@Irene_L.A. wrote:
Location is a huge factor as to how much is paid....cities like mine have tons of shoppers (right SandyF))?
Doing video or routes is the way to go, depending on a bonus in a location with many shoppers, not so good. Rural area's pay more in bonus, so, it's really about location. Having 20 shoppers willing to do a job, why should companies offer a bonus. Coyle, an MSC with great jobs, pay a small fee to drive 60 miles for a lunch and an involved report...which is why I work only in my town these days, as driving the L..A. freeway isn't worth my time.
I am a reliable shopper and this is how I see it.....
your not calling me a perfectionist, are you...cause it's so not true, just askin.....@Shop-et-al wrote:
Do perfectionists beat themselves up more than editors do?
@Ercokat wrote:
Irene LA Yes, I’ve heard that. Why do the mystery shop companies pay so little to everyone involved?
@rothers27 wrote:
When I was a new shopper, I found this board, and I thought that if I didn't make money it was all my fault. I didn't try hard enough, I wasn't perfectionist enough, I wasn't good at building relationships, and so on.
@bgriffin wrote:
@rothers27 wrote:
When I was a new shopper, I found this board, and I thought that if I didn't make money it was all my fault. I didn't try hard enough, I wasn't perfectionist enough, I wasn't good at building relationships, and so on.
I would guess none of those are your problem at all. In fact I might even suggest they're your downfall. If a company is paying $10 for a shop don't give them a $100 report.
@johnb974 wrote:
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@JASFLALMT wrote:
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^^This is key. You don't jump in and make big bucks immediately. Relationships have to be built and reliability needs to be proven. I do think that advertisements touting it as getting free stuff are misleading.@JASFLALMT wrote:
Like building any other business, it does not happen overnight and you have to apply yourself and make it happen.
@Shop-et-al wrote:
My personalized solution was a little different from that. Since I usually begin daily local work at about 2 AM and because I had to stop skimping on sleep, it was a good idea to find time for sleep. The most effective way to do this was to reduce shop reporting time and times. So, now I merch substantially more than I shop. My merch reports can be completed while on-site or (when coverage is spotty and kicks me out of my apps) shortly after I leave locations and get to better coverage. Even if I arrive home a little late after a merch trip, I am free from shop reports. I can go directly to bed and sleep.
@rothers27 wrote:
Secret Shopping is not a normal job, as many people point out. You are an independent consultant, not an employee. The legal ramifications are gigantic. Secret shoppers do not get any of the benefits that people get a any job, from McDonald's to Google. So secret shopping is not like any job at all. It's very very different. That's why it's so chaotic, and why you have such a huge range of experiences. There is absolutely no HR. None. Working for minimum wage somewhere gives you rights and access to HR. Not with Mystery Shopping. If you are treated unfairly, there is absolutely no recourse for you.
So, am I saying not to Mystery Shop? NO! Not at all. But don't do it thinking you'll be making a good living. There is no unemployment, no workers comp, and if you are sick and can't do a shop you get docked in points. Given that we live in a super expensive country, we should all think about whether we want people to legally exploit us. Because it is legal doesn't make it right.