1. Forums
  2. Mystery Shopping Discussion

Do you actually ever do it?

June 24, 2019 01:03PM
Despite my other jobs, I am still with several mystery shopping companies.

Occasionally I will get told to "name my price."

I know for a fact that those runs will cost $300-$500 for me to do them based on my other lines of work. As I've argued with schedulers back in the dark ages, my car does not run on free gas and rainbows.

Have you ever given the reasonable (but insane) prices when a scheduler tells you to name your price?
Reply
Log In
x

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

June 24, 2019 02:36PM
If I have to give an 'insane' price I am ready to explain the reasoning as well as ready to have the scheduler move on to their next prospective shopper. I don't need to worry about 'other lines of work' as I have been retired for a long time, but I do need to worry about whether a run will cost me several days of planning before and exhaustion after.
Reply
June 24, 2019 02:43PM
Yes. And sometimes the MSC agrees.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
Reply
June 24, 2019 03:33PM
@MFJohnston wrote:

Yes. And sometimes the MSC agrees.
Speak for yourself...lol

Live consciously....
Reply
June 24, 2019 04:38PM
Sure. I have gotten $200 to $300 for easy shops that were in remote areas. There’s no harm giving the real price that would make it worth your time. You just don’t get to be disappointed if they turn you down.
Reply
June 24, 2019 05:48PM
I do it. I used to do it more. Eventually I learned which MSCs would actually take my offers seriously, and which were just blowing smoke. It's a learning curve. One clue you may be wasting your time is when they add "within reason."
Reply
June 24, 2019 06:43PM
Yes. And sometimes my outrageous offers are accepted.
Reply
June 24, 2019 10:13PM
I know how much I need to do a shop, or most likely a route of shops, and apply accordingly. Generally I will submit on the higher end of what I need in the event the scheduler wants to save face and counter with a bit less. If I don't hear from the scheduler, so be it. If I do, we are in business.
Reply
June 25, 2019 12:04AM
I did that recently when I was asked to do a shop 4 hours away and couldn't even make it to the location until later than the shop was supposed to be done. When I realized the scheduler was serious about needing it done ASAP, I used what I learned here on the forum to determine a reasonable offer. It was over 10x the typical shop fee amount and was turned down, but I didn't feel at all bad about that. I was told someone else came though to do the shop. Meanwhile, this scheduler knows I can be counted on in a pinch if necessary. Still a win.
Reply
June 26, 2019 07:16PM
Depends on if I can get other shops in the area. had a low ball offer for a shop once that I had done on my way to somewhere else. It was eighty miles and I wanted $100 they said last time you took it for less. I said that last time I made over $200 when I was last in the area. She talked me down to $80. plus I got to see some friends that were in the area driving through in an RV.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2019 07:17PM by 2stepps.
Reply
June 28, 2019 09:28PM
Tried it and failed, but with a normal job I am not going to give up my weekends without some serious cash on the table, and trust me 13-18 hour drives is the weekend shot.
Reply
June 28, 2019 09:53PM
I have tried including facts and figures. I have tried mentioning measurable lateness of day and their urgency. But... nothing

In a Pavlovian sense, I was conditioned out of the system. Now, I am on a little happy break ...and they are still struggling to fill some shops...

My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)
Reply
June 29, 2019 03:57AM
I often just take them if I see them sitting a while or do them for $2 or $5 if I can to build goodwill. Schedulers have a near impossible job, so if I can be a nice guy and help, I will. But if it doesn't make sense for me, I'll ask for add'l. Once I was asked to do one in a very remote area and I asked for $100. She couldn't do that, but if I agreed to do 4, she gave me $25 each. That worked for me.
Reply
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login