Here's what I don't understand. Some people make $60 an hour. Some people don't. Why is it that the people who don't make $60 an hour seem to either be pissed at the people who do or have lots of reasons that they can't. I'm wondering if that defeatist attitude has something to do with why they don't?

Here's my opinion. If you don't make $60 an hour and someone who does make $60 an hour tells you how they do it, why not look at what they do and say hey, I can't do all of those things, but I'm sure there are SOME of those things that can help me. Even if I can't get to $60 an hour using this advice maybe I can get from $30 an hour to $40 an hour. But they don't. It's confusing and an attitude that is so far different from mine that I can't wrap my brain around it.

@bgriffin
Doing that would require that a person admit that s/he could be more efficient and/or find more opportunities. Especially after time, we all become a bit set in our ways and it can be hard to seek out new ways to approach things. It's much easier to just argue and say that "that won't work for me/my situation." I know that I greatly benefited from altering how I approached shopping by listening to those who had more success than I had.

It reminds me of the casino I did last night. I don't bet the "bonus wagers" at the table as they are, mathematically, terrible bets. Instead, I have taken the time to learn the basic game (a blackjack variant) very well - to the point that I overcome the house edge and win more than I lose - over the long run. Every time I play, however, other players chastise me for not making the side bets, especially when the bet would have paid. Last night, I was up about $150 at the table and the guy next to me was complaining about having lost $700 that afternoon. He noticed I was not making the side bets and just went off on me for being "stupid." Two other players (who had also lost quite a bit of money) agreed with him. I have tried to explain this to folks before - but, despite their mounting losses, they insist that they've been playing for "XX years" and know how to play. They simply are not open to recognizing that their play could be much better. I have the same "issues" when other players disagree with my decisions to hit, stay or double.

They want to do it by doing quickie fast food shops. They won't accept the amount of work that is required to actually make good money. And they have all kinds of excuses. They don't want to chase targets. They don't like long narratives. They don't want to buy video equipment. They aren't good at negotiating. They don't want to do revealed audits. All of that is fine and dandy. I'm not suggesting that someone should have to do all those things. But if you won't do at least some of them, you are not going to make good money most of the time.

@bgriffin wrote:

Here's what I don't understand. Some people make $60 an hour. Some people don't. Why is it that the people who don't make $60 an hour seem to either be pissed at the people who do or have lots of reasons that they can't. I'm wondering if that defeatist attitude has something to do with why they don't?

Here's my opinion. If you don't make $60 an hour and someone who does make $60 an hour tells you how they do it, why not look at what they do and say hey, I can't do all of those things, but I'm sure there are SOME of those things that can help me. Even if I can't get to $60 an hour using this advice maybe I can get from $30 an hour to $40 an hour. But they don't. It's confusing and an attitude that is so far different from mine that I can't wrap my brain around it.

jameschicago,
How many MSCs are you signed up with?

Also, most video shops are released only to shoppers who have filed a video test with the major video MSCs. So, if interested, find the video MSCs, learn the ropes, submit a video sample. You can see if video is something you like, before spending $400+ on proper equipment if you borrow a video rig from EPMS to do one of their video shops. You will have a very long, tedious report for them (highly unusual for video assignments) but it will be a good way to try video and see how it goes. The equipment is easy; appropriate back-story in a 30+ minute interaction may be hard for some.

It's the same "I can't or this is not possible" attitude that keeps people from getting in shape, recovering their health, self improvement or earning more than they can. Even if you would lay out a clear cut plan and do all the maths for these people, it would never be enough for someone who just doesn't believe in hard work and meticulous planning. Believe me, I've tried.

About not taking advice in regards to making more money shopping, it's easier to just say, "I don't want to do that because I am unmotivated or I don't find it interesting." Which is the case for me about a lot of shopping opportunities. Sometimes the real money makers aren't fun or interesting, and I am not that money driven all of the time. I would rather check out the stock market and make some keen investments and trades if I want to make some quick cash. It's gambling, but I find that entertaining and I am good at it. I also don't like putting miles on my car. I am driving a 2013 Hyundai that only has a little over 44,000 miles on it. I probably won't need a new car until 2025 or later. If I can make a lot of money without leaving home or by doing my short mini-routes that bankroll well (like that $100 audit I did 11 miles from home and the filler shops near it), I would much rather do that.

I am playing with the markets today and I am still in my houserobe, LOL. I guess I had better go get dressed and figure out what I am going to cook for dinner.

Same here JAS, I made a whopping $35 doing phone shops today. I will do any shop that can be done sitting on my couch. Meanwhile, watched Friends, did my workout and breakfast. Not bad!

Oh yeah, and I definitely don't get jealous and pissed off because someone else is raking in the dough when I don't always do so, that doesn't upset me one bit. They obviously put a lot of work into it and deserve it. I give props and kudos to y'all who do.

