Apartment shops do not pay enough

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that certain companies are offering really, really low pay for apartment shops? Some are offered for a paltry $20 in my area, and those are TARGETED. Targeted shops take so much more effort. Combine the time required for multiple phone calls, the onsite visit and lengthy written report, and the shopper ends up making nothing. I feel $20 is a insult. There is one company that keeps posting at $20. Targeted shops should be a least double the untargeted fee. In my opinion, video shops should start at $45 untargeted and without a lengthy written report. Some video companies want both a lengthy written report AND a video.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More About Payment

I rarely do these shops any more but when I did (with EPMS) I hated targeted shops. However, I developed a procedure. Since the shops are self-assign, if I could do the shop that day, I'd call the complex before accepting the shop. If I got the target, I'd hit "accept", if I didn't I would get off the phone fast and go on with my day. This prevented me from having these hanging like an albatross around my neck as I'd have to keep rescheduling it into subsequent days to reach the target.

hence why many people dont' do them!!! just pass them by and perhaps they would get bonused

Shopperfest, I know exactly what you mean! The $20 shops/MSC don't ask for all the narratives as the $45 shops/MSC though. You really have to work long and hard for that $45!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2015 09:57PM by nycrocks.

Even so, $20 is just insulting.

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.

Hi,

I do apartment shops all the time. I will do shops without a bonus if it is really close to my home. If I have to drive away, then I ask for a bonus. I usually get a bonus when I request it. I keep track of what is on the website and when I see that they are not being accepted, I write the scheduler and ask for a travel bonus.

When doing the shops, I call various times and note who answers the phone. After the required number of calls, I write the scheduler and state that I cannot reach the target agent, can I call and ask for them by first name only. I have yet to be told no. You can also call using another phone to the apartment office to see if that person is still working there. Sometimes the targeted agent is no longer an employee.

I do think the reports are sort of long but I am getting better at it. I have also asked for an extension on the amount of time to submit the reports and have been successful in getting the due date extended. You must have a good reason for asking for an extension.

Hope this helps.

$20 may be a way to cut your teeth and introduce yourself to an MSC. After that, forget it. I did an apartment for an MSC whose apartment shops start at $20. It lingered on the board, and they bonused it, $10. I had not done an apartment for this MSC before, and I know now that I will never do another, at that bonused price. It was not even targeted. It was just a ridiculously long report.

Live and learn.

I've done them from $35 and some LD shops were bonused an extra $20. I have never done a $20 apartment shop. It's too much narrative for $20....

@Mert wrote:

$20 may be a way to cut your teeth and introduce yourself to an MSC. After that, forget it. I did an apartment for an MSC whose apartment shops start at $20. It lingered on the board, and they bonused it, $10. I had not done an apartment for this MSC before, and I know now that I will never do another, at that bonused price. It was not even targeted. It was just a ridiculously long report.

Live and learn.

Don't you hate the extra long reports? Sometimes I wonder who thinks this stuff up!

****************

Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.

EPMS I will only do non targeted from now on. Of course it has to be $50 for a close one and more for a farther one minimum. If I ever do a video one add more to the price to get me to do one. I would rather do a highly bonused Lowes at $75 or more.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Apartment shops do not pay enough

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine