I just signed up for an assignment that is paying $405 plus $40 bonus! I am confused since the shop doesn't state it is a video shop. It is with a gym. I understand that in 30 days I will have to hound the payment department of this msc however for that fee I am willing to make the calls and be inconvenienced. What I do not understand is what is really entailed and should I back away? I have read the guidelines and no where does it state that it is a video shop. Also this shop is 167 miles one way! If I don't get paid that is a lot out. Would you do it?


Also this was put into the description: Your Shop Fee: $405.00
Approved Expenses: $0.00
Bonus Pay: $40.00
Comments: NOW $85 + $10 for gas if you live more than 40 miles away!


ps I have emailed the scheduler. I am just in awe. Why would they have the fee like that if it isn't a video shop?!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/15/2014 03:22PM by gypsymonkey.

I would do it in a second.

I will travel anywhere for the right amount of pay.

As will I

Ditto.

I suspect the $405 is a typo. They meant to type $45. $45 plus $40 is $85.

I'd clarify before taking it. There's no reason for any shop to be $405 for a fee, unless it's a 40 hour job.

I would have to disagree with that last statement.

$405 and 40 hours only equals $10 an hour.

$10 an hour is probably not much less than what most shoppers average when you consider search time, drive time, shop time, and report time. This isn't a video shop. It's a gym. Those are usually in the $30-40 range.

I think it's a typo because of the followup information that mentioned $85 plus $10 for gas. I suspect this is one of those "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" things.

That is a bit different than saying there is no reason for any shop to pay more than that. Just because I video shop doesn't mean I don't have my share of traditional shops each month. On the other hand, I really don't spend time searching for shops so time is all based on travel, shop and report.

If I only averaged 10 dollars an hour excluding reimbursements I would quit.

And as LisaSTL said there are regular shops that are not video
that pay the same or more then video. I know that to be true
since I do a large group of them. Just becaue the pay is high
does not automatically make it video. Many msc's don't put
all their jobs on their job boards.....

It, unfortunately, was a typo. The scheduler apologized and thanked me for bringing it to her attention. It was in the southern part of GA and I am heading north to ME so it wasn't conducive for me to take the $80 shop that would cost me $150 in gas. I however would do any shop that is far flung for the right incentive.




(*ok let me clarify that there is some things I just wont do no matter the money)

I still don't see any of you old pros saying you have actually done a shop for $400 before. Have you? Was it on a board or personally assigned? I'd sure like to know if there's a possibility of such a shop in my future. I know I haven't seen anything that high on a board. The most I've seen is $200 (I'm about to do one -- a video shop). The most I've received was a $150 bonus on a $10 bank shop. If there are $400 shops floating around out there I'd sure like to know that.

I have seen shoppers say they got $300-450 when it required hours of travel. Especially for a video shop with specific requirements, or a two-part shop that required another visit.

After preparing a response it hit me it just is not worth it. If you feel the going rate for mystery shoppers should be $10 an hour then have at it.

Lisastl are you feeling a little jaded?

Well I certainly have had too much of something.

And shoppergirl, I have seen a $350 video shop, original fee, no bonus, no travel, one visit.

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I still don't see any of you old pros saying you
> have actually done a shop for $400 before. Have
> you? Was it on a board or personally assigned?
> I'd sure like to know if there's a possibility of
> such a shop in my future. I know I haven't seen
> anything that high on a board. The most I've seen
> is $200 (I'm about to do one -- a video shop).
> The most I've received was a $150 bonus on a $10
> bank shop. If there are $400 shops floating
> around out there I'd sure like to know that.


I hesitate to say this but I'm certainly not an old pro and I've done several shops well over $200 each that were not video. No I'm not giving any other details, I kinda wanna keep that gravy train running without any interference.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you feel the going rate for
> mystery shoppers should be $10 an hour then have
> at it.

Seriously. If I wanted a no-stress $10 an hour job I'd walk down to my local Lowe's and mix paint all day.

