So, I started mystery shopping at the beginning of June. I took on a lot to learn the ropes and then I backed down to maybe one shop a week later on. I mostly do fast food shops with the intent that I eat out everyday anyway- How much money can I save if I am getting reimbursed and paid for eating? I tallied everything up, and I don't know if it's okay to share so I'll wait on that. It's not MUCH, but it's enough to want to keep doing it for the free meal. Especially because I'm getting back what I paid for it. So, I'm not going all out, but I'm fairly happy to have found this niche and I'm here to stay and enjoy it. =]

Your post is great. Very positive!

Thanks! I know MSing can be really frustrating, but it's so nice when you find your niche of shops that you like to do and you're good at. It can be a positive and enjoyable thing!

Yep. I feel like you do actually. I'm probably a hell of a lot older than you and wish I was younger, but I'm keeping up and I've never ever had a report rejected. Never. I must be doing something right, eh? I kind of get a kick out this job I have. It sure is different and my friends are fascinated by it.

On paper, I am not making much money. In real life I am.
For example. Being at home and making a meal for my wife, my daughter and myself cost about $5.00 to $10.00
Go pick up a pizza and pop, I get paid $10.00 to $20.00 plus food reimbursement and more when travelling.
Time to do the report is less than the actual time to cook.

Canuck Wrote:
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> Yep. I feel like you do actually. I'm probably a
> hell of a lot older than you and wish I was
> younger, but I'm keeping up and I've never ever
> had a report rejected. Never. I must be doing
> something right, eh? I kind of get a kick out this
> job I have. It sure is different and my friends
> are fascinated by it.


That's one reason I keep doing this - It sure is different. And it's easy in and easy out - meaning you can pick up shops when you want and go AWOL once all your shops are done and there's no issues with them. How many other gigs offer that kind of flexibility? Now, if it just paid better.....

Yeah..but I think if the newbies would stop taking such low fees, we all would benefit from it, but...you know.

Let the church say Amen!

Canuck Wrote:
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> I've never ever
> had a report rejected. Never. I must be doing
> something right, eh?

I've only been doing this a little over a year and, like you, have never had a shop rejected.......yet. I don't know about you, Canuck, but I figure it's going to eventually happen. I mean, I can almost hear that little ol' bullet whistling overhead.

(heart)

Most of the time I really enjoy mystery shopping and think it is worth it. The times I don't are when I am stuck in traffic - usually because of my own poor planning. I have been shopping for about 1 1/2 years now and have learned so much from this forum. It is really where I came to figure out how to do certain shops when I was really new. Still am new but am feeling much more confident and am MUCH more organized than I was in the beginning and I see my income growing. I really think that organization and time planning are the keys - and that comes with time.

I just closed off my travel expenses and you know what? I made no money last year, hahahah...you gotta love the IRS.

Hey, Canuck, you may have made money after all if you look at it this way. If you show a loss for your mystery shopping, that's reducing the regular income tax you pay on your total income, PLUS no self-employment tax (15%). And, if you're in a state with income taxes, no state income tax either. Not the best way to make money, but a silver lining in this economy.

Thanks for the positive note!

One thing that scares me about the fast food shops is the potential weight gain. I wish they had more shops for healthy food. (hmmmm...is Jamba Juice shopped?)

Canuck Wrote:
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> I just closed off my travel expenses and you know
> what? I made no money last year, hahahah...you
> gotta love the IRS.

Great, isn't it? My ms loss reduces my W2 income, which lowers my Obamacare premium.

What I like about mystery shopping is that it's always been a reliable source of income for me. Over the years I've lost jobs and mystery shopping has saved my butt during lean times. I also like that I can take breaks from mystery shopping when I get burned out and come back whenever I want. It's also nice to have some extra money leftover in my bank account at the end of the month

Riki Wrote: (and I snipped for brevity)
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> I wish they had more shops for healthy food.
> (hmmmm... is Jamba Juice shopped?)



Me too, about the healthier food... and about Jamba Juice, I don't know either!

Although I've *wished* they were for a long time (as I'm a semi-regular customer anyway, as I always end up with BOGO coupons), I've yet to find them anywhere. Seems like I asked on here if they were shopped a while back, not by who mind you, just if... and I can't remember the response. Heh. You'd think I'd have a better memory as a mystery shopper!

Anyway, I hope to find them sometime, somewhere!

The last time I shopped a Jamba Juice was 2-3 years ago.

Like cubbie, I also used to shop Jamba Juice. All locations were shopped monthly, but I have not seen those shopped in a couple of years.

When I first started out in March of 2013 I was doing it really heavy. Then as time went on I started doing it less and less realizing how much I was actually working for the meager money I was making. I started doing it less and less and last month I probably only did it 5 days, and only bonused shops I was called or emailed about. The ones I enjoy the most are when my husband or I need an oil change I can get it free plus $25. Things I would already be paying for anyway so it really makes it worth my time.

