Based on the email I receive and what I have seen online, I am really depressed. It is not a matter of principle; it is a practical matter. Fees are being cut all over.

It is very apparent that the mystery shopping companies are really overloaded with people who are willing to work for very little compensation. I do not mean to insult anybody, but I can not imagine those people who value their work so little, as doing good work.

I keep seeing mention of the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. Is it their goal to keep the fees paid to shopper's low? I am not going to talk with friends anymore about becoming a mystery shopper out of concern that I will look like a fool. I don't think, I know that I have a lot to offer the mystery shopping companies based on my experience and writing ability. They in turn have a lot to offer their clients via me. Again, I wonder if the companies that hire the mystery shopping companies realize how little the shoppers are being paid.

I wish those people who do mystery shopping for fun or whatever would find another means by which to have their fun. Furthermore, one would think that the mystery shopping companies would want their clients to think that mystery shopping is valuable by paying more money to the people who are doing the mystery shopping.

@jameschicago wrote:

I wonder if the companies that hire the mystery shopping companies realize how little the shoppers are being paid.

I do not think that the owners of 95% of these companies have any idea what so ever how poorly these mystery shopping companies pay the mystery shoppers. I also think a high percentage of these people can afford to mystery shop for little or nothing because in reality they live off government entitlement checks like disability and social security checks. What is the true value of data collected from a demographic that is made up largely of unemployed seniors? Does this demographic think anything like normal working stiffs? The insult to the companies hiring these mystery shopping companies is quite epic to tell the truth. Welcome to America LOL!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2019 09:16PM by Sobrokeigot2dothis.

I have been Mystery shopping for about 15 years now. Not much has changed in the pay scale. Lots of shops are paying less. I am glad I don't have to depend on them. I feel bad for those that do.

You are forgetting us seniors were once working people. Yes we receive social security but a good number of us also receive a pension from many years of working for the same company. Need the money? NO. I stopped mystery shopping and started doing I-9 Verifications and Business Verifications along with an occasional merchandising gig This keeps me busy 1 - 2 days a week and that's all I want. So please do not lump mystery shoppers into unemployed seniors - as we have probably worked decades longer than you have and know how to evaluate fairly.
With that said, I will now say the fees associated with mystery shopping are laughable for the amount of work required per shop. This is one reason I went to Verifications - less hassle, less mileage/gas, and better pay.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2019 09:41PM by lbtweety47.

@jameschicago wrote:

I wish those people who do mystery shopping for fun or whatever would find another means by which to have their fun. Furthermore, one would think that the mystery shopping companies would want their clients to think that mystery shopping is valuable by paying more money to the people who are doing the mystery shopping.

I disagree. I think those who are doing the work they love - not working for the money - may be some of the most detailed and dedicated workers there are. In many cases, I would say they are willing to spend an extra amount of time on preparation and on completing the report that someone who is concerned about how much per hour he is making would not be willing to spend. Not just talking about mystery shopping here, I'm talking about anybody who loves their job. And I think 95% of the MSCs would probably be delighted to have all mystery shoppers who do it as a hobby and don't need the money rather than "professional mystery shoppers." Most companies want "the average customer" who looks at a shop with fresh eyes rather than a pro who has done 20 locations of the same company and the same shop. Let's face it, there are some difficult, detailed shops that require high level performance, but most mystery shops are so easy anybody could do them.

@roflwofl wrote:

@jameschicago wrote:

I wish those people who do mystery shopping for fun or whatever would find another means by which to have their fun. Furthermore, one would think that the mystery shopping companies would want their clients to think that mystery shopping is valuable by paying more money to the people who are doing the mystery shopping.

I disagree. I think those who are doing the work they love - not working for the money - may be some of the most detailed and dedicated workers there are. In many cases, I would say they are willing to spend an extra amount of time on preparation and on completing the report that someone who is concerned about how much per hour he is making would not be willing to spend. Not just talking about mystery shopping here, I'm talking about anybody who loves their job. And I think 95% of the MSCs would probably be delighted to have all mystery shoppers who do it as a hobby and don't need the money rather than "professional mystery shoppers." Most companies want "the average customer" who looks at a shop with fresh eyes rather than a pro who has done 20 locations of the same company and the same shop. Let's face it, there are some difficult, detailed shops that require high level performance, but most mystery shops are so easy anybody could do them.

