Just love when people who don't know what they're talking about come on here to insult long-time shoppers who do.

I go to hardware/lumber stores A LOT and would gladly do a Lowe's for $10-15 especially if I needed to go there anyway. (I don't get out of my car for less than $7) And, as the experienced shoppers here have pointed out, LIKE ANY SKILL, your efficiency improves with practice. I'm sure my first Lowe's shop will likely take me 45 minutes or more; the fourth will probably be more like 20-30 minutes. I've done a couple of Ace Hardwares, similar requirements except no observed transaction -- smaller store physically than Lowes so it would probably take longer in a Lowes just due to the need to walk farther to check whatever you're supposed to check. My first took over a half hour; the second Ace was about 25 minutes. My next will probably be even more efficient. I made $8 on the first (one of the first four shops I ever did) and $20 on the second. I would do Ace again for $10 if it was convenient (not driving out of my way to get there).

Like everything in life, practice makes perfect. I know I'm slow and inefficient right now, but I can also see my speed picking up the more often I do a particular shop. And I don't agonize over the reports like I did the first month on the job.

And if being willing to work cheap while I'm "in training" makes me "unintelligent" in Tommyknocker's eyes -- that's HIS problem, not mine. Because I don't give a rat's whisker what some arrogant judgmental know-it-all thinks of me.

Don't sweat it too much. If you click on the name you will see that poster has left the building, permanently.

Ah, good. He didn't need us anyway, apparently.

That guy will be back, under yet another assumed name. But, his MO is so obvious that he will be caught, again!

Sometimes you feel like a nut. Most times you don't. Good riddance.

I was justlocked out for 3 months to do theselowes shops...the scheduler said it was a question of integrity on the form. I asked what that meant and they said that they could not reveal the information to identify their techniques. all was odd since I have been doing them for years....

also be careful on doing these fast....I think you have to be there for 20 or 30 minutes and they won't pay you otherwise.

I've never had a shop thrown out for time on site. With some target departments it would be difficult to be in and out in under 20 minutes. Appliances, power tools and even paint could fall into those categories and with large and/or big ticket items things such as delivery, haul away, extended warranties and financing come into play. OTOH, several of the scenarios have been for items that just don't have a lot features and choices. How much time could someone really spend talking about mailboxes?

Goofy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Simple answer for me (not for everyone else) is do
> not leave your house for any shop under $15.

Im pretty sure the integrity has to do with the internet search.

konopelski Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was justlocked out for 3 months to do theselowes
> shops...the scheduler said it was a question of
> integrity on the form. I asked what that meant
> and they said that they could not reveal the
> information to identify their techniques. all was
> odd since I have been doing them for years....
>
> also be careful on doing these fast....I think you
> have to be there for 20 or 30 minutes and they
> won't pay you otherwise.

I did a Lowes today for $19. I did all interactions in 10 minute but waited around for code 3. Gave up after 15 minutes and report n/a. Is there an easy way to get observed cashiers name? I feel I was too obvious when I pretend to be in line and left once I got close enough to read the name tag.

I've never waited around for a code 3. If they have one it is reported, if not it is n/a. Often I can get the name while looking at the small items near the register. If no other customer is in line I will also wait and then ask the cashier a question, like where is the restroom or where a department is located.

I haven't done one of these yet. What is the code 3?

If there are a certain number of people in line the call should be made to open additional registers.

I usually do the observed checkout by pretending to have a cell phone conversation while standing nearby.

Unfortunately, near me, the shop fees don't get that high - so I've not done any yet. Problems of living in high density areas.

Why would anyone do a shop, any shop, any place for $5? The less shoppers settle for the less the companies will pay. I won't leave the house for less than $25. You can do five shops and I do one for the same amount. Hold out for more. I suspect that scheduler's clients pay a certain amount to the scheduler and we get only a part of that. The scheduler takes the rest of it. Could that be where the bonus comes from? Just asking.

bearsmom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why would anyone do a shop, any shop, any place
> for $5? The less shoppers settle for the less the
> companies will pay. I won't leave the house for
> less than $25. You can do five shops and I do one
> for the same amount. Hold out for more. I
> suspect that scheduler's clients pay a certain
> amount to the scheduler and we get only a part of
> that. The scheduler takes the rest of it. Could
> that be where the bonus comes from? Just asking.


