Entry Level Button Camera Shops

Can anyone refer me to entry-level shops (preferably with no out of pocket) or companies with entry-level shops that can help me build up my usage of my button camera?

I bought it but didn't use it last year, and the only shops I see either require experience or alcohol consumption. I try to avoid alcohol.

I also don't have a driver's license, so no test drives.

New York City area, if that helps.

#burntoutinthebigapple

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Also, do retailers (think things for gifts like clothes, toys, hardware stores, grocery stores) video mystery shop?

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AFAIK, there is nothing considered entry level. Since Ellis is willing to send cameras to video shoppers, they may be as close as you can get. There are some retail shops. Excepting one hardware chain with minimal reimbursement, my retail has always been either no purchase or purchase/return. The hardware chain is Midwest only.

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.

The closest thing in NYC to "entry level" would be apartment shops. Send a test video to each Video MSC and see if they will take a chance on you. OR come to the Atlanta IMSC conference in May. For $79 there will be 3 full days of training and workshops including one FULL day of video training, hands on, with reps of the top video MSCs participating. Video MS is a whole other world and it is a SMALL community, so such contacts are invaluable. As Lisa says, there is not much about button cam video shops that is really entry level.

Also, I hope that you purchase a PV-500 rig with an approved HD camera, since that is the video MS standard for 95% of the $$$ shops. Where did you get your rig?

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.

I can't argue with apartment shops being good for a beginner because they are short. OTOH, if a retail shop can be had it would be better yet. Some of them have little to no need for a rotation. Unlike an apartment, there is opportunity for the same shopper to go back if the video quality is poor. Ten minutes from me is a branch of a certain retail chain we have all shopped. When the MSC doesn't have anyone traveling through I pick them up. It has been as often as every single month. There is also the option to reshop almost immediately if video quality is poor or the camera malfunctions. Don't ask me how I know that.

I'm already "trained" and I have a restaurant test video. Yes, mine is a PV-500.

#burntoutinthebigapple

I started with pawn shops and apartments - neither shop was great for a do-over.

In retrospect, I would prefer to start with a type of shop I had done many times sans video first - just so that I was comfortable with the assignment itself and could focus on the video being the only "new" thing. I would then practice the various positions in which you will need to stand/sit in order to keep the target in the frame as much as possible. For an apartment, for instance, you will likely spend time sitting across a desk from a leasing agent. Will your camera get that shot? At the same time, you will spend time walking with the person. Is the camera going to be angled such that you get the person's head and not the ceiling or his/her shoes? Etc. Find a way to quickly test your camera angle before you are in view of the leasing agent. Make sure you know how to quickly adjust your camera angle if you test it and it is bad. Be comfortable with concealing your camera when you are ready to go - without risking unplugging it (that one cost me $60)....

Practice, practice, practice. ....

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

The first one is always the hardest. I would suggest emails to all of the video MSC's asking for a test shop.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

When I was getting ready for my first apartment, I walked around my own house and had my wife lead me. It made a huge difference on my first shop. I ended up tossing my first video shirt and making another as the button placement was totally wrong. I learned to use an adhesive to adjust camera angles at the last minute - and to hold it in place...

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

My first video was actually a route of 13 or 14 in three states. I wholeheartedly agree choosing shops you know well is the way to go. Mine were new cars without a test drive. It was nice being familiar with the flow so my focus could be on equipment. While getting an oil change at my local dealer I completed a test video with a sales associate. My trainer evaluated it and gave me some pointers which went a long way toward easing my mind.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2018 11:42PM by LisaSTL.

The nice thing with video is that your only limitation is the amount you are willing to travel. You can stay local and do it as a hobby, or hit the road and make good money. I have done both. BTW a Florida route, right about now, is not a bad thing.

I am in Orlando right now and have to disagree. IT'S COLD!!!!!!!!

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Quit beyotching. I'm guessing it is a bit warmer than 8.

Yes but you damn Yankees are used to 8 degrees!

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Wrong again Maude.

It was -12 here yesterday, with wind chill -24. SIX days till Disney.... weather shows 75* and sunny. Can't wait!

@bgriffin wrote:

I am in Orlando right now and have to disagree. IT'S COLD!!!!!!!!

@LisaSTL wrote:

Wrong again Maude.

Is Bgriff one of the Golden Girls? Snicker.

I am in the NYC area and don’t own a car. I have only done apartment shops for Ellis that were getting the target on the phone, letting them ask if you want to tour the property and taking the tours without any audio or video recordings. They don’t pay enough additional fees for video or audio shops to make it worth my time. Their reports are ridiculous. You don’t even earn $10 an hour on them. The little money they give you for using your own equipment is not enough of an incentive for me. I don’t know where the retail video shops are in NYC, if any, but I would consider buying the PV-500 and button camera if I could get good paying video shops without driving and filling out 4+ hour reports. As mentioned above, driving to get a route of apartment or other video shops is the way to go. Ellis has a fair amount of Long Island apartment shops. If you drive a car they might get bonused enough to make them worthwhile. I try to work Manhattan or Queens mostly. Jersey has a lot too.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2018 08:18AM by nycrocks.

nycrocks,
I agree about the Ellis reports. However, if the shopper wants access to some entry level video, that is an easy entry point from the aspect of being able to get the assignment and practice one's craft before investing $350 + in equipment and more in hands-on training.

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.

The first time I did a report for EPMS, it took a while, but I now can write one up on about an hour. If you can type well, it's just a matter of getting acclimated to the form to the point where you take mental notes of the right things as your tour. They are also a company that's not afraid to put a bonus on their shops. I've done as many as six in a day, but that's a bit rough.

One of the best things about them is that they are patient and easy to work with. They loan the video equipment to those who don't own it and will give few extra chances if you bungle some of your first video shops.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

Obviously everyone's mileage varies for Ellis. If I was only making $10 an hour with them or they weren't paying more video shops I would drop them. For me the video shops start at $60. Generally the shop works out to 10 to 15 minutes on phone call(s), 30 or less on site and 45 to 60 minutes for the report. So less than two hours per assignment. The reason I don't always include travel time is I won't complete them at the base pay unless they are within 15 minutes of home or they are incorporated into a small route within the St. Louis area. If it looks like the shop will require a special trip, I either ask or wait for the bonuses to cover the additional time.

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