$70,000 or more in annual income
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To me, the income requirement is pretty irrelevant to my skills as a mystery shopper. I don't know why a MSC would think it makes a difference in how we present ourselves. And yeah, you can put any income you want on those applications....just saying. MSC's are going to pay as low as we will accept. It's up to ourselves to either take it, or wait it out for the inevitable higher pay and bonuses on the same shop. I just called one of them out for emailing me with a higher pay and bonus for the same shop I have already on my schedule! haha..oops on them! I have promised myself that if I end up on one of these shops that are way more work than told up front, that I will call them immediately and have a "conversation" with my scheduler. ;-)
Wow, does anyone know anybody with an income of $70,000 who actually wants to do mystery shops? I mean come on, there are some great things that can happen with mystery shops, but I don't know anyone who thinks it is easy and it is often a pain in the butt. Sometimes when I see these kinds of requirements I wonder what psychedelics these people who think up these requirements are on?
Shopping til' I drop, no joke here!
My household income is right around the $70,000 mark and I mystery shop on an almost-full-time basis. I think it's a great way to make ends meet and still be available as a stay-at-home mom to my children.
@aprilredbird wrote:
Wow, does anyone know anybody with an income of $70,000 who actually wants to do mystery shops?
Short answer is YES. I'm not saying I would ever take the shop the OP posted about, but there are plenty of shops available, and interesting, to people that make six figures (no decimal point included). Consider the fact that MS reimbursements are tax free and I earn well over $30k in reimbursement each year, and it starts to become worth the hassle. If you have a lifestyle that costs $68k and only make $72k, those lifestyle shops end up being very profitable!
I did two shops that were supposed to have 5 hero citations and I asked for a bonus when I received a personal email from the scheduler asking me specifically to do these shops within 4 hours. I drove 60 miles one way to do her a favor. I completed the reports and the scheduler, who was also the editor said that there were many grammar and punctuation mistakes and she gave me a score of 5 on the reports. I print out all of my reports before sending and copy narratives that are too long to show in the boxes. There were no grammar or punctuation mistakes in that report. I called her on it, telling her that I had the copies. She never replied. I never got the hero citations and never got the promised bonus. I printed out the email as well and have now decided to address it with the company. If they throw me out, so be it. I will not be treated unjustly.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2015 11:32PM by CJT.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2015 11:32PM by CJT.
If it is Intelli-shop then I can understand. They are really something else with their ridiculous requests. If I was making $70,000 gross income per year, then I would not have to do mystery shopping, ever!
If you are grossing $70k a year, you can then choose to select only the shops that are the most profitable or desirable. You just have to change the way you think about MSing.
You will most likely no longer work for Intelli, but there are shops that have value still.
You will most likely no longer work for Intelli, but there are shops that have value still.
Well, seeing all of the talk on here, I can better understand the response I got when I asked the scheduler about the pay. I asked if more $ was possible and the entire response was "The shop pays $20." Obviously I wasn't the first shopper questioning it and the poor scheduler who is only doing a job, is probably wishing this shop was not on his list of duties. Of course none of us are obligated to take the shop at that pay, so its not like I am complaining, just a bit confused over the requirement+time/pay imbalance.
Every household on my street makes well over $100,000 a year. I guarantee it. Even people who make far less than that don't always do well shopping. It's a lot of work. People, in general, are lazy. Somebody who makes $30,000 a year won't necessarily fit in a situation that is full of people who make $300,000 a year. Their $70,000 is pretty random. I shop full time and my shopping supports a fabulous lifestyle.@gbarnes wrote:
If it is Intelli-shop then I can understand. They are really something else with their ridiculous requests. If I was making $70,000 gross income per year, then I would not have to do mystery shopping, ever!
I don't think it's unreasonable to want shoppers who earn in excess of $70,000 or any other number that makes them happy. I understand exactly what you're saying about higher income people shopping to enhance a lifestyle, but there are a lot of demanding shops that pay peanuts for the effort required but don't enhance anything.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
...and I agree it's probably crazy to require that sort of household income for shops that are not worth it. The high-end steakhouse that requires an income in the $50k range comes to mind as a good example of asking shoppers to fit the demographic.
I was mainly just pointing out that there is a group of shoppers in the over $70k demographic that are happy to be shoppers. They are not necessarily happy to take a shop like this.
I was mainly just pointing out that there is a group of shoppers in the over $70k demographic that are happy to be shoppers. They are not necessarily happy to take a shop like this.
I sometimes read some of the posts here and wonder if not all mystery shoppers on this site are actually shoppers but could some be MSC representatives? People making $70,000 won't do this shop. Another question I have is, how do they verify the income?
