Hello. I'm considering purchasing some secret video recording devices so I can accept video shops in my area. They pay $100, but you have to have your own equipment. Can you please give me some recommendations and some to avoid? Also, have you found that video jobs are worth it. Are there issues I'm not aware of or considering?
Thank you for your help.
Tania

I wonder the same thing. I did a recorded visit to a flooring store for $60 (again the travel time was nothing and I was passing through the area) using my iphone. The guidelines said I could use it. The files uploaded fine on my chromebook and when it came to the next day, the MSC said she could not hear it from sassie site. It took me emailing the scheduler who save my butt to get paid, she converted my files. To cover my butt I also emailed the scheduler my wave files via email so they knew I did the shop correctly. I was also paid a week later.

I am also interested in video shops but I want something that works and not have the issues I had before.

The gold standard is the PV500 with HD button cam. Greyhawk Video specializes in equipment for mystery shoppers. There are several MSCs that will let you borrow equipment for a shop, to try out video shopping. There have been several previous threads that talk about borrowing/leasing equipment for shops. I highly recommend doing this, as the equipment is a large outlay of cash.

I don't recommend purchasing from Ebay or "spycam" websites, as they often use substandard cams. Also, depending on the shop, you may be able to use your phone or a cheaper setup. Ask your scheduler what they recommend.

An acceptable video rig, which is the PV-500 described above, will run about $400. Because most video shops are longer interactions, they may be "one and done"; that is, you cannot return to that new home model or that senior living community...ever. Or, perhaps only in 3-5 years and never to shop the same target. For this reason, count on doing some traveling to find more shops after the first 1-3 years of exhausting local opportunities. Video shoppers who do routes are often among the highest earning MSers.

Video will run from about $45 for a short apartment shop to over $200 for hard-to-fill locations. So, yes, you will find lots of work if you become proficient. Free pr low cost online training is available through IMSC. I think that only one video MSC currently lend/rent equipment for their shops. That is Ellis Property Management, if I recall. They also are one of the very few that requires a long report for their video shops. But you had better make sure that video is for you before spending $400.

BTW, most failed video shops go sideways due to lack of a believable backstory, not equipment failure. The equipment is easy. Just wear it around the house to practice getting the angles right. You will need to keep the target in the frame, from about mid-chest to the top of the head 75-85 % of the time. (Not including when you are walking or riding beside them, of course.)

I have had mystery Shopping Companies offer to buy and give me spy glasses and shirts with cameras hidden in them. No thanks. I'm broke but not that broke yet that I got to go around playing secret FBI agent or something. LOL!

I wonder how that works for short folks like me at 4’11”? I used to do apartment shops when I first started over 10 years ago and now that I’m back in, I would like to try videos shops eventually. I used to do some audio with the apartment shops but never video.

@walesmaven wrote:

An acceptable video rig, which is the PV-500 described above, will run about $400. Because most video shops are longer interactions, they may be "one and done"; that is, you cannot return to that new home model or that senior living community...ever. Or, perhaps only in 3-5 years and never to shop the same target. For this reason, count on doing some traveling to find more shops after the first 1-3 years of exhausting local opportunities. Video shoppers who do routes are often among the highest earning MSers.

Video will run from about $45 for a short apartment shop to over $200 for hard-to-fill locations. So, yes, you will find lots of work if you become proficient. Free pr low cost online training is available through IMSC. I think that only one video MSC currently lend/rent equipment for their shops. That is Ellis Property Management, if I recall. They also are one of the very few that requires a long report for their video shops. But you had better make sure that video is for you before spending $400.

BTW, most failed video shops go sideways due to lack of a believable backstory, not equipment failure. The equipment is easy. Just wear it around the house to practice getting the angles right. You will need to keep the target in the frame, from about mid-chest to the top of the head 75-85 % of the time. (Not including when you are walking or riding beside them, of course.)

Your height should not be a problem. There are many short video shoppers. There are several ways to adjust both the angle of the camera lens and the height. It substitutes for a shirt button, so you might need to use it in a button hole a bit higher than, at 5'6", I would place my button camera. In addition, a little "wedge" can tilt the camera up, without resulting in ceiling shots! Just practice at home or at a local store; assess the resulting video and make adjustments until you get what you need. Like any new thing, it does take some practice. BUT, it is all simple technology!

@walesmaven- Good to know. Thank you!

@stormraven73 wrote:

The gold standard is the PV500 with HD button cam. Greyhawk Video specializes in equipment for mystery shoppers.

Just to clarify a bit here. There are several different levels of cams. The standard is the BU-18 HiRes cam. There is a mini version of the BU-18 that does not have the clarity needed. HiRes should not be confused with HD. HD is a much higher resolution and results in mich larger files. While there is a PV500 model that is HD (I have one but rarely use it) it is NOT the standard. There are a very few number of clients that require HD but there are more MSCs who get annoyed when you upload 50 gigs of video and fill up their server. Then they have to spend days converting it to a smaller, more usable file. Do NOT buy an HD model unless you already have an SD (standard definition, which is what the HiRes model is) and you actually have a client that wants HD.

