For me, it's shops where I feel they have to know I'm mystery shopping. Particularly, the bank shops where I'm inquiring about a new account.

I've only signed up for about 40 companies and many folks recommend you sign up for about 100 out of the 300 well known, reputable ones. I find that with the 40 I use, I can typically earn enough in a month to satiate my desire to supplement my usual 40 hour work week. I do have companies that I tend to not... cut off... but kind of ignore. There are some shops that pay bupkiss, like a 60 minute shop that requires another 45 minutes of input, 12 associate interactions, descriptions of said 12 associates, and additional questions and photos ... that end up paying you $5 and reimbursing $10... or they pay $5 and want you to drive 120 miles total and cost yourself money...that I avoid but every now and again, I feel froggy and go ahead and pick these up when I'm en route, especially when there's time between shops and I've been traveling. The best thing I've done for myself is get my tablet with 3G on it, because when I'm 1 or 2 hours from home, waiting on an auto shop that takes an hour or two, I can hit up some of the companies I work for and see what they have in the area that I could pick up to pad my income another $10-$50. Sometimes you learn to cut off the $2 shops if you're happy with other companies, sometimes you're already there and those $2 shops could just be a quick photo of the front counter so why not.

When I became successful (lol), I actually stayed with the MSCs who supported me when I was a rookie and defended me against the clients who wanted to remove me from their d/base. Granted, recently I haven't done much shopping for them as before; simply because of my other interests and the change in demographics, I still shop for them. The couple I dumped were the MSCs who disrespected me as a shopper more than once, though my record with them were more than good. I have no regrets. There are enough problems in the world, there is no reason why I should stick with something or someone that would give me negative vibes.

I recently blackballed one MSC because of the requirements for their narratives. With one of their competitors, I can get the same money for less writing time, and I have a few days to submit the report.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I went about things a little differently. I stopped doing certain types of shops, for instance reimbursement only shops.

I check the job boards of the MSCs I'm registered with, whether I am current with them or not. Sometimes, a nice surprise will show up.

Enduring the narrative-heavy shops are good for me. Writing is good for doing little brain push-ups; it staves off dementia and I really don't like to do puzzles. What is the good of doing puzzles? I don't get it.

Yes, I de-activate low pay MS Companies. It happens all the time. I notice even to this day that certain companies will low ball the shops. Apartment shops, companies that now discriminate the shopper for age. Industry is very instable. I am fortunate that I have a truly good job otherwise I would starve doing mystery shopping.

I called one company when their payment was over 60 days, got the rudest AP person I have EVER talked with, and immediately deactivated myself. I got paid and about 6 months later a scheduler called to offer me a job. I told her I had deactivated myself so I wondered why she was calling. After I told her why, she said the AP guy was always a jerk, and I could call her if I ever had any problems. I took the job and then some others, and have never had any problems with them, since.

Robin, I get it. But if a puzzle has no solution, then what's the point? That's how their narratives are for me. No matter how detailed I am in my writing, there is always something wrong. I don't mean a minor criticism either.

With their competitor, I still do the intensive writing (though much less), and I don't get get the insulting feedback.

@Robin2 wrote:

Enduring the narrative-heavy shops are good for me. Writing is good for doing little brain push-ups; it staves off dementia and I really don't like to do puzzles. What is the good of doing puzzles? I don't get it.

I've never had trouble getting paid and a couple of times I have omitted or had an error but good scheduler who helped me get paid my error's are few and far between. I never burn a bridge it's so hard to get back over. i recently stopped taking shops from a MSC company I was at odds with. When low and behold they got a large fast food company that would increase my income leaps and bounds. So never burn baby!!
Diana 4

Glennice,
I also had those wonderful bank jobs x amount plus mileage great gig but it dried up. Still looking for that C.U. had to go with another MSC I'll find it again. Made about 6-7 a month.
Diana 4

The only phone shops I have found are like 5 to 10 bucks a call. Can u clue me in to the 50.00 a day calls? I live in Fl.
Tx Di

I initially became interested in mystery shopping because I thought it might be an opportunity to indulge some champagne tastes on my beer budget. Once I got started, I felt I had to take everything I was offered in order to get offered the good jobs. Then I somehow believed I could actually make money at this if I took enough jobs. I was teaching, as well. After way too much stress, I now apply almost exclusively for restaurant and hospitality shops. The experiences I get to have dining in nice restaurants or staying in nice hotels or resorts with my hubby are worth much more to me than the few odd dollars most of us make on retail and fast food. I have been able to score lots of desirable jobs by writing interesting reports and being cooperative with schedulers (including the occasional favor) rather than by applying for every job that comes down the pike.

The same here. I do not cut ties when all that is necessary is not to sign up for the shops. One MSC that is a notorious low baller will sometimes be a gold mine like when I booked three $60 shops that normally paid $17. Easy money.

300? Dag. I only saw about 100 listed on here. Guess I need to brush up. I work for about 4 regularly and have signed up with about 40 but no luck yet. Just getting started really. Been shopping for one company for two years and recently decided to make a real deal of it so I picked up more shops. I have been about 40-60 days into signing up and getting more shops with mixed results so far.

@Robin2 wrote:

Sometimes, I've stopped working specific assignments with specific companies, because I figure the same people I've had trouble with are working in that department. Of course, most wouldn't work for Tom Callaghan for any price.

Who's Tom Callaghan?

I have never deactivated any company for any reason. All of the companies that I started with were learning experiences. I am still shopping for the first two companies I started with. I have built up a rapport and am offered bonuses. I select only what I want, I have no need to blackball anyone, each to their own.

I don't think you should name anyone on this forum . We all have different experiences.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2016 02:44PM by shopper8.