Unlike some of you, I am in a remote area of my state. Every assignment I take will cost me a minimum of eight dollars. And to top it off I have total travel time of an hour and a half. As a business person, I just can't ignore these factors.
As a professional mystery shopper, neither I nor you should participate in continuation to support these fees. I only do this part-time and I wonder that I may be earning more than many of you.
As a professional, I built my reputation by never flaking and never being late and having all of my assignments accepted with high grades. I focus on my grammar and my spelling in an effort to provide excellent reports. This means my reports take longer to submit online.
I think it's a lot to ask to expect a professional will accept these assignments. I won't, unless it is a fill shop for my route. Otherwise, I don't even read the details of the shop. I simply move on and let other people, like you, spend your time working for pennies.
Since the topic has come up, I feel obliged to encourage you to set your sights higher and get paid for your time reimbursement for your gas and the quality of your work.
These $10 assignments are for nonprofessional shoppers who for some reason are desperate and willing to give away hours of their time in an effort to survive. I do not begrudge them. For one reason or another they are doing what they have to do and that's okay with me. In the same breath, the professional mystery shopper is not in the same class. You do yourself this are as a business person giving away hours of your work every day just to keep busy.
I have been a business person, for more than 35 years. I will donate my time, if there is justification. I.e. help a scheduler in appreciation for their assistance in the past and goodwill in the future. Even so, that's limited to practicality. The gesture on occasion, is the purpose of the shop. You don't continually make that gesture to the point of destroying your reputation and profitability. To continue this "gesture"could be part of an agreement whereby it is accompanied by profitable assignments as incentive.
I have "gestured" entire days for exceptional ongoing assistance after a relationship has been established with the scheduler. And I did it for my personal satisfaction. And in time, I will do it again. And it has to do with profitability in the future. I want the schedulers to know that it's not all money with me. I am willing to give back and assist them when they really need help and their hands are tied. There are times when the scheduler is caught between a rock and a hard place. These are the times that we are heroes and developing goodwill.
Profitability can be as little as one dollar. I do not consider one dollar to be profitable for my time. Each one of us should come up with a formula to calculate "True profitability." I.e. my expenses for gas, a minimum of eight dollars per hour for driving time, cost of ongoing maintenance should be factored in, my time on site and online submitting the report are all considerations. Your fee is for your time on site and submitting the report. Everything else should be your bonus.
With this formula, which I accepted, is a complete contradiction to the acceptance of a $10, T-Mobile shop.
Each of you will have to make the decision for yourself. This is a very competitive business competing with everyday shoppers that are working just for the joy of it. Let them be the ones to do the $10, T-Mobile shops and all the other assignments like it.
If you are a professional set your sights higher and know that you are providing a professional service. For you, this is not just fun, it's your business. A business has guidelines, deadlines, overhead, and expectations. These are the very factors that set you apart from the social shopper out for an afternoon. That person is not dependent on acceptance of the shop and approval of the company listing the shop. You do!
David Hall, CHFC
MSPA Gold & "UE" certified Shopping since April 2012 Arkansas, and southern half of United States.