I haven't had peach melba in a long time. Peach bellini sounds wonderful also.

Thanks, mods! I, for one, value the contributions our senior members make here!

@shoptastic wrote:

Removed

And thanks to whomever flagged that post in the first place.

So I had copied a portion of the offending post on the previous page and it still remains after shoptastic's rude post was removed. At this point, if I remove the portion I copied and pasted, it will make other posts following harder to follow, so I will leave it. Also it serves as a reminder that condescending and disparaging remarks in reference to age are not welcome in the forum. The obvious ones regarding race, gender, etc. are rarely seen here. I was a bit blown away when I read that one.

I absolutely think you should keep it given the past history of the person who made it. So many times she plays the victim and then retaliates with something way worse and then it gets deleted by the mods so no one can see the trouble she starts. Perhaps she'll "get it" someday but It's a shame, really, because this time she seemed better. *sigh*

Hi Kim....-
I would much like to respond to an earlier post of yours on no pay dining mystery shops. You expressed gratitude for the subsidized dinner you had with your mother. You also stated you spent a great deal of time writing the report. I would ask, wouldn't you rather have earned enough in shop fees so you could purchase dinner for you and your mom and not worry about mental notes on food and service? I would. We all manage to undermine ourselves and the value of what we do when we take shops that pay nothing for the work.

She said exactly how she does it. "Little shops in little towns... call on the owner and tell them you are a pro ms and ask how you can be of service... some will take you up on it," Good, old-fashioned cold calling. Anyone who has been in sales has done it at some time or another.

@maryanncostello wrote:

Wouldn't you like to hear from FUNWOMAN to see how she does it?

I absolutely love apartment shops, but I would not accept less than $30 for one, unless it were a drop-in with no call. I have noticed a trend in some targeted apartment shops going for as low as $22.50, and that is completely unreasonable, especially for the amount of work that goes into them.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2019 10:00PM by Cashie.

I rarely see shops for $14 on Field Agent. Mostly are under $10. Some are only $3 and people have been taking them. I think this trend is sad!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2019 02:31PM by Fenicia.

Those that work those low pay shops hurt us all. No doubt about it.

Are you certain that people are taking the jobs for the listed fees? They might negotiate for a different fee. These transactions would not be shown to other shoppers who view the boards.

All of these people are independently operating their own businesses for their own purposes. That is none of our business. You are as free as they are to take the listed fees, negotiate for a different fee, or leave the assignments alone.

Actually, it is my business. I compete with others for contracts with MSCs. It does matter when "Walmart" shoppers cut into other shoppers revenue streams by "low balling".

Actually, only your independent business is your business. As an independent contractor, you make your own arrangements with MSCs. Other independent contractors make their own arrangements with MSCs. You do not know what other independent contractors arrange for themselves; you know what you can see on the message boards that MSCs show to you.

In response to your recent response to kimmiemae: If someone wants a barter, such as a reimbursement only meal, so be it. This might fit well into their overall tax and financial situation, which is not our business. Your desire and apparent demand for all shoppers to fit into your vision of how we all shall work might match your-- and only your-- particular situation. We do not need to work our work in the manner that suits you. We need to work our work in the manner that suits us, even if this does not match your unique vision.

@maryanncostello wrote:

Actually, it is my business. I compete with others for contracts with MSCs. It does matter when "Walmart" shoppers cut into other shoppers revenue streams by "low balling".

@Shop-et-al wrote:

Are you certain that people are taking the jobs for the listed fees? They might negotiate for a different fee. These transactions would not be shown to other shoppers who view the boards.

That's a good point, shopetal, that we wouldn't be shown it if they negotiated for a higher fee.

The only thing I sense is that with Five Guys people might really be taking them at $6.00.

Once they are released, a lot disappear.

I interpret that as people taking them for $6.00. Although, maybe they are immediately negotiating for higher fees and getting htem too? I would have figured the scheduler would rather let them sit to see if anyone takes them.

Just my theory....but I'll never know for sure.

I know shoppers take Five Guys for $6. When new shops are released and I get the email in the morning at 6 am showing they were available, the shops were “no longer available” when I try to self assign by 7 am. I negotiated fees with this MSC many times in the past and I know their help desk does not reply to your request in 1 hour. Many times it take them all day or even next day to get a reply.

@shoptastic wrote:

@Shop-et-al wrote:

Are you certain that people are taking the jobs for the listed fees? They might negotiate for a different fee. These transactions would not be shown to other shoppers who view the boards.

That's a good point, shopetal, that we wouldn't be shown it if they negotiated for a higher fee.

The only thing I sense is that with Five Guys people might really be taking them at $6.00.

Once they are released, a lot disappear.

I interpret that as people taking them for $6.00. Although, maybe they are immediately negotiating for higher fees and getting htem too? I would have figured the scheduler would rather let them sit to see if anyone takes them.

