Hate to admit it....but the "pizzazz" seems to be gone for me...
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NAN comments:
Perhaps the upcoming spring will get me out of my funk......here's hoping.....
BOB'S opinion:
A far more favorable work:pay ratio would snap that funk in a minute.
Perhaps the upcoming spring will get me out of my funk......here's hoping.....
BOB'S opinion:
A far more favorable work:pay ratio would snap that funk in a minute.
Congratulations, you are suffering from classic Mystery Shopper Burn Out. It happens to most everybody after that initial rush and pushing pushing pushing to see $1000 per month or whatever your goal was. And yes, existing shop fees have a nasty tendency to go down while with inflation and increasing costs (especially when gas was skyrocketing) would indicate they should move the other direction. But there will be new shops that can be financially more interesting.
At the point you have reached, many shoppers throw in the towel and pronounce this to all be a waste of their time. They then move on to do something else. The trick here to not throwing the baby out with the bathwater is to step back a bit, give it a breather, decide what shops you actually enjoy doing and focus on those for a while. Add new companies, look for new opportunities, go back to a company you used to work with to see if it can rekindle an interest. Basically, give yourself a breather.
At the point you have reached, many shoppers throw in the towel and pronounce this to all be a waste of their time. They then move on to do something else. The trick here to not throwing the baby out with the bathwater is to step back a bit, give it a breather, decide what shops you actually enjoy doing and focus on those for a while. Add new companies, look for new opportunities, go back to a company you used to work with to see if it can rekindle an interest. Basically, give yourself a breather.
I'm just exhausted fighting for the jobs. After being a dependable shopper for years, two of my regular
mscs seem to be pre-assigning or giving a heads-up on postings to other shoppers in my area.
mscs seem to be pre-assigning or giving a heads-up on postings to other shoppers in my area.
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I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!
I'm "Sandi" in the Middle!
I've taken breaks from mystery shopping whenever I've felt that way over the years. Sometimes it's just for a month or two. Once I went for about nine months without doing one shop. I do have a full-time job so I don't really miss mystery shopping when I temporarily stop.
I've quit shopping for certain companies and I've stopped doing certain jobs, like fast food, all grocery stores and most retail. But I don't plan to quit shopping completely unless I start seeing nothing but $5 jobs on the boards. I've become more selective, otherwise I probably would feel burned out too.
I've quit shopping for certain companies and I've stopped doing certain jobs, like fast food, all grocery stores and most retail. But I don't plan to quit shopping completely unless I start seeing nothing but $5 jobs on the boards. I've become more selective, otherwise I probably would feel burned out too.
If the fees continue to go down I will lose interest also. Question to the MSC's - why are you cutting our pay when the economy is doing better? Is it greed or the market is so saturated with mystery shoppers that we are not worth anything anymore.
Yes, I know that feeling. I'm having the burn out now, too. I did a bunch over the fall months and some in Jan., but now can hardly bring myself to apply for many. Luckily, I have other projects that I do. When one project gets burdensome, I slow down on that one, and pick up the pace on another one. Right now, my etsy store has picked up, so I'm focusing on it more than shopping. If I balance my time between my three or four projects, the variety makes everything seem new again.
I always know when I'm ready to start shopping again. I get board sitting at home working on craft things or doing my other at home projects. I get the itch to get out and about again. That's when I'll start taking jobs mystery shopping again.
The worst part about MS for me is looking for shops. I hate having to go from site to site to apply. It is very tiring. It's always nice when the emails come in, and there are shops available for self assign. But even that can be tiring when you get a ton of emails for shops that I would not want to do.
I always know when I'm ready to start shopping again. I get board sitting at home working on craft things or doing my other at home projects. I get the itch to get out and about again. That's when I'll start taking jobs mystery shopping again.
The worst part about MS for me is looking for shops. I hate having to go from site to site to apply. It is very tiring. It's always nice when the emails come in, and there are shops available for self assign. But even that can be tiring when you get a ton of emails for shops that I would not want to do.
I'm burnt out too. The weather has made me reschedule to the point where I have to cram them all into a few days to get them done... very stressful.
Like Flash said.......... SAVE THE BABY
Take a break either completely or just do the shops you like.
Me, I go crazy sitting at home so once the weather smooths out I will be back to my normal schedule and all will be well again.
Like Flash said.......... SAVE THE BABY
Take a break either completely or just do the shops you like.
Me, I go crazy sitting at home so once the weather smooths out I will be back to my normal schedule and all will be well again.
O.o o.O
Happily shopping New England and beyond!!!!!
Happily shopping New England and beyond!!!!!
I might have burned myself also. Since January, I have done a lot less shops than I usually do. I have concentrated my Mystery shopping to what I actually needs. Mainly gas station. I have 2 vehicles.
Another factor is 3 clients that I used to do have moved to a different MSC and I still have not found who the new MSC is. Also being busy with moving to a new house from an apartment this month.
By Easter, when the weather is nicer, I should be back to my normal game.
Another factor is 3 clients that I used to do have moved to a different MSC and I still have not found who the new MSC is. Also being busy with moving to a new house from an apartment this month.
