Wanna shake some sense into shoppers in my area.
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Well hun, it's all been said and done so many times in this forum, but it is what it is. There were always be new shoppers who will take the shops at low fees and there will always be other shoppers who have been doing it awhile and never find this forum, and will continue to take what PCB calls "the low hanging fruit" LOL. And then there are others who take them because if they don't, someone else will. I personally wait it out a lot for bonuses and let those who need them that bad go ahead and do them, but I don't knock anyone's decision to take shops at a lower fee because sometimes it means the difference on whether not they and possibly their family has a meal that day or has toilet paper to wipe their toushies.
I think it's the time of year -- too. Everyone trying to get quick bucks. I noticed a route of shops I usually pick up for the quarter (24-26 shops!) were all picked up the first day on the boards. I grabbed two of them and was trying to work on a way to fit everything else in for the month when they were all gone and only back up options were left. Sheesh. I usually get $25-$40 each and someone came thru and snatched em all at $12 base. I guess they're new or really wanted the route. I could usually do 1-2 on the way to and from work each day and knock them out in two weeks or so. Ah well. I got two of them that were super close to home but it is what it is.
MegglesKat
You always have to remember the new shoppers who take any and everything, and also the shoppers who want the fillers.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Sometimes guilty as charged. I will take jobs that I know might be bonused later because I must earn a certain amount of money each month to pay certain bills. Once I have that, I can get real picky. Sometimes it works in my favor, sometimes I'm left scratching my head saying, "Norwich?? Who'd take a $10 shop in NORWICH??"
LOL
LOL
Someone who lives in Norwich!!!!
Every industry has this problem, if it is truly a problem. "If only people would stop doing jobs on spec, we'd all be rich!" "Why do people waste their time writing for a penny a word?!" "All these companies expect us to work for free because those people will do it!" "These companies pay their plumbers, why won't they pay us!" (Ask a plumber. Sometimes they get stiffed, too.)
There will always be people who have their reasons for working for peanuts, or nothing at all. Interns often pay for the privilege, through college fees. People have actually gotten in trouble for collusion when they tried to get everyone to agree not to take low-paying work.
As for shops, even those who claim they won't get out of bed for less than $75 will admit they take some throwaways just because they're easy and they're buying stuff they need or going there anyway.
There will always be people who have their reasons for working for peanuts, or nothing at all. Interns often pay for the privilege, through college fees. People have actually gotten in trouble for collusion when they tried to get everyone to agree not to take low-paying work.
As for shops, even those who claim they won't get out of bed for less than $75 will admit they take some throwaways just because they're easy and they're buying stuff they need or going there anyway.
Since you mentioned plumbers....my daughter had one out a couple weeks back for a leaky shower faucet.
Three hours of work, $1200.
And he left a hole in the wall, 18"x16".
I should be a plumber!!!!
Three hours of work, $1200.
And he left a hole in the wall, 18"x16".
I should be a plumber!!!!
Three hours to fix a leaky shower faucet? Wow. He sounds incompetent and expensive!
@ceasesmith wrote:
I should be a plumber!!!!
Just remember crack kills. And I'm not talking about the drug...
ShopWhisperer is on target here. Every time someone starts a thread like this, it makes me want to shake some sense into them. The shoppers you are complaining about may not be newbies, they may just have a different idea in mind than you do. They may not be selling themselves short, and they may not want to make more money. They may be doing exactly what they want and earning exactly what they want. There's thousands of shoppers in every state, and they are all working for different reasons.
If several shoppers are all eyeing the same shop, waiting for there to be a bonus, only one person wins here. Not everyone wants to gamble like that. Of course we all want to make more money. But in the end, waiting around ends up earning you a big fat goose egg. Might as well take the bird in the hand. That being said, I live in a very large city that has shops that fly off the shelves regardless of pay. ACL reimbursement-only shops are gone the week they are released if that tells you anything. And yes, I do a good share of them because I love me some ACL regardless of whether or not its worth it to the next guy.
Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do 
bonus offer of free crack@ceasesmith wrote:
Since you mentioned plumbers....my daughter had one out a couple weeks back for a leaky shower faucet.
Three hours of work, $1200.
And he left a hole in the wall, 18"x16".
I should be a plumber!!!!
i live in big metro area w/lots of shoppers. i take lots of low hanging fruit because the fruit i grab are very qucik & easy shops w/no narrative except for no answers which is rare. many@ShopSouthTexas wrote:
If several shoppers are all eyeing the same shop, waiting for there to be a bonus, only one person wins here. Not everyone wants to gamble like that. Of course we all want to make more money. But in the end, waiting around ends up earning you a big fat goose egg. Might as well take the bird in the hand. That being said, I live in a very large city that has shops that fly off the shelves regardless of pay. ACL reimbursement-only shops are gone the week they are released if that tells you anything. And yes, I do a good share of them because I love me some ACL regardless of whether or not its worth it to the next guy.
shops are within 1 mile radious easy peasy $$.