Just my theory....but I'll never know for sure.

Why shouldn't they take them for $6? The report is insanely easy and the food is good. If you like that sort of thing it's a win.

My .2 about taking lunch/dinner shops, we all have to eat, so I'm getting a 30.00 reimbursement and a nice fee,
why on earth would that be a problem for anyone...even getting a burger which you may have gotten on your own is still money you have not spent. Putting someone down for doing their business in perhaps a different way you would do it is none of your business. The beauty of this business is not only to make money, but to have experiences some may not have, let's try and respect that, I know it's asking a lot....perhaps, you'd be better off working 9 to 5 answering phones for an hourly fee (day in and day out).
MAC I'm talking to you.

So, I'll tell ya why it's a problem for me. Mystery shopping is not a hobby but a business. In what business do you stay in business without a revenue stream. Shop fees are my revenue stream.
"I compete with others for contracts with MSCs. It does matter when "Walmart" shoppers cut into other shoppers revenue streams by "low balling".

This entire industry is run very differently from a "normal" business, as in when we had our Real Estate Services business, yes we were out to make money and did. This Mystery shopping is known for low pay, look at who they hire, except for the few that do routes or wait for bonus, which doesn't happen often in an over populated city like Los Angeles where gas, parking fees and distance is the the norm. MSC's don't pay for that, and that makes it time consuming for the shopper. Looking at all sides helps one to not be so critical.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2019 06:42PM by Irene_L.A..

I will state upfront in case not every one knows that I am a senior. I just tried to answer this thread after looking for the insult that happened on page 2 but all I found was a quote from reason B. I have no idea what reason A was.
So as one senior, when I am bored which is not more often than when I was 20 or 30 or 40 years old, in actuality less often, I read the forum....I do not mystery shop because I am bored but instead sit here and get laughs about what some people say or put my two cents in.. My personality has not changed one bit with each birthday...I do not blame or disparage anyone who takes a shop for $3. I do not do them myself. I do not work full time at mystery shopping but any job one has needs to fit the needs of the worker. Those who take those jobs have different needs than I do. If there are no jobs or not enough jobs you feel pay you enough then you need to find something else to do. If I am the one hiring I will get bids on the job. Many people do the same. If I find someone who fits my criteria for being good enough for what my job is and they are willing to do it for less money than someone else I will hire them. If I need someone to roll out my garbage cans once a week and they are willing to do it for $5 I will hire them. Perhaps they live right next door and it will take them 5 minutes. I do not know what their motivation is and I don't care. If I know someone working for little money, including those who work for me, I will make suggestions to them for how they can increase their income. It is up to them to change their life, not up to me. If I need brain surgery I will make sure the low ball person has the skills to do that job.
So there are mystery shop jobs that get filled by people for whatever their reason take them at low rates. There are probably lots of reasons and some actually might be bored. The bored person might be 30. Or 70, or they have to buy some food and $3 will be better than nothing that day, or they have an hour to wait outside a place they dropped their kid off and want to do something. Whatever, what difference does it make.
When I redid my roof last year I got about 5 bids. I did not use the guy with the highest bid because I did not think he was any better than the guy with the 2nd from the lowest bid. I did not feel like I had to support that guy's lifestyle and his need to be a supervisor and pay himself 30% of the job and use the rest to pay people he was probably paying minimum wage to. Instead I hired a company who treated the workers better, hired trained people and kept them on salary and paid them a living wage and took a smaller cut for the company and got a wonderful roof job for $10,000 less. The workers were all happy, had sandwiches and cold drinks delivered every day by the supervisor who was really nice to them. And they all knew what they were doing.
So my question is , if I ran a mystery shop company why would I want to pay someone $50 to do a job I know I can get a competent person to do for less? But knowing what I know from the inside as a shopper I probably would not even put out jobs that were involved for $3! I think $10 is too little for any shop in this city where traffic is a nightmare. But if people took them I would hire them. If those who think it is an insult or the others I hire were taking jobs away from them kept calling me and writing me and telling me I should pay them $50 I would quickly tire of them.
As for volunteering those I know who volunteer do it not because they do not value themselves but because they value those people or the cause they are trying to help. Our lives are not only about $$$. There are other aspects of life.

Added this thought: Instead of complaining about those who take jobs for $3 why not volunteer to do something to help the segment of people who do so because they are in dire straits to get to a place in life where they do not need to work for so little. Then when there are no more people taking the lowball jobs those same people will be your added competition for the higher paying jobs.
Now I have relieved my daily dose of boredom and I am having to work on the million things I have to do as a senior. Bye, see you all later.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2019 07:08PM by sandyf.

Irene LA
Huh???

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2019 07:43PM by maryanncostello.

