For those of you who have worked in other fields as I have that would pay more if they had the same tasks that we do for mystery shopping, please comment with (a) type of shop, and (b) what you think this other industry would offer to go a few blocks down the street. For me, a non-purchase shop such as a cell phone shop or a photo of the front of a building would pay between $30-60, depending upon the company paying. The difference is that the mystery shopping goes on continuously but this other work would be sporadic. I think that's what drives the cost down. The companies needing mystery shoppers can't afford to pay every single one of us at every single location owned by the chain a decent fee.
The client pays the company a decent amount. The company must use this money to pay rent, utilities, marketing, schedulers, editors, administration, tech, etc., etc.
Oh, and must pay shoppers, too.
Decent gets divided many times before it hits our account. Nature of the trade.