delete



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2019 12:58AM by Irene_L.A..

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Niner...darn, I'd like to know your thoughts...kind of like someone on computer dating wanting to know how much one makes before agreeing for a date......

Like to know my thoughts on what?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2019 12:07AM by Niner.

Delete

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2019 12:06AM by Niner.

@Niner wrote:

[quote=Irene_
Forget it....

Live consciously....

@colleeny25

Ever heard of being uncouth? I answer uncouth questions with a vague, equal response, eg:

Q: How much do you make?
A:As an IC mystery shopper, as much or as little as I desire.

Q: Where do you live?
A:In the town of Nunya, in the state of Business.

Q: How old are you?
A: Old enough to know better.

Q: Who do you vote for?
A: Mr. Nunya Business

Q: What religion do you associate with?
A: ..at this point, you can fill in the blank.

Good luck.

Back in the day it wasn't polite to ask what people are making.

These days if you aren't asking what people are making you are being underpaid for not doing your research.

@JohnieQ wrote:

Back in the day it wasn't polite to ask what people are making.

These days if you aren't asking what people are making you are being underpaid for not doing your research.

Those of us who were raised back in the day are still alive and have an opinion on what is considered rude or not.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2019 12:51AM by nslinhar.

$3-5k per month after expenses.

This might not make a difference for some of you, but please forgive me. The intention was not for my post to appear like I was asking for the exact dollar amount of what you make. My question was to have the word ABOUT in it and to read as I'm just curious about how much others make a week and how many shops or how much time do you put in to make that? If you notice in my post after that I said I was ok if I made $100 a week and then I was vague after that of how much more I have made. There were no dollar amounts. I wasn't asking for anyone to reply with I make $562.33 a week. If I see posts that I do not agree with, I move along and don't say anything. It's really easy. If you have an issue with a post, thst doesn't mean that everyone else does.

I posted that question after 11pm last night after finishing my reports of the shops I did after work.
I have had an exhausting week. I work a more than full time job, I had my biggest week in shopping and reporting, most nights I slept 5 hours or less, Wednesday night I slept 2, we had an Uncle take his own life, I have my own grief and a devastated Husband. So I apologize for missing a word or wording my question in a way that you personally do not agree with.

@JohnieQ wrote:

Back in the day it wasn't polite to ask what people are making.

These days if you aren't asking what people are making you are being underpaid for not doing your research.

Not talking about money is a sure way to make sure more people don't ask for more. I wonder who decided it was impolite?

@colleeny25 wrote:

I posted that question after 11pm last night after finishing my reports of the shops I did after work.
I have had an exhausting week. I work a more than full time job, I had my biggest week in shopping and reporting, most nights I slept 5 hours or less, Wednesday night I slept 2, we had an Uncle take his own life, I have my own grief and a devastated Husband. So I apologize for missing a word or wording my question in a way that you personally do not agree with.

I'm sorry. That's a really rough week.

@1cent wrote:

Not talking about money is a sure way to make sure more people don't ask for more.

If I'm in a situation where my pay is not discussed by a possible source of income, I'm going to question whether or not I'll be on their payroll. I'll bring it up in a heartbeat. But remember, I'm one of those wise people from "back in the day ". Up front and on the table. Snowflakes be damned.

@1cent wrote:

I wonder who decided it was impolite?

My great-grandmother.

I don’t find the question rude so I’m happy to answer.

I make about $800 a month doing about 4-6 shops per month. I do resorts and hotels mostly and because of the nature of the shops I do “one” shop can take an entire weekend.

I work FT in another job so this is a side hustle for me. I’m a lifestyle shopper who evaluates for the lifestyle enhancement.

I was a FT shopper between 2005-2008. I worked 40 hours a week and made about $50k a year. But I lived in a rural area so the only shops available then I had to travel for. Also video was just starting and I didn’t (and still don’t) video shop.

1) All these income reports are useless unless someone adds whether they're counting gross income or net income after expenses. And do their expenses include a $-per-mile deduction? You can easily lose money if you use the IRS mileage rate of $0.58 per mile.
2) As for privacy, these discussions are anonymous. if someone can trace your forum user name to your real identity, you need to change your profile. If you don't know why, bless your heart. (1 hint: A company can retaliate if you complain about it.)

My report is net income after expenses. The shops I do typically have expenses paid separate from the fee (including mileage to/from the airport).

I should also clarify that my $50K from FT work in 2005-2008 was not just shopping - it was MS industry work - I was also an editor and I taught classes on MS (I was paid - not a volunteer).

@1cent wrote:

@JohnieQ wrote:

Back in the day it wasn't polite to ask what people are making.

These days if you aren't asking what people are making you are being underpaid for not doing your research.

Not talking about money is a sure way to make sure more people don't ask for more. I wonder who decided it was impolite?

This is about manners, have they changed?

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

@1cent wrote:

@JohnieQ wrote:

Back in the day it wasn't polite to ask what people are making.

These days if you aren't asking what people are making you are being underpaid for not doing your research.

Not talking about money is a sure way to make sure more people don't ask for more. I wonder who decided it was impolite?

This is about manners, have they changed?

I would say that it has never actually been about manners. That's a bigger discussion. Still, I don't think manners lets you dictate my values. The prohibition against talking about money is not universal.

Talking about money is something we do often, telling what one makes is a cat of another color.....no harm done, whoever didn't want to give out that info., didn't....case closed.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Talking about money is something we do often, telling what one makes is a cat of another color.....no harm done, whoever didn't want to give out that info., didn't....case closed.

Thanks, your honor? Or...what?

Some folks jumped on this thread just to lecture about the rudeness of the question. Better manners might have kept them out of it. No one needs to exercise authority here except over themselves.

I didn't find the question offending. I can also see how many might not want to answer, including myself. On a practical note, a few hours reading through older threads will probably provide the context you are seeking in regards to how you compare to others. Keep in mind any time someone says something like, "I made $1,000 last month," that number is completely meaningless. Everyone calculates how much they make differently. One person might be talking about total fees and reimbursements, while another is talking about cash profits after costs.. And everyone calculates costs differently.

I didn't find the question rude. I just think it was a curious question based on Mystery Shopping that's all. I would never answer the question anyway, who cares.

@AuditAce wrote:

All these income reports are useless unless someone adds whether they're counting gross income or net income after expenses. And do their expenses include a $-per-mile deduction? You can easily lose money if you use the IRS mileage rate of $0.58 per mile.

I feel like I'm probably repeating a post from the last discussion on income, but considering the above, the fact that it's very difficult to accurately calculate expenses in the industry, the varying costs of living and the fact that the job itself can alter your lifestyle expenses, a number is not going to be helpful for most people.

Isn't the question @colleeny25 really asking, "Is it worth it?....and can it be successfully done F/T without destroying my sanity/marriage/lifestyle/etc.?"

And the frustrating answer is that it's different for everyone. $50k for some is a lot of money, and for others it's not enough to live on. $50k is also probably only achievable if you are on the road at least part time, so this really becomes about lifestyle choices.

For me...F/T shopping wasn't a good lifestyle. I know it is for others. Same with scheduling and editing. Others are OK to do it for a living, but not me. I also have a career outside of MSing and so doing it as piece work on the side creates the best lifestyle for me. If you live in an urban area with good employment opportunities, that's always going to be my recommendation for how to make MSing work. If you are a stay-at-home parent in a rural area, it's going to work differently. If you are retired, or just out of college, it's going to work differently.

The best advice I can give to discern the lifestyle you want for yourself, and then go about creating it, seeing how MSing can fit into that.

It's also so contingent on competition in your area, how many shops are available, time of month or year, types of shops you like or want to do, distance you will drive for shops, etc. Too many variables.

Age is important. I am too old for the plenteous compliance shops which can be completed as routes and garner the big bucks.

Most forum members are too old for those shops.

OP...Had you asked what I made years ago when starting if I had answered. it would have been much different than today as there is an age restriction on many jobs including upscale retail where I made most of my money.
Things in this industry change, so looking to make a monthly amount is not realistic. Saying you have been shopping you know the pay and what it requires for you to bring home your desired amount. I work 80% for lifestyle. enjoying my lunch/dinner's out and an occasional hotel, and the other 20% is for me.
I am sorry for your loss and troubles, again life happens.

I aim for a minimum of $800 per month in fees, reimbursements not included. I usually go over it and sometimes by a lot. If I'm under, it's usually because I've been away, sick, injured or just a plain ole' bad month. I don't do video, apartments or travel to far off places, but I do route shop every time I leave the house.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Most forum members are too old for those shops.

Too old for which shops? You lost me.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

Age is important. I am too old for the plenteous compliance shops which can be completed as routes and garner the big bucks.

@SoCalMama wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Most forum members are too old for those shops.

Too old for which shops? You lost me.

I no longer can do Reality Check's upscale Beverly Hills shops and a couple others, a dinner house which wants a younger demographic, cut off age is 55.