Hi Im new !! I worked in retail and resturants foe 12 years, so since I've been shopped I thought this would be easy......my question is when will the shop surveys stop taking me so long to fill out? And why do these major chain companies that ya can't get out of fast enough without spending 100 or 500$, why do they pat 5-6$ who are they kidding?

Welcome to the world of mystery shopping!

The surveys do get faster as you become more familiar with them, but it takes a while. I remember that when I first started a great deal of time was spent at home trying to replay the visit in my head to decide 'yes' or 'no' to questions. There comes a point where the report is complete in your mind before you get home and all that is left is to get it typed in.

Well thats makes me feel better, I was thinking this isn't really making any fast money, if it takes an hour to fill'em out!!! lol How detailed should I be, maybe I am over doing it?? Thanks 4 the input, Kristee

It will never be fast money. With some companies it will just be better money than others. You need to be as detailed as they ask you to be, and that is not meant to be a snotty remark. Some companies ask that you give them an explanation of any 'no' answer while some want an explanation for each answer. Some want an explanation of every 'no' and then want a blow by blow narrative of the entire shop that AGAIN mentions every 'no' answer. To some extent this is the client's requirement but often it seems to just be the shopping company. In some cases the company provides you with a 'sample shop' that gives you a good notion of what they are hoping for in terms of detail. The less explanation wanted, the faster the shop can go. There is one shop I do at about a dozen locations every month and have done so for several years. There is no narrative and the checklist of about 150 questions can be completed in about 15 minutes because the answers are all multiple choice. It used to take me a lot longer because I kept wanting to tell them what was really going on and multiple choice does not let you do that. There is a restaurant shop that we do once or twice a month that the report is likely to take an hour and a half even with great familiarity and comfort with questions and narrative. I recently signed up for some $35 shops and it looks as though I will be earning every penny of it while a $60 shop I just signed up for feels very much like a $20 shop I did, so I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Have ya ever done work for LPI n Store? I've been filling out an app. but thier screen isn't very user friendly! Do other people like myself give up there ssn so easily? I feel like I'm saying here take my idenity!!! Ive done some bank shops that were so easy and paid really good and then like yesterday I did a retail shop that took forever in the shop and an hour on the computer filling out the shop. FOR 11$ lol Who are the better companies and how can ya tell if they are scamming ya? Boy, I am nosey!!?? Thanks

I believe I am signed up for LPI and yes, some of these folks ask way too much to comfortably give out. Unless it is a secure site I will put in 000-00-0000 for the social security number and unless I have heard good things about a company from others I will use my PO Box address. Later I can go back and patch up my profile with correct information but I usually wait until I have done a job for them to do that. I feel reasonably comfortable that companies that use SASSIE or Prophet for reporting at least SOMEBODY has decided are legitimate.

If you see a company listed in the sign up lists here or at Volition.com the chances are that it is legitimate rather than a scam. 'Better companies' you will hear shoppers rave about, though they may not shop your area. You will also hear shoppers complain about companies that don't pay--for example at the moment there are issues with Pacific Research Group, so that is one to avoid. They are apparently offering big bonuses because shoppers have learned they aren't paying and guess what, they aren't paying the bonuses either. There were problems like that with Mystery Diner before they poofed out of existence. Good judgment and your intuition are your best friends here.

Cool, good stuff to know, you are very insightful! I will take P. R. off my lists. I just recieved an email saying my shop yesterday wouldn't be excepted because I didn't buy enough stuff, the check list that I down loaded didn't say how much, just go to Customer service, check restrooms and talk to the cashier. I went 45 minutes out of my way for this company, because she neded someone badly. Is it possible that the companies would make stuff up to keep from paying ya or am I paranoid? My husband is really going to think I fell off the turnip truck when he finds out!!! lol Everyone seems to think I am being nieve, but I have known people to make a living at this. I don't want a 9-5 job or would ya like some more tea job, I'll be thirty in 2 months, I am to old for a_s busting labor, thats what I did when I was young. Plus I think I have ADD.......i can't do a job very long, I get to bored.
I do think I live to far out to make any real money. I bet there is alot of business in the Atl. area But we moved down here a couple of years ago. Are you a stay at home mom? How long have you been doing this? Do you still like it?

