Mystery Shopping Profit

We have had all kinds of threads about earnings and per hour. If this information helps anyone, here it is. I will update as I calculate the other months.

After putting this on a spreadsheet:
26 total shops, working full time
May '19
Cash- $223.95
Reimbursements- $758.82
Total- $982.77

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@Niner wrote:

We have had all kinds of threads about earnings and per hour. If this information helps anyone, here it is. I will update as I calculate the other months.

After putting this on a spreadsheet:
26 total shops, working full time
May '19
Cash- $223.95
Reimbursements- $758.82
Total- $982.77

Don't forget to subtract .58 cents (2019 IRS rate) for every mile you drive as your mileage loss (cost of owning a car: gas; insurance; maintenance; and depreciation/replacement cost).

Profits are: gross earnings - costs of business operation

I understand that, thank you for the reminder though. I get very good gas mileage using a reliable car, so I am not too worried (we get 60 to 100 mpg). Our last version of this car has close to 500k miles!

Since actual dollar figures seem taboo and I do not mind sharing, I was hoping someone new would find this useful.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2019 08:40PM by Niner.

I am curious about reimbursements. Were most of yours for things you would otherwise have paid for routinely, like: fuel, groceries, haircare, oil changes, meals that you would otherwise have paid for? Or were most of those items lifestyle enhancements rather than ordinary expenses?

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

So for two pretty heavy "lifestyle enhancement months" here are my numbers for May and June 2019 following the format

May 2019
6 shops (still have that FT job)
Cash: 1005
Reimbursements $8858.73

June 2019
8 shops (I have a FT job)
Cash: $1950
Reimbursements: $7886.61

I would never total those because I would never have bought most of those things that I am getting reimbursed for as they are all flights, hotel rooms, dining, bar, spa, etc. However, as I think Steve pointed out - that while we are shopping for "lifestyle enhancement" - and you cannot count the reimbursements on a dollar for dollar basis, a high reimbursement month like this means my general operating budget and discretionary spending is quite a bit lower than it is without the shops (as I don't have to buy as many groceries, etc.).

6 shops, $1000; 8 shops $2000? Clearly I am doing the wrong shops.

@MickeyB wrote:

So for two pretty heavy "lifestyle enhancement months" here are my numbers for May and June 2019 following the format

May 2019
6 shops (still have that FT job)
Cash: 1005
Reimbursements $8858.73

June 2019
8 shops (I have a FT job)
Cash: $1950
Reimbursements: $7886.61

I would never total those because I would never have bought most of those things that I am getting reimbursed for as they are all flights, hotel rooms, dining, bar, spa, etc. However, as I think Steve pointed out - that while we are shopping for "lifestyle enhancement" - and you cannot count the reimbursements on a dollar for dollar basis, a high reimbursement month like this means my general operating budget and discretionary spending is quite a bit lower than it is without the shops (as I don't have to buy as many groceries, etc.).

@walesmaven wrote:

I am curious about reimbursements. Were most of yours for things you would otherwise have paid for routinely, like: fuel, groceries, haircare, oil changes, meals that you would otherwise have paid for? Or were most of those items lifestyle enhancements rather than ordinary expenses?

I will look when I get home. From what I remember, there was one pair of shoes, no supermarkets, the rest were likely restaurants. We typically do not eat out much, at most once a week, and Chili's is typically as fancy as it gets.

@MickeyB wrote:

So for two pretty heavy "lifestyle enhancement months" here are my numbers for May and June 2019 following the format

May 2019
6 shops (still have that FT job)
Cash: 1005
Reimbursements $8858.73

June 2019
8 shops (I have a FT job)
Cash: $1950
Reimbursements: $7886.61

I would never total those because I would never have bought most of those things that I am getting reimbursed for as they are all flights, hotel rooms, dining, bar, spa, etc. However, as I think Steve pointed out - that while we are shopping for "lifestyle enhancement" - and you cannot count the reimbursements on a dollar for dollar basis, a high reimbursement month like this means my general operating budget and discretionary spending is quite a bit lower than it is without the shops (as I don't have to buy as many groceries, etc.).

You are goals. I am hoping to get to this level when we are retired, or possibly sooner over the summer. Nice!

@panama18 wrote:

6 shops, $1000; 8 shops $2000? Clearly I am doing the wrong shops.

The vast majority of these are overnight shops or full day "packages" of shops that I just count as "one" shop but it really is 10-15 shops for one client (think how a hotel has a pool shop, a bar shop, a breakfast shop, a guestroom shop, etc.).

The only exception was in June one of those shops (of the 8) was for Amusement Advantage where all I got was a day out with my kid at a amusement venue - no cash at all, but worth it for just the sheer fun of it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2019 09:30PM by MickeyB.

@panama18 wrote:

6 shops, $1000; 8 shops $2000? Clearly I am doing the wrong shops.

I do some of the same shops that MickeyB does.

You need to realize that both of us have full-time employment. (That’s why she wrote that twice.)

Averaging $1500/month in fees is $18,000 a year. That’s not nearly enough to live on. How do you suppose that we can float $8,000 to $10,000 a month on our credit cards?

I just did 1 shop, paying $300 with reimbursements of around $1000 because I had no airfare.

I will do the same shop at a different property next month for $300 with about a $3000 reimbursement.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2019 12:10AM by SoCalMama.

May:
3 shops
$220 payment
$10 reimbursements

June:
38 shops
$2898 payment
$40 reimbursements
$639.50 shop-related casino winnings

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

I can only dream of this type of shop, as I don't have the resources to qualify.

May shops - about 20. Same for June. Dollars coming in during July -- well, MF almost didn't arrive until July, but it WAS actually paid in June.....$740 from one...$225 from another; .$300 from
a third....$110 for a bank shop (but I did that shop in May, not June)...one outlier from April for $50....about $700 for my major MSC, and that puts me at about (roughly -- and I mean very roughly) $2,000.

I will never qualify for upper-tier shops. When I was 30, and traveled Europe and shopped Saks and Harrods and Hermes...yeah, I would have. But not now.

You guys make me feel....like a slacker.

@ceasesmith I think we all go through ups and downs with what we can earn. At times in my life, I wouldn't think twice about a $1000 reimbursement shop, I'd just do it. Now, mystery shopping is my biggest source of income and can't really tie up that much money for an extended period of time. However, I look forward to moving after the summer and being in a whole new realm of the shopper world, where there are shops for miles and miles and miles. I will do much better there and will have a bigger "bank" to work with because I'll be working my butt off.

Edited to say through and not throw lol

Shopping the South Jersey Shore

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2019 12:26AM by Jenny Cassada.

@panama18 LOL right!!! I thought the same thing. $1000 in fees from 6 shops?! Sign me up!!!

WOW you guys are bringing in about $1000-$3000 just in fees per month. I can't even imagine!! I'm about where the OP is. About $250 in fees and about $500 in reimbursements. I really hope to make more fees this month! My goal is $500 then maybe I'll hit $1000 eventually. I need more bonused shops. I'm clearly doing something wrong for sure.

@Kristylynnr You're not doing anything wrong. A lot of shoppers have worked for years for these kinds of shops where you can get major reimbursements and fees. When you get a scheduler(s) that knows how good you are and can count on you, you will can get your premium assignments also. Think about those companies where you basically are just saying that you're a breathing entity before you can self assign shops and then think about ones where you have to apply for top jobs and you get one here and there. That is where I find the prime jobs, though sadly I can't do too many because of distance, but they're there. Keep on trucking, if you're good, you'll get there!

Shopping the South Jersey Shore

@Jenny Cassada That made me feel so much better! I really felt like I was slacking seeing them list their numbers lol. I'll get there in time, thanks

What, exactly is reimbursed for $1000 and more? If it is clothing, lodging, food, or cosmetics, meh. However............. if this is for art supplies, nature photography, nature commentary, or wilderness gear, I would perk up my little ears and wait for more information.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

It seems that all of my reimbursements are for restaurants. I will at times get reimbursed for an oil change or for a pair of shoes. The grocery shops are rare where I am. We will be going to a hotel this month also.

