Holly-You can post pictures on the forum if you do it through PhotoBucket

this is the kitty my daughter wants




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/2008 02:28AM by JoanG.

What a cutie.

Hi, Hollypear,

Which American MSP's also have work in Britain? We already know the one with the $7 pizza shop does. (Yes, ladies, all that work for $7 and then the pizza is too yucky to eat.) Does anyone know why you have to fold the pizza like that? I mean not a logical reason, but the reason the MSP might give if you asked?

I like your crossword puzzle tip!! Flash taught me to use a mail order catalogue also. Post your tips in the main MS area. Many people rarely look into this thread because it's mainly "Hi, my name is Xxx Zzzzz. Goodbye."

Hi, Regina--

Go to the New Shopper threads. Lots of great stuff there for you.

Hi Sneakers we have literally loads of MS companies here. I would guess many are the same as you as most are international. Off the top of my head the ones I am with are Gap, RetailEyes, TNS,Frontline Focus, PerformanceinPeople, Retail Maxim, GfK,mysteryshopperevaluations.com & OptimumContact.

I do feel envious at you folks complaining about gas (petrol) prices. The UK gallon is I believe slightly bigger than the US one but ours is around £5($10) per gallon.

The pizza one is strange as I can understand them checking you got the big one specified but why does it have to be all cut up and bits folded over.

I am on a UK MS'ing forum. We have much the same problems etc as you do. Stupid tiny details being questioned, long wait for payment of fees when you have bought say a burger meal upfront, websites being down, one which I won't name keeps getting distances wrong ie telling you xyz shop is *** miles from your home town when it is maybe 100 miles. Fees for similar jobs also vary widely.

We have an alert section only on our forum to let others know that say TNS currently have xyz type jobs. It is very useful.

I will post the crossword tip on the thread you mention.

A current problem we have is I live in Glasgow. Now Glasgow airport as you know got hit by Al Quaeda nutters last year. Although being Glaswegians they were tackled and thumped by staff and public. So shopping malls now frown on anyone taking pictures so some of the MS's want a pic of the actual shop. Someone recently got held for 2 hours by security staff because of this.

Hello my name is laura and I live in the Washington DC metro area, I was doing MS around 2003 and then in 2004 I was invited on a vacation to Iraq so I have been out since then. I guess I would considermyself a new person, I am sure things have changed. I would like to connect with anyone from this area, or any schedulers that have work in this area. I am familiar with Bank MSs and Apartment MSs. Would like to stay within what I know but am open for training in any other area. Does anyone have any advice? suggestions about MSs in my area? How about Vacation MSs? Please advice

Laura

Hi, I am a newly retired office manager and looking to supplement my SS by doing some mystery shopping. So far I have done 3 shops and 2 apartments. I have used 3 different companys and have signed up for several more. I live in Oregon, so if any one out there knows of some good leads in my area I would love to hear from you. I am so glad that a site like this is out there for us.

It's a GIRL kitty isn't it?!

Hollypear and others: Wow, would love to visit Scotland! My maiden name falls under a main clan name, forgotten which, have to look it up.

Right now am in reading all the info stage. I feel overwhelmed. Is this normal in the beginning? I've been down with major sinus infection and some family issues have taken all my time.
Enjoying all your conversations, you folks are a riot!
bfriend.

I have about 2 years experience Mystery Shopping and have done all sorts of Mystery Shops/Audits. Currently I am recruiting Mystery Shoppers for Kern Scheduling. I am interesting in helping those that are interested in either adding to their portfolio of Mystery Shopping experience, as well as, those that are new to the Mystery Shopping experience.

Ayisha Oglivie
Scheduler
KSS International, Inc.
KSSAyisha@kernscheduling.com
www.kernscheduling.com

AIM: KSSAyisha
SKYPE: KSSAyisha

Increase Your Earning Potential!
Register today with KSS to be considered for other great shops! www.sassieshop.com/2kern

KSS International, Inc. enthusiastically supports MSPA certification programs
Please visit: www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers/certification.php for more details!

Join us for the 5th Annual MSPA Shopper's Education Conference in Pittsburgh PA - July 18-20, 2008
Click here for details! [www.mysteryshop.org]

Yes, haiku, calicoes are always little girl kitties. This one's a real looker.

Hollypear, yes many of those are international companies. So we all have the same problems with software and editors. Your gas is $10/gal, but you get better mileage on those little cars. My 13-year old Toyota station wagon, loaded with hundreds of pounds of tools for my primary work, gets about 18-20 miles/gal, better on the rare highway trips I make. I'm in stop-and-go city and suburban traffic all day. Of course people with newer cars do better, but mine goes like water. Someone here said she gets 56 mi/gal on a hybrid.

I wouldn't do digital photo shops if you get held at security for 2 hours. Not worth the $12 or $20 they pay here.

Come join us on some of the other threads.

Hey everyone my name is William and iam from Spartanburg South Carolina. i did it one time and got a bad deal with it and iam think about trying again. so iam looking forward to see what is what?

Smithhouse, go to the "New Shopper" area and start off with the threads that are stuck at the top of the forum, especially the "Nuts and Bolts . . ." thread. This is about as good a starting point as I can think of.