All the money I make just goes in my Vegas stash, which I should start building up a bit more. I go at least once, sometimes twice a year depending on the circumstances. I haven't been since last June and we have a big trip coming up in March, so I'm not sure when I'll make it out there again.

I take my iPad to those fast food shops and my report is done before I leave the shop.

I have also (bite my tongue!) never had a shop rejected.

Referred a friend to a company I've done dozens of shops with, she did two and both were rejected. She's a smart cookie. Don't understand what could have happened. She said something about employees not acting they way they were supposed to, but this is not a girl who's ever backed away from improve. I've had tons of oddities happen before and just reported them all, and so far so good. Felt bad for her, but can't imagine what she could have had happen that was THAT 'off'!

_LA_ Wrote:
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> I have also (bite my tongue!) never had a shop
> rejected.
>
> Referred a friend to a company I've done dozens of
> shops with, she did two and both were rejected.
> She's a smart cookie. Don't understand what could
> have happened.

If it's a good MSC, she would get an email explaining why. It took me quite a few shops before finally having one get rejected (probably the equivalent about a year's worth of continuous shopping for the pros, except it was spread out over about 7 years because there were times I went inactive).

Canuck Wrote:
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> Yeah..but I think if the newbies would stop taking
> such low fees, we all would benefit from it,
> but...you know.


How do newbies know when the shops are underpriced? Is there an average range for certain shops that more experienced shoppers have seen and responded to, and don't want to respond to any pay that is less than that?

I got an email (one of several over several days) that was a phone shop for a few bucks. It looked as if it was a shop that had been around for a while, so I asked about a bonus. I was told there are always plenty of applicants for it, so they don't offer bonuses. I haven't applied, because the time it would take to prepare would probably be better spent elsewhere.

Just wondering about minimum ranges that the more experienced folks talk about. I've only been at this since November 2013.

_LA_ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Referred a friend to a company I've done dozens of
> shops with, she did two and both were rejected.
> She's a smart cookie. Don't understand what could
> have happened.

I'm not sure brains has anything to do with it. I know brilliant people who would fail miserably at mystery shopping and I know less than average intelligence people who would be pretty good at it (long narrative shops excluded).

Only you can only make the decision if something is worth your time. I won't put on my shoes for less than $15.00. I count the time of the shop and the reporting time as work time. If it is a 30 minute minimum in the store assignment, but the report takes me 1.5 hours because of lots of pictures and massive narrative, I count that as 2 hours worked. at a $15 a dollar fee, that earns me $7.50 per hour. That makes me sad I don't work for $7.50 an hour. My choice.
If there is a useful reimbursement, I figure what the item is worth to me, plus the fee. Same math, $9.00 item, + $7.00 fee =$16.00. If I was in the store for 15 minutes, and the report only took 30 minutes, that makes it $16 for 45 minutes of work. This makes me happy This is assuming that there is minimal travel involved, if there is travel, there has to be some kind of bonus /travel fee involved. Some people will work for a sandwich, to each their own. I have a mortgage to pay, so I can't afford to work for reimbursement only. Unless it is for new windows on my house

I work in a similar way, but I include drive time. So if I'm driving from shop A to shop B, and there's a shop C that would add 15 minutes to my drive, then I figure my time as 15 minutes plus onsite time plus report time.

cubbiecat Wrote:
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> The last time I shopped a Jamba Juice was 2-3
> years ago.


Has anyone else recently gotten the emails for Jamba Juice shops? Just in the last few days I've gotten emails about JJ shops! Yay!

If only the transmission in my car hadn't totally crapped out, and I'm waiting on a few things to fall into line to get a new (to me) car. :/

If I recall, they were paying $15 flat fee. You could order anything you liked. There's a smart phone app preferred, but not required ~ but if you download it, there's a one-time $5 bonus. It's also a reveal shop, where if a specific question is answered correctly, you give the employee $5 (reimbursed). It's not clear what you do if the employee answers the question incorrectly. It's also not clear if the $15 flat fee is including the possible $5 reward reimbursement, or if it would be $15 + $5 if you end up rewarding the employee.

It's with an MSC I wasn't aware I was registered with... although they say in their email they've recently gotten a new name... but I don't recall being registered with their previous name, either! Maybe one of those MSCs with no shops in my area when I registered, but now they do.

I'll have to look up discussions on here using their previous name, to see what kind of MSC they are.

I got the email, also, but none of the shops are within 300 miles of me. I don't understand why they are only shops on one side of the state??!!!???! Are those franchise shops?

Riki Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the positive note!
>
> One thing that scares me about the fast food shops
> is the potential weight gain. I wish they had
> more shops for healthy food. (hmmmm...is Jamba
> Juice shopped?)

Yes, they are! I got an email from a schedler today offering a bonus- but it's 50 miles from me so no go.

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I got the email, also, but none of the shops are
> within 300 miles of me. I don't understand why
> they are only shops on one side of the
> state??!!!???! Are those franchise shops?


Don't know, but maybe they are franchise shops... that seems to be the case in situations like that. But how aggravating for you!

There's a couple right here within 5 miles!!! I *SO* wish my car was working!!!