I have been successfully shopping, auditing and merchandising for six months. I have completed a number of assignments for a certain company that used to pay $10.00 to complete an easy assignment. I live in a rural area, so even if the job is easy, it still costs me to drive even if I stack the assignments together to complete several in one day. About two months ago the pay decreased to $8, then I received notification that I was to be assigned some job "permanently". These were previously "self assigned" so I could pick and chose the jobs. I supposed no one else in my area was available and besides I have never had a problem with any of my shops. Then the pay then went to $6 because they were described as very easy (same shops as the $10 ones). I hate to cancel the permanent shops because they add up to about $150 per month. But if the pay had not decreased I would be making about $300 from this one company. I know I should just tell them I don't want to be permanently assigned but if I don't the pay will never increase. Any suggestions?

I know what you mean. I have the same problem maybe it is the same company.
I had 10 shops that were 10 a piece and then in Jan they said that it was 6 per shop but they opened up the shops for everyone. I didn't renew them and to see what happened and it was about 1 week past due for these shops and they emailed me and said that they would give them back to me for 10 apiece. I too live in a very rural area and these shops are in the middle of nowhere and I too have to travel to get to them. I sometimes on shops let them sit for the first two weeks of the month and by the middle of the month they go up in price. To get your price I found out it is a waiting game to see who budges first and most of the time they do.

I've done the same with success, also I've negotiated for better prices. You've paid me this much before, I would like to have the same, please.

The less the mystery shopping agency can pay you the more they make. One company I shop with offers Exon/Mobil shops for $4.00. They have got to be kidding. That is not worth the time to write the report, let alone drive there, and spend 10-15 minutes physically doing the shop.

Wait out the shops till they go up. After three weeks they move up quick. If somebody want to do them for 4 let them work for nothing. I wait take less shops but make 10 to 15 a shop. Did one the other day for same company was paid $40. Pays to wait.

Has anyone shopped for Pacific Research? I DO NOT RECOMMEND SHOPPING FOR THEM!

One of their clients is ****** Doughnuts. I had signed up to be a shopper and when I saw the jobs was for Krispy Kreme, I never accepted any assignment. They called me and talked me into it and even offered me a bonus for the driving distance. The report is 114 questions long and requires detail comments for any no answer, plus 21-30 photographs. So the job went from $15 with an added bonus of $15 to $30 plus cost of required purchase.

This is one of them jobs they expect you to do each month between the 1st-10th. When they called me at home I still was unsure about shopping for them, but did agree to do it ONE month. I did the assignment and when the next month came around, it was automatically assigned to me again, and their attitude is, you will do it each month. I emailed them and said I really wasn't happy with how much is involved and they asked me to do it again, because it probably wouldn't be as bad, so like a sucker, I agreed.

The first assignment I did took me around 2 hours to complete on site with another hour at least submitting the report online and photographs. My pay was to be $30 plus $10.71 for the required purchase. My total invoice $40.71. It takes 6-8 weeks to be paid. I checked the online status of my invoice and they have deducted points for the report and have reduced my pay to a total of $23.71.
I shopped for them again in July but that report is still in editing so no telling what they will do to it.

I submitted photographs required plus every NO response photograph and then one month later they deduct from what they owe me.

I would NOT recommend anyone shop for Pacific Research.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2007 08:29PM by JacobJ.

I suggest you dont do Krispy Kreme anymore. I dont do any shop that deducts for errors. I shop for 7 companies and they are always real nice about just email me if they find an error

The reason the fees keep decreasing is because the market is flooded with shoppers. Due to the recent, incorrect, press coverage, everybody and anybody is trying to jump on this bandwagon. The media makes MSing sound like quick and easy money to shop and you get to keep all this wonderful stuff. The reality is any wonderful stuff is always above and beyond reimbursements and most assignments are time consuming with lots of paperwork and very little pay. I cannot believe all the reimbursement only shops out there as if it is some kind of privilege to shop at their establishments.

I do not blame the new shoppers for accepting such low paying assignments because they do not know any better. I blame the MS companies for insulting us with their fees. I insist upon averaging $15 an hour for this work. That includes searching for assignments, printing paperwork, drive time, time at location and report time. I don't make as much as I used to overall, but I only put in work that pays me for my time.

I have one company I do permanent assignments for. I am assigned 8 shops every 3 months. I clear $10 a shop and it takes less than 30 minutes each to print, drive, conduct the shop and do the report. I wish there were more like them.

If you are new good luck and if you are not, you know what I am talking about.

RedRabbitt,

Just to let you know, MSP's have a statement in the independent contractor agreement that doesn't allow you to mention their name and the clients they shop in the same posting.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2009 03:09PM by surveygrrll.