I don't have a cell phone yet, but I'm looking around. How has the geo verify app helped you with mystery shopping? I remember one site saying they could pay you sooner if you use the app. What smart phone would you recommend?

Although there are people on this forum who deny, there are some shops which I have done which require use of GeoVerify. It has some quirks (see other threads), but in general, I am happy with it. I have even used it with non-Sassie companies to prove I was somewhere when the location is closed or non-existent (I send them a screen shot from my phone with the map).

You are going to find people who say that GeoVerify is not necessary. Some refuse to use iSecretShop (a platform which runs well on Android phones). I began mystery shopping after the move to the internet was reasonably well-established, but there seem to still be people who long for the days of paper reports and fondly recall when FAX machines were at the forefront of technology.

I prefer Android phones. I personally use a Samsung Galaxy S5 (until I get my son an S7 and I get his S6). The LG G5 recently came out and it appears to be comparable to the S7 at a lower price point (at least last week at Best Buy and at the phone kiosk at Costco). My suggestion is to avoid Windows phones (not enough apps). I am sure that the Apple enthusiasts will chime in to tell you why the iPhone is better. Take some mystery shops which require you to visit cell phone stores and pretty soon you will be an "expert" and richer also. If you can find a Samsung Galaxy S5 new somewhere, it should be inexpensive and it is a great phone.

At the current time, I see no need for Geo Verify. It did not work anyway when I installed it a few years ago, so I just considered it unnecessary bloatware and uninstalled it. I do not see how Geo Verify would benefit me. Digital photos from my camera have EXIF time and date data embedded in each photo. In the rare case when a receipt or business card proving my shop is not available, I can just take a picture to prove I was there at a certain time.

Unless it is required, I am not aware of any benefit. The app works fine for me, I used it after installing it but nevet needed it. It doesn't hurt to use it, takes a few extra seconds. Your choice either way is valid.

@myst4au wrote:

My suggestion is to avoid Windows phones.(not enough apps)

Boy, you hit the nail on the head with that one! I HAVE a Nokia smart phone running Windows OS (Denim 8.1). It runs absolutely fine. HOWEVER...the apps are NOWHERE in the number like Android or iPhone have. I got the phone about a year ago, before I really got back into some light MSing. At the time, I thought it was a big deal.....I was moving up from a flip phone!!

I perform several shops that REQUIRE a GeoVerify code or the shop will NOT be accepted and you WILL not get paid. That is your choice if you decide to take those shops or not. But expect to follow all of the required guidelines if you want to get paid.

You and I both know that we are right. There are shops which absolutely require GeoVerify.

As always happens when GeoVerify is discussed, there are people who deny that it is ever required. Either they really haven't yet encountered a shop which requires it, or they are following the current cultural trend which seems to be to keep saying "Never saw it, never said it, never did it" even when there are witnesses and even video to prove that they were there, said it, did it.

@Sybil2 wrote:

I perform several shops that REQUIRE a GeoVerify code or the shop will NOT be accepted and you WILL not get paid. That is your choice if you decide to take those shops or not. But expect to follow all of the required guidelines if you want to get paid.

@myst4au wrote:

I prefer Android phones. I personally use a Samsung Galaxy S5 (until I get my son an S7 and I get his S6).

Why does your son get the new S7? If you are running a business, the new phone would be a business write-off for you. He should probably be getting your hand-me-downs. The S5 was great but there were a lot of complaints about the S6. That is why I waited for the S7 and I love, love, love it!

Older people seem to like the iphones because they are easier to use but I am Android all the way.

That is really good feedback about the S7. With the S6, Samsung tried to copy the iPhone, getting rid of removable memory and water resistance. My son has not complained about either, but both features are back on the S7. Why does he get the newest phone? Because he is 21 and whines really well (actually, he is a college student and a Congressional intern so I am not complaining). And I am easily one of the "older people", but I never caught the Apple bug.

@Sybil2 wrote:

Why does your son get the new S7? If you are running a business, the new phone would be a business write-off for you. He should probably be getting your hand-me-downs. The S5 was great but there were a lot of complaints about the S6. That is why I waited for the S7 and I love, love, love it!

Older people seem to like the iphones because they are easier to use but I am Android all the way.

I rarely have issues with Geoverify. Sometimes it gives me a funky message stating that the system is down, but that's only happened a couple times in the last 5 years.
I did a Crate & Barrel shop that required you to not only use Geoverify, but to also photograph the store exterior and submit a receipt. Seemed like overkill to me, but I did it.

I used GeoVerify voluntarily for a few shops. But, when I noticed it wasn't 100% accurately showing where I was parked, I stopped using it for fear of being questioned by an editor. I will of course use it when/if required by a MSC. So far I haven't had to. My old brain has one less step to remember. :>

I currently have an iPhone 5C. I'm ready to upgrade, but am now vacillating between the newer iPhone and the Samsung S7. I've taken on a bunch of phone shops just so I can determine which will be the best fit for me. I'm about 99.9% swinging towards the S7. I'm in the process of determining whether or not the apps I use for shopping (all purchased) will carry over to the Android operating system. I would be crippled at this point with out two of the apps. I'm finding that the apps are tied to my phone number. So, as long as I retain my phone number when switching to the S7, I'll be good.