By Easter, when the weather is nicer, I should be back to my normal game.
Willing to travel, Alberta, Canada
I think the bad weather has just about everyone in a downer. I see so many lucrative shops that I would normally jump on, but hesitate due to the distance and weather worries. Plus, my car was totaled last month and I have to borrow my husband's car to shop and don't want to go too far in case he needs it.
Getting my new (to me) vehicle today, but I'm now a very nervous driver. I hope that feeling wears off, because I love to drive, but now I'm constantly looking in my mirrors afraid that someone is going to run into me.
I also realized that mystery shopping is something I need to do to get out. The few days I was literally house-bound was driving me crazy. I could have cleaned the house, but UCK, that's no fun. I love being home, but it has to be when I WANT to be home. I need the freedom to come and go as I please and when I can't, I feel confined. I guess that is called cabin fever.
Hope things return to normal soon, whatever normal is. My normal is chaos. I thrive on it. Quiet and calm drives me nuts.
Getting my new (to me) vehicle today, but I'm now a very nervous driver. I hope that feeling wears off, because I love to drive, but now I'm constantly looking in my mirrors afraid that someone is going to run into me.
I also realized that mystery shopping is something I need to do to get out. The few days I was literally house-bound was driving me crazy. I could have cleaned the house, but UCK, that's no fun. I love being home, but it has to be when I WANT to be home. I need the freedom to come and go as I please and when I can't, I feel confined. I guess that is called cabin fever.
Hope things return to normal soon, whatever normal is. My normal is chaos. I thrive on it. Quiet and calm drives me nuts.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
Now I just need to learn to move past the UNLIMITED emails for the same shops.....I feel that in a few months I will snap back...but boy they are sure irritating right now!
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I have felt this burnout too. I think what got me over it was my one upscale lunch shop at Capital Grille where I was able to treat my mom to a nice birthday lunch, a Pandora shop where I was able to gift said mom a Murano Glass charm/bauble or whatever it was, and a slew of actually easy $15 did they offer financing shops, and some nice paying banking shops. I have broadened my base of MSC's and am also getting more selective of the types of shops I will do - I am starting to believe more in my worth and my ability and will not accept bottom dollar going forward - not that I ever did! I have done shops down to $10 and some reimbursement only I'd do again, but no under $10 shops here.....I'm worth more and what's more is I not only know this, I believe this.
I bring up another way to possibly recharge your batteries. And I bring this up not as a speaker at one of the conferences, but the first conference I attended more so, go to an IMSC conference. Some people on this site love it, some don't, there are issues here and there like anything, but overall, the two conferences I attended were awesome. They were fun, informative, and most importantly got me wanting to get out and SHOP again! You'll learn something new if you go, even if you've been doing this 10, 20 or more years!
I'm pretty burned out as well. But I mostly blame the weather here. It's been a freez-your-butt off winter in Minnesota and I just don't want to go out in it any more. For me to step one foot outside my front door in minus-25 wind chiill, you better make it worth my while.
MsJudi Wrote:
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> Getting my new (to me) vehicle today, but I'm now
> a very nervous driver. I hope that feeling wears
> off, because I love to drive, but now I'm
> constantly looking in my mirrors afraid that
> someone is going to run into me.
>
So sorry to hear your car was wrecked and I totally understand what you mean about watching your mirrors. We had only a few days here of bad weather and bad roads, and I was so nervous driving everywhere!
There were too many close calls of cars sliding through intersections and such that I just didn't want to be on the roads.
But now that we're back to clean roads, I'm fine driving again and my biggest worry is the person going 20 miles slow.
You could try going slower than usual and letting all the speeders go past you, and get used to driving again. Hopefully that new(ish) car smell will help!
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> Getting my new (to me) vehicle today, but I'm now
> a very nervous driver. I hope that feeling wears
> off, because I love to drive, but now I'm
> constantly looking in my mirrors afraid that
> someone is going to run into me.
>
So sorry to hear your car was wrecked and I totally understand what you mean about watching your mirrors. We had only a few days here of bad weather and bad roads, and I was so nervous driving everywhere!
There were too many close calls of cars sliding through intersections and such that I just didn't want to be on the roads.
But now that we're back to clean roads, I'm fine driving again and my biggest worry is the person going 20 miles slow.
You could try going slower than usual and letting all the speeders go past you, and get used to driving again. Hopefully that new(ish) car smell will help!
I think it's a combination of selecting the right shops (as squireparty posted) and knowing when to take a break.
I'm coming off a a close to 10-month break where I was working a lot at my main job and perhaps taking 1 shop a month. If you are only taking a single shop each month, you can be incredibly selective. Statistically, I currently make a good return for my time with very little frustration, so my attitude on MSing is good these days.
I do see that my breaks are getting longer and my spurts a heavy shopping are getting shorter....
I'm coming off a a close to 10-month break where I was working a lot at my main job and perhaps taking 1 shop a month. If you are only taking a single shop each month, you can be incredibly selective. Statistically, I currently make a good return for my time with very little frustration, so my attitude on MSing is good these days.
I do see that my breaks are getting longer and my spurts a heavy shopping are getting shorter....
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