I have wondered about unionizing somehow. I KNOW we are independent contractors and therefore not “unionizable.” Your idea Is a good one but, like someone else already mentioned, it would be impossible to get everyone in one region to do it. The MSC owners (most) are making a lot of money. My experience on this forum is some shoppers will argue and go to great lengths to justify not “complaining” and just continue to be treated like crap. I think we are GREATLY underpaid - and I too only take bonuses shops, half of which don’t make it to the job boards. But still, we are undervalued. Wonder if we shoppers didn’t do any shops for 1 week. Just think about the impact that would have....that is a good measure of our value.

I hate to say it, but it sounds like you are your own worst enemy. If you have introduced shopping to five other people you have created competition to yourself causing lower pay. One of the biggest problems shoppers have is not realizing that they are in competition with other shoppers. The more shoppers there are the lower the fees will be. Most business owners don’t encourage people to begin similar businesses because that would be competition. I have never introduced anyone to this business. It’s up to the shop and companies to try to find help. Why would I do their work for them by introducing people and creating competition for myself? Some people treat us all as one big social happy event and that’s fine, but as you do that you’re creating competition, lowering your own pay, And reducing the number of shops available for yourself.

I take very few shops these days. I am not a charity. The companies have the money they do not need my money to subsidize their shops. I do remember you get what you pay for. A burger shop in a intercity location (which is no longer offered in NJ) was dangerous if you were a suburban shopper. You could come back to your car and find the wheels missing. I was asked many times if I was buying or selling drugs., My reply was I was buying a burger. I was asked for "change" and saw the beggar go around the corner and get into a nice looking vehicle. I offered the "beggars" food as I would not eat the quality of the burgers, they refused. I had schedulers call and beg me to take shops after the suburban shopper "flaked", drove past the shop and kept on going to shop another day. The suburban shoppers did not realize it was not their suburban location of the same chain. The scheduler knew better than to offer me the "going rate" I dressed the part, I used a vehicle that was not worth stealing. I was trained by the Sheriff's department how to survive in that neighborhood. There was a risk . I called it "combat pay" because the area could injure a shopper.The locals knew you did not belong there if you did not change your clothes, your car and your attitude, get your "hood" on. Do not be afraid to ask for gas money (even though you have already asked other schedulers for gas money , Schedulers do not know you put together a route and it is like hopping from one local location to another. The people who take shops so they can buy Ramman noodles and cheese and pasta in a box. (if you were ever in college you know what I mean, the breakfast, lunch and dinner of scholars), There are seniors on social security who need the shops because the month was longer than their money. I like to shop because it is like Halloween and you get to play the demographic from top of the line luxury vehicles and jewelry shops you get buzzed into to intercity shops that you get buzzed into the rest rooms to keep the street people from using the rest rooms to bathe.

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

Do not be afraid to ask for gas money (even though you have already asked other schedulers for gas money , Schedulers do not know you put together a route and it is like hopping from one local location to another.

Actually, this is not always true. Shoppers have asked for giant bonuses and then schedulers found out that they had all given the same shopper a bonus. That shopper is no longer shopping for those companies.

The companies have no problem offering mystery shoppers the least amount of money. When you figure the gas required and the time required
if you are INTELLIGENT you will sharpen your pencil and figure out if you are paying the mystery shopping company to do the shop.
I will not work for free and take money out of my pocket for expenses. it has to be a MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL EXPERIENCE.
Schedulers are too busy to fill last minute flakes and I told them they had to send me an e-mail even if they were one day short of the days you could not shop.
Some fast food companies have managers that float from one location to another and patrons that have lunch in one location and dinner in another location.
I have changed my clothes in a gas station bathroom to look different at the next shop.especially when I went to a beach and did shops coming and going.

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In Vegas you have to get a complete background check, cannot have a felony and with some companies agree to a certain amount of shops each month. Not all of us want to be tied to all of that or pay for work cards in order to do this work.

I don't mind getting a background check. I have no felony, not even misdemeanors. And as far as getting companies to agree to a certain amount of shops each month? That is great! Vegas has the right idea. We, on the other hand, are not regulated, and are being taken advantaged of.

Many Nevada shops pay less than minimum wage, folks. The State of NV has even had some of its officials give presentations at IMSC conferences where they have said this. Moreover, the NV Dept of Labor and the NVPLB (which controls MSC access in NV, disagree about what the NV law actually requires and have argued that point in front of the IMSC audience, more than once. If you look closely at most NV shops you will soon see that any expectation of minimum wage will seldom be met.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2018 06:58PM by walesmaven.

