How Do People Make $1,000+/Month Mystery Shopping?
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I was going far off-topic and perhaps suggesting something controversial. I just wanted the site owner to know that I was aware and would not go too far away from the topic. 
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
@SoCalMama wrote:
No, I am not the only one, but one of the elite group that would get paid such a fee.@Miss shopper wrote:
$1000 for opening a credit card?? Wow. never heard of that.
Not to seem rude, but you are the only one gets paid such high fees, and it's hard to believe.
Oh, and "not to seem rude" but I don't really care if you believe me. IRS 1099 says I am not lying.
It was a $1000 fee. Biggest fee that I have earned in almost 20 years for a simple job. I qualified based on demographics. I verified that it was really $1000, and not $100, and opened the card over the phone the next day.
A simple job pays you alone $1000? Nope. That MSC could have offered the same opportunity to another shopper for $900, and then another would do the simple job for 800, and so on, until the fee would be bid down to $40-100.
Any MSC that would pay you $1000 for a simple job is screwing their client. Since that's not likely, it's likely that you added a zero to the $100 fee. Feel free to post an image of your 1099.
@Big Time Shopper wrote:
Any MSC that would pay you $1000 for a simple job is screwing their client. Since that's not likely, it's likely that you added a zero to the $100 fee. Feel free to post an image of your 1099.
Wow!...it wasn't enough to put a snarky reply here, so you had to go create another thread about it?
I have met SCM, and know the types of assignments she does. I take her word for it.
Hi everyone!
I am brand new to this forum and a one-month newbie to Mystery Shopping.
First, I want to thank all the veterans for the dues you paid starting out so long ago! Second, thanks to everyone who posts in this forum. I am learning so much!!
SoCalMama, bgriffin, LisaSTL, I want to learn!!
I am a quick learner and a hard worker. I don't expect to get the high-paying shops right away, but I would like to know some tips about how to advance quicker (Not waste time doing the wrong things.)
I've only done restaurants so far. So, I have a lot of questions!
Video shopping, Phone shop, audits, Inquiry shops, Mailing shops, Route shops? They all sound great but how do I learn what they are and how to do them?
Is there a free online source to learn this? Does anyone ever email each other and take on a newbie to help?
Not looking for handouts, just a little helping hand.
My goal is to Mystery Shop full-time to help my household income.
Thanks in advance to anyone with ideas!
I am brand new to this forum and a one-month newbie to Mystery Shopping.
First, I want to thank all the veterans for the dues you paid starting out so long ago! Second, thanks to everyone who posts in this forum. I am learning so much!!
SoCalMama, bgriffin, LisaSTL, I want to learn!!
I am a quick learner and a hard worker. I don't expect to get the high-paying shops right away, but I would like to know some tips about how to advance quicker (Not waste time doing the wrong things.)
I've only done restaurants so far. So, I have a lot of questions!
Video shopping, Phone shop, audits, Inquiry shops, Mailing shops, Route shops? They all sound great but how do I learn what they are and how to do them?
Is there a free online source to learn this? Does anyone ever email each other and take on a newbie to help?
Not looking for handouts, just a little helping hand.
My goal is to Mystery Shop full-time to help my household income.
Thanks in advance to anyone with ideas!
Good afternoon.Yes, I help out newbies all of the time. About video shopping, there are two things. You MUST get trained by a video shop company. Secondly, the only video equipment to buy is a PV-500 camera. It will cost you about $400 for the camera and $100 to be trained. Without these two items under your belt, no video shop company is going to hire you.
@mbeckoff wrote:
Good afternoon.Yes, I help out newbies all of the time. About video shopping, there are two things. You MUST get trained by a video shop company. Secondly, the only video equipment to buy is a PV-500 camera. It will cost you about $400 for the camera and $100 to be trained. Without these two items under your belt, no video shop company is going to hire you.
I have never been trained and all I do is video.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Yes, I help out newbies all of the time. You will have to start off small and get better.
Regarding video, there are two things. You MUST get trained by a professional video shop company. Second, you must only buy the PV-500 camera. Do not purchase anything else.
Without these two items, no video shop company will hire you.
Finally, it is best to do written for a while before you do video.
Regarding video, there are two things. You MUST get trained by a professional video shop company. Second, you must only buy the PV-500 camera. Do not purchase anything else.
Without these two items, no video shop company will hire you.
Finally, it is best to do written for a while before you do video.
Then you are wonderful. Every mystery shop company that I work for , wanted to know what training i have gotten.
I still stand by what I wrote.
I still stand by what I wrote.
Just because they want to know what training you have gotten doesn't mean they won't give you work without it.
I know several other full time video shoppers who have not had training as well. Perhaps the statement is true for you, but that does not make it true for everyone.
I know several other full time video shoppers who have not had training as well. Perhaps the statement is true for you, but that does not make it true for everyone.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I can't speak to video shopping as it's not in my wheelhouse, but would trust bgriffin at his word. Perhaps training might help you get a foot in the door, like any certification. There are arguments for both sides.
As for all the other shop types you mentioned; I think this forum is the best resource out there for learning. Better than any convention, book or video because it comes from a collective of shoppers from all backgrounds. Read, read and then read some more. There's an amazing amount of good advice and cautionary tales here. You get bgriffin's input on how to make a good living at this and mine on how to travel well. After taking it all in, you can decide the approach that's best for you...
As for all the other shop types you mentioned; I think this forum is the best resource out there for learning. Better than any convention, book or video because it comes from a collective of shoppers from all backgrounds. Read, read and then read some more. There's an amazing amount of good advice and cautionary tales here. You get bgriffin's input on how to make a good living at this and mine on how to travel well. After taking it all in, you can decide the approach that's best for you...
I'm not a mystery shopping company and have trained video shoppers who got work.
I took a seminar myself in 2010 even though the owner of one of the companies with a lot of video work had talked me into trying video and was more than willing to give me assignments without it.
I took a seminar myself in 2010 even though the owner of one of the companies with a lot of video work had talked me into trying video and was more than willing to give me assignments without it.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
@Big Time Shopper wrote:
Any MSC that would pay you $1000 for a simple job is screwing their client. Since that's not likely, it's likely that you added a zero to the $100 fee. Feel free to post an image of your 1099.
Wow!...it wasn't enough to put a snarky reply here, so you had to go create another thread about it?
I have met SCM, and know the types of assignments she does. I take her word for it.
Well Steve, because you met SCM it doesn't mean you know she tells the truth. Unless she showed you the shop and the fee she got paid, I don't believe anything. Another things SCM stated in another thread that she most of the time she makes over $1000/per month, so if she made $1000 from one shop.....hmmm...go figure.
I noticed that some shopper confuse the shop fee with total reimbursement. Those are 2 very different things. When I shop hotels the MSC reimburse me for example $300 for the room, 100 for the bar and $85 shop fee. So can I say that I made $485 on that shop? NOOOO. I only made $85.
There are a few shopper here who praise themselves by sating that they make a lots of money. Maybe, but hen you put 200 hour per week into it, that's not what I call "working".
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2017 12:52AM by Miss shopper.
Take into consideration, some of us not only know each other well, we work for the same MSCs on a lot of the same projects. That means we see notices and/or get the phone calls. And face facts, nobody really has anything to gain by lying about shop fees.
I forgot to add, there are only 168 hours in a week so unless shoppers are using a Tardis, none of them are working 200 hours. Personally, I don't even work the equivalent of a full time job.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2017 12:57AM by LisaSTL.
I forgot to add, there are only 168 hours in a week so unless shoppers are using a Tardis, none of them are working 200 hours. Personally, I don't even work the equivalent of a full time job.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2017 12:57AM by LisaSTL.
And you could choose to believe that nobody makes a decent living doing this without working themselves to death. Those of us who do make a decent living without working themselves to death don't really care. Some of those who do like to encourage those who haven't yet found a way that works for them. Not to be blunt but I don't believe any of those people care the slightest about those who cannot believe it possible.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
@LisaSTL wrote:
unless shoppers are using a Tardis,
Dang it stop giving away my secrets!
Also I don't work close to 2000 hours a year either.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
@bgriffin wrote:
@LisaSTL wrote:
unless shoppers are using a Tardis,
Dang it stop giving away my secrets!
Also I don't work close to 2000 hours a year either.
Me either. And I am smart enough to know how to calculate a reimbursement versus a fee.
I wish I was! But ya know maths..........
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Hello everyone! I have a little request. Could someone, or more people, fill me in on how to sell things on Ebay? How do you make a small Ebay business work? Thank you so much! Signed, Night Owl at 9:27 pm
@LisaSTL wrote:
Take into consideration, some of us not only know each other well, we work for the same MSCs on a lot of the same projects. That means we see notices and/or get the phone calls. And face facts, nobody really has anything to gain by lying about shop fees.
I forgot to add, there are only 168 hours in a week so unless shoppers are using a Tardis, none of them are working 200 hours. Personally, I don't even work the equivalent of a full time job.
200 hours was said in a sarcastic way.@Miss shopper wrote:
@LisaSTL wrote:
Take into consideration, some of us not only know each other well, we work for the same MSCs on a lot of the same projects. That means we see notices and/or get the phone calls. And face facts, nobody really has anything to gain by lying about shop fees.
I forgot to add, there are only 168 hours in a week so unless shoppers are using a Tardis, none of them are working 200 hours. Personally, I don't even work the equivalent of a full time job.
I've never met a mystery shopper, not sure how guy meet.
It's not about gaining anythibg here, but some people like to make things look better when it's about themselves.
I worked 16.25 hours today and made a full profit of $5.73 for the day. Top that people!
@Sybil2 wrote:
I worked 16.25 hours today and made a full profit of $5.73 for the day. Top that people!
Some days you are the windshield and other days you are the bug!
I too am an attorney. I supplement my income with approximately $12,000 per year. My week normally looks like five shop period normally I try and do one shop in the evening after work or if it's close, I will do it on my lunch hour. I take the same type of gigs is you - banking, Auto Sales, auto repairs, and apartment shops. I will warn those who have not done a lot of apartment shops though. The forms can be very long and arduous. Fortunately, I have found a company who does not advertise and hires me about twice a week for $50 a gig. And, oh yes, this individual company pays me weekly by check in the mail. They have never missed a payment. This is how I make about $12,000 a year mystery shopping.
@Miss shopper wrote:
I've never met a mystery shopper, not sure how guy meet.
I have probably met a dozen or more members from this board in a variety of different ways. Several I've met for coffee or lunch when we were in the same area. Several I've met when working on the same project together. And quite a few I've met at conferences. I even met one in a Chevron parking lot when I was doing a mystery shop and he was doing an audit at the same time.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I hope you realize that I was being sarcastic. I wouldn't roll over in bed for $5.73!@2stepps wrote:
@Sybil2 wrote:
I worked 16.25 hours today and made a full profit of $5.73 for the day. Top that people!
Some days you are the windshield and other days you are the bug!
I have met many scores of MSers at conferences, plus ones who have stopped in the area for a coffee or lunch while on routes, plus those that I have worked with on MS projects or that I have mentored. I regularly correspond (outside of this forum) with more than a dozen, most of whom are full time and support themselves (and others) doing MS. Some of my most supportive friends are ones that I have met through our shared interest in this crazy profession! These shoppers have shared so many experiences that I have no doubt that those who "claim" to make a lot more than $1000 per month, really do so. In addition, I know many of the schedulers and project managers with whom they work, and have often seen them networking at (and after) conferences. (And, no, we do NOT tell one another what MSC shops what clients!) I have never been full time, nor have I claimed to be. But my "net" from part time MS flirts with $1000 per month quite often.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@Miss shopper wrote:
I've never met a mystery shopper, not sure how [they] meet.
I first met SCM at the Shopperfest, but had chatted with her before that, and we have mutual shopper friends. I take her at her word because she has no reason to fabricate anything, and her knowledge of the industry and key players with good jobs is strong. We've both done a number of high-paying shops and had similar experiences.
Why would anyone want to think that there AREN'T great paying gigs out there? Jeez...talk about jaded.
Interesting how someone casts aspersions then confesses to knowing so little. Instead of the close-minded, negative comments based on your limited view of the industry, it is easy enough to read our stories and ask questions.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
When I first started mystery shopping there seem to be a lot more shops available and the pay for some of the shops were a lot more than what they are now. Mobile shops averages $15.00 now $10.00. In the course of one year with successfully completing around 350 shops I made around $6500.00. Its probably a reachable goal. I know some of the auto shops pay more and at least 25% of the 350 shops i successfully completed were auto shops.
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