Traveling mystery shoppers?

Hi, I have been lurking on this forum awhile, I just never post but I have a question. Is there anyone here who mystery shops in different states?

I work full time for an airline so I get free travel. I would like to do mystery shops around the country. Problem is I only get emails for shops within my immediate area. Is there a non time consuming way for me to get shop offers from anywhere in the U.S.?

Thank you

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You should be doing airport shops if you arent already doing them!

Sure. On some MSCs, it's just a change to your profile. On aggregate boards, you can look outside your area (PrestoInstaMaps is one I use all the time). On other MSCs' websites, you can merely change your search parameters.

On still others, develop a relationship with schedulers, and make sure you let them know the areas you can shop. For example, MarketForce schedulers schedule anywhere in the country -- so if they know you'll shop a specific area, they'll call you.

As for getting shop offers just for your area, what's your secret? I've read literally hundreds of complaints "Why do I keep getting shop offers for shops hundreds of miles away from where I live?"

Hi,

Are you looking for a travel buddy?

@JASFLALMT wrote:

You should be doing airport shops if you arent already doing them!

Yes I do them often

Rather than waiting for offers, find the companies you like to work for and then search the sites areas you are traveling to. By the time shops hit an email offer, many of the good ones are gone...

@ceasesmith wrote:

Sure. On some MSCs, it's just a change to your profile. On aggregate boards, you can look outside your area (PrestoInstaMaps is one I use all the time). On other MSCs' websites, you can merely change your search parameters.

On still others, develop a relationship with schedulers, and make sure you let them know the areas you can shop. For example, MarketForce schedulers schedule anywhere in the country -- so if they know you'll shop a specific area, they'll call you.

As for getting shop offers just for your area, what's your secret? I've read literally hundreds of complaints "Why do I keep getting shop offers for shops hundreds of miles away from where I live?"

Well, I knoow you can put in different area codes but from what i see there is a limit (i wanna say 6?) i just want to make the search parameters anywhere in usa.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Rather than waiting for offers, find the companies you like to work for and then search the sites areas you are traveling to. By the time shops hit an email offer, many of the good ones are gone...

I have no favorite company though. I just wait for emails because its less time consuming ya know? Usually if it comes by email then it has a bonus. Not always but usually.

But thats my question, I do not want to go to each companies website. It takes too much time.

@MrDetails wrote:

I do not want to go to each companies website. It takes too much time.

I hear you, but in my experience, sorting through the barrage of emails for all shops everywhere is going to be WAY more time consuming that targeting a few choice MSCs and checking their sites. I have my browser set for automatic log-in and check check my favorite 5 companies in 2-3 minutes if I am planning a trip somewhere.

The most time consuming part is figuring out your favorite companies. It took me about 10 years to really narrow that list down.

I agree with that. I do have 3-6 company websites I will check AFTER I determine I'm going to be in a specific place at a specific time.

MrDetails, as each MSC has its own website, I don't see how you can make the search parameter "the entire USA" across the board.

And obviously, you’re not going to be everywhere, right? Good chunks of the country are away from airports.

What I do when I travel is do a ZIP search on my favorite MSC boards. It’ll usually get enough to fill my time. After a while, the company will notice and send unadvertised shops in areas that I have visited.

If you like shopping for any of the Sassie companies, you can search by zip code and number of miles. That may be of some help.

I have a limit of 15 miles for most of my msc. I am only signed up with about 25 and I get well over 100 emails per day. Many of my fave companies rarely email so those 100+ are really concentrated in perhaps 12 msc. The biggest bonus, if ever, is $2. That is in Los Angeles. If you are looking for shops sort of near airports or in the city close to the airport based on my big city experience you would end up with thousands of emails a day and only the smaller town ones would garner bonuses. Targeting whatever city you will be in by going directly to the msc and changing your zip seems a whole lot easier, faster etc to me and then you will see shops that are actually still available. I know this has been said before but my real experience with email overload with just one 15 mile radius (and only 15 miles north, south and east as the ocean is west and I have never seen a shop out there.)

@sandyf wrote:

my real experience with email overload with just one 15 mile radius (and only 15 miles north, south and east as the ocean is west and I have never seen a shop out there.)

I used to get offers for a restaurant in Catalina, though....so there are some shops west

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@sandyf wrote:

my real experience with email overload with just one 15 mile radius (and only 15 miles north, south and east as the ocean is west and I have never seen a shop out there.)

I used to get offers for a restaurant in Catalina, though....so there are some shops west

26 miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is awaitin for me, Santa Catalina the island of Romance...not in my radius! Not to mention the 25 mile drive to the boat. Ha Ha

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