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I would never want to commit to any particular amount of shops per month. I like to take lengthy vacations, sometimes out of the country. I am not an employee, I am an IC and have the right to choose how many shops to do, which shops to do, and when to do them.

@ShopperFun99 wrote:

I don't mind getting a background check. I have no felony, not even misdemeanors. And as far as getting companies to agree to a certain amount of shops each month? That is great! Vegas has the right idea. We, on the other hand, are not regulated, and are being taken advantaged of.

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I don’t want to be regulated. I want to shop where I want, when I want, and for pay that feels acceptable to me.

If shoppers take shops in my area for $10, so be it. I don’t care what other people choose to do. I mean, companies could put shops out there and pay a dollar if they wanted. Big deal.

I don’t care if the CEO makes a trillion billion dollars and owns ten yachts. If their company is offering a shop that I want to do, for pay I’m willing to accept, I’ll do the dang shop.

And if shop pay declines to the point where I feel it’s no longer worth my time, I won’t shop anymore. It’s all pretty simple.

To all who feel they have been treated unfairly and have been exposed to MSCs' taking advantage of them, simplify your life by avoiding those specific companies. That is the prerogative of every IC. In my 15+ years in this business, I have been both the terminator and terminated; that's business!

@Megs7521 wrote:

I don’t want to be regulated.

I don't think anyone has suggested that shoppers be regulated.... If they have, I missed it, and I apologize.

Central Florida Shopper here and I would love communicating with more shoppers near me. I am kind of a newbie and have been taking it slow while learning the ropes. It has been very discouraging setting up several shops in one day, getting behind in my schedule and then spending all evening(often til midnight) answering questions and writing narratives. If everything worked out like I planned, I feel like I could make a nice part-time paycheck. But, whew!
I was hoping this forum would be a place for shoppers to go for some reassurance that things either get easier or that there are ways to do it more efficiently.
I appreciate reading that my thoughts on the "low pay" for some shops is not abnormal. Any ways or ideas as to how to pick good ones, or be aware of time consuming, extreme expectation low pay shops would be so appreciated. I know that by taking a break here and there helps me not become so overwhelmed (hint to anyone even newer than myself!)
And, Central Florida Shoppers I would love to chat!

@sclose wrote:

I was hoping this forum would be a place for shoppers to go for some reassurance that things either get easier or that there are ways to do it more efficiently.

It does get easier, and there are ways to do things more efficiently. The first, through time and experience; the second, mostly, I think, through discovering your own personal way of doing things. What works for some won't work for others. But there are things everybody can do that makes shopping more efficient. You'll be able to get better pay as you become more experienced and develop relationships with MSCs and schedulers.

There are a bunch of very experienced shoppers here, and if you can ask specific questions about specific shops or types of shops, many people will help you.

It sounds to me as if you, as a newbie, are starting off with trying to do too many shops in a day. That'll not only get you behind, but frustrated and discouraged.

Good luck, and be positive!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2018 10:36PM by BirdyC.

Thank you BirdyC, I figured that part out - that I am not ready to do many shops in one day. And I appreciate the offer to answer specific questions.
I am wondering what a "route shopper" is. Is it what it sounds like? I imagine a shopper on a "route" doing several shops in a row?

@Nestlemay wrote:

When I first started shopping I did a couple of $12.00 shops. I can’t believe people do these. Refusing those would do the trick. Either I do a shop because I need a car wash, oil change, movie viewing, etc or i’m It doing a shoo for less than 50.

I agree with Nestlemay,. I wish people wouldn't except taking shops that don't offer fair compensation. Schedulers need to take into account that it takes time to get in your car, drive somewhere and back, fill out a questionnaire that normally takes at least an hour and purchase some thing. When it's all said and done you're working for three or four dollars an hour. I also hate when someone wants me to eat at an expensive restaurant and doesn't even compensate half of what the meal is going to cost. The surveys normally take A couple of hours not to mention the hour you need to spend in the restaurant and the time it takes you to drive back-and-forth. It's worth it if it's a free meal but if I have to pay to work it's ridiculous.

@plotzed wrote:

and I know of literally no shopper who thinks of herself as company-

I am my own company. I am self-employed, pay self-employment taxes through the nose, and enjoy all the perks of being my own boss.

Now you know one.

@Shoppersouthwest wrote:

That is very scary. Looks like there is no hope then except for for the elite few to get anything besides fun money and products.