Well, how about telling them to send me the money, if you don't need it? :>

deleted

calsim11:" your aren't getting enough in your disability check because you have never worked a day in your life,"

I take offense to your comment about disability and have never worked a day in your life.
I started working when I was 11 years old with a paper route. I have worked for 50 years, and now unfortunately due to health problems, I had to go on disability. I have paid into SS my whole working life. And I do a little mystery shopping as disability only covers so many expenses, and I need extra money. I DO NOT take the low paying mystery jobs.

Noted, but did I use your name?

No, you did not use his/her name. Your reference, however, was unfeeling and, if I may say so, bigoted, and offensive.

For the first few years I was on disability, a recipient was FORBIDDEN from working. After all, if you could work, you weren't disabled -- right? Right! But then they wised up, and allow people to work. Every single person I know who is on disability works, generally part-time, of course, because they cannot work full time. If they could, then they would not be disabled. Heck, one of my friends is wheelchair-bound disabled, and works 10 hours a week at the library. He has all sorts of medical equipment on his wheelchair, without which he would die. He works anyway. He says it makes him feel like a contributing member of society.

Due to my disability, I cannot mop or vacuum. I was working at a truck stop as a dishwasher, which I can do, as I can stand up straight and wash dishes all day. One of the waitresses came in and asked me to vacuum and mop her station. I told her I physically could not do so. Note: she did not offer me one dime of the $200+ she had made in tips that day, she just expected me to do the work, in addition to my own, for nothing.

She absolutely went "off" on me. "You useless piece of GARBAGE! What are you doing working here if you can't even mop or vacuum?"

Perhaps you are she?

This post is offensive too moderator. Let's remove it too!!!

This whole thread is bigoted. so long.

Is this the email you mention, the one about pay amount is based on how many shoppers are in the area?

@jameschicago wrote:

Based on the email I receive and what I have seen online, I am really depressed. It is not a matter of principle; it is a practical matter. Fees are being cut all over.

I have increased my profit every single year I have been a mystery shopper. Not necessarily by a lot, but by some every year. My after tax profit is roughly what I was making in the IT industry. You wanna talk about fees dropping, that industry is crazy.

If all you're doing is taking base pay shops off the board you're not gonna make any money. I ignore 99% of those and most people should too.

As for the end client knowing how much we're paid. Why should they care? When you hire a lawn care company do you ask them how much they pay their workers? I don't. I couldn't possibly care less. I want the best price for acceptable work. That's what they want too.

@roflwofl wrote:

And I think 95% of the MSCs would probably be delighted to have all mystery shoppers who do it as a hobby and don't need the money rather than "professional mystery shoppers."

That's true for a lot, but I don't think it's anything close to 95%. For instance there is a major gas client who used to have a requirement that 50% of their shops were done by dedicated auditors. (full disclosure I don't know that it was 50%, but I'm fairly certain, I do, however, know there was a percentage) My 2 biggest end clients also have dedicated shoppers and they are very picky about who they are.

Anyone who lumps all seniors into one basket are just as misinformed as someone who lumps all millennials or any other group into one basket. We seniors run the spectrum from retired to employed more than full time, from those who have PHD's to those who never graduated high school and from those who shop daily in the same stores they mystery shop in because they have a high disposable income to those who qualify for only the minimum amount of social security or in some cases none at all. I am reading the thread on tipping in fancier hotels. I wonder how many of the younger mystery shoppers can even afford to tip the amount that many of those who do those shops tip with no reimbursement. I am pretty sure many mystery shoppers earn less than minimum wage, at least the minimum wage in my state.
I for one declare I am a senior, and yes I do not shop for money but I also know how much I can earn on the outside of mystery shopping with my experience and skills and how much I earned before I recently retired. You who think seniors are willing to work for free need to rethink that. Most of us are too savvy to work for a few bucks an hour unless we are desperate for money. We know what we are worth and if we wanted to work for free probably many of us would rather volunteer some where that we could help someone. Those taking jobs paying $3 to $4 are not all seniors and from my point of view not the seniors who do not need the money. If we don't need the money we can afford to be more picky than younger people who do need the money. I doubt many do this for fun...doing this for experiences is a different thing than doing this for fun. As many a mystery shopper of all ages writes getting a $200 meal for a couple of hours of our time is worth a lot in real money...of course to someone who actually needs money this might be very hard to understand. We know the math and the tax situation we are in.