There are threads on other forums (and perhaps this one as well, but I haven't looked) about Consumer Feedback. This was a company that had a major bank, paid reasonably well for the shops, was fairly easy in grading shops and offering bonuses. Then one day lots of shoppers got notice that their '10' scores had been reevaluated, were now '8's and they were no longer eligible for the bonus. Then came the notice that 'per client request' that shops be reevaluated there was a necessary payment delay. I did only one shop for them and was eventually paid in full. I gather this had been a fairly new company because I didn't remember seeing them and when folks were talking about what great shops they were I signed up and did one. What the real situation was we are not privy to, but my best guess is that the client tried to stiff them and as the saying goes '@#$%& rolls downhill'. It may be that the company never did get the full approvals from the client before starting the shops, it may be that the editors weren't properly clued in to what the client really wanted, who knows. This stuff happens and it is one of the reasons why you want to shop for a variety of companies and not have more in fees and reimbursements outstanding with any single company than you can afford to walk away from. Nobody wants to work for free, nobody wants to be out of pocket, but this business offers no guarantees--we have seen both bigger companies and smaller companies founder and leave shoppers holding the bag. You will get burned from time to time and forums at least allow shoppers to warn each other.

You must have been doing this a long time. I have one tonite, maybe you can explain this to me, Its a Fast Food joint, Very popular probally most popular, start the time at the register is as soon as I walk in line till she rings me back. I know I'm not suppose to talk about'em but I emailed the company to ask a more pascific directions they were out of office and should return my email tomorrow.......uhhhh...... The scheduler just called about 2? I don't want to not get this one right. Have any ideas?

I was thinking maybe you should be a scheduler, you seem to really know whats going on!! Or better yet a company owner......and you could employ us honest little guys! Well gotta go bathe. hahahaha

The timings vary so much from client to client that the only thing I can suggest is making sure you have carefully read the instructions. Some time from the moment you open your mouth to speak, some from the time you are greeted, some from the time you come to a stop in the line, some from the time you enter the door, some from the time you arrive at the location. From what you say I assume they are looking to see how long it takes for a person from the time they get in line to the time they have their correct meal, receipt and change in hand. That usually also means counting the number of customer groups in front of you so they know that if there are 5 in front, with 6 orders it took 7 minutes and 37 seconds for you to be complete.

Scheduler? No way. I retired early in part because I was so sick of trying to be persuasive on the phone even when I really was looking out for the best interests of the person on the other end of the line. Own an MSP? There is not enough money in the world to persuade me to ever have employees again. Now I might be willing to subcontract writing the reports and instructions shoppers would use because many of them I find illogically organized, formulaic stuff that doesn't correspond to the type of business the client company engages in.

Well, Flash, I am going out there again. I'm going to there website and see if I can review the material again. I think this important info should be on the worksheet I downloaded but what ever, talk to ya later, Thanks Again

Retiring is always good!!! Have ya ever heard of GAPbuster? Shadow Shopper just sent me a notice for them.......Well anyway I'm glad your here to give us your input!!!!!! BYE

Ok, well then.........I think I am going to set a limit or minimum on how much I will do shops for. There doesn't seem to be an abundance of jobs here except banks and well you can only go in so many times. lol So they wanted me to go to a city about 40 miles away for 11$.........I have been flenagaled enough. WOW Ive never written that word. I live 30 plus miles out in the counrty.......so from now on I just gotta put my foot down and just say NO. I can't belive starbucks pays so little, I go into sticker shock every time I get coffee and cake in there and they only pay 6$. Datatron said he had a lot of jobs for me it would be better if I had scanner and fax, so I went and bought one and they haven't called since.....2 weeks later. Well I hope you have a great evening, maybe I will get this one right. Oh yeah I wasn't sure how to hit ya back on the other private one, your so sneaky!!!!!!lol

I have done a few jobs for Datatron and would be delighted to do more. They are clear on what they want and give you some leeway on your creativity to get the results you need. They also pay reasonably well for their expectations. They tend to call out of the blue for shops and have only recently begun having a semi-viable website. You still get to only indicate areas you are interested in shopping and apparently what is on their board is not shops they currently have available because the board never seems to change.