I always hope they take the "bird in the hand". Inevitably, they realize the stupidity of it and burn out and then I get the texts and phone calls. I fill my schedule with flakes and burn-outs! It would be better, of course, if instead of paying me $100 for that one assignment to spread it out to $17 per assignment but MSC try to get the most for the least, always, and they succeed.
What are ya, some kinda union organizer?! (joking, not to get into politics)
This. Everyone's got different priorities in this game. While I get annoyed at seeing low fee or reimbursement-only shops on principle, sometimes they fit what I need at the moment. If it's a reimbursement-only lunch at a place around the corner from my office and I have nothing to do that day, I'll take it. Someone out there wouldn't mind a "free" pizza or toilet paper because they're on a tight budget and that's one less thing they have to buy. You just do you.
@roflwofl wrote:
There's thousands of shoppers in every state, and they are all working for different reasons.
This. Everyone's got different priorities in this game. While I get annoyed at seeing low fee or reimbursement-only shops on principle, sometimes they fit what I need at the moment. If it's a reimbursement-only lunch at a place around the corner from my office and I have nothing to do that day, I'll take it. Someone out there wouldn't mind a "free" pizza or toilet paper because they're on a tight budget and that's one less thing they have to buy. You just do you.
i dont do reimb only shops. i dont like to eat out much because limited healthy choices. so those lunch & dinner shops arent worth me writing long report. some people feel that way others dont. thats why we run biz the way we want to run it.@hotsauce1 wrote:
If it's a reimbursement-only lunch at a place around the corner from my office and I have nothing to do that day, I'll take it. Someone out there wouldn't mind a "free" pizza or toilet paper because they're on a tight budget and that's one less thing they have to buy.
Just because the shops are no longer visible or show as backup to you doesn't mean the shopper took them at the base rate. For instance, the route MC was eyeing is totally gone. Another shopper may have negotiated a higher rate instead of waiting.
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.
We are unique. Our mystery shopping decisions involve unique factors. Your business is not my business. One shopper's "low-hanging fruit" might be another shopper's financial salvation (in that they could save thousands of dollars at tax time or retain hobbyist status). This is not our business. Shopper A may use Shop A to teach someone else how to shop while Shopper B may scoff at Shop A and seek their pleasure elsewhere. This is not our business. Genius 1 may be able to complete any mystery shop devised by humankind but have no time for mystery shopping beyond the occasional ff drive-thru or quickie gas station shop where they were getting fuel anyway, while ordinary folks may have time to devise routes and get money by doing large numbers of shops. This is not our business.
No one has mentioned the propensity of clients to drop mystery shopping programs in favor of feedback from actual customers. Sometimes, clients retool and drop fees. Apparently, some bonuses are dropping. These are factors in how much money we can earn from mystery shopping. Does the OP have any inclination to shake clients? And what about people who have wide-open schedules and excess money? These people have time and a money cushion to sustain them whilst they play waiting games and work the bonus systems. Does the OP want to shake those people who are making it difficult if not impossible for other shoppers who have little time or monetary padding that can sustain them during waiting games and the vagaries of the bonus systems? Some shoppers may have no option besides accepting available low fees and low, if any, bonuses. Do you really want to shake these people?!?
Do tell.
No one has mentioned the propensity of clients to drop mystery shopping programs in favor of feedback from actual customers. Sometimes, clients retool and drop fees. Apparently, some bonuses are dropping. These are factors in how much money we can earn from mystery shopping. Does the OP have any inclination to shake clients? And what about people who have wide-open schedules and excess money? These people have time and a money cushion to sustain them whilst they play waiting games and work the bonus systems. Does the OP want to shake those people who are making it difficult if not impossible for other shoppers who have little time or monetary padding that can sustain them during waiting games and the vagaries of the bonus systems? Some shoppers may have no option besides accepting available low fees and low, if any, bonuses. Do you really want to shake these people?!?
Do tell.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Oh, I love easy peasy. If a shop pays $25, they're delivering, and all I have to do is submit a few photos, input a few times, and type in a couple of names so you can see if whoever was on staff burnt the ɥell outta my pizza -- I'm game. Liquor me up and call me sober 
MegglesKat
why is shopper a teaching someone how to shop. that is not our job & most likely breaking ica you signed w msc. having required 2nd diner for some food shops or underage kid for compliance is diff situation but u still dont have to necessarily teach them how to shop.@Shop-et-al wrote:
Shopper A may use Shop A to teach someone else how to shop while Shopper B may scoff at Shop A and seek their pleasure elsewhere. This is not our business. Genius 1 may be able to complete any mystery shop devised by humankind but have no time for mystery shopping beyond the occasional ff drive-thru or quickie gas station shop where they were getting fuel anyway, while ordinary folks may have time to devise routes and get money by doing large numbers of shops. This is not our business.
i think route shoppers are genius 1 & not ordinary folks. many shoppers have trouble scheduling 2 or 3 shops on same day. scheduling high number jobs over a few days take skill & is not ordinary.
Nevertheless, it sucks when someone takes a cell phone shop for $7. It definately bites!