Work hard, build a reputation, turn in great reports, and be reliable. That's the way to earn money here.

@iShop123 wrote:

@plotzed wrote:

and I know of literally no shopper who thinks of herself as company-

I am my own company. I am self-employed, pay self-employment taxes through the nose, and enjoy all the perks of being my own boss.

Now you know one.

Now you know two. I have a day job, and I'm an employee. Mystery shopping is a part time endeavor for me. I am in business for myself and I think of it as a company, a small business.

@SoCalMama wrote:

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

Do not be afraid to ask for gas money (even though you have already asked other schedulers for gas money , Schedulers do not know you put together a route and it is like hopping from one local location to another.

Actually, this is not always true. Shoppers have asked for giant bonuses and then schedulers found out that they had all given the same shopper a bonus. That shopper is no longer shopping for those companies.

I ALWAYS tell schedulers I'm working on a route, and can only do their shop with such-and-such a bonus because my route is taking me within 100 miles or so of their shop. They know I'm also getting bonuses on every other shop on the route. It's never been a problem. I'm pretty up front about it -- I'm in this to make money, not do "favors" that end up not putting a dollar in my pocket. And I tell them if they wait until it's an orphan shop, my bonus will be much, much more, as it will have to cover 100% of the cost of the travel to that unfillable shop! In fact, I offered a couple months ago to do a route of gas stations at $40 each, and was turned down. They came back later with 5 "orphans" -- and my price was then $95 each. Turns out $150 each would have been better and more reasonable, as to get to all 5 meant 3 days on the road. Not a profitable route at all, and the wrong time of the month to pick up shops for any other company. Would have been better for them and much, much better for me if they had just given me all the shops at $40, during the time in the cycle that I could have picked up USPS, fast food, cell phone, and other shops as filler.

If you are on this forum, you literally know of dozens of shoppers who think of themselves as companies. Perhaps even hundreds since there are often 400 to 500 members visiting here at any given time.

@ceasesmith wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

Do not be afraid to ask for gas money (even though you have already asked other schedulers for gas money , Schedulers do not know you put together a route and it is like hopping from one local location to another.

Actually, this is not always true. Shoppers have asked for giant bonuses and then schedulers found out that they had all given the same shopper a bonus. That shopper is no longer shopping for those companies.

I ALWAYS tell schedulers I'm working on a route, and can only do their shop with such-and-such a bonus because my route is taking me within 100 miles or so of their shop. They know I'm also getting bonuses on every other shop on the route. It's never been a problem. I'm pretty up front about it --

The issue has been that a shopper will do one route and have multiple schedulers add travel for it (i.e. all 5 schedulers adding $ for a 200 mile trip as though they were the only ones.) So, if $100 was reasonable for the trip, the shopper took $500.

This idea of banding together to get better fees comes up way too often. And although I like the idea of it; I can't see it ever working.

Case in point. Myself.

I take what works for me. I've had some sweet routes and my schedulers knew up front that I was getting bonused by all of them. Might be stupid, but I was always upfront with my route schedulers. 9 times out of 10, I have been told to go for it. I also worked routes that schedulers didn't have a dependable shopper and knew I would get it done on time.

Telling others that you mystery shop; I do it all the time...I've only had one person that has thought about it seriously. If he decides to do it, he could give me a run for my money. But then again, he's not willing to drive routes, so maybe not.

And for those of you that want to turn you nose up at the low paying shops. I used to clear $385 in a minimum of 2 days. I say minimum because sometimes I spent 2 nights in a hotel, extra night depended on how busy the locations were. My gas, hotel and meals were paid because of bonuses. The reports were easy. My mileage was a minimum of 440, but I get to use that on my taxes.

Did the above happen overnight? NO! It took time to earn the trust of my schedulers.

And in my experience, it takes time to build a relationship with a scheduler and the MSC.

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I'm not advocating that any shopper share more information with a scheduler than they feel comfortable with. I, stated I worked with schedulers that had a hard route to fill.

I never ended up with less money, as a matter of fact I normally ended up with more. My route schedulers have given me references and I started off with bonuses with the new companies.

I worked a minimum of 2 years with my schedulers that gave me a shot at my sweet routes. I may be cutting my nose off, but I will not screw over those schedulers. And those schedulers haven't been cheap with bonuses. They remember that I was honest, did my work and did it right.

I love big bonuses, but I'm not big on biting the hand that feeds me either.

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