How much do you demand when getting paid in "% Off Coupons"? Scheduler needs help on "$10 off $25 Retail App" no payment.

There's a email hitting my box everyday asking me to perform their shop by asking me "What will it take for you to perform this Shop"? No bonus, no cash, just a coupon from a store that should have gone out of business ten years ago. How big of a coupon do experienced shoppers demand? Is it fair to offer you "$10 off a $25.00 Purchase" as payment? When the Scheduler sends more emails they ask "How big of a coupon do you need to perform this shop"? Their not allowed to provide money for these shops, only coupons.

Why would someone perform a shop using their time to spend $25 for a $10 coupon? Using Google Coupons you can get 20-50% off coupons on selected departments for free. Why do MSCs think paying us in coupons will pay our bills?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2016 07:16PM by GuyFawkes.

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 Schedulers

Not to mention...One store that does this just had a $10 off $25 coupon....for everyone....that I used without putting in any extra effort...could have easily used it multiple times...so no need for an extra coupon.

I would NEVER do one of those. There are many easier ways to get coupons.

I'd write back and ask the scheduler if she made a mistake because there was no fee or reimbursement attached.

Now scheduling travel shops for the day after Christmas through mid-January.

I got that shop in my email this morning. There was a 5.00 payment. Yeah, no thanks.

I have done a few of those but before it paid the difference between the coupon and how much to spend. I did one for a vitamin store and one for a cool store that has a lot of furniture and food items from other countries. I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't do this one unless it paid $15.

I think they don't realize most shoppers are looking to make money or enjoy a meal in exchange for their hard work and time. Why would a Shopper desire to get a discount or coupon off a retailer that's known for massive mark-ups? Another sign of how they value the Shopper, they feel our time is worth coupons instead of money.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/08/2016 09:45PM by GuyFawkes.

What, no heros to make it sooo much more valuable??? How about a 100% off coupon? Good for up to $100.00. If we are going to be crazy, let's be bat sh*! crazy.

I'd ask for a $25 coupon off a $25 item, but only if the store sells something I want or need for $25....

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

@GuyFawkes wrote:

There's a email hitting my box everyday asking me to perform their shop by asking me "What will it take for you to perform this Shop"? No bonus, no cash, just a coupon from a store that should have gone out of business ten years ago. How big of a coupon do experienced shoppers demand? Is it fair to offer you "$10 off a $25.00 Purchase" as payment? When the Scheduler sends more emails they ask "How big of a coupon do you need to perform this shop"? Their not allowed to provide money for these shops, only coupons.

First of all, I do not work for coupons or gift cards. Second, I do not DEMAND anything from my schedulers; I ask in a nice but firm manner. And I negotiate. Third, if I get multiple emails for the same shop and I already know that I am not interested, I just delete the emails without even opening them. I am a wiz at cleaning out my mailbox in rapid-fire succession.

@GuyFawkes wrote:

Why do MSCs think paying us in coupons will pay our bills?

Paying in coupons is most likely coming from the client NOT the MSC. I am sure that the MSC is being paid by the client in actual dollars though.

@BirdyC wrote:

I'd ask for a $25 coupon off a $25 item, but only if the store sells something I want or need for $25....

Does the Scheduler and Editor also get paid in Coupons and Hero Citations? They used the key words we are trained to see "Easy", "Fast", "Fun" and "Quick" to sweeten it up.

@GuyFawkes wrote:

I think they don't realize most shoppers are looking to make money or enjoy a meal in exchange for their hard work and time. Why would a Shopper desire to get a discount or coupon off a retailer that's known for massive mark-ups? Another sign of how they value the Shopper, they feel our time is worth coupons instead of money.

There are a lot of shoppers who are more than happy to work for a coupon or gift card. These coupon shops fly off the boards in my area. Many shoppers, not necessarily MS'ers are pretty ignorant about the business of retail while others love the thrill of the hunt and feel triumphant when they "get a deal."

IF the coupon was not otherwise available (making the value of the job $10) and IF I needed or wanted something from that store, I would do it just for the coupon...but when anyone can just get and use the coupon without any extra effort....they value of the job is $0.

The $10 off for a purchase of $25 makes no sense to me. The OP would be out $15. That's just crazy talk.

I have completed shops for gift cards. The shop just has to be a store I normally shop or a new store I always wanted to shop. I love gift cards.

There is another they are trying to pedal...$25/100. No thanks.

@deelitefullyme wrote:

The $10 off for a purchase of $25 makes no sense to me. The OP would be out $15. That's just crazy talk.

I have completed shops for gift cards. The shop just has to be a store I normally shop or a new store I always wanted to shop. I love gift cards.

if there is an item you really need it makes sense....There was a $30 item that I needed and would have bought anyway....the coupon available online knocked it down to $20.....you are not 'out' any money if you would have purchased the item anyway...

if you don't normally shop there and would not be shopping there except for the job...it is not worth it. I don't buy at the stores that have done this often...I do look a few times per year, but haven't liked the clothes....

but again....the coupon is readily available to anyone.....even with a $5 fee added seems like too much extra effort for a coupon available to everyone

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/09/2016 04:03AM by jmitw.

@jmitw wrote:

@deelitefullyme wrote:

The $10 off for a purchase of $25 makes no sense to me. The OP would be out $15. That's just crazy talk.

I have completed shops for gift cards. The shop just has to be a store I normally shop or a new store I always wanted to shop. I love gift cards.

if there is an item you really need it makes sense....There was a $30 item that I needed and would have bought anyway....the coupon available online knocked it down to $20.....you are not 'out' any money if you would have purchased the item anyway...

if you don't normally shop there and would not be shopping there except for the job...it is not worth it. I don't buy at the stores that have done this often...I do look a few times per year, but haven't liked the clothes....

but again....the coupon is readily available to anyone.....even with a $5 fee added seems like too much extra effort for a coupon available to everyone

Using the RetailMeNot App or Ebates allows Shoppers to get competitive coupons or better without writing up a report. I should just hit the "delete button" instead of complaining but than again we are here to help each other out. Its been posted the $5 fee is actually adding $5 more to your purchase, the Shop I see give's you no money to put in your gas tank. This is another example of how a MSC is able to get free coupons to pay their shoppers while keeping the $40-$60 subscription rate per store. We all know the MSC get's in cash, not coupons or Hero Citations. Next time you do see a Shop paying in coupons check out RetailMeNot or Ebates because they offer you $25.00 if you can sign up a friend and that friend make's a purchase on Amazon or any other place accepted. Thank you for helping me see I am not being petty thinking we deserve something better than coupons on merchandise we probably don't need anyways.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

How much do you demand when getting paid in "% Off Coupons"? Scheduler needs help on "$10 off $25 Retail App" no payment.

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine