Shopper Bob-
Congratulations on your "I got mine" attitude. Otherwise stated, "Let them eat cake."

Hi Shoptastic-
I can only add- other variable costs like printing and computer or smartphone expenses.

Have you ever noticed that people are terrified of being considered "illiterate" but brag and say "Oh, I can't do math." Why is innumeracy something to brag about?

Sandyf
In a way, the victim could be both of us. But I was referring to the "royal" we of shoppers.

MAC states--Shopper Bob-
Congratulations on your "I got mine" attitude. Otherwise stated, "Let them eat cake."

Bob's comment--I have not the slightest idea how you formed that opinion of me. I will state that, as one who has been self-employed for almost 56 years, I can more easily relate to business than one who has, as do many shoppers, an employee mentality. As I have preciously posted, the number one concern of any MSC should be to increase shareholder equity. That is not accomplished by over payment to contractors.

I agree that each person must take into account the costs and figure out how to figure them out. And that is why I appreciate all those of you who volunteer your time to write into this forum for free, no pay, to let others know how to make more income in this business. And those same people who need to learn how to run their financial lives and business should take into account the other expenses they have. Are they bundling things together in even a city route so as not to drive all over town every day? Are they leaving the house to earn a small amount and immediately stopping at Starbucks, not on a shop, and spending the earnings of their first shop before they even get on the road? Then treating themselves to a $12+ lunch plus tip because they are working. Are they overdrawing their accounts constantly and paying big bucks in fees? Are they only considering fees when looking at a shop or using reimbursements to purchase fancy extra treats when they are not saving enough to pay the bills or afford a less gas guzzling car? People I know who do this are not at the bottom of the earnings scale. Most of them earn a nice living but are always behind financially.

@maryanncostello wrote:

Hi Shoptastic-
I can only add- other variable costs like printing and computer or smartphone expenses.

I was really bad with printing the first....4-5 months or so? of ms-ing. I printed all guidelines. I printed that massive Remington Evaluations handbook. OMG! I literally had stacks of Steak-N-Shake, Sonic, Kroger, etc. forms that were empty and ready for me to fill out.

I realized after about half a year that I could just memorize the guidelines. Once you do them enough, you really do internalize the shops and I've NEVER printed again since. Not once.

Even with new shops, I look at them online and take notes on a small index card if need be. I don't use my phone for shops either, so that's one where I don't have costs. I used to, but I stopped my data plan and don't do shops using a phone anymore.

It's just mileage at this point for me.

If anyone wants a bunch empty, unused Steak-N-Shake, Papa John's BWW, etc. forms, let me know. I have stacks (oh.....the lost printing page money!) that I never got around to using. I use them as scrap paper now and still have a ton left.

@maryanncostello wrote:

Hi Shoptastic-
I can only add- other variable costs like printing and computer or smartphone expenses.

MAC,

I forgot to add that you may want to look into routing strategy. I see from your name that you are 6 months "old" on the forum and if you're new in the industry, I think searching (or, asking a Q in the "New Shoppers" section) for routing discussion could be very helpful to you.

Aside from mileage, routing was the biggest thing I learned that improved my profits as a newbie.

I didn't mind, looking back, losing money on some shops early on from lack of education about mileage. I wouldn't have felt comfortable doing more than one shop a day. I was scared to do these and always felt I could mess up or be outed. I saw those money losing shops early on as just getting experience. Actually, some were break even. But, I probably lost money for a month or two more than needed - due to ignorance - as I got enough experience after month three of four.

Once I understood mileage and routing - and was experienced enough to do several shops a day - then I started putting together profitable routes.

Again, if you're new, you may want to research this or ask about it. GOOD LUCK. Don't be afraid to ask "dumb" questions, as everyone who first starts is often confused by this industry. It's definitely not like other fields.

It's mostly "side gig" money, but few a select few can be an actual main income.

Technically, some of the easy peasy tasks are work. I have not encountered mystery shopping tasks which involve hazards or risks to life and limb. Thus, no hazard pay. This does not raise a fee. Easy and relatively safe tasks do not generate high fees. Lengthy assignments and hazardous activities should trigger higher fees.

Higher payments should only reflect unique shopper costs which vary from shopper to shopper: travel time, ease of adding additional work or impossibility of doing so, skills and efficiencies, etc.

One fee does not fit all. The shop fee match the shop task. Everyone's payments may vary due to their individual circumstances. If I can walk to a location in less time than it takes you to drive to the same location, my cost is lower than yours. Based solely upon this factor, my payment could rightly be lower than yours for the same shop because my cost to perform the shop is lower than yours. I would not mind this condition.

@maryanncostello wrote:

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

Hello-
1. I am self-employed for over 30 years and an MBA on my wall.
2. I have not tried route shops. Given the reporting requirement, I am not comfortable with more than 3 shops a day and that is a stretch. I prefer only a single shop in a day.
3. My BSBA is Business with Accounting Major and used for 20 years of financial auditing. I believe I understand the elements of profit/loss
4. I am old enough to be uncomfortable without paper.
5. I've been shopping over two years. Came here to find comments about MSCs.

Maybe as someone who hasn't tried routing you should stop looking down on people until you figure it out. I am doing a short route today, but I'm cramming 12 shops into it. Most of them will be reported on my phone . It's hilarious that the ones looking down on seniors don't use their phones to maximize profit and are printing out reams of paper.
So my short route which will come to 60 miles and into which i will cram 10 $10 and 1 $25 + 1 $40 gas station will net me a profit of $135 after I subtract 0.50 per mile. The gas will be reimbursed so that is not a factor. The 10 $10 shops take not more than 10 minutes each with about 10 minutes for reporting. Wow that's a lot of 10's!

And shhhhh here's a secret. My destination is somewhere I wanted to go anyway to have lunch with a friend. Wow I'm such a dummy.