Some MSC companies are abusive to the shopper/auditor as we are sometimes called. If you are a member of MSPA-North America you can always write to them or write to the Better Business Bureau of where the corporate headquarters are of the MSC. No one needs to be abused for doing a good job in their work. The scheduler should have been fired or dressed down for not taking care of you as a valued shopper.
It's already been cited that they don't verify income. Your status is self-reported.
As far as posters being MSC reps, outside of a few posters that are known MSC staff, and posts in the jobs section, I don't think MSC staff have a lot of time to be scouring and posting on the forum. When I worked for a MSC I had very little free time. My job these days is outside of the MS industry and offers me a lot more free time to be here.
As far as posters being MSC reps, outside of a few posters that are known MSC staff, and posts in the jobs section, I don't think MSC staff have a lot of time to be scouring and posting on the forum. When I worked for a MSC I had very little free time. My job these days is outside of the MS industry and offers me a lot more free time to be here.
@gbarnes wrote:
If you are a member of MSPA-North America you can always write to them....
MSPA makes it very clear that they will not get involved with any grievances regarding the fee structures for shops.
@jake103 wrote:
No shopper makes that much money, pretty ridiculous guidelines.
I make that much money, but not as a shopper.
@aprilredbird wrote:
Wow, does anyone know anybody with an income of $70,000 who actually wants to do mystery shops?
*Raises hand*
My perspective is - I make slightly more than 70K at my day job and we're a 2-income household, but I am finding shops that dovetail with my everyday activities, like a cellphone shop on my way home from work, or at the mall when I am already going to the mall. I doubt I will ever take it to the level you guys do who do it all day, like I saw someone on another thread saying they would do 14 in one day. Not me! haha. But I made $55 this week doing these little shops on my way here and there, got some groceries comped, and have two dates with hubby this weekend for restaurants we'll get reimbursed for plus a little payment.
The other goal I have is to shift a lot of my lifestyle spending to mystery shopping gigs so hubby and I can still afford to go out to eat and movies and stuff while we try to save to buy a house.
One last remark about making $70K- It depends on where you live too- I live in a large, expensive city and 70K doesn't go as far as you might think it should.
You also have to earn in certain demographic to do some other luxury shops, resorts, and even some amusements.
I have 2 of these shops scheduled for the same day. I am pretty much regretting it after reading this thread...
Ditto CeciliaM. $70k doesn't go far in Hawaii either, big city or not. Even though I fit the income require, I wouldn't take this shop no matter the income level. Plenty of better paying shops available.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2015 01:53AM by saacman5033.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2015 01:53AM by saacman5033.
@saacman5033 wrote:
Ditto CeciliaM. $70k doesn't go far in Hawaii either, big city or not. Even though I fit the income require, I wouldn't take this shop no matter the income level. Plenty of better paying shops available.
me neither...aint nobody got time for that haha
Ack! I just delved into the hotel guidelines. I think I am in over my head which is not unusual for me. I booked four hotel audits and two similar dealership audits (much easier, same pay, same company) to be completed in two days! The other day I started out to the car dealerships and it was freezing cold and raining, I got lost, came home and rescheduled. I realized I could have instead made four easy phone calls and would have made the same $20 WITHOUT driving. I too am tired of narratives and mystery shopping in general. I enjoy the opportunities with more audit jobs coming in, they seem easier, but this hotel job, clearly is not what I thought it was. With the weather getting worse, phone calls shops in my pajamas are gonna be where it's at.
The more I study this shop, the more I realize the guidelines are INSANE. Help!
@aprilredbird wrote:
Wow, does anyone know anybody with an income of $70,000 who actually wants to do mystery shops? I mean come on, there are some great things that can happen with mystery shops, but I don't know anyone who thinks it is easy and it is often a pain in the butt. Sometimes when I see these kinds of requirements I wonder what psychedelics these people who think up these requirements are on?
I do it because my main job does not cover my expenses of supporting myself and my family.
@whiterosie wrote:
Just received an email about some new revealed audits. The audits can take up to two hours and may require up to 45 photos. There is no narrative.
The requirements are a shopper score of 8 or better and an annual household income of $70,000 or more. Oh yeah, you have to know how to act professionally and dress appropriately.
What is the pay for this great shop? $20
I would submit to you that someone who has $70,000 in annual income doesn't reach that level by taking shops that don't even pay the equivalent of minimum wage.
You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want ..Zig Zigler
They are obviously targeting husbands with habits their wives don't know about.........
I know a few 70k + chumps who can't even spend twenty dollars on beer without hearing it from the old lady..
I know a few 70k + chumps who can't even spend twenty dollars on beer without hearing it from the old lady..
well if you want to @#$%& about your pay you have joined the right community...... If one considers the amount of time, energy and driving one does to complete the average shop. you would be far better off driving a taxi cab... 
The other benefit is there is far less chance of you being denied your wages
The other benefit is there is far less chance of you being denied your wages
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