After working as a one call closer for 41+ years. I entered this business in 2003. One of the first posts I read on Volition dealt with decreasing fees; it has continued since that date and I do not think we are at the bottom. As long as people are willing, for whatever reason, to toil for very little, there will be shops to accommodate them. As an example, a few years back Trendsource posted phone assignments for 50 cents. I do not in any manner criticize MSC's are taking advantage of the market, as this IS business and they have no obligation to overpay contractors.

:Lets talk about the experience seniors have after giving 40 years to running a business and the number of things one does in the course of a life. Experience is the key, and why this is so desirable to both the MSC and the senior, who is responsible, knows people and has a wealth of knowledge. Social Security is our money having been paid in while we had our "real" careers, it is not welfare.
I personally have picked up jobs the younger ones that flake need re-doing. Needing money and being young, I have to ask, why can't you find a decent job, if this one is so undesirable to you. Instead of putting others down for reasons you tend to invent, work on yourself, I'd never stay anywhere feeling the way you do about MS'ing. YES SoBroke I'm talking to you. I encourage seniors to shop either for perks and a way to supplement income, and to keep productive and busy. The glass is either half full, or half empty, your choice.

Who is the moderator? Seems to be the Biggest Mystery in the Forum. I see them taking down post and replies at their own discression, which is not how an open forum works. Omnipotent indiscriminately rejection of Topic and replies leaves little room for honest question and replies.
I have asked several questions with ABSOLUTELY no post or response. Why not is another Mystery. So what is judged as a possitive reply, is totally up to the Wizard behind the curtain.

@David Hoppe wrote:

Who is the moderator? Seems to be the Biggest Mystery in the Forum. I see them taking down post and replies at their own discression, which is not how an open forum works. Omnipotent indiscriminately rejection of Topic and replies leaves little room for honest question and replies.
I have asked several questions with ABSOLUTELY no post or response. Why not is another Mystery. So what is judged as a possitive reply, is totally up to the Wizard behind the curtain.

I just checked what I can see of your questions and the ones I see have a lively following. If you asked several questions without a response perhaps it was a question no one knew anything about. Not every question has an answer.

David. the response as to who is moderator of this board is the same as it was when you asked it earlier this week. PM board owner JacobJ, If there is no response to your inquiry, then that is also your answer.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2019 04:10AM by bestofbothworlds.

So it is a Omnipotent monarchy. Will stick with forum discussions and MSC discourse. All power corrupts etc..

There may be several mods. Jacob is board owner - but he doesn't rule the forums with a heavy hand. He's not a "power nut".

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2019 05:45AM by bestofbothworlds.

@David Hoppe wrote:

Who is the moderator? Seems to be the Biggest Mystery in the Forum. I see them taking down post and replies at their own discression, which is not how an open forum works. Omnipotent indiscriminately rejection of Topic and replies leaves little room for honest question and replies.
I have asked several questions with ABSOLUTELY no post or response. Why not is another Mystery. So what is judged as a possitive reply, is totally up to the Wizard behind the curtain.

Jacob Jans is the forum owner and he runs his forum the way he chooses to run it, as I would if I were the forum owner. This is a lightly-moderated forum. There are few rules to follow, and posts and threads are usually moderated only to remove spam, to remove an ICA violation, or to caution posters about making personal attacks or making a massively non-positive contribution. Posts can be reported to the moderator by selecting the exclamation point icon in the bottom right corner of the post. The names of the moderators is a big mystery. Moderators are chosen by Jacob and serve anonymously for an unspecified period of time. That's pretty much all I know, as I am not and have never been, a moderator. But I have moderated other forums, and this forum seems to me to work pretty much like all open forums I have been associated with, with the exception of possibly being a little too lenient. A lot of rude behavior and personal attacks are frequently ignored by moderators in an attempt to adhere too the "light moderation."

I have noticed that the posted base pay for some assignments is lower than it was when I began. I am a relative newbie, and I work with a few companies. I choose not to add many more companies at this time. This information is objective.