I figure Starbucks shops are for people who would go there anyway, and that ain't me. Don't worry about owning a scanner and fax, you will use them with other jobs and when you sign up many outfits ask if you have printer, scanner, fax, digital camera, etc. so now you can mark those things yes and expand your opportunities. Remember also that your scanner and fax are tax deductible against your earnings as they were bought specifically for your business.

Hey again, No kidding about Starbucks. And your right about Shadow Shopper they don't ever change . After My trial membership I probally won't resign up, But how do ya get more companies to shop for? Most of the stuff they send is for Jcksonville Fl. 1 and 1/2 hours of drive time. ????? I tolded them 60 miles!!! I think I live to far away! lol

Bare International?Are they good? They are the ones who weren't pacific and then took away my funds.

Kristee -

First, I think that Bare International is a good company. In fact, they had what was, probably, my favorite shop of last year...a motorcycle clothing shop in a nearby town that paid $40 and went VERY well.

Second, I read where another shopper here figures that she has to make AT LEAST $1 per mile roundtrip in order to make a profit. For example: If a shop is, say, 7 miles from her house (or wherever she is starting from), that would mean a 14 mile roundtrip (7 miles there and 7 miles back). By her formula, she has to make AT LEAST $14 to make the shop, or shops if doing more than 1, at all profitable. You might try the same to help in deciding whether or not to take a shop.

Third, You might consider "bundling" shops together (doing more than one shop in the same town/area) to help make the trip worth it. In the above example, one $10 shop 7 miles away would not be worth taking (unless it might benefit you some other way). But, Taking the $10 shop, a $7 shop near the $10 one, and another $10 in the same area (or $27 total) MIGHT be.

Fourth, remember that, in addition to the fees you earn, the MILEAGE to and from the shop(s) is tax deductable at .505 per mile. This will help reduce your tax liability, making you a little more money.

Hope this helps. Good Luck and Happy (and Profitable) shopping.

I've been trying to bundle and keeping reciepts(gas). All the jobs seem really spread out, or maybe I just am not signed up with the right schedulers??! I am trying to wait it out and see if I can pull it together. Well I have a job friday thats an hour away, so I am trying to pick up as many as I can find for that area on friday. Let me go work on this........its breakfast with the parents day, so I will hit ya back later.

Well nothing yet, I signed up for this shop a week ago and thought that a week is plenty of time to come up with more shops, WRONG I was able to add one more shop. Now I am obligated to do 2 shops an hour away. for 24$ Maybe I should just do this part-time. lol It seems 5that most companies want ya to spend as much as you will make so there isn't any real profit. Whats the secret?

Wish there WAS a "secret", but all I can suggest is to register with more companies and hope that a couple will have more jobs in your area.

Also, MSing can CERTAINLY be a drain on the budget. If you don't want to, or can't afford to, spend the required amount to meet the purchase requirement, DON'T TAKE THE SHOP! No matter WHAT it pays. It is not unusual for it to take 2-3 months, or longer for many LARGE purchases to be reimbursed. There are shops out there that don't require a purchase and plenty more that require a purchase of $1, or less. Take those.

MOST shoppers only do this part time. They just like the "extra" income that MSing brings in and the "perks" (dinners, movies, etc.) that go along with it. So, if your finances require that you have a more "stable" income than what MSing can provide in your area, don't be "embarrased" at all by deciding to do this only part of the time.

There are not very many people that can start out doing it full-time. This is something you really will have to work at for maybe even a year to get going. It takes time to get registered with a lot of Companies and find the ones that work the best for you. I was doing it part time for almost a year before I was able to come up with the right Companies in my area that I could work with. If you live in a metro area where there are a lot of shops to pick from it might work. I am in an area where there is no large city within 125 miles. I really have to plan my routes before I take off for the day to make them pay. I very seldom leave home unless I have at least 10-15 shops to do for the day.