@MFJohnston wrote:

I don't bet the "bonus wagers" at the table as they are, mathematically, terrible bets.

They're atrocious! But most people have too much of a win now attitude. They hit one 25-1 once and think it's a great deal but don't realize it takes them 50 bets to do it, meanwhile the house edge on blackjack is like 1% or something crazy.

@Mum wrote:

Even if you would lay out a clear cut plan and do all the maths for these people

OMG I love the British use of "maths"

I like a lot of the British spellings, too. Colour, grey, apologise, centre, etc.

Maths...Do you guys write it or use it in a different manner?

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I would rather check out the stock market and make some keen investments and trades if I want to make some quick cash.

Is it time to short Tesla yet?

@Mum wrote:

Maths...Do you guys write it or use it in a different manner?

We use the singular math instead of plural maths.

Got it. Thanks! I do get a few looks sometimes when I say something and can't figure out what happened. I do write COLOR now. So, that's an improvement. An editor was nice enough to point out how spellings are different here. I try my best but old habits die hard.

In the variation and rule set of the game I play, the house edge for the main game is .38% for using "perfect" basic strategy and the house edge for the bonus wager is something like 3.5%. Folks are attracted to the 13-1 best payout on the bonus wager, not considering that they only have about a 1/50 chance of hitting it. Somebody who just uses basic strategy for the main game is playing near even. Somebody who then uses comps to give the main game a boost plays at a very slight advantage. Somebody who counts cards can play at a significant advantage.

@bgriffin wrote:

@MFJohnston wrote:

I don't bet the "bonus wagers" at the table as they are, mathematically, terrible bets.

They're atrocious! But most people have too much of a win now attitude. They hit one 25-1 once and think it's a great deal but don't realize it takes them 50 bets to do it, meanwhile the house edge on blackjack is like 1% or something crazy.

That's one stock I won't touch with a 10-foot pole. I know someone who bought a lot of it back around 2014 when it was in the $100s and sold it when it was over $300. He made a killing. I am a pretty straightforward investor for the time being and I don't like puts, calls, options, etc. Too risky. I did buy a whole bunch of a pharmaceutical company this morning and it's already gone up almost $3 of dollars per share. They report tomorrow and I expect it to be good. I'll dump a good portion of it after it goes up some more and keep some just because. I have one account that I am completely long on with a lot of dividends and my other account is a margin account with a mix of long holdings and spec stocks, so I can get bold if I want to in the future.

@bgriffin wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I would rather check out the stock market and make some keen investments and trades if I want to make some quick cash.

Is it time to short Tesla yet?

I think the American versions are boring. I don't know why they dropped the "u" or changed some of the other spellings. I also find some phrases quite "colourful" LOL. Getting pissed sure has a completely different meaning!

@Mum wrote:

Got it. Thanks! I do get a few looks sometimes when I say something and can't figure out what happened. I do write COLOR now. So, that's an improvement. An editor was nice enough to point out how spellings are different here. I try my best but old habits die hard.

The only way I will write GREY now is if I am spelling Christian Grey! A couple of years ago, my daughter was spelling colors and she kept erasing the E in Grey every time I wrote it. I was so confused until my husband said that she was right. You should have seen her smug little face.

Actually I have always understood that gray and grey are both acceptable spellings. I use grey as well.

@MFJohnston wrote:

It reminds me of the casino I did last night. I don't bet the "bonus wagers" at the table as they are, mathematically, terrible bets. Instead, I have taken the time to learn the basic game (a blackjack variant) very well - to the point that I overcome the house edge and win more than I lose - over the long run. Every time I play, however, other players chastise me for not making the side bets, especially when the bet would have paid. Last night, I was up about $150 at the table and the guy next to me was complaining about having lost $700 that afternoon. He noticed I was not making the side bets and just went off on me for being "stupid." Two other players (who had also lost quite a bit of money) agreed with him. I have tried to explain this to folks before - but, despite their mounting losses, they insist that they've been playing for "XX years" and know how to play. They simply are not open to recognizing that their play could be much better. I have the same "issues" when other players disagree with my decisions to hit, stay or double.

What a load of nonsense this is. I will settle the argument between you and the other self acclaimed experts playing at your black jack table. You are all lunatics. Las Vegas was not able to build all those palaces on the strip by offering games that any fool could come in and beat them on! If this blowhard could play blackjack so great he would not be mystery shopping now would he. You play black jack you are going to lose. And yes you will lose a lot more then 50% of the time.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

That's one stock I won't touch with a 10-foot pole. I know someone who bought a lot of it back around 2014 when it was in the $100s and sold it when it was over $300. He made a killing. I am a pretty straightforward investor for the time being and I don't like puts, calls, options, etc. Too risky.

I'm scared to buy it. And scared to short it. Their finances are much shakier than most people realize I think though.

