link>
      <author>dee shops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[I thought what he meant was that he would help you both succeed and make extra money.  :-)]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/42755/47103#msg-47103</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:41:03 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: HOW DO I START MAKING MONEY?</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/42755/47092#msg-47092</link>
      <author>Mert</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi Tim.  Thanks for the offer of help.  You say &quot;I am here to help you succeed, and make extra money.&quot;  I mystery shop to earn extra money.  Is that what you're referring to?]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/42755/47092#msg-47092</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:56:20 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Hello!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46547/47047#msg-47047</link>
      <author>SteveSoCal</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Laws have changed a bit in Nevada recently.  You now need a work card from the Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board to mystery shop anywhere in Nevada. Shoppers are still employed by private investigation firms.

I would recommend QSI.  They are a good people and you can apply on their website.  If you are accepted, they will guide you through the process of applying for the work card.

http://www.qsispecialists.com/shoppersmain.htm

I recommend doing the research here before getting started.  You have to pay some money up front (there's no getting around it and it's not a scam), so unless you stick with it for a while, it may end up costing you.

You have certain advantages or working in Nevada that make for the additional cost.  You will most likely never have to fight for your payment or worry about wacky pay schedules.  You will also have your employer (the PI firm) to help out should there be a problem with your shop.  The odds of being treated unfairly are much less, and shop payments are generally higher.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46547/47047#msg-47047</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:33:40 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: new as a shopper!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47042#msg-47042</link>
      <author>Flash</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Great start!  Pay with most companies comes in 30-45 days and it is a thrill to have your first check and/or Paypal payment arrive.  Just make sure you keep track of the jobs you have done and the mileage driven.  The jobs done is to be able to note when you were paid and that the amount was correct.  The mileage is so that when you file taxes for your 'business' that you have all the deductions you are entitled to.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47042#msg-47042</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:14:59 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: Hello!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46547/47041#msg-47041</link>
      <author>moreshops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[yes but i think you need a permit.-------------------------------------------
&gt; Hello I'm new to this and want to know how I get
&gt; started. Are there any mystery shoppers in Las
&gt; Vegas,NV?]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/46547/47041#msg-47041</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:12:56 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>new as a shopper!</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47038#msg-47038</link>
      <author>moreshops</author>
      <description><![CDATA[Hi all i'am new at this sign up with sassie shop's i did ten shop's already no pay yet but got good rating.]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/47038/47038#msg-47038</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:07:50 -0500</pubDate>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Re: HOW DO I START MAKING MONEY?</title>
      <link>http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/42755/47006#msg-47006</link>
      <author>TimsList</author>
      <description><![CDATA[whilame Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
&gt; I would like to do movies, anyone know where I can
&gt; do mystery shoping  for movies. Trying to boarding
&gt; my mystery  experience.  
&gt; 
&gt; I also sign up for BestMark shop, it was an
&gt; experience, I had to go into the shoes store in
&gt; try on shoes. Of course you had to purchase them,
&gt; and return them the same day.  It was fun!  Again,
&gt; Bestmark mystery shop


There is one company i Have worked with before,  They do what they call trailer checks and Time checks. The trailer check involves you going to the movie theater revealing yourself to management and viewing and notating what trailers are playing before assigned movie.  The time checks are easy as well you simply have to notate the times listed for the assigned movies. Pays usually 5 to 10.00. 
google certified reports,]]></description>
      <category>Member Introductions</category>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.mysteryshopforum.com/read/11/42755/47006#msg-47006</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:18:42 -0500</pubDate>
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