I am in the process of learning about Video shopping. Who out there does this, and is it hard??

I love video shopping! Have done hundreds of them. Send me an email and we can chat. Also, I am about to sell some of my excess equipment, so if you want to minimize your start-up costs, we may be able to put something together.

I think video is both easier and more interesting than written shops. And, very little writing! The pictures tell the story. The fees are much higher and the potential to put together very profitable routes is huge.

I have also been very interested in this. I'm just wondering what kind of start-up costs go into it? What kinds of shops--beyond realty--use video shopping?

I do not video shop and don't think I want to. But one of my favorite companies, Measure Consumer Perspectives, is moving that way and is offering the equipment. Don't know if it is a great deal or not. Below is the e-mail they sent announcing:


Hidden Camera Mystery Shopping Equipment‏
From: shopper@measurecp.com
Sent: Wed 3/03/10 2:25 PM
To:


FINALLY! We just negotiated a deal on the PV-500, one of the standard cameras used in the industry.

Next week we will be putting up a shopping cart on our site so that shoppers and whoever else can purchase the equipment. It will be as follows:

PV500
PV 500 Extended Battery Pack (3 hours)
1 Lion battery (1 hour)
550 LOR Color High Res button cam
USB cable
4-8GB SD Card
Power plug
Remote Control
Remote
Carrying Case

Instead of the retail price per unit being 693.35, it will be $400. If you are interested, please reply back. We will invoice you for $400 via paypal. We expect the shipment will go out next week. This is for the full rig, not a partial rig. The DVR alone usually goes for nearly $400. Here is a link to read about the DVR: [www.pimall.com] To read about the camera: [www.pimall.com]

Shoppers purchasing equipment will have their name shared among the other 7 video mystery shopping companies in the industry.

If you are interested, please reply with your commitment and your paypal email address so that we can invoice you.

I received an email from a company I was not registered with. They offered to send me the equipment for the first job...I have to send it back. They said it cost $1,000.00 and if something happens I would be responseable. I have to sign an agreegement and fax it back by tomorrow. They do teach you how to use it. I'm not really a techie, can I do this???? I want to go in this direction, as I feel with the decline in jobs and pay, this is the new wave. HELP!!

I wouldn't touch that one with a 10-footer, Irene. Measure Consumer Perspectives is a company I know and trust so I would, if I were going to get into the camera stuff, feel pretty comfortable with their offer. But a thou sounds pretty high and with an unknown-to-you company .... hmmmmmmm. You may be right, it probably is our future. But I'm just not ready yet.......

But I think that as more shoppers get "certified" for VS'ing, the pay rates will come way down, and eventually CoRI will have VS, too! I hate to imagine. $1 targeted apartment shops, anyone?

AM...I feel the same way, that's why I wrote. I'll pass on this one, and find another way, maybe with the company you mentioned. Thanks.

Irene,
Most new video shoppers are not at all techies. I was not and am not. But, you don't have to be mechanic to drive a car. Yes, you will be responsible for loaned equipment; but when you rent a car, you are also accepting responsibility.

That said, you can buy a very good used rig for $175.00, if you like. (email me for details) Or, you can buy what used to cost over $900, for $400 because of the group price that MCP negotiated with a supplier when enough of the existing shoppers signed up to get a reduced price.

I am not a really full time video shopper, but only make about $900 per month for my video shopping. (The well established full timers make from $2000 and up per month in video fees.) When I put together long routes of several days, of course, I make a lot more. Moreover, all of my travel costs are reimbursed.

As for Dee's concern about prices going down, they are actually edging up, as the MSCs get better at marketing video to a wider array of industries and companies. The most active shoppers have actually warmly welcomed a new company formed expressly to train more video shoppers, so that MSCs will be better able to market experienced, well trained, highly reliable video shoppers.

Most video shops are done monday-Friday. One MSC does have a lot of shops that can be done on weekeds, though. The biggest clients right now are: apartments (many non-targeted!), new homes, senior living, office leasing companies, and high end auto dealerships.

Walesmaven, I totally agree and will look into a used camera to start. I'll contact you when ready, in a couple months or sooner. My feeling to Dee's comment is competition weeds out the bad and helps the good. I don't buy into that statement at all. Learning to better oneself (make more $$) is always a good thing. I feel a little stagnent right now, time to improve......

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> As for Dee's concern about prices going down, they
> are actually edging up, as the MSCs get better at
> marketing video to a wider array of industries and
> companies. The most active shoppers have actually
> warmly welcomed a new company formed expressly to
> train more video shoppers, so that MSCs will be
> better able to market experienced, well trained,
> highly reliable video shoppers.
>


You guys are talking in the near future. I am looking 5-10 years out.

I only have the near future...I'm 72....lol.

As the great economist John Maynard Keyes said, "The long run? In the long run we are all dead."

AMEN.....I'm trying to do it all, and live more in the moment than I ever have. My life has become enriched and I'm not afraid to try new things. I have a boyfriend 10yrs. younger, so, it works!!!! Retirement is the best (if you don't retire).

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I only have the near future...I'm 72....lol.


Now, Irene, we're getting older and older ..... we'll be like the Delaney sisters, remember, they lived to 110 and 107, I think.....LOL....and with good health and high quality of life