Oh. I see. That is a new angle. You imply that you own some revenue streams.

@maryanncostello wrote:

Actually, it is my business. I compete with others for contracts with MSCs. It does matter when "Walmart" shoppers cut into other shoppers revenue streams by "low balling".

Sandyf-
You have many words to say only "let the buyer beware" or "blame the victim". I find neither compelling arguments. If you hold that a shopper takes $3.00 to have grocery money when she wouldn't otherwise, think of what she could do with $30 in her grocery budget.
I do not have "inside information" on the MSCs operation. But, it seems they do well enough and it is obvious to me they can increase their fees for schedulers and shoppers and still have a generous profit margin. MSC greed hurts us all. Especially the shoppers because we absorb all the expense of conducting the shop on location.

Many shoppers have figured out how to spread the costs over multiple options: additional shops, audits, merchandising tasks, melding personal and business stops around town or around the country, etc. I know first hand that it is not always possible to put together profitable routes; in those situations, additional money is warranted. Shoppers have a duty-- imho-- to minimize their costs of performing shops and not overcharge the MSCs. MSCs are not cash cows for inefficient or greedy shoppers. OTOH, MSCs have a duty-- imho-- to provide additional money when shopper costs cannot be spread due to limited time, long distance, last-minute situations, etc.

Not everyone seeks to use this industry as a major revenue source. For whatever reason, they do not want or need to do that. Why do some shoppers expect that all shoppers must operate like people who are relying on this industry for major revenue?

And when did some people start to believe that it is okay for some shoppers to bash boundaries of decency and contract law in order to try to compel other independent shoppers to perform independent work according to their unrelated standards? Independent means no third or unrelated parties. For legal and other reasons, this matters.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2019 07:55PM by Shop-et-al.

The word "hobby" in my senior mind means playing golf, tennis, cards, reading etc., not working, which is what Mystery Shopping is, work.

Shop et al-
You have lots of imho.
"Why do some shoppers expect that all shoppers must operate like people who are relying on this industry for major revenue? " The answer, this is work, work should be paid in line with the level of effort and always/always cover costs. This is a comment on your "decency and contract law" as well. People who work should be respected and paid in line with.......
Respectfully,
MAC

Hi Irene- Couldn't agree with you more.

@maryanncostello wrote:

Sandyf-
You have many words to say only "let the buyer beware" or "blame the victim". I find neither compelling arguments. If you hold that a shopper takes $3.00 to have grocery money when she wouldn't otherwise, think of what she could do with $30 in her grocery budget.
I do not have "inside information" on the MSCs operation. But, it seems they do well enough and it is obvious to me they can increase their fees for schedulers and shoppers and still have a generous profit margin. MSC greed hurts us all. Especially the shoppers because we absorb all the expense of conducting the shop on location.

Can you be more specific as to who is blaming the victim...is it me or you?. And if so, who is the victim you are talking about?
I propose that all people in this country move to big cities. Then there would be no retail or mystery shops in places difficult to get to or with not enough shoppers. Then the msc would not have to pay big bucks to get those shops done and there would be more money per shop available for us who live in cities...which of course would be everybody. The rest of the country can be used for recreational purposes. Robots can grow the crops. And we can all have space to do our hobbies out in the fresh air and beautiful pristine countryside.

At my age of 76, I am not far from being a senior senior, working for money that is acceptable, for a reimbursement I desire and/or to defray non-shopping expenses. I do, though, respect there are other folks with different reasons for being in this business. Said reasons have zero effect upon and in no manner concern me, as I am a 100% free market advocate. It is my opinion that in business, the jobs will seek their own level. If there are workers who decide to toil for very little money, I am thankful to not be in that position.

I stated in an earlier post that many shoppers may not know better.

I used the phrase "financially illiterate" not as a way to disparage others - I regret that choice of words - but as a literal descriptor. I said that I, myself, did not know better early on either.

I've said it many times before, but to repeat: new shoppers MUST understand mileage. It's approximately .50 cents per mile in mileage costs to drive out for a shop. The IRS rate for 2019 is .58. They use an "average" car and calculate what it costs to operate that car, including:

insurance
maintenance
wear and tear
gasoline
depreciation and replacement cost

It comes out to about .50/mile. A 10-mile round-trip shop will cost you about $10.00 in mileage alone. That's not even including time it took to prepare for the shop (study), driving time, shop time, and report time.

If one doesn't understand the costs of doing business, he or she may be losing money. And, if they are actually one of those who desperately needs it, they could be falling into a "loan-like trap." That's something I've talked about before as well. Someone could get stuck in these jobs "forever." I doubt anyone would fail to realize they're losing money for that long of a time, but even a year could really hurt in terms of long-term purposes.

So, part of the causes could be LITERAL IGNORANCE.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2019 09:17PM by shoptastic.