I love options. You might want to look at buy / writes. I actually used to do them in my IRA when I paid more attention to the market than I do now. They're safe enough that they're approved for retirement accounts so not the huge risk. Basically you buy the stock and immediately sell a call, usually at a strike price you'd be happy with anyway. It's a pretty easy way to add a few percentage points to your return.

MFJ did not say he was in Las Vegas, what a stupid assumption. Are you so uncultured and oblivious that you think the only casinos in the US are in Vegas? Sigh (insert eye roll).

@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:

@MFJohnston wrote:

It reminds me of the casino I did last night. I don't bet the "bonus wagers" at the table as they are, mathematically, terrible bets. Instead, I have taken the time to learn the basic game (a blackjack variant) very well - to the point that I overcome the house edge and win more than I lose - over the long run. Every time I play, however, other players chastise me for not making the side bets, especially when the bet would have paid. Last night, I was up about $150 at the table and the guy next to me was complaining about having lost $700 that afternoon. He noticed I was not making the side bets and just went off on me for being "stupid." Two other players (who had also lost quite a bit of money) agreed with him. I have tried to explain this to folks before - but, despite their mounting losses, they insist that they've been playing for "XX years" and know how to play. They simply are not open to recognizing that their play could be much better. I have the same "issues" when other players disagree with my decisions to hit, stay or double.

What a load of nonsense this is. I will settle the argument between you and the other self acclaimed experts playing at your black jack table. You are all lunatics. Las Vegas was not able to build all those palaces on the strip by offering games that any fool could come in and beat them on! If this blowhard could play blackjack so great he would not be mystery shopping now would he. You play black jack you are going to lose. And yes you will lose a lot more then 50% of the time.

You have no clue.

@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:

@MFJohnston wrote:

It reminds me of the casino I did last night. I don't bet the "bonus wagers" at the table as they are, mathematically, terrible bets. Instead, I have taken the time to learn the basic game (a blackjack variant) very well - to the point that I overcome the house edge and win more than I lose - over the long run. Every time I play, however, other players chastise me for not making the side bets, especially when the bet would have paid. Last night, I was up about $150 at the table and the guy next to me was complaining about having lost $700 that afternoon. He noticed I was not making the side bets and just went off on me for being "stupid." Two other players (who had also lost quite a bit of money) agreed with him. I have tried to explain this to folks before - but, despite their mounting losses, they insist that they've been playing for "XX years" and know how to play. They simply are not open to recognizing that their play could be much better. I have the same "issues" when other players disagree with my decisions to hit, stay or double.

What a load of nonsense this is. I will settle the argument between you and the other self acclaimed experts playing at your black jack table. You are all lunatics. Las Vegas was not able to build all those palaces on the strip by offering games that any fool could come in and beat them on! If this blowhard could play blackjack so great he would not be mystery shopping now would he. You play black jack you are going to lose. And yes you will lose a lot more then 50% of the time.

MFJ, did you and spicy1 get into a lot of arguments under her other screennames?

Yes

She always goes after the same forum members, although she seems to have learned her lesson with SoCalMama and has been avoiding her this time around. She also seems to have stopped sending nasty PMs.

How do I sign up for those robrtyoung@aol.com

How do I sign up for those

@MFJohnston wrote:

You have no clue.

@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:

@MFJohnston wrote:

It reminds me of the casino I did last night. I don't bet the "bonus wagers" at the table as they are, mathematically, terrible bets. Instead, I have taken the time to learn the basic game (a blackjack variant) very well - to the point that I overcome the house edge and win more than I lose - over the long run. Every time I play, however, other players chastise me for not making the side bets, especially when the bet would have paid. Last night, I was up about $150 at the table and the guy next to me was complaining about having lost $700 that afternoon. He noticed I was not making the side bets and just went off on me for being "stupid." Two other players (who had also lost quite a bit of money) agreed with him. I have tried to explain this to folks before - but, despite their mounting losses, they insist that they've been playing for "XX years" and know how to play. They simply are not open to recognizing that their play could be much better. I have the same "issues" when other players disagree with my decisions to hit, stay or double.

What a load of nonsense this is. I will settle the argument between you and the other self acclaimed experts playing at your black jack table. You are all lunatics. Las Vegas was not able to build all those palaces on the strip by offering games that any fool could come in and beat them on! If this blowhard could play blackjack so great he would not be mystery shopping now would he. You play black jack you are going to lose. And yes you will lose a lot more then 50% of the time.

Agree with you MFJ
My family came out from the east coast to run the casinos in Las Vegas way back when it all began. I learned the blackjack table of play when I was in elementary school.

Casinos are made from slot money, not table money. Best odds for the player are at craps. Worst table game for odds is roulette.

Everything you have mentioned is true. I do love blackjack, but it can be a grind too.

Same with poker.

Edited for a typo.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/2019 08:32PM by SoCalMama.