Hi, you all! My name is Carolyn and I am relatively new to MS, however I have become seasoned enough to know that I must become more organized! I have signed up with several companies and always pursue/accept most shops. The result is that my gas tank is getting pretty used to being near the "E" mark. Since I live in a tiny town in MI that is near many many other tiny towns, driving is a must. I now try to accept shops that have a window of 5 days so that I can organize a route, sometimes hitting 5 shops in a day. During drives, I occupy my time with inspirational/learning CD's so that it is definitely not time wasted. But it is addicting - it is REALLY fun when the checks and Pay Pay payments start arriving!!! The bonus as well is that you get to interact with so many people! Always keep it FUN for yourself and for others! LOL everyone, Very Remote LittleC

Welcome Carolyn- You're right. Mystery shopping is very addicting. Try looking for companies that offer gas shops. That might help a bit. You've got the right attitude about this. Good luck with your MSing.

Hi Everyone! I'm a fairly new shopper who got turned on by my sister and just wanted to join a group to share experiences, lessons learned, etc.

Welcome mysteryshopaholic! For those of us that mystery shopping works, we do tend to turn relatives on to it. I've got one sister who is happily doing a limited round of shops and another for whom writing a report would be a traumatic event (there are downsides to perfectionism).

Hi,

My name is Jolanda, I am 37 years old and I live in The Netherlands. I started mystery shopping about 2 months ago and I just love it. It's such a fun way to make some extra money. I'm looking forward to reading and writing on this forum and learning more about the tips and tricks of mystery shopping.

Welcome Jolanda- We're glad you found this site. I look forward to hearing about the similarities and differences between MSing in your country and in the U.S. Feel free to jump right into the discussions. You'll find that we are all a bit crazy here, but none of us are shy about voicing our thoughts, lessons learned, or opinions.

Hello Jolanda I am glad someone else non US has joined. I am from the UK ( Scottish) Our US friends will make you most welcome here. They have certainly made me very welcome and they are just a lovely bunch of friendly helpful people.

I and I am sure my new US friends would love to know how mystery shopping works in Holland. Possibly it is the same companies.

Welcome Jolanda and mysteryshopaholic! I am from Wisconsin and have been shopping for a little under a year. It is addictive and can be fun, but there are times......

Jacob, please delete grand369. 3 posts, all advertising for shoe sales at some other website. We got ourselves a spammer, not a shopper or would-be-shopper. Thx.

Thanks, Flash. Geaux Girl!

Hi, I am snita and I am in the Alpharetta, Ga area. I have been mystery shopping for 2 months and it is ok. I have not gotten paid for 2 of my assignments so I am following up on that. I really want to buy a house so I am hoping to get more jobs. I have applied to over 30 companies. I have heard from maybe 5. Most of the jobs are to far for me. I would like to know how to get the big jobs. I have been getting a lot of reimburse restaurant jobs but that is about it so far. But I am remaining positive that I will get some good ones sooner or later.

sheri

Hi snita and welcome! The "big" jobs that most of us mention are an occasional thing and most frequently occur because a company we have worked with successfully calls to bonus a shop or because of our work record with them will offer us a job that they will not make available to shoppers who they know nothing about. And of course it also depends on your definition of "big". With the price of gas, many of us will not go out on a job for less than $15 unless we can string together a group of shops a little less than that in a single trip. Jobs in the $15 range do show up with some regularity if you watch the job boards of the companies with whom you have signed up. If you wait to see them posted here or at Jobslinger.com or wait for the emails you will probably not find them still available because of the competition from other shoppers who are precisely waiting for the emails or the appearance on Jobslinger.com.

Good luck to you! Check the New Mystery Shoppers section of this site for some hints and helps.

Hi, I have been shopping and merchandising since January, and am doing OK with it. Probably making $300 to $400 per month now, but always looking for the jobs close to home and planning multiple jobs in other towns and along routes to maximize gas usage. I still haven't been able to find the companies doing shops for the majority of businesses in my town. I live in McMinnville,TN. Does anyone know of any companies with work in this area? I am 85 miles from Nashville, 75 miles from Chattanooga, and 100 miles from Knoxville. Really too far for my situation. However, Cookeville and Murfreesboro are 45 miles away. Thanks!

Check Jobslinger.com for companies that have recently had (or maybe even currently have) jobs in your area. Free sign up. Finds jobs in relation to your zip code.

Hi,

I am a mystery shopper in San Diego area and wanted to know if there are any good companies that anyone could recommend in my area.

thank you so much

I HAVE JUST SIGNED UP TO MYSTERY SHOP BUT I CANNOT GET IT TO ACCEPT MY ID AND PASSWORD. PLEASE HELP. I AM VERY INTERESTED TO GET STARTED.

When you sign up with a mystery shopping company you generally get an email confirming your acceptance as a shopper. At that point you can go and log on at their website. Some sites are very picky about whether you use capital letters or not, so if you asked for an ID of Mindyscam and are trying to sign in as MINDYSCAM or mindyscam it will not work. Most sites have a "Forgot password" help that will reset or resend you your password.

Hi, my name is Terri and I am from Northwest Louisiana. Can't find alot in my little town but I keep trying. With gas prices skyrocketing, I don't think it would be cost effective to travel 30 or 40 miles. I also work full-time, so MS is part-time for me. I also merchandise for one company on a permanent part-time basis. Thank you all for posting, this site has helped me tremendously.