@spicy1 wrote:
Nevertheless, it sucks when someone takes a cell phone shop for $7. It definately bites!
I was griping about this a few days ago. I can't imagine. My last one, it took 28 minutes to see an associate (so close to getting outta there!) and then the associate rambled on and didn't listen to much of what I said I needed.
me: I'm a loyal android user. I have/had used Apple but I just don't like it.
Sales: Ah, we have the new Iphone yada yada in stock, it's really great....
me: Yeah, no, not my thing. I like android.
Sales: We also have the Iphone S blah blah blah in stock
Me: I only use about 1 gig a month of data, sometimes less.
Sales: Oh if you add on the 16 gig package you'll be able to have bladity blah blah
Me: Yeah, I really only need like 2 gigs to be safe
Sales: Or if you go unlimited you don't have to stress and it's only such and such more
Me: I don't stream very often and I always use my Wifi
Sales: You can even add on a tablet so you can stream movies on a larger screen
Ummmm 0_o
I did this one for $25 thinking it wouldn't take too long. I can't imagine $7 for these.
MegglesKat
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/05/2017 06:06PM by MountainCacher88.
I may be one of the people you are speak about. The way I operate is I'll take a bunch of shops for low pay with easy reports any day. I'm not a newbie however, I route shop so 19 shops on the weekend @ $17 a pop works for me. That's $323 for 2 days, 6 hours each day and 10 minute reports. I report every 3 shops and I'm home sipping wine by 5pm. The MSC called me and bonused ALL those low paying shops that were on the board. That's just for 1 MSC. In between those low paying shops, I have 3 $50 voice recording shops that take 10 minutes to perform and 15 minutes to report. That just seems to work for me. I do this every weekend and my pay is pretty awesome and I have a full time job. By the end of the month when the really great bonuses are given, I will be well over my goal for October. I live in the Washington DC Metro area so there are plenty of shoppers that are pretty picky.
Pretty cool, 19 shops with 10 minute report 15 min in store is 3.3 hours, and 2.6 hours drivetime to go 8 places each weekend day . Pretty steady huh.
I don't mind people getting work, but I definitely can't understand some of the types that I know will take more than an hour overall. It's odd but I guess if you're hard up for a dollar, it looks great to someone staying at home or out of work for a long time. Some days, I'll sit home and take surveys or transcribe papers and lectures instead if there's nothing too interesting.
MegglesKat
@MountainCacher88 wrote:
@spicy1 wrote:
and then the associate rambled on and didn't listen to much of what I said I needed.
me: I'm a loyal android user. I have/had used Apple but I just don't like it.
Sales: Ah, we have the new Iphone yada yada in stock, it's really great....
me: Yeah, no, not my thing. I like android.
Sales: We also have the Iphone S blah blah blah in stock
Me: I only use about 1 gig a month of data, sometimes less.
Sales: Oh if you add on the 16 gig package you'll be able to have bladity blah blah
Me: Yeah, I really only need like 2 gigs to be safe
Sales: Or if you go unlimited you don't have to stress and it's only such and such more
Me: I don't stream very often and I always use my Wifi
Sales: You can even add on a tablet so you can stream movies on a larger screen
Ummmm 0_o
OMG I am diverting from the subject of the thread but your scenario sounds so much like the car salesman I came across when I was actually out to buy a car for myself. 2016 models were at the end of the year with thousands of dollars discounts and he brought out a fully tricked out and never used 2014 model of the same car I was planning to buy new that had been special ordered and then changed their mind. Insisted on taking me on a ride. This car was thousands more than the one I was looking at that was brand new. Not to mention they had to jump the battery of this wonderful and expensive old new car. He showed me all the gizmos that I could hook my smart phone to and also open my garage door with etc and on and on. I kept telling him I did not have a smart phone or a garage door but that did not phase him in the least. His new tack was that if a friend with a smart phone was in the passenger seat my friend could use the stuff instead of just sitting and chatting on the phone since my friend was not driving. Yeah, i really want to spend $5,000 more on a car so a friend in the passenger seat can bother to make her phone calls thru the car instead of directly.
Anyway, mostly this type of stuff is why I don't do car sales jobs even with a big bonus!!! But then in my town a big bonus is $2 so why wait for one anyway.
Is it creepy that some shoppers want to direct other shoppers' businesses? Ew!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/05/2017 08:39PM by Shop-et-al.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/05/2017 08:39PM by Shop-et-al.
Those that advise one to wait it out must not know, certain areas (Sandy and mine) don't do bonus, the shops just go. The Source isn't known for high payment, yet those 5.00 groceries fly off the board, they posted a day early and i missed my opportunity for my three next weekend. Not in the cards to wait it out, wait and lose...reimbursement for groceries (in my town) where I shop anyway, adds another $51.00 for my weekend groceries which I'd spend anyway. Sometime with no driving involved, it pays to just take the job. Having a large supply of shoppers, means no bonus, they'll get someone to do it, and I have no problem with that. We want to make the most and companies want to save the most, just everyday business.....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2017 03:32PM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2017 03:32PM by Irene_L.A..
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