I have not seen art supply reimbursement, but I did see a free mall gift card that you could probably use for art supplies or wilderness gear. There was a gun shop with a $50 reimbursement that probably would have outdoor gear.

You can speed up the process, if you want. I hit $2,000 in my second or third month.There are folks on this board who have been doing this a long time. I figured out who they were and really listened to them. I asked (likely annoying) questions. I challenged their ideas (in a questioning way so as to learn). And, I learned a lot very quickly. Those who were most helpful to me: @bgriffin; @walesmaven; @LisaSTL; @SoCalMama; @JASFLALMT... I got lots of advice from all of them through this board - mostly open postings. I adopted much of it and personalized it to my abilities and needs.

Can you do more than you are? I have no idea - I don't know what you do or do not do. However...
1) Have you signed up with over 100 MSC's? If you don't sign up with large number of companies, you won't know what opportunities are there for you.
2) Are you willing to travel a little? (Just day trips can be huge.)
3) Will you do work others don't want - think: Narratives.
4) Have you considered video?
5) Do you reliably do outstanding work?
6) Are you willing to pursue opportunities, rather than have them just come to you?

@Kristylynnr wrote:

@Jenny Cassada That made me feel so much better! I really felt like I was slacking seeing them list their numbers lol. I'll get there in time, thanks

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2019 05:30AM by MFJohnston.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

What, exactly is reimbursed for $1000 and more? If it is clothing, lodging, food, or cosmetics, meh. However............. if this is for art supplies, nature photography, nature commentary, or wilderness gear, I would perk up my little ears and wait for more information.

For me - none of the above. All of my reimbursements are airfare, car rental, gas, airport parking, hotel, restaurants, bars, spas, and gift shops in resorts.

@MFJohnston well that is definitely something to think about. I can tell you that I can't answer yes to all of your questions. I'm close to 100 companies but not quite there. I have never considered video just because I didn't think I was "at the level" yet if I'm being honest. I've also never considered traveling because of mileage, gas and just not thinking I'm at that level yet but maybe I should start. I love road trips so maybe this would be both pleasure and work. I'd really have to plan this out though. Hmmm you gave me a lot to think about.

@MickeyB wrote:

@Shop-et-al wrote:

What, exactly is reimbursed for $1000 and more? If it is clothing, lodging, food, or cosmetics, meh. However............. if this is for art supplies, nature photography, nature commentary, or wilderness gear, I would perk up my little ears and wait for more information.

For me - none of the above. All of my reimbursements are airfare, car rental, gas, airport parking, hotel, restaurants, bars, spas, and gift shops in resorts.

That's what we are going for also. I'm happy with the results of one year into this though. We have two applications pending for what would be our first "nice" hotel shop. I have completed at least 30 fine dining shops with this MSC, so I am hoping to get one hotel shop this summer. We will be completing a more normal hotel shop mid month for another MSC, which is a start.

Thank you so much! Resorts, gift shops, restaurants, aaaaahhh GAH! That is too much like work. My former temporary work. *shudders* That would be like a busman's holiday (except for the Maldives and those kinds of places. I worked in slightly lesser locations.). The airfare reimbursement sounds like an excellent and decent way to treat a traveling shopper.

So far, I earned enough from unrelated tasks to purchase my own art supplies. I can afford to go a little way into nature, but not very far. 'S okay...

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2019 02:18PM by Shop-et-al.

@Kristylynnr and anyone else who doesn't think they are at a needed "level". You don't know until you try. I would sign up for one of those shops that you think is above your level and do your best. I'd say do something close to home so that there aren't huge travel expenses and just do your best. That goes a long way. Everyone had to get their feet wet at some point. Some people have done 100 FF shops and think a fine dining is the next step. For many, it is, but it is a different animal and needs to be treated that way. You never know until you find out!

Shopping the South Jersey Shore

@Jenny Cassada That is very true. I signed up for my very first bank shop today. These types of shops literally terrify me. The pays not that good ($15) but its an easy shop so I figure its a good start! I'm just proud of myself for signing up for it because this is not a shop I would have ever signed up for before.

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