I've completed lots of phone shops recently just to get information (and yes, paid). What's interesting is the majority of the carriers tell me the LG has the best camera on the market. Yet, I keep looking at the S7. The change will be expensive when you consider having to replace the accessories, as well as the phone.

I have both a Galaxy S7 and an iPhone 6 (don't ask). They're both great... the iPhone 6S has even newer features than my 6, like a better camera and that 3-D touch thing, that hasn't exactly set the world on fire. I agree with the suggestion above to take a couple of phone shops: someone paying you even a pittance for something you would do anyway, or that has value to you is a good use of your time.

Since I use both platforms every day, here are my impressions for each:

iPhone:
-Super easy to use. If you're at all worried about the learning curve of a smart phone, this might be the one for you
-The 6S actually has a higher resolution camera than the Samsung. There's some indication that the Samsung's camera is set up in such a way that it gathers more light and takes better photos, but my iPhone 6 has a inferior camera than my Samsung. The camera on the 6S is supposed to be better than both.

Samsung:
-It's literally the newest phone out there: it was just released a few weeks ago, so it will be the longest until it's old news. That means it should be supported for the longest if you're like me and don't buy new phones often.
-It's water resistant.
-It has an external memory slot, so you can use external memory cards if you use a lot of space on your phone (or you just never want to delete MS photos, ever).
-It has more flexibility and settings, like the ability to switch to "super duper power saving mode". There are lots of options like that, which make it more flexible, but also more complicated than the iPhone.

These are both the highest tier phones, which means they're super expensive. If you're interested in a lower cost smart phone, there are probably some good ones. This, I think, would be a situation where doing some cell phone shops would be great. You can ask the rep about whatever phone they want info about, and then ask about any lower cost options and you can compare how you like each phone against each other.

@Sybil2 wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

I prefer Android phones. I personally use a Samsung Galaxy S5 (until I get my son an S7 and I get his S6).

Why does your son get the new S7? If you are running a business, the new phone would be a business write-off for you. He should probably be getting your hand-me-downs. The S5 was great but there were a lot of complaints about the S6. That is why I waited for the S7 and I love, love, love it!

Older people seem to like the iphones because they are easier to use but I am Android all the way.

a new phone would be a write off? i thought you could only make it a write off if used exclusively for business? i'm doing my taxes thursday so this would be good to know.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2016 04:25PM by jay225.

The S7 has a lower resolution camera (12 megapixels) than the S6 (16 megapixels), but the S7 has far superior light collection capabilities so that it works well in low light situations and the photos even in normal light look at least as good as those taken with the S6. My Canon mid-level zoom camera has 12.1 megapixel resolution, so everything had to be kept in perspective. The LG G5 has 16 megapixel resolution.

Visit stores. Try each phone. Buy the one that feels most comfortable in your hand. I have found that the phone booth kiosk at Costco has the best deals. They have a more limited selection of phones, but if they have the one you want, the deals are great. Last week, an S7 with a 2-year contract (yes, they still exist at Costco) on Verizon was $75 after a huge rebate. That was insane! The LG G5 was $100 with a 2-year contract. And both came with free accessory packs.

I use GeoVerify all the time. It is a back-up proof of visit. Some reports require it.
Works great on Android phones.
You can get a goof Samsung Galaxy S-4 or S-5 on Ebay. Now that the S-7 is out, people are upgrading.
I use a Samsung S-4, and RokMobile for a carrier. They use Verizon towers and system. "Unlimited data" (5 GB at 4G, unlimited at 3G) and unlimited texts and calls for about $50 a month.
Gives you a good reason for doing cell phone shops, since you can pull out an older phone if they ask.
I also have an S-3 I stick in my pocket to use for voice recordings of my shops. Excellent sound quality.

I have an old flip phone (LG enV) which I use for some cell phone shops which require a "dumb phone" (my son's terminology). I keep it activated so that I can give the number to car salespeople and in similar situations where I need a real number which accepts messages.

I'll have to wait until next month before getting a phone. I could get a cheap one now...OR....get a Samsung Galaxy 7 in another month or two.

@jay225 wrote:

a new phone would be a write off? i thought you could only make it a write off if used exclusively for business? i'm doing my taxes thursday so this would be good to know.

I am not a CPA or a tax consultant. I can only speak for myself. My phone and service is a tax write-off. You need to talk to your own CPA about your own situation. Never take tax advice from a "name" in a public forum!

@jay225 wrote:

@Sybil2 wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

I prefer Android phones. I personally use a Samsung Galaxy S5 (until I get my son an S7 and I get his S6).

a new phone would be a write off? i thought you could only make it a write off if used exclusively for business? i'm doing my taxes thursday so this would be good to know.

My tax man told me the business usage portion of the phone and phone bill was tax deductible. My cell phone is used 90% for my business, so I multiply my phone and all my monthly cell phone bills by .9 to get the $ amount to claim on my tax return. I have done this for years. It's the same with cable internet. I use only the portion of the CATV bill that pertains to internet service for tax deduction. I must have internet for my mystery shopping business.