I got a MCP email and they showed on (youtube) some fast casual shops, grocery shops, done with hidden camera and it looks like FUN!

So, how hard is it to carry this hidden camera around? I believe these shops pay more/better than the regular shops?

Yes they do tend to pay better. Hard is relative. Yes you don't necessarily have to remember as much because it is on film, or so you think. If there is a report it is still quicker to make notes than go through the video. Most still have some of the more complex scenarios and you do need to feel comfortable with your camera angles. The camera itself is mounted on you and the recorder is small enough to fit in a pocket. You do have to capture the target for a large percentage of the time even though you can't look at the display. It can be a challenge. I'm 5'4" and have had associates who are well over 6' tall, associates who would rather sit down next to me than across a desk or table, some who stand too damn close whether I'm filming or not and some who must have ADD or are practicing dodging a bullet based on the how much they jump around.

The shops I have done aren't hard, but I'm always nervous that my equipment will stop working or I won't get the right angles. Practicing really helps.

You definitely have to be comfortable with the equipment first. It's weird, on one hand you need to forget it is all filmed and on the other be aware of it at all times. Angles I worry about, equipment failure I try not to think about. It is something that has happened to everyone at one time or another and we have little to no control. Every video shop is a little leap of faith

Sunny,
You will find a ton of info if you just do a search here on"video" for all dates/ What MSC contacted you? I ask because hooking up with a company that does not have a video track record could present problems for a new shopper that I will not get into here.

walesmaven Wrote:
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> Sunny,
> You will find a ton of info if you just do a
> search here on"video" for all dates/ What MSC
> contacted you? I ask because hooking up with a
> company that does not have a video track record
> could present problems for a new shopper that I
> will not get into here.


Well, it was MCP who had a video of shop. From there, I went to youtube and watched a ton of them.

Is MCP a good company for video? I do the exit interviews and the mystery shops and always get paid

I have done MCP videos and enjoy working with them. I do not know how they are in terms of training for inexperienced video shoppers, since I had a lot of shops before they got into the video business.

For new video shoppers who have not taken Carrie's course (Undercver Essentials) I recommend Instant Replays or Clear Evaluations as companies that will provide a lot of new shopper support.

As Lisa has said, every video shop is a leap of faith (well put!). The real fun is putting together scenarios and enacting them. Remember, YOU are in the video, even though you are behind the camera! Don't bother to buy your own equipment until you have done bour a half dozen shops with equipment loaned by the MSCs. By then you will have enough experience to know whether you love it or hate it.

My problem is I really don't want to spend all that money for the equipment only to find out that there is nothing available within 200 miles!

robin,
Check with all seven of the MSCs that sponsor the VSN forum, plus EPMS and you will have a pretty good idea about shop opportunities. Oh, and there is another fast growing video company based in AZ that I am not now remembering the name of, (traveling with a different computer, so don't have it nearby) that my well have a lot in your area. BUT, if there are only a few videos per month near you, you can just continue to use equipment loaned by the companies. You will miss the $10-15 bonus per shop for having your own equipment, but after a year or so, you will be better able to judge whethr or not it is time to invest. IIf you do 20 videos in a year, you should probably buy your own equipment. Not only will the payoff period be short, but also, it will be shorterthan you might think! That's because shoppers with their own rquipment get the added bonus of being much preferred by EVERY video MSC. I just picked up $180 in urgent bonus videos because only a shopper who had her own equipment could meet the client deadline when the original shopper broke her ankle and could not complete the assignments. And believe you me, video schedulers have so much interaction with every shopper that your performance in such clutch situations WILL be remembered and rewarded with priority for future shops!

Robin,

An opportunity to profit by owning equipment hasn't been mentioned; you can solicit local work and keep all the money. In a 3 yr. period, I've completed in excess of 50 jobs in my area, the highest of which paid me $400. The initial cost of my PV-500, was returned in less than 3 mos.

In addition, if 2 individuals were equal in ranking, but 1 had gear it could tip the scale.

shopperbob Wrote:
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> Robin,
>
> An opportunity to profit by owning equipment
> hasn't been mentioned; you can solicit local work
> and keep all the money. In a 3 yr. period, I've
> completed in excess of 50 jobs in my area, the
> highest of which paid me $400.

Quick question here:

If we "solicit local work" with our video/audio equipment, are we breaking our ICAs with the video shopping firms?

The way I read mine, I am prohibited from doing so.

If you have interpreted yours differently, I'd like to hear it. Financially I could do very well indeed as an independent video mystery shopper. I have hesitated to approach local businesses because of my ICA agreements.

Thoughts?

Robin,

As an independent contractor, what I do with my time and/or gear is my business. If, though, I used their equipment for my gain or contacted their clients, that wouldn't be acceptable. In my opinion, no MSC would ever attempt to restrain any shopper from free commerce.

If you set yourself up as a mystery shopping company, you are in violation of any ICA that states that the employees and principles of competing organizations may not shop for that company as an IC.

I do know of at least one video shopper who has suffered the consequences of going into competion with the MSCs that had been supplying a lot of her income. Don't be so sure that it would not make a difference.

I could have sworn there were discussions of avenues for trained video shoppers that were outside of mystery shopping. For the life of me, I cannot remember when or where it was discussed. It seemed that some governmental agencies would use civilians for various compliance stings. Did I just dream it?

I would think another "legal" way to market ourselves would be to offer to complete test videos for companies that currently are not using video.

I had to make a leap of faith today! I had just driven an hour to get to the first of two video shops, and was going to check my camera position, when I saw that my DVR screen had cracked and all I could see was an interesting abstract black and white pattern. Fortunately I had my laptop so I could put the SD card in and look at the video, but there were no surreptitious glances at the DVR screen for me after that. The videos were actually fine, though (THANKS for the great camera setup advice Amie068!) and I left a message with PI Mall when I got home saying I needed an RMA.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You definitely have to be comfortable with the
> equipment first. It's weird, on one hand you need
> to forget it is all filmed and on the other be
> aware of it at all times. Angles I worry about,
> equipment failure I try not to think about. It is
> something that has happened to everyone at one
> time or another and we have little to no control.
> Every video shop is a little leap of faith