I was thinking about going and getting a part time job, but realisticly as all of us Mom's know, it won't last long. If ya don't have a full time support team, you can't just go to work, who will watch the kids. I thought this would be a good way to not get rich, but get some money. I am very much OK with making 200ish a week. I'm not materialistic or greedy, just want to do something fullfilling on my time that I enjoy. I too have't to drive quite a ways to get to a city, not that far! I live in the biggest city in my county and it has one red light and a Dairy Queen. I have been trying to sign up for shops in the same area on the same day, but this sounds easier than it is. I apply and write little nice notes to the schedulers that say: I will be in your area on these days. 2/6/08 and 2/13/08. I would love to do some work for you, please give me a call.........
They always call back with can ya go now, or first thing in the morning, or instead of the 13th how 'bout the 14th? And I have got to learn to say no! And really I live in a good place to be a shopper, I live 30-60 minutes from 10 cities. So how do I get in sync with the organized process?

I think, as Darlene (dquiring) said, you'll probably just have to take time, learn which companies shop your area and build your reputation and relationship with various Schedulers.

You might check companies who let you "self assign" shops (like Corporate Research Imnternational and others) and "bypass" dealing with a Scheduler. CoRI is known for they're initial crappy fees ("Home of the $4 shop!", but they often bonus reasonably if/when those shops don't get taken...especially in smaller or more "remote" towns where shoppers can be hard to find. Put together a "route" of towns and do them.

While you may not shop for them later on, shopping for companies that let you self assign is a good way for a new shopper to GET the shopping experience and "resume" of shops that other Schedulers are looking for.

They're NOT "self assign", but Bare International is known to pay "better than average", bonus well and they may have shops in your nearby towns that they do not have a shopper for. I did a shop for them a few months ago (bonused to $40...and NO purchase requirement) in the town that is our county seat. Apparently, there are no shoppers there, even though it's the largest town in the county. You never know.

Just know that we're here to offer any support and encouragement that we can give.

Well thanks for the support, I NEED all I can get!!! I can't get my Adobe Acrobat to work, the techinal support guy said to ask someone and if I can't get it fixed call him later, he works for Shoppers Critique. When ya click on Abobe the page reads "This program cannot display the web page." Then I click close and Adobe comes on it says "The licence agreement was not accepted. The application will quit now" This explains why I can't get all the info. from the work sheets that I download. I have downloaded this program many times and it still won't work. I am taking any info on this problem........any takers????

What Operating System are you running (Vista, XP, 2000, etc.)?

I think XP

Hmmm...I had XP before and never had a problem with Adobe Reader. Now I have the "infamous" Vista and also get a "warning" that the Adobe Reader file can not be read. I just click on the "run program anyway" button and it loads it just fine. I was hoping that it was the same problem.

All I can suggest is to try and clear your temporary files and "cookies", uninstall your existing Adobe Reader program and then download and reinstall it (making sure to "accept" the license agreement before you install the program). At least it's a free program from Adobe, so it won't cost you anything to try it.

I too have gotten the message and hit run anyway and it all comes up okay. I downloaded the newest version of Adobe last week, and still get the message, I have XP too. You might try going to Adobe's website and looking at their FAQ. May be something in there that could help - - but if you have the choice to continue anyway, choose that.

It is very difficult to tell what is tripping up what without messing around with the keyboard. Takes too long to describe all the possible troubleshooting routes. And even then some times the real problem remains a mystery. I rarely have trouble with Acrobat, though I find that pdfs in general do not fully release RAM whether I am working on the laptop or the desktop. After doing a bunch of Acrobat it generally is time to shut down and reboot before my machines start complaining about "not enough memory" (and they both are well loaded with RAM). The other oddity that I get is that sometimes--but not always and not with all Sassie sites--the website won't let me sign in because my "Java is not enabled". Malarky. My Java is definitely enabled. Rather than sweat bullets I just tell the warning screen I have fixed the problem, it takes me back to the sign in screen and 9 times out of 10 I will go right in. Another oddity I have noted is that I have my browser remember my passwords so when I pull up an MSP's sign in sheet the login and password autofill. If the site is with Prophet and I don't immediately hit sign in I will have to refresh the page to have the login autofill again and sign in within 30 seconds. Sometimes you just have to figure what works as a 'work around' rather than spend hours trying to get it right.