Rural Area
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Go to Jobslinger.com and put in your zip code to see who has recently had shops in your area and sign up with them. Then check their job boards frequently. Most of the jobs you see on Jobslinger will be long ago taken as there are a number of folks who check it multiple times per day for job leads. Not all jobs get posted on Jobslinger, but it is a good start for you. If you are really rural you may have to expand your search area to find work.
Sorry for delay. Thanks for the tip, but I usually only find jobs that I have asked for already but at a higher rate than company is offering.
I have found a few new companies this way though.
I have found a few new companies this way though.
You mean you tell the company how much you want?
sneakers Wrote:
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> You mean you tell the company how much you want?
Some yes other no. Since I live in a rural area with the majority of roads two lane and slow speed limits, I ask for more than is listed because of the travel.
I mainly ask for more on the low paying ($10.00 - $15.00) shops. Also, I might accept a lower paying job as long as the days' the job is to be shopped fits with my travel schedule; if it does not fit schedule, then I ask if job can be rescheduled.
I assumed that most shoppers in my situation so not accept $5.00 or $10.00 shops since it takes shoppers (in rural areas) twice as long to travel 15 miles in most cases.
Am I way off base?
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> You mean you tell the company how much you want?
Some yes other no. Since I live in a rural area with the majority of roads two lane and slow speed limits, I ask for more than is listed because of the travel.
I mainly ask for more on the low paying ($10.00 - $15.00) shops. Also, I might accept a lower paying job as long as the days' the job is to be shopped fits with my travel schedule; if it does not fit schedule, then I ask if job can be rescheduled.
I assumed that most shoppers in my situation so not accept $5.00 or $10.00 shops since it takes shoppers (in rural areas) twice as long to travel 15 miles in most cases.
Am I way off base?
No, it is appropriate to ask for what you think the job is worth. That is no guarantee that you will be awarded the shop and sometimes they will make a counter offer. It is important that they view you as a reasonable person to try to work with or they will stop calling. It is not reasonable for you to do job after job at a loss just so they can get them done.
Most areas of the country are reasonably well covered with shoppers. There is little reason for schedulers these days to pay more than the stated fee to get shops taken unless they are in areas with low coverage. I can tell you that the towns around where I live have had probably a doubling or tripling of shoppers at least during the past two years and the bonuses I now see are when somebody flaked or screwed up and there is a short deadline to meet. On the other hand, there are several rural towns around me where shoppers are virtually non-existant and those who shop have few enough opportunities they have not learned how to deal with narrative.
Yesterday I made a run of 3 shops into those areas for a company with a $50 bonus for the 3 to help cover mileage and time (total mileage 130, total travel time about 3 hrs). They were shops that had been badly done and needed to be redone. I would do it again because my normal travel time is about 30 minutes per shop and normal mileage is about 15 miles, so when I think of this as the difference-- $50 for 1 1/2 hours and 85 miles--it is not too bad. But it also points out why a single ('orphan') shop for $10-15 makes no sense. Driving country roads can be faster or slower than dealing with city traffic.
Most areas of the country are reasonably well covered with shoppers. There is little reason for schedulers these days to pay more than the stated fee to get shops taken unless they are in areas with low coverage. I can tell you that the towns around where I live have had probably a doubling or tripling of shoppers at least during the past two years and the bonuses I now see are when somebody flaked or screwed up and there is a short deadline to meet. On the other hand, there are several rural towns around me where shoppers are virtually non-existant and those who shop have few enough opportunities they have not learned how to deal with narrative.
Yesterday I made a run of 3 shops into those areas for a company with a $50 bonus for the 3 to help cover mileage and time (total mileage 130, total travel time about 3 hrs). They were shops that had been badly done and needed to be redone. I would do it again because my normal travel time is about 30 minutes per shop and normal mileage is about 15 miles, so when I think of this as the difference-- $50 for 1 1/2 hours and 85 miles--it is not too bad. But it also points out why a single ('orphan') shop for $10-15 makes no sense. Driving country roads can be faster or slower than dealing with city traffic.
Flash Wrote:
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> No, it is appropriate to ask for what you think
> the job is worth. That is no guarantee that you
> will be awarded the shop and sometimes they will
> make a counter offer.
Why should I take a job from a scheduler if I think it is not worth it? Why not make a reasonable offer instead? Several schedulers will call and ask me what it would take for me to do XYZ shop, I offer and they can accept or not. I also, use this time to ask about doing a shop on X day when they needed Y day, if I can guarantee I will complete shop and "get it out of their way", usually they will make a date change.
I have 2 days a week that are full of shops for me, I guess this helps me pick and choose. Also, I rarely take orphan jobs, unless I feel it will help me with a company in the future.
I still think that if offered a job, you should make a counter offer. They are not going to offer the full amount they can with the first offer.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2009 12:10AM by swvaboy.
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> No, it is appropriate to ask for what you think
> the job is worth. That is no guarantee that you
> will be awarded the shop and sometimes they will
> make a counter offer.
