I have unlimited everything through Verizon and truly can’t imagine doing it any other way. I can only think of one single time I didn’t get service, and it was in the backwoods of rural Wisconsin.

I'm not even sure how much data I have right now. I think the plan is 2GB, but there is at least 5GB on the rollover and it seems somewhere along the line they threw in some more. Unless an app is necessary, I have the data turned off so it only works on WiFi and my phone automatically connects to my home WiFi before even reaching my driveway.

I rarely use MSC apps for inputting shops. I use Google Keep to take notes, Adobe to access guidelines, email, Google maps. I have an unlimited 4G LTE data family plan.

What are the monthly costs for your plans?

Do you think I could get a plan for $30/month with enough data to do these shops? ...$40..$50?

Geesh, I already said I pay Verizon $43.50 a month (includes all taxes/fees) for unlimited talk/text and 3GB of data.

Unlimited data is $75 a month. That's only for Verizon

@ceasesmith wrote:

Geesh, I already said I pay Verizon $43.50 a month (includes all taxes/fees) for unlimited talk/text and 3GB of data.

Unlimited data is $75 a month. That's only for Verizon

Not you, silly.

Also, when you said that you don't use all of your data, ceasesmith, is that possibly because you don't do many phone app shops? I seem to recall that you were a road warrior with shops that were of the traditional type. But can't remember 100%.

I guess I was curious about people who do LOTS of phone app shops, if you'd need unlimited data?

@ceasesmith wrote:

OK, how many times do I have to admit I'm a tech dinosaur? It's 3GB.

I have no idea how fast it is -- but evidently faster than the computers that managed to put a man on the moon in 1969!

Moore's Law - it states computational power doubles every two years. It's kind of amazing to think about.

Even crazier is that 300 years ago people were on horseback as the fastest mode of transportation. Now, we send space ships to other planets.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2018 09:44AM by shoptastic.

This question reminds me of the answers you would expect when someone asks, :"What are your favorite MS companies?" It will be different for everyone. If you like using apps, you will use them. If you are more comfortable with your laptop, that is what you will use. There are pro's and con's with with every method. If you can fit the cost in your budget, try getting a limited data plan and see if it will increase your profits. To give you all the statistics you are asking for would be difficult and might not even apply to you or your circumstances.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2018 01:16PM by kathygry.

Shoptastic,
My son has a plan through our home wireless provider, Xfinity. It is 1 GB for $12, 2 for $24. Unlimited is $45. Unfortunately, my current phone is not supported, so I have an unlimited family plan with a large group, my share is $45 per month.

Seriously, though. Everyone should have some type of data plan, regardless of work. Because you mystery shop, you should easily be able to write half of your bill off.

I do most of my reports on my phone, but I like having the option to use my computer on narrative heavy reports,

I do use data when I'm on the road -- to access websites, complete apps, etc.

Yes, I'm very bad with apps.

My friend who uses them constantly on the road -- to fill out reports on her shops -- checks her usage online (I'm not sure how). She has never gone over 2.8GB a month in the past year.

Her teenage son, however, uses 388 GB a month -- I think he must play a lot of games or something. We are QUITE sure he's not using it to do his homework, LOL!!!

I think the guy at Verizon told me if I didn't watch TV on an app, or watch movies, that I would probably never go over the 3 GB. He told me how many real-time hours 3 GB equals, but I don't recall what he said.

But I do watch youtube -- I turn it on and listen to it to go to sleep when I'm on the road (I sleep at home with the TV on, and it's a substitute for that -- else, I'm a regular insomniac).

@ceasesmith wrote:

Her teenage son, however, uses 388 GB a month -- I think he must play a lot of games or something. We are QUITE sure he's not using it to do his homework, LOL!!!

You can't figure out what a teenage boy is using 388 GB a month for?

b, that's downright scary.

@ceasesmith wrote:

But I do watch youtube -- I turn it on and listen to it to go to sleep when I'm on the road (I sleep at home with the TV on, and it's a substitute for that -- else, I'm a regular insomniac).

Maybe we can have an insomnia thread (so as to not go off-topic here) - I have it too. Can't you all tell?

I get too internet excited. My mind is always thinking of things I want to look up and learn about. Even when my body is tired and I should sleep, I often don't.

I feel like the internet changes your brain's wiring. I have less of an attention span than as a kid. I used to watch TV and movies all the way through. Nowadays, I'll pause to check something online or completely watch something else like on YouTube and go back to that movie later (sometimes never).

I have a harder time doing things for extended periods without wanting to reach for a phone or computer.....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/2018 12:25AM by shoptastic.

I have 2gb and I also stream on my tv so am always going over. I thought about unlimited but it’s too costly for $144.00 tax included. Streaming drives me crazy but there isn’t a happy medium. I was paying phone service and my phone for $63.00, Wireless internet $74.00 (Xfinity) & directv $45.00. Now for Comcast pkg plan consists of phone, wireless internet and TV all for $115 without taxes. I have to sign a contract where directv I don’t but the time flies by. My plan hopefully is to use my home phone for calls and I won’t need to stream so I will save some cash.

You need to visit Verizon. On a shop last week I found they have an unlimited everything plan for $55 if you are 55 or older.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Geesh, I already said I pay Verizon $43.50 a month (includes all taxes/fees) for unlimited talk/text and 3GB of data.

Unlimited data is $75 a month. That's only for Verizon

I saved a lot of money when I switched my family plan from AT&T to T- Mobile unlimited. They have discounts for seniors and mi.itary and veterans. They even provide international data roaming at no extra cost. I know coverage is an issue for some but I’ve had no problems.