This is where the subjective information comes into play: Not all shoppers must abide by the posted base pay figures. They can wait or negotiate for bonuses. They can complete routes and earn more per location. They might find that the base pay is adequate for what feels to them like play. They might need to keep their earnings low in order to meet tax or other financial needs. For example, some earners might lose financial benefits (housing, etc,) if their income passes some threshold. The amount of money that is lost might exceed what they are able to earn consistently. What they gain from sporadic work might cause them to lose benefits which are not replaceable-- if they cannot repeat the earnings enough times or consistently in future. This would trigger a downward financial spiral. Is it better for these people to earn sporadically at maximum mystery shop pay, or might it be better for them to earn consistently at a level that keeps them working and consistently qualified for benefits? What are all their life roles and duties, and what is the relationship between these and the demands of mystery shop work? These are tough questions, and I suppose there are many answers.

Before we chide or go so far as to bash someone for their perceived earnings or choices, we might consider that we do not know what anyone's situation is and how mystery shop earnings might affect lives directly and indirectly That is not our business. Their independent contract business is not our business. Only our business is our business.

I am a senior too and yes, I receive Social Security. I worked from the time I was 18 until I was 65 so I earned that Social Security. I am lucky I also get a pension and contributed the max to my 401 so right now I collect more money each month than when I was working. Why do I mystery shop? By nature, I am not an outgoing person. Yet I have found my voice in this business. This gets me out of my comfort zone. I have become quite a "liar" (making up a husband I don't have or grandchildren I don't have) and have learned to think on my feet quickly. I've done those grocery shopping shops where a person has to ask those dumb questions and don't get embarrassed asking. I have other things going on in my life and try to fit shops in when I can. Those extra bucks are for extras in my life like bingo. I don't care what others make. A person has the right to do as many shops as they want at whatever price that is acceptable to them without others condemning them for what works for them. I guess that is all.

In San Francisco Bay Area, mystery shopping makes no sense at all. You can make $15 an hour working in a coffee shop or a retail store without being stuck in traffic, paying bridge tolls, and spending hours on reports.

sobrike posted < snipped > I also think a high percentage of these people can afford to mystery shop for little or nothing because in reality they live off government entitlement checks like disability and social security checks. What is the true value of data collected from a demographic that is made up largely of unemployed seniors < end snip >

Many seniors who are shoppers do so because, like other shoppers, they need money to live, and they wish to remain independent contributing members of society. Some senior shoppers came from a specialty business background which enhances their ability to perform certain specific shops that require knowledge and detailed reports. Many are route video shoppers who are able to combine their love of travel with a job they also love.

As shoppers and IC, we are free to choose our gigs and assignments, as long as we qualify.

I cannot help but get the impression from your post that you resent the senior shoppers.

Your post is highly offensive to several groups of people. If you don't like whats being offered as pay, im quiet sure you always find another means of income. I myself am a stay at home mom, who does this to help with the smaller exspenses. Daycare is outrageous, and i were to work, i'd basically be doing it to pay for daycare. So before you saddle up on that high horse of yours, understand that you never know what someone's situation in life is. Nobody is forcing you to do this, so you can quit at any time.

The way I see things:

* MSC's are going to try to maximize their profits. One way of doing so is to minimize expenses. They are going to offer as little compensation as they can in order to get their shops done.
* Every one of us has different financial needs and situations. We are going to take jobs that work for us and help us to meet our needs, whatever they are.
* If somebody's needs are met by doing a job for half what I would do it for, that's good for them and the MSC. I can choose to work for less or seek out better-paying opportunities. Either way, it's not my place to tell the other shopper what do/not to do.

All that said, I make no secret about the fact that I shop to bring in extra money to my family. I have a specific interest in maximizing my shopping income while minimizing the time I spend doing it. While I cannot compete for jobs with shoppers who are willing to work for less than me, I can develop skills within the shopping industry (writing narratives, video, etc.) that set me apart from other shoppers so that I can command higher fees.

The other answer to dealing with fees that I find too low is to sign up with more MSC's. If I do so, I have my pick of work with 100 MSC's instead of competing with other shoppers for the work offered by two or three "popular" MSC's. This changes the supply-and-demand metrics to my favor.