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Your advice on hidden camera/mic shops

October 05, 2015 03:40AM
Hi everyone!
I'm getting up my courage to do some apartment shops. They require a hidden spy camera and mic.
I'm looking for some advice on what kind of camera/mic you would recommend. I have seen some on ebay for as low as $10. I'm a little worried about the quality. Any thoughts? Makes and model numbers would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
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More About Equipment for Mystery Shopping
October 05, 2015 03:45AM
You are talking about getting into video shopping and there are standards that the company you do the shops for will want. The usual suggestion is to start with a company that can loan you equipment to try a shop or two and then decide whether you want to continue. The cost of the cameras and equipment used for video shopping are not cheap--think $500+ rather than $10.
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October 05, 2015 11:23AM
The $10 ones definitely will not cut it in the video shopping industry.....the standard equipment most video shopping companies ask you use is a Lawmate PV500. I use an ECO but my equipment is a few years old and there's been an update to it. Mine is working fine so no need to upgrade but if (and probably when) it fails I will do so. $500+ is the investment. When I started I used loaner equipment (an Archos - remember that thing??? Ugh) and did several shops, then I used the money I earned from them to buy my own equipment. If you like doing these shops after you've tried a few, it's definitely worth the investment.

ShopperShel

MSPA Gold Certified
Undercover Essentials Video Certified


Have video equipment, will travel!


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/05/2015 11:26AM by ShopperShel.
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October 05, 2015 12:45PM
The Archos equipment is no long favored. PV-500 with upgraded camera is standard. Please go to New Mystery Shoppers area of the forum and read about recorded shops.

You may also want to do a topic search of the forum on "video" for the past year and will find quite a number of useful discussions.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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October 05, 2015 11:23PM
Thanks for all the advice. A $10 video camera didn't sound like it would cut it!
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October 07, 2015 12:27AM
I have done three apartment shows now with a camera that I purchased for about $60. The quality was not quite as good as the $500 units but the company was happy with the results. It had a few drawbacks but it worked. I just ordered a Lawmate PV-500 EVO 2. The money I earned on the three shops paid for a good portion of it and I expect to earn the rest back and become profitable quickly.
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