@LisaSTL wrote:

You need to visit Verizon. On a shop last week I found they have an unlimited everything plan for $55 if you are 55 or older.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Geesh, I already said I pay Verizon $43.50 a month (includes all taxes/fees) for unlimited talk/text and 3GB of data.

Unlimited data is $75 a month. That's only for Verizon

That plan also works for up to 2 lines with the discount.

You could get Metro PCS unlimited for $50 a month. You get unlimited talk, text and data and a 5 gb hotspot, and a google one account. The $60 plan is the same with 15gb hot spot - unlimited data. Each additional line is only $30 a month and it gets the same as the main phone number. How I do know all of this? yes, shopping.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2018 04:33AM by TessyK.

Hi LisaSTL!
I'd love to answer your question as to whether data is worth it for mystery shops.
Screw the apps, I dont use them. What I do is; set up an email with email push. All the companies i have signed up for I get notifications of job offers. It gives me a chance to screen and see what I'd like to book next, so i don't miss the opportunities. (grab before anyone else does. Especially if its high paying)
This ensures you can work as many as you can, at your own pace.
I take notes in the field pertaining to the shop, when I get home I do the report.

Hope this helps, anything else let me know.

Make sure you look at your Xfinity bill every month. When I had them, my cable box got hacked on several ocassions. They always took the charges off "this time." After the third time I went running to Verizon.

@Jrsygal59 wrote:

I have 2gb and I also stream on my tv so am always going over. I thought about unlimited but it’s too costly for $144.00 tax included. Streaming drives me crazy but there isn’t a happy medium. I was paying phone service and my phone for $63.00, Wireless internet $74.00 (Xfinity) & directv $45.00. Now for Comcast pkg plan consists of phone, wireless internet and TV all for $115 without taxes. I have to sign a contract where directv I don’t but the time flies by. My plan hopefully is to use my home phone for calls and I won’t need to stream so I will save some cash.

A cable box hacked? LMAO Never heard of this. Sure you just didnt tell them that to get out of paying for that one porn show?

I didn't ask the question, but thanks!

@michaelfitz.gerald wrote:

Hi LisaSTL!
I'd love to answer your question as to whether data is worth it for mystery shops.

Yall got jokes.

I am dead dog serious. My Xfinity box was hacked. PPV movies were charged to my account, sometimes when I was home! They told me to put a PIN on my account. Done. PIN removed, account hacked.

It got stressful to watch TV. I never had these problems with Verizon.

Honny, ex-husband hacking, by chance?

Oh, that would be awful!

@SoCalMama wrote:

@LisaSTL wrote:

You need to visit Verizon. On a shop last week I found they have an unlimited everything plan for $55 if you are 55 or older.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Geesh, I already said I pay Verizon $43.50 a month (includes all taxes/fees) for unlimited talk/text and 3GB of data.

Unlimited data is $75 a month. That's only for Verizon

That plan also works for up to 2 lines with the discount.

First I want to know how you got that $43.50 a month deal with Verizon. Even if your phone is paid for which would add another $24 or so if it wasn't, I can't get any quote better than about $90 from Verizon with paying for a recently released smart phone and any of the discounts for anything, age, clubs, memberships etc.

Second, I don't have a data plan. I still do shops with apps. What I have found is that with MobiAudit and GoSpot Checker and Observa, (I haven't tried the ISecretShop or The Source Apps and Field Agent and Easy Shift, I'm just getting up to speed on) you can download your shops to the app on your phone/tablet when you have Wi-Fi access. When you get to the location, you just input your data into the app since the shop is now resident in your device and submit it. The app will then synch with the MSC server once you are again connected to Wifi. Just don't do part of the shop on a different device from the one you are actually using for the shop. For instance, putting in the date and other things on the website before going to do the shop. Then it will ask which version you want to use, the version on the server from one device or the version of the shop on the device you are submitting it on.

Thirdly, most of the locations I've used apps to shop have had free Wi-Fi available (Home Depot, Best Buy, malls, grocery stores are those that come to mind off hand). If the location doesn't have Wifi, McDs, Starbucks, Panera, Burger King, Tim Horton's etc. etc. have free Wifi you can connect to that are usually within walking distance of your app shop.

Fourthly, in doing phone shops I have asked "What happens if I go over the (2GB or whatever the cheapest plan is) data allotment". The answer is, you don't stop getting data, it just slows down from 4G to 3G speeds, or at least that's what they tell me. T-Mobile and MetroPCS, Verizon, AT&T and Sprint all answered the same.

I had Verizon and would get 18 GB speeds at work and 3G (not G speeds at home. Seems they hadn't upgraded the towers near my home since it was a neighborhood where most of the inhabitants were in their 60s or 70s having owned their homes for 30-40 years.

I hope this addresses the original question of the thread.

LOL -- I just go into Verizon and tell 'em I wanna pay this month's bill, it's $40. With taxes, it varies from $43.20 to $43.60 depending on what town I'm in.

No contract.

I don't think I would like to live without data, I know I could but I would be very crabby. I like Pandora in my car, editing and reporting while in car line (picking up kids from school I get into line about 45 minutes before dismissal).
AT&T
We pay $210 a month for 4 lines and my Gear S2 watch. All 4 phones are paid in full (2 galaxy s8 and 2 iPhone 8)
I am not a fan of the price but I want the services so......

HA HA! He's not bright enough.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Honny, ex-husband hacking, by chance?

I've got 2Gigs of 4G then it slows down. I rarely go over the 2. Around the LA area, I couldn't live without the up to the minute traffic navigation apps. If you're not in a big city maybe that isn't as much of an issue. Many stores, food places have WiFi. I use some apps for imputing jobs on the road but always complete them on my computer. I'd think you could stop by a Starbucks or something for their WiFi to use the apps but it takes more time out of shopping.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2018 05:31PM by wwin.