The MSC is likely making more on the shops but the schedulers are making far less per scheduled (and completed) shop than the shopper. When I scheduled (and its been a few years) I mad between 1-3 dollars per scheduled and completed shop. Bonus money was from the client (sometimes the MSC) and there were never any extra dollars for the scheduler's pay than whatever the contract stated. This was as an independent contractior. I do not know what in house scheduler's make but my guess is it's an hourly or salary wage that is not affected by giving or not giving a bonus.

Liz

Too bad tommyknocker left. With his willingness to generously share his knowledge, I think he would have been the perfect person to put together the list of the best of the best of the best MSCs for those that desire it.

Don't jinx us, minnie .... tommyknocker may well be back sooner than we want him with yet another new identity.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't jinx us, minnie .... tommyknocker may well
> be back sooner than we want him with yet another
> new identity.


I feel so cynical -- sometimes I Google the usernames of "interesting" posters and find troll posts in the same voice as they've used here. I want to post "TROLL ALERT!", but I feel the need to give people the benefit of the doubt.

I also find myself laughing out loud at some posts, and my husband feels the need to remind me that I have a life I should tend to.

And one more thing: the next time someone asks for that magic list, I'm going to say we've been waiting for someone to compile it by culling through the thousands of posts on the forum. I'll say we're all too busy composing the posts and offering advice, but he/she sounds like the perfect person to put it together. Bwa ha ha ha.

(Just so you know, I wore very uncomfortable but very cute boots today. I'm going to put my comfortable shoes on now.)

I know Lowe's stores are hard to reschedule but has anyone had any luck at getting the scheduler to do it? I am sick as a dog and don't want my rating to go down but they might just find me in the paint department in front of the paint sprayers if I go.

I've never had issues with rescheduling. It's winter time and they know people get sick and some parts of the country get hit with ice and snow.

Wait, I wish we still had those shops! I have gotten $40.00. Before they disappeared, I saw $70.00, on the web site.

bearsmom - Congratulations on getting all your shops at fees $25 and up. I wish. Too bad that doesn't seem possible here with my list of companies. To all you newbies out there reading this and trying to figure out how mystery shopping works, fees of $25 and up are not common in my part of the world and may not be available in yours. Every area is different.

Often the jobs paying a higher fee or offering a generous reimbursement (fine dining, etc.) either require a time intensive report for the fee or they are simply reimbursing you for your food, hotel, cruise, etc. You don't make any bankable money on reimbursements as you are just being paid back for what you spent. You only make bankable money when you get a fee for the shop. Reimbursements can enhance your lifestyle tremendously and many shoppers work with that as their main objective. Others, like me, are nickel and diming it to meet expenses and/or build up bank accounts.

I do mostly "cheap" quick fee shops with low reimbursements for proof of purchase only. I shop part time, and in 2010, 2011, and 2012 I earned a total of $30,288 which was mostly bankable money. I was able to do a lot with that money, including saving a considerable portion. During that time, I had freedom and flexibility and was able to supplement my income above and beyond what I needed. That's what I call a really good job $10.00 at a time.

The last couple months there have been no Lowes Home Improvement shops at <MSC>. Does anyone know what company now does Lowes? Was wondering if, now that <MSC> has changed to <a different name>, they no longer do Lowes.



Mod note: Hi! and welcome to the forum. Please, in the future, refrain from naming the client and the MSC in the same posting, or naming one in a thread where the other is named in the thread title. For instance, since Lowe's in mentioned in this thread title, no one can name the MSC. Although, because of ICAs and the forum rules, no one will be able to tell you which MSC does Lowe's anyway. You'll have to do a little investigating. Good Luck!

Please remove the Company names. ICA Violation.

jhm...
We can't name clients and MSCs in the same threads, therefore nobody will be able to answer your question. Since you did both in your own single question, your post itself is a violation of Forum rules and of your Independent Contractor's Agreement that you signed with your MSC. Please remove the name of any MSC from your post. As for the intent of your question, please see [www.mysteryshopforum.com] and [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
As an aside, you may want to change your user name to something other than your personal email address. This is a public setting and you may not want the whole world wide web being able to personally contact you.

Here's a question about Lowes. Assuming that the requirements stay the same with the new MSC, do the scenarios change from period to period? I know that there's a choice of departments, but the next time the shops are put on the boards, is Lighting going to be the same scenario it was last time, etc.?

I have done 4 different scenarios with the new MSC. Lets see what happens next month...