Why should I take a job from a scheduler if I think it is not worth it? Why not make a reasonable offer instead? Several schedulers will call and ask me what it would take for me to do XYZ shop, I offer and they can accept or not. I also, use this time to ask about doing a shop on X day when they needed Y day, if I can guarantee I will complete shop and "get it out of their way", usually they will make a date change.
I have 2 days a week that are full of shops for me, I guess this helps me pick and choose. Also, I rarely take orphan jobs, unless I feel it will help me with a company in the future.
I still think that if offered a job, you should make a counter offer. They are not going to offer the full amount they can with the first offer.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2009 12:10AM by swvaboy.
In my neck of the woods, a job is long gone to another mystery shopper, before I could even finish typing an email requesting a higher payment than the original offer.
swvaboy Wrote:
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> Why should I take a job from a scheduler if I
> think it is not worth it? Why not make a
> reasonable offer instead?
I am not at all arguing that you should take a job that you don't think is worth the money! My email trash bin is full of job offers that are not worth putting the key in the ignition for! I don't respond back to them stating my price usually because a) there is not enough money in the world to persuade me to do that or b) at double the price it would still hardly be worth my while or c) it is a company that I don't care to work with. On the other hand I am certainly not above making an offer and giving a reason why I would need additional money to do it. (orphan shop, distance, time of day, etc.)
Several schedulers will
> call and ask me what it would take for me to do
> XYZ shop, I offer and they can accept or not. I
> also, use this time to ask about doing a shop on X
> day when they needed Y day, if I can guarantee I
> will complete shop and "get it out of their way",
> usually they will make a date change.
I understand that kind of deal. We all do it. Another piece of horse trading I like is 'I will do X shop for you if you will also give me the Y that you have'. I find it very useful to have an index card by the main house phone with the distance to surrounding communities and more distant ones that I know are 'hard to fill' taken from maps.google.com with the drive time listed. Then it is very calm, cool and collected to say, "Rome is 114 miles from me, so would be about a 230 mile trip. It would need 5 3/4 hours of drive time, so a fair price to do the job for you would be $_________" If they really need the job done, they need to agree to a fair price. If my offer is accepted, I will quickly go and search my companies for additional jobs to do on my way to or from the distant location, especially looking for a meal or two to pick up along the way. Those I will not request additional money to do as they will free-ride the job I already have scheduled.
> I still think that if offered a job, you should
> make a counter offer. They are not going to offer
> the full amount they can with the first offer.
You discover fairly quickly with whom you can negotiate and for how much. They do keep notes and one called me a while back saying, "The notes here say you won't do a cell phone job for less than $15. Can you do X location for us for $15." When I pointed out that $15 applied to shops locally and countered with an offer that included the about 1 hour each way drive time, explaining that an orphan shop an hour away was hardly worthwhile for $15. She agreed but was not authorized to go above $15 and thus we ended the call and she got to continue dialing for shoppers.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why should I take a job from a scheduler if I
> think it is not worth it? Why not make a
> reasonable offer instead?
I am not at all arguing that you should take a job that you don't think is worth the money! My email trash bin is full of job offers that are not worth putting the key in the ignition for! I don't respond back to them stating my price usually because a) there is not enough money in the world to persuade me to do that or b) at double the price it would still hardly be worth my while or c) it is a company that I don't care to work with. On the other hand I am certainly not above making an offer and giving a reason why I would need additional money to do it. (orphan shop, distance, time of day, etc.)
Several schedulers will
> call and ask me what it would take for me to do
> XYZ shop, I offer and they can accept or not. I
> also, use this time to ask about doing a shop on X
> day when they needed Y day, if I can guarantee I
> will complete shop and "get it out of their way",
> usually they will make a date change.
I understand that kind of deal. We all do it. Another piece of horse trading I like is 'I will do X shop for you if you will also give me the Y that you have'. I find it very useful to have an index card by the main house phone with the distance to surrounding communities and more distant ones that I know are 'hard to fill' taken from maps.google.com with the drive time listed. Then it is very calm, cool and collected to say, "Rome is 114 miles from me, so would be about a 230 mile trip. It would need 5 3/4 hours of drive time, so a fair price to do the job for you would be $_________" If they really need the job done, they need to agree to a fair price. If my offer is accepted, I will quickly go and search my companies for additional jobs to do on my way to or from the distant location, especially looking for a meal or two to pick up along the way. Those I will not request additional money to do as they will free-ride the job I already have scheduled.
> I still think that if offered a job, you should
> make a counter offer. They are not going to offer
> the full amount they can with the first offer.
You discover fairly quickly with whom you can negotiate and for how much. They do keep notes and one called me a while back saying, "The notes here say you won't do a cell phone job for less than $15. Can you do X location for us for $15." When I pointed out that $15 applied to shops locally and countered with an offer that included the about 1 hour each way drive time, explaining that an orphan shop an hour away was hardly worthwhile for $15. She agreed but was not authorized to go above $15 and thus we ended the call and she got to continue dialing for shoppers.
You are right on point Flash. I also have a trash bin full of shops that expect someone to drive 45 miles, spend an hour in a store, and they want to give you $5.00. Also, I know that I need to talk to "certain" schedulers that are more flexible.
