Just a quick question - how many companies should I sign up with?
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if you want more shops sign up for as many companies as you want to
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2017 10:56AM by 7star.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2017 10:56AM by 7star.
Are you getting as much work as you want/need right now? You may not need to sign up with more right away, but then when current work slows down you may have a gap in opportunities. I personally would sign up with as many as I could find.
All of them
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
Ok I see! I think I will spend my one week vacation signing up for every single company I can find.
Here's a simple way to gradually increase your access to shops. On any day when you would like to have shops but do not, sign up with 5-10 more MSCs. Please do not mess up your vacation doing what can more easily be accomplished with a systematic approach to growing your MS business. This makes it easy to add 100 or more MSCs over a relatively short period of time, and will make it easier to peruse the job boards as you add a few at a time.
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.
I prefer to identify shops in my area and sign up with those companies first. Before randomly adding more companies, I try to determine if they have clients in my area. Volition provides details on companies but it may not be up to date.
It isn't easy checking every site for opportunities if you have too many that either do not offer opportunities you would perform or otherwise have nothing in your area.
A lot will depend on your availability and willingness to travel. If you want serious income from this, you will need to probably video shop and have the time and resources to route shop.
It isn't easy checking every site for opportunities if you have too many that either do not offer opportunities you would perform or otherwise have nothing in your area.
A lot will depend on your availability and willingness to travel. If you want serious income from this, you will need to probably video shop and have the time and resources to route shop.
My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
@isaiah58 wrote:
I prefer to identify shops in my area and sign up with those companies first. Before randomly adding more companies, I try to determine if they have clients in my area. Volition provides details on companies but it may not be up to date.
In my opinion, this takes more time than just signing up with the company.
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, with most companies, the sign up process takes 5 minutes or so.
I agree with sign up with all of them. It is the only way to find your favourite jobs. You may be able to find who has work in your area, but that changes over time.
But don't waste your holiday!
But don't waste your holiday!
Volition forums are WAY out of date! They can go a couple of weeks with no new posts and many MSC topics are years out of date. This forum, on the other hand, hardly goes 30 seconds without a new post and sees dozens every day. Ask about an MSC and your question will get answers here, as well as supplying a history of recent posts about the MSC when you do a search.
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.
Thank you Team!! I want to do route, video, merchandising and any other job where I can work from home. I did see that Volition is not up to date.
Is greyhawk the best place to get video equipment?
I don't plan on paying money for any mystery shopping certification but, I did see one that looked applicable for video shopping.
Does anyone know of a website that is better for merchandising opportunities than volition?
Is greyhawk the best place to get video equipment?
I don't plan on paying money for any mystery shopping certification but, I did see one that looked applicable for video shopping.
Does anyone know of a website that is better for merchandising opportunities than volition?
Thumbs up for Greyhawk and Dan. The IMSC has conferences with hands-on video training available and Dan is often in attendance.
[www.imscinfo.com]
There is a merchandising section on this forum.
[www.imscinfo.com]
There is a merchandising section on this forum.
I want to mystery shop full time that's why I would like to sign for all of the companies asap.
Also, you do realize that this is not a team right? LOL
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
Greyhawk is the best. Dan is also a very active video shopper and knows what will and will not be accepted across the industry. He also has the best prices for the acceptable equipment AND will trouble shoot if necessary. He stands behind what he sells!
most of us who video shop stick with Dan!
Video training is recommended, but it does not necessarily have to be an on-site class or certification. That said, the IMSC November conference in Las Vegas may be the next classroom video training opp. (Unless something turns up close to you.)
most of us who video shop stick with Dan!
Video training is recommended, but it does not necessarily have to be an on-site class or certification. That said, the IMSC November conference in Las Vegas may be the next classroom video training opp. (Unless something turns up close to you.)
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.
Remember, for each kind of shop, plan to walk before you run. So, do several written (non-video) apartment shops before trying them with video. The same for new homes, auto purchase, assisted living, etc. It is not the video equipment that causes failure in most cases; it is not having a "back story" or aliases and contact information that will pass muster with skeptical sales/leasing agents. So, hone those skills before you invest in video equipment! IMSC annual shopper conferences always have sessions on those scenario skills. (Nov 5-6 or 6-7 Las Vegas Sorry, I do not have my calendar hand.)
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.
Ok, I will plan to be there for the conference. I saw a really cool hat with a hidden camera on greyhawk. I need to have it.
Be careful with things like the glasses or hats, the applications can be limited.
For longer scenario video shops such as new cars, apartments and new homes you want to be able to turn your head to look at what the target is demonstrating while keeping the target in frame.
I would never want to use either for a senior living video because MSCs want the camera blocked when residents are nearby. With a body mounted camera it is quick and easy to lift a brochure or even your hand to cover the camera. Actually, there are quite a few times when blocking the camera is a good idea, from entering a store or office with reflective glass windows to touring an apartment with mirrors. I'm sure all of us block the camera when following a leasing agent up stairs so we are not just recording their butt
For longer scenario video shops such as new cars, apartments and new homes you want to be able to turn your head to look at what the target is demonstrating while keeping the target in frame.
I would never want to use either for a senior living video because MSCs want the camera blocked when residents are nearby. With a body mounted camera it is quick and easy to lift a brochure or even your hand to cover the camera. Actually, there are quite a few times when blocking the camera is a good idea, from entering a store or office with reflective glass windows to touring an apartment with mirrors. I'm sure all of us block the camera when following a leasing agent up stairs so we are not just recording their butt
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.
Depends on how nice the butt is......
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
There are very limited applications for eyeglass cams. Mostly it's limited to trying to get video from your vehicle. Think anything with a drive thru window, oil change where you don't get out of the car, car wash etc. I have a scheduler or two who keeps saying a lot of this is coming but it has yet to materialize. The few times I've needed a pair the MSC has let me borrow a pair. Of course these are MSCs that I do $5k+ a year of work for, so that might influence their willingness to ship me a pair of $400 glasses.
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
Ok I see! It would be awkward having to cover my hat or glasses during those shops.
The framing part is every bit as important. If a sales associate is showing you the trunk of a new car it would seem awfully strange for you to continue to look at him so he is on camera. With a body mount camera you keep yourself square to the target while still being able to turn your head to look at the trunk. It feels awkward in the beginning, but is not noticed by the target.
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.
What is the best way to plan a route? The concept is daunting to me because, you have tens of companies to chooe from and a state's worth of cities!
Use the search function and be sure to change the parameters to "all dates." Route shopping is one of the more popular topics here. There are a lot of threads with a ton of great ideas.
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.
Signing up does not average 5 minutes because, a number of sites will not allow you to see the available shops until you take a quiz or submit documentation. I am at about 20 now after a handful of hours.
They will average five minutes if you are prepared. Many of us are using either browsers or some sort of add in that will autofill a lot of fields. I keep a copy of my DL, proof of car insurance, regular photo, a couple sample narratives and sample video in a file on my laptop. If a registration requires one or a combination, it takes seconds to upload. At this point I've only added about a half dozen companies in the last six months and don't recall being required to take a quiz for any of them. I'm thinking most companies using the Sassie platform don't require one at all.
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.
I have an application that utilizes auto fill and hotkeys where for example, typing 'fn' will list my first name or 'add' will list my address. Not complaining, just saying.
Lisa can you tell me about the conventions and other meetings where company and industry leaders are present?
I signed up for the MysteryShopperMagazine with three different email accounts this morning and I have not received an email yet.
Lisa can you tell me about the conventions and other meetings where company and industry leaders are present?
I signed up for the MysteryShopperMagazine with three different email accounts this morning and I have not received an email yet.
There are usually several conferences throughout the year. The MSPA (Mystery Shopper Provider's Association) puts on one or two called Shopperfest. The IMSC (Independent Mystery Shoppers Coalition) puts on a few and a newer entry are some designed for video shoppers. Sorry, but I can't recall the name off the top of my head. There are threads available about all of them and all should include some input from shoppers who have attended.
As far as the quizzes. I just happened to apply for an assignment with a company I have never worked with despite being registered for several years. It didn't require one before seeing assignments, but did require their basic mystery shopper certification followed by a specialty certification for the application. The two combined took about two to three minutes. The caveat here, I have been mystery shopping for nine years. Although materials were available to read prior to the quizzes, I didn't need to read them. In the beginning you aren't going to have that luxury. Just know once you have been at this a while it definitely gets much easier.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2017 07:04PM by LisaSTL.
As far as the quizzes. I just happened to apply for an assignment with a company I have never worked with despite being registered for several years. It didn't require one before seeing assignments, but did require their basic mystery shopper certification followed by a specialty certification for the application. The two combined took about two to three minutes. The caveat here, I have been mystery shopping for nine years. Although materials were available to read prior to the quizzes, I didn't need to read them. In the beginning you aren't going to have that luxury. Just know once you have been at this a while it definitely gets much easier.
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 07/01/2017 07:04PM by LisaSTL.
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