I'm sort of new to Mystery Shopping. I did my first one back 5 years ago. I did a few here, a few there, a whole year without a single one. Now I've started to get more serious, signing up with more companies. I've done just a few mystery shops the past few days, now I'm actually getting calls somewhat often from Market Force and A Closer Look with a scheduler practically begging me to take shops. I did one yesterday that was a fast food shop, and because it was a busy location, it took me 1hr 10 mins to do the shop and submit my paperwork. That's too much time for $5 fee and a cheap fast food meal reimbursed. So I wasn't going to do the shop at the other location nearby, though it is less busy and would take about 15min less. They called me, saying they really need someone to do the shop. I said not for the current fee. So they offered to up it from $5 to $9, then I took it. Is this a normal sort of thing? The calling you, the willingness to almost double your fee (though given it was a small fee)? She said my last report was "outstanding" and needed virtually no editing. That's the first time I've had feedback on a report, so that was nice to hear.

I'm just wondering, as I do more work for more companies, is my phone going to start blowing up? I'm not opposed to it - I don't have to race someone else to reserve a shop or click a link to find it already taken. Just curious.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2017 09:47PM by Hoshi112.

I've never had anyone from MF who calls mention how my last report, or any report, was 'outstanding' or not when they were offering a bonus (obvious reason for calling). The fast food shop shouldn't take near that amount of time, you'll get better as time goes by; I'm sure it was you and not the shop itself unless you're including your drive time. When they call I try to accommodate them at the rate they're offering because they really need to have the shop done. I think that's why I get the ginormous bonus' when they're offering those because someone flaked or whatever. I think if your phone blows up count it as wonderful and increase what you will charge!

I thought it was very strange she mentioned that about my report. I don't know what that was about.
It took so long because it took about 20 mins to order/get my food then they require you wait 10 more mins, then go check the restrooms.
So it took me about 35mins to get out of there, then I had to do the report, which required me doing several typed out explanations of issues. I've done the same shop for the same location a looot faster before, but now it's just become a very busy location. And they've started asking more questions on their reports.

If I get a call, I always try to accommodate them because as Spicy mentioned, you'll be remembered well later on. At least that's the hope. Plus, I ask for a bonus. If they are making calls to get shops done, then there's bonus money to be had. There are a lot of shoppers in my area, so I don't ask for anything outrageous. I probably get a couple of calls a week, but I'm not able to answer them at work, so they just roll into voicemail.

I see. MF usually has a 15 min. stay. But yeah, if the location is busy that always sucks! If Companies are calling you, especially but not always, if it's the end of the month they REALLY need you. You can get 10x the fee sometimes more than that for certain programs.

My reply to that request: "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm already scheduled. I couldn't possibly work it into my schedule for that amount. I would consider it for $35."

Not unusual! I spend a large portion of my day reaching out by phone and email (and Facebook, and forums, and Craigslist, and smoke signals). How often you are called will depend on how many hard-to-schedule shops are in your area.

I get called a few times a week, generally first thing in the morning when I'm still sleeping.

If they went from $5 to $9 without skipping a beat you could have gotten much more.

Lol! I don't want to push it too much with them yet, given my limited experience. Besides, it's a fast food shop, so I imagine they don't get paid a lot for it.
I was just surprised because I've been doing a few shops here and there on and off for Market Force since 2012 and this is the first time they've called me. Maybe I've become a "specialist" for them on this one place - honestly, like 1/2 of the shops I've done with them over the years has been this one chain, the 2 stores in my area.
I just don't know how many other shoppers there are in my area. They always seem to be taking the intellishop ones, they're always taken. I don't live in a huge metro area - 2hrs away from big cities - but we're still a small city with a university and a community college, so we have some stuff. I just wish I lived in an area with more shops, but I think a lot of it is an issue of finding the right companies to register with. One will have 1-3 jobs, another will have 1-2, etc. A lot of them are just really low pay, or reimbursement only (and it's fast food, so...)

I don't know if I would imagine they don't get paid a lot for it.

I've been wondering how many shoppers are in my area. On some sites, like intellishop, stuff is taken in my city right away. But on Market Force and ACL, they linger and linger, but I rarely see them bonused. Market Force seems to not really bonus stuff on the website for my area, but instead, calls people and will agree to bonuses. Is that a normal practice? Just trying to avoid bonusing, I guess.
I'm just so new to this (I mean, sort of, new to being "serious" ), so I'm still trying to figure out what all companies I should register with, and how on earth to keep them all straight!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2017 04:35PM by Hoshi112.

That is normal for MF. If you assume you can't get a higher fee then you'll never get a higher fee.

great advice.

I started out taking the regular shop fee then getting calls and asking for $15. Now I'm at $20. I am slowly creeping my way up.

@bgriffin wrote:

That is normal for MF. If you assume you can't get a higher fee then you'll never get a higher fee.

@eyelove2shop wrote:

great advice.

I started out taking the regular shop fee then getting calls and asking for $15. Now I'm at $20. I am slowly creeping my way up.

@bgriffin wrote:

That is normal for MF. If you assume you can't get a higher fee then you'll never get a higher fee.

I know they say to ask because the worst they can do is say no, but I still feel very odd trying to negotiate a higher price. I'm not used to doing such things. I'm also not sure what is reasonable considering how much they may actually get paid for the shop. In this case, it's fast food, so I can't imagine it's much. It was $9+ reimbursement for food (nearly $8). Would it even be reasonable to expect them to go higher? Even to a rounded $10?
I swear, everything available here is fast food or junk food! Some sit-down places. But I got fast food wednesday and today, a dozen donuts for a shop on thursday. My boyfriend is very pleased with the donuts, but I'm going to gain weight this way! Lol. I told my boyfriend he could take the donuts to work, but he wasn't having it - his words were something like "Screw those guys". So maybe this mystery shopping is going to put weight on both of us.

How much they get paid is irrelevant. I have been paid $75 for a fast food shop for MF.

To answer the original question:

Monday to Friday I usually get 2-5 phone calls a day.

@SoCalMama wrote:

To answer the original question:

Monday to Friday I usually get 2-5 phone calls a day.

Woah! You're really in high demand!

Whenever I get a phone call for a shop they are always bonused.
Those who are knowledgeable about spelling? The word bonused is not in my Webster spelling corrector and is always underlined. Bonus ,bonuses, help!

Bonus'd

The ones that call me on a regular basis already know how much of a bonus I'll want for each location.

I have only been shopping part time for a few months and I get about 1-3 calls per week. I also try to do them, but always ask for a bonus. If I can't do them, I explain why (birthday weekend, on other side of town, day full already, etc) and thank them for thinking of me. I also ask that they think of me again if that shop comes up again.

I rarely get calls here in one of the largest cities. When I do get calls bonuses are not mentioned. If I ask they will rarely give me $2! My first call wanted me to drive 12 miles east to a notorious neighborhood that was not notorious for being Beverly Hills. LA on the freeway would have been 20 miles roundabout and an hour each way. They offered 50 cents when I pressed them. They could not figure out why 50 c would not be enough as it was so close. These people obviously do not know about traffic and that cars cannot fly the same places that crows do.

@spicy1 wrote:

Bonus'd

Your joking, I hope.

(And, yes, I AM joking!)

a few times a wk, but, I can texts about four times a wk now.