Mert, I guess living in a rural area give me more wiggle room since there are not as many shoppers or many reliable shoppers.
Another thing that helps me is normally I can complete a shop within 24 hours if needed, or I have agreed on a shop that need to be completed in 6 hours. I can work all this by taking my breaks or lunch when I want and completing a shop.
Mert, I guess living in a rural area give me more wiggle room since there are not as many shoppers or many reliable shoppers.
Another thing that helps me is normally I can complete a shop within 24 hours if needed, or I have agreed on a shop that need to be completed in 6 hours. I can work all this by taking my breaks or lunch when I want and completing a shop.
The one I have always been tempted to send in a quote for is the one in Anchorage, Alaska (since I am in South Florida) 
Haven't decided yet to figure time and miles based on ground transportation or air . . .
Haven't decided yet to figure time and miles based on ground transportation or air . . .
Let me know when you get that shop. I am in Virginia and I will try for the gas station across the street.....
Lets see, about 10,000 miles for the round trip, 3 1/2 days each way makes probably 7 nights of hotel required, probably some subsidy for meals. Suppose they would go for an offer of about $7,000? Of course the danger would be that you failed to spend your full 25 minutes in the bar so the shop would be rejected . . .
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2009 05:34PM by Flash.
Of course the danger would be that you failed to spend your full 25 minutes in the bar so the shop would be rejected . . .Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2009 05:34PM by Flash.
swvaboy,
You must be between Martinsville and Abingdon or (what's that town on the state line--Bluefield?). When I drove that area, I'd stop at the gas station just to top off because I don't know when I'd find another one. I don't know how it is now. Are you good at phone shops? I live across the country, but I have had telephone mystery shops for places in Martinsville and Roanoke. I don't normally look at what's available for on-site shops there, but they do exist. If I get an email that lists several states, I notice places where I've been. Maybe you need to diversify. You are a mystery shopper and a. . . . Try something else. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You might drop it and they'll all break.
You must be between Martinsville and Abingdon or (what's that town on the state line--Bluefield?). When I drove that area, I'd stop at the gas station just to top off because I don't know when I'd find another one. I don't know how it is now. Are you good at phone shops? I live across the country, but I have had telephone mystery shops for places in Martinsville and Roanoke. I don't normally look at what's available for on-site shops there, but they do exist. If I get an email that lists several states, I notice places where I've been. Maybe you need to diversify. You are a mystery shopper and a. . . . Try something else. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You might drop it and they'll all break.
Sandra Sue Wrote:
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> swvaboy,
>
> You must be between Martinsville and Abingdon or
> (what's that town on the state line--Bluefield?).
> When I drove that area, I'd stop at the gas
> station just to top off because I don't know when
> I'd find another one. I don't know how it is now.
> Are you good at phone shops? I live across the
> country, but I have had telephone mystery shops
> for places in Martinsville and Roanoke. I don't
> normally look at what's available for on-site
> shops there, but they do exist. If I get an email
> that lists several states, I notice places where
> I've been. Maybe you need to diversify. You are
> a mystery shopper and a. . . . Try something
> else. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You
> might drop it and they'll all break.
You are pretty close. Bluefield is the city that is in KY and VA, just like Bristol in VA and TN.
I am closer to the KY line in Wise County,
All my eggs are not in one basket, I tried that and they ALL broke. I work in the hospitality business in my boring life and I am able to do shops since my schedule is very, very flexible. I know alot of people do not like fast food shops because of the pay; but, I get a "free" lunch at least twice a week.
Paul
-------------------------------------------------------
> swvaboy,
>
> You must be between Martinsville and Abingdon or
> (what's that town on the state line--Bluefield?).
> When I drove that area, I'd stop at the gas
> station just to top off because I don't know when
> I'd find another one. I don't know how it is now.
> Are you good at phone shops? I live across the
> country, but I have had telephone mystery shops
> for places in Martinsville and Roanoke. I don't
> normally look at what's available for on-site
> shops there, but they do exist. If I get an email
> that lists several states, I notice places where
> I've been. Maybe you need to diversify. You are
> a mystery shopper and a. . . . Try something
> else. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You
> might drop it and they'll all break.
You are pretty close. Bluefield is the city that is in KY and VA, just like Bristol in VA and TN.
I am closer to the KY line in Wise County,
All my eggs are not in one basket, I tried that and they ALL broke. I work in the hospitality business in my boring life and I am able to do shops since my schedule is very, very flexible. I know alot of people do not like fast food shops because of the pay; but, I get a "free" lunch at least twice a week.
Paul
I'm a hillbilly mountaineer at heart, having lived there many years. Bluefield is on the WestbyGodVirginia/Virginia state line.
Kentucky?
Kentucky?
"Maybe you need to diversify. You are a mystery shopper and a. . . . Try something else. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You might drop it and they'll all break"
Sandra Sue almost a yr ago I took that advise and ran w/ it...I can honesty say I do less MS assignments and more merchandising & demos and love getting those nice fat checks in my mail box.
dee
Sandra Sue almost a yr ago I took that advise and ran w/ it...I can honesty say I do less MS assignments and more merchandising & demos and love getting those nice fat checks in my mail box.
dee
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