Thanks bg. I keep forgetting about the different cams. I have pre-2010 PV-500s, so that was not an issue. Love my old rigs; those are industrial strength. I have been offered as much as I originally paid for them ($600+ EACH) by someone who is sold on their durability. But, he will have to pry it from my cold, dead hands. Prices have come WAY down, and the sizes have shrunk to make concealment somewhat easier. But nothing since has proved as sturdy.

To amplify on what Wales stated concerning the pre-2010 units, which is what I use, a few years ago the power switch on my DVR failed; it was repaired by a chap in N. Carolina for $25 and that included the postage. Unfortunately, MCP needed the work immediately completed, so sent me a loaner; it was a newer unit that recorded the shop in a retrograde manner of 31 second files. No amount of assistance would solve that problem and I lost $320 in fees. I do not have the slightest interest in the newer models and when/if mine predeceases me, I'm 76, I will bid video/audio jobs adieu.

The one thing about video work of which you should be aware: There are far fewer shops overall (though proportionally even fewer shoppers!) so, for it to be effective, you may need to be willing to expand the area in which you shop.

@bgriffin Oops, you are correct. I meant high res, not HD.

Wow, thank you everyone. That is very helpful. Keep the suggestions and cautions coming!!

Tania

Another suggestion: before doing a video apartment shop, do a few written ones. That way when you do a video shop you will not be worried about the scenario and can concentrate on moving about so as to keep the subject in the picture. Same for new home shops, auto purchase shops, senior living shops. At first, you will be hyper-aware that every word that you say will be on the record; soon, you will forget the cam and begin to move just right without even thinking about it.

@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:

I have had mystery Shopping Companies offer to buy and give me spy glasses and shirts with cameras hidden in them. No thanks. I'm broke but not that broke yet that I got to go around playing secret FBI agent or something. LOL!

Know how much you can make per hour if you were smart enough to take them up on it? Go ahead. Take a guess.

As stated above, the PV500 is the standard DVR, along with a BU-18, or BU-19 button camera. However, it's closer to $500 then $400 to buy a complete unit. A couple of cautions. To make money, you'll very likely have to travel. It's rare to be in an area where one can just shop from home and be able to make good money video shopping. Extensive travel is involved. So, not only will you have to put out an upfront outlay of $500 in cash for the equipment, you'll have to put out a large amount of cash for traveling. Hotels, gas, food and miscellaneous. Depending on the MSC, you'll have to float that large amount of cash for 30-90 before getting paid for your shops.

One other word of caution. While there are indeed some 'high' paying video shops, the industry seems to want to kill itself and has been dropping fees on some shops. What was once a $70 video shop, went to $65 and now only pays $60. This trend will probably continue and accelerate.

As long as we are on the topic of video equipment, I have a PV-500 EVO 2U DVR and a PV-500 Lite3 DVR. I need new cameras for them because I have destroyed my existing 18-BU cameras! I have not purchased a camera in a long time, and I am aware there is now a 19-BU. Where can I purchase just a camera, not a DVR? Will a 19-BU fit my two DVRs? Is the 19-BU camera now the replacement model for the 18-BU camera?

You can get them from Greyhawk. Not sure about the 19. I need to buy one too.

@Jack in CO
If somebody lives near a large city, enough video work should be available to make video shopping profitable. However, yes, there are fewer video shops than regular shops - especially on the West Coast. I have done some traveling, but have found video shopping profitable in Western Washington without overnight trips.

An avenue that has been profitable for me, is self cultivated video work. I have zero interest in multi day routes and much prefer the control I have with shops I have sold; such jobs currently total 39% of my 10 year total and that number will only increase as time passes. The pay, understandably, far exceeds any MSC, is paid immediately when the disc is delivered and my fees are not dependent upon anyone else's decisions.

@shopperbob What do you mean by "is self cultivated video work?"

Shops he sold directly

I actually agree it would be hard to make a lot of money video shopping many areas without at least some travel. New homes are still a one off and there are only so many times you can keep visiting the same car dealers or apartment communities. I had a distinct advantage for a number of years. Not only was I the only video shopper in at least a 250 mile radius, Missouri is a one party state. I was able to do competitor shops and sample videos for potential new clients. That said, by traveling my rig and training were paid off in one week. It would have taken several months just staying home.

@LisaSTL

Welcome back!

Lisa,
You have been missed ! Welcome home !

Thanks! I happened to have some down time today but it may not last long

Lisa states-- It would have taken several months just staying home.

Bob's comment--According to my log, it took me 15 months of local work to pay for my PV-500. I am willing to travel, but not to sleep in a motel; that limits me to day routes. Unfortunately, the business from MSC's has been erratic, with me only having completed 97 audio/video shops for MSC's in almost 10 years. Said erraticism and the expected fee reductions, the result of more people purchasing the gear, prompted me to also begin working for Bob.

I would suggest finding what is available in your area(s) before purchasing equipment. I was able to get mine paid off in a couple of weeks without travel. Adding travel has made it very profitable.

MFJ, for the record it would not have taken me so long to just pay off my rig. I considered all my start up costs which included shirts, altering and a three day trip to Cincinnati for a training seminar, probably $1,100 to $1,200. My first trip covered all those costs after expenses.