How do you guys keep track?
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
I use an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of shops, mileage, pay rate, and paid date. I also utilize Google Calendar when shops get scheduled. I believe there is a template of the spreadsheet in the "New Shopper" area.
I also use Excel. There's a template around here somewhere - just modify it for what works for you. I'm old school on the scheduling and write it on our family calendar (also helps others to plan).
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
You will get a lot of different answers to this question. I (and many other folks) use an Excel Spreadsheet.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I use a simple Excel spreadsheet, and I also place it on my phone calendar. And lastly, I write down my visits in a notebook, by company, for each month.
I have folders. Right side pocket is open, left side is closed
I use a composition book. Each page has a different date.
Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
I use Google Sheets to keep track of shops.
I created an Excel spreadsheet about 10 years ago and after about a year (after I filed taxes the first time), tweaked it slightly. One learning was to record at least basic information (MSC, "store", and dates) when I apply for a shop since some MSCs simply assign shops without sending our a notification. I learned that the hard way. That way I always check in advance of the start date.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I started with the Excel spreadsheet available on the "New Mystery Shoppers" area of the forum. After using that for about a year I designed my own database that better met my needs. I believe it's pinned near the top titled
"Mystery Shopping Spreadsheet".
"Mystery Shopping Spreadsheet".
I used the Excel spreadsheet that is located here on the Forum (New Mystery Shoppers) which I believe was designed by one of our members and have tweaked it to meet my needs. I also use a Daytimer Planner so I have a written record of my shops. I like the Daytimer that has a monthly calendar followed by day by day records where I record info which I later record on my spreadsheet. May be duplicate work but I like having both a written and a computer record. I also like that the Daytimer is easier for me to open and see what I have scheduled than booting up my computer.
Excel should be your best friend. I also love using pocket organizers for receipts, guidelines, and papers.
I use my smartphone calendar feature. After I apply for a job, I add it on the potential date with the heading POSSIBLE and include the MSC in the Notes section. My smartphone calendar is linked to my laptop and PDA, so it's easy for me to keep track of potential and actual shops this way. It's also easy to copy/cut and paste info about actual shops from the computer calendar into the Excel spreadsheet mentioned by others.
I love this question. I get a peek at what others are doing.
I started with the starter Excel spreadsheet here. It morphed into a workbook. The first worksheet is a summary of all the MSCs I worked for with links from the MSC worksheets. The live cells are the totals of the mileage (*2), the amount owed and the amount paid. This sheet goes to Tax Dude. I can also see who owes me what.
The following worksheets are the individual MSCs. These have the details of the shops that I do for them. At the bottom of the sheet, miles and money are totaled and linked to the summary sheet.
The last worksheet the a list of the MSCs from the bottom of this page. This sheet has my log in information if I am registered with them.
I use Google Calendar to know what I'm doing day to day.
I started with the starter Excel spreadsheet here. It morphed into a workbook. The first worksheet is a summary of all the MSCs I worked for with links from the MSC worksheets. The live cells are the totals of the mileage (*2), the amount owed and the amount paid. This sheet goes to Tax Dude. I can also see who owes me what.
The following worksheets are the individual MSCs. These have the details of the shops that I do for them. At the bottom of the sheet, miles and money are totaled and linked to the summary sheet.
The last worksheet the a list of the MSCs from the bottom of this page. This sheet has my log in information if I am registered with them.
I use Google Calendar to know what I'm doing day to day.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I use an Excel spreadsheet as well. Makes it so much easier to keep track of everything - scheduling dates, payment.
Like almost everyone else, I use an Excel Sheet (different workbook for each year), a tab for each quarter, one tab for all the MSCs, links and usernames, and then a link that keeps track of my quarterly earnings, and yearly earnings. Each tab also reflects when I submitted my report, if it was approved, my fee, bonus, reimbursements, and when and what I was paid.
Like HonnyBrown, I have a workbook and many of the same sheets that she has, I will add one that was not mentioned. I also have a rotation worksheet which at a glance will tell me when I can do that shop again, obviously only for the shops that I love and really want to do every 30, 60 or whatever number of days is the requirement.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.