Hello rofkwifk-
My read of shoptastic is a little different than yours. My read is she is saying that those that accept such small fees-or no fee depress the earning potential of those of us who rely on mystery shopping for income. Also, I am a senior citizen and find outside employment farcical. On paper age discrimination is illegal. That’s the same “paper” they use to justify their exclusion of older people. It’s a game. That said, I need to generate the best cash flow I can.
I wish I could complete shops as efficiently as BirdyC wrote.
@BirdyC wrote:
"But why someone would take a fee-only job of, say, $8 or $10 that involves 15 minutes or more of prep time, travel time, 20 or 25 minutes on site (or more, depending on the interaction), and another 20 to 30 minutes of reporting time is a little mystifying. It's a money-losing proposition. Unless those shops are part of a route and you can pare that time in half."
I wrote earlier-
"I don't find mystery shopping for fun. I don't accept mystery shops, et.al., as a charity gig. Why do marketing companies believe otherwise? I separate each shop into 1. review and research, 2. fieldwork, 3. report preparation and writing. Each step requires time and most travel. I find if I'm completing a $12 shop for one company then I am not looking for or completing another shop that pays much more. When one sacrifices one shop ($12) for another shop ($12+) the + is called opportunity cost.
The reason I mystery shop is simple, I'm old(er) and my availability to work outside the home is limited. Also, I want the extra money. What I don't want is to be taken advantage of, ..."
Each step takes considerably more time that Birdy suggests. I have to go or I would finish my thoughts.
Post removed. No personal attacks or insults. Add a positive contribution.