Seeking reply from experience Video Recording Shoppers. I am interesting in shopping can you provide tips in this area of shopping.

Video shopping is an entirely different game from regular mystery shopping. The best advice I can give is don't invest in the equipment until you've tried a variety of shops to see if you like them. There are companies that will loan equipment. Yes, the shops pay more, and while the reports are usually shorter, or non-existent, there are problems with aiming the camera, etc. Additionally, you have to remember that you are also on the audio portion of the recording, so any errors you make are also captured for posterity.

What kind of equipment do I need to buy? Of course I need a video camera but what would some of you suggest I buy ? Brand MP etc.

hustleman,
For many and extensive discussions to the costs, pros and cons of video shopping, please search "video" and "last 90 days." Video equipment that meets industry standards will run $600-$800 and if you plan to do a lot of video work on the road, you will eventually want 2 complete rigs. Do NOT just buy equipment until you have done several video ships with equipment lent to you by video MSCs; do NOT try the video version of any sort of shop until you have done several of the traditional versions and are entirely comfortable with long interactions in: apartments, new homes, automobile sales and service, dental, and assisted living settings. In addition, since you cannot return to most video shop sites (ever) you will have to plan considerable (and overnight) travel to make a career of video.

Obviously, equipment is a minor part of what you will need to consider in moving to video. Good luck and let us know how it goes, please.

I completely agree with Walesmaven's comments, especially the one about not trying the video of a shop until you've done the traditional version. A scheduler who is near and dear to my heart heard I was doing my first video route in Florida, and she asked if I wanted to add some senior living shops. I jumped at the chance, having never done one. I was fine, except for the three locations that had Alzheimer's care units that had to be shopped. Emotionally, those were too much for me. I did complete them but vowed never again.

Thank you for your input. It helped a great deal and gives me many things to think of

This is a helpful thread, thank you. I had seen a couple companies mention a $70 investment in equipment, which seemed a little more reasonable for me to see if this would be something I would like to get involved with. Does that sound familiar to any of you? Otherwise, of course you will probably guess I'm hoping to know which companies would be willing to loan or train me (I'm in Indiana). Also, I work full time and shop part time. Would you suggest that I don't even bother getting into video shopping if I can only make a part-time commitment due to the travel that may need to be involved (if travel expenses were covered or helped with I could go on weekends)?

I work a FT job on weekdays and I was "turned down" from a couple of video companies because they basically wanted someone 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday thru Friday.

Sybil, the video MSCs are not setting arbitrary rules to exclude 95 workers. The clients for most video shops (new home builders, apartment management companies, new and used car sales) specify that their sales agents (most of whom work on commission) should not be shopped during peak periods when real buyers are most likely to arrive. Those periods are weekends (and evenings in the case of car sales.) For independent and assisted living shops, many venues do not have staff in the sales/marketing department on weekends. Moreover, those shops are best done by shoppers who have a lot of prior experience with other long format shops (like new homes, cars, etc.) New home sites and apartment offices tend to close in the evening or, if open, close too early for video to be completed during daylight hours and finished by 30 minutes prior to closing. (Daylight hours because travel to a home site may be included in the video requirements; 30 minutes prior to closing because SAs often schedule appointments with buyers to write contracts near or just after scheduled office closing hours.) .)

It really would not be fair to tie up commissioned sales persons when real buyers are most likely to show up. In fact, even on weekdays, when new homes are being shopped, shoppers are universally required to retire from the field to let the SA work with the real customer who may suddenly walk through the door, or when informed that the SA has a pending appointment. That can get complicated and result in lost shopper fees if the shopper cannot execute the exit strategy in a way the leaves the door open to resume the interaction in the near future (without it being obvious that the SA was being shopped!). MSCs do try to schedule targeted new home shops when the target is scheduled to be working alone and has no known prior appointments, but the client's managers do not always know up to the minute status.

However, if you are in or near a one-party consent state, you may also find smaller players in the video market who do a lot of short, retail sites and do not need to avoid evening and weekend shop times. Some video shoppers make good money doing those retail shops.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2015 03:26PM by walesmaven.

Awww. I'm sorry, James Bond 007.5.

Thanks for the advice because I was just going to invest in the equipment and recoup my cost through tax deductions and shops. I had no idea that certain companies lent out equipment to shoppers.

How to find those companies is what I am trying to find out if anyone should happen to be willing to help out.

@jdawg597 wrote:

This is a helpful thread, thank you. I had seen a couple companies mention a $70 investment in equipment, which seemed a little more reasonable for me to see if this would be something I would like to get involved with. Does that sound familiar to any of you? Otherwise, of course you will probably guess I'm hoping to know which companies would be willing to loan or train me (I'm in Indiana). Also, I work full time and shop part time. Would you suggest that I don't even bother getting into video shopping if I can only make a part-time commitment due to the travel that may need to be involved (if travel expenses were covered or helped with I could go on weekends)?

Hi dawg597,

Can you please tell me the names of the companies that mentioned a $70.00 investment in video equipment.

Thank You Very Much.

Ken

The Mustanger

$70 will NOT buy an video rig that produces video acceptable to the major MSCs. That might be the rent that the MSC in question will charge! More info needed here.

I'm sorry guys. That was probably 5 or 6 MSC sign ups ago, while I was filling out an extended profile. I have since learned more, and you're probably right, Mustang, that the $70 would involve a little skin in the game from me should I want to use the company's equipment for video shops. I would need to scroll through the various companies to see if I could find it. If I do, I will let you know.

My next question is to those of you that may be considering upgrading equipment. I, of course, am looking to be as economical as possible. Are any of you thinking of upgrading and recouping some cost by perhaps selling your current equipment? What are your thoughts on the new PV 500 lite series (ok, 2 questions)?

My two PV-500 rigs are vintage pre-2010 rigs and are much easier to use and less user-error prone than the newer rigs. You may want to head over to VSN Video Shoppers Network and pose your equipment questions there where shoppers with more recent new equipment can answer.

I have the PV500 EVO2 [touchscreen]. As long as I remember to push the "Lock" button, which locks the screen, I don't have any problems.

Thank you so much for your feedback seems like this thread was very much needed!

I whole-heartedly agree! Very helpful!

Walesmaven, thanks for the tips. I headed over to VSN and created an account. Once I get the verification from the admin I will take this topic to the forums there. Thanks again!