Mine is being a barista at Starbuck's. They do have benefits besides great coffee

Good they have other benefits because I dunno about the great coffee. They're the McDonald's of coffee. Not too bad and you know it's almost always gonna be exactly the same as every other one you've ever ordered at a Starbucks.

I would LOVE to own a coffee shop here. A real one. With fresh beans and high quality products. And do neat things like small batch ice cream in the summer and bake interesting cookies everyday, something besides chocolate chip. Unfortunately the rednecks here have no clue and I'd probably work 20 hours a day at less than minimum wage.

This is about the most scary thing I've ever read here. My fantasy is having a real coffee shop although the cookies are scones in my dream.

I think the internet may explode now

Outside I keep hearing, "So long and thanks for all the fish."

ZOMG DOUGLAS ADAMS WAS A COMEDIC GENIUS!




Sorry for screaming. :/

You live and learn. At any rate, you live.

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I suspect the $405 is a typo. They meant to type
> $45. $45 plus $40 is $85.

^--- This. Someone just got careless with their keying!

Hey! I was starting my reply here when I realized I hadn't finished reading the thread. I just paused here to finish reading the thread and we were right! Hee.



> I'd clarify before taking it. There's no reason
> for any shop to be $405 for a fee, unless it's a
> 40 hour job.


Don't know about that. I do have to say that $10/hour is my minimum requirement at this time (and that's after gas cost, and including drive time, shop time, and report time) but I certainly have gotten many jobs that average out to more than $10/hour.

The weird ones to figure are the places that I really really like to eat. And Dad does. But really, the reimbursement probably still works out to at *least* $10 an hour. It just doesn't feel like I need to count "shop time" on these since in these cases, "shop time" is enjoying dinner with Dad.

bgriffin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would LOVE to own a coffee shop here. A real
> one. With fresh beans and high quality products.
> And do neat things like small batch ice cream in
> the summer and bake interesting cookies everyday,
> something besides chocolate chip. Unfortunately
> the rednecks here have no clue and I'd probably
> work 20 hours a day at less than minimum wage.


Now, I'm one of the weird few who doesn't like coffee. I even *tried* to like coffee when I was first working in an office. I could never do it. After a while, I could tolerate the taste and all; but it turned out it exacerbated an acid reflux problem. :/ So since I didn't especially like it anyway, I just don't drink it. Tea is OK, no big deal for me flavor-wise; but it's supposed to be really healthy (not saying coffee isn't, I hear it actually *is*) and it doesn't affect the acid reflux. But I still don't drink it that much.

HOWEVER... I absolutely *FLOVE* the smell of coffee. One of the best smells in the entire world. AND if you're gonna do something, I love when people take the time and effort to do it right. And that ice cream and cookie thing... I haven't had home-made ice cream in ages and just love it. And there's so many other things you can do with chocolate and cookies that have nothing to do with chips.

Back in the day I did a mortgage shop for $400 fee. It took took weeks over the phone then one hour in office closing.

Dealing with Mortgage brokers is right up there with Used car salesmen. Lots of stress and follow up.

dspeakes Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I still don't see any of you old pros saying you
> have actually done a shop for $400 before. Have
> you? Was it on a board or personally assigned?
> I'd sure like to know if there's a possibility of
> such a shop in my future. I know I haven't seen
> anything that high on a board. The most I've seen
> is $200 (I'm about to do one -- a video shop).
> The most I've received was a $150 bonus on a $10
> bank shop. If there are $400 shops floating
> around out there I'd sure like to know that.

Absolutely, I have done a shop that paid more than 400 fee, not including reimbursements.
Th most I have ever received for one shop is 750. I do not video shop.

However, the fee means nothing really. Just because I made 750 on one shop doesn't mean it's worth it o a good shop. What matters is how many hours it took to do that shop, my hourly pay.

For me, $30 an hour is my minimum, and I consider $50 an hour good.

Then I will hang in there and keep looking. But before anyone will give us a $400 shop, we have to prove ourselves with the $10 and 20 shops. The highest dollar shop I've ever seen on any job board is $200, the video shop I'm about to do. Other than that it's been $160 that included a seven hour drive. But I've only been at this for a year and a half, part-time.