Phoebe,

To date, I've completed 114 cash advance assignments, and, based upon the criteria you stated, I'm guessing for the same MSC, but have never been required to redeem my check. In addition, the report and scanning always come in under 1/2 hrs. and I'm a slow typer, but as we understand, to each his/her own

avitoots Wrote:
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> I won't do it
> again because I don't want to sit through the
> presentation again and the people float from one
> meeting in the area to another and I can't imagine
> that you wouldn't be busted if you went to a
> second meeting.

I won't do that, because I had to sit through an hour of how much money you can make crap.

80% of the people were already part of the pyramid. I guess they have a requirement to attend X meetings every so often. It also may motivate them.

Anakin -- I didn't want to characterize the meeting since I wasn't sure what meeting was being referred to. However, let me tell you, I had to work very hard to hold myself back from calling it what it was and am waiting for the whole thing to come crashing down and the silver-spoon creator to join Madoff.

Irene -- It depends on what the audit is. However, it could be the client's requirement. There's also an assigment that requires a drug test that you pay for. Sorry, if you want me to take a drug test, you better shell out the money.

Genghis grill shop,incredibly long report and the meal reimbursement doesn't even cover the cost of the meal.A bunch of white boys trying to cook asian food just didn't work for me.I guess I am spoiled by the real deal at some of the other authentic restaurants I eat at.

I dont like doing the McDonalds shops. I mean really you want me to go through the drive through and then after 10 minutes you want me to go inside and order another fat laden meal that I am supposed to 'sample'? Noooooooooooo....no one will notice I just went through the drive thru. Especially in these small one horse towns. The reports are long and tedious and the pay is nothing. For the time spent you should get more. I can guarantee these companies are getting more for the reports and all they do is forward a report and we do all of the work.

And, when they changed companies,the fees went down.

The McDs shops are made even worse by the fact that you get questioned if you dare to say they aren't perfect.

There is no way in the world that there could have been orange soda spilled on the floor or my sandwich had sauce on the outside of the wrapper. That place is soooo perfect.

I've done probaby 50 McD's, various locations, and I've never been questioned. I've seen some pretty bad ones, too.

Phoebe70 Wrote:
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> I've done probaby 50 McD's, various locations, and
> I've never been questioned. I've seen some pretty
> bad ones, too.

i've thought of doing McD's. but i think that you have to show up twice to see both the morning and afternoon menus, don't you? that might sorta tie up my schedule for the low pay if that is the case.

The majority of the McDs simply require you make a purchase inside and a purchase at the drive thru during the same visit. They have required observations and timings but are an overall simple shop.

Flash Wrote:
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> The majority of the McDs simply require you make a
> purchase inside and a purchase at the drive thru
> during the same visit. They have required
> observations and timings but are an overall simple
> shop.

okay, thanks. i might be thinking of 'burger king' then. the shop involved photographing the menu boards in small sections while going through the drive-thru twice, once for breakfast and once for lunch. or something like that. i don't exactly remember, because i never took the shops. do you know what company offers the McD's shops then?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2011 04:00AM by vince.

Yes, I do know who shops them. But as you know, my ICA and the Posting Guidelines don't let me tell you. I will say, however, that if you are signed up with the 4 companies recommended because they have clients nationwide you should find them.

Shelly Wrote:
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> The McDs shops are made even worse by the fact
> that you get questioned if you dare to say they
> aren't perfect.


I've done many and not been questioned yet. And like others too, I've had some bad experiences. Or I should say 'less than stellar'.

I don't know what I hate the most - drive thru/inside, the fact I have to buy two meals, or the fact that the food is not exactly healthy. If I could bring a guest, the two meals might be better vs. my boyfriend getting a cold cheeseburger hours later.

Oh you know what, I was questioned before the new MSC. I vowed not to do any more of them. Maybe at least that part is better. I swear everyone I did I got a question about, but the way the form was set up it did not allow you to fully explain everything.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2011 06:13PM by Shelly.

Flash Wrote:
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> Yes, I do know who shops them. But as you know,
> my ICA and the Posting Guidelines don't let me
> tell you. I will say, however, that if you are
> signed up with the 4 companies recommended because
> they have clients nationwide you should find them.

okay, thanks.

I had a horrible assignment the other day. A "Simple" oil change, which as you know, anytime someone says it's simple it never is.

The shop was a distance aways, but there was a Kohls nearby and I had Kohls cash to use up. I called Midas at 8:15 am, they said they weren't busy and I could come right in. I arrived at 8:54. There were 4 other customers waiting. The Midas employee didn't even pull my car into the service bay until 45 minutes later to begin the work.

I brought my laptop hoping I could get some work done. Nope. No wi-fi at this place. An hour passes by. Nothing. I'm starting to get antsy, as I promised my 7 year old I would meet her at her school for lunch at 11:30.

Finally I ask the guy when my car will be ready. He checks and says, "In a little bit." Meanwhile a customer walks in and asks, "How long does an oil change take?" and the employee said, "45 minutes." It was all I could do to keep myself from sarcastically laughing.

Finally after 2 hours my car is done. The employee kinda apologized by saying, "Yeah, one of our guys showed up for work late." A "basic" oil change for my newer car that only has 4,000 miles on it. Two hours for a *&&^% oil change! I didn't get to go to Kohls and had to drive 80 miles an hour to get to my daughter's school. Thank goodness there were no cops out.

And to top it all off...the msc said they pay $20.57 for the oil change, but with tax the total was $25! You can bet I will NEVER do one of those shops again.

Gee, that sounds like getting an oil change at Walmart! I avoid oil changes at dealerships because they take so darn long. I've never tried Midas (and it sounds like I won't!). I can't fault the MSC for how long it took, but it has been a long time since I have seen a $20 oil change without a hefty come on coupon.

I did an oil change. The trick is to get at these places before 8:00 on week days.

I take the oil change shops at certain dealerships, when I have vehicles in the family that qualify. There is a comfy customer lounge, wifi, and food and drinks. I can easily spend one to two hours while waiting, munching and working on the laptop. Dealership service shops pay more. Sometimes, it can make sense.

I could definately handle a dealership oil change. This Midas was in a bad part of town, the only thing they had was coffee that smelled like it had been sitting there for days, and bad tv.

This msc could have at least given me a hero citation for all the hassle

I had to go to a chain that also pushes a car wash with each oil change - to get a better oil change price get the car wash because "its only a penny more". Well, the first time I went for an oil change there they lost my dipstick. When I returned they said "hey you don't have a dipstick". I was like WHAT? Why would I take out my dipstick, you guys did it last evidently you didn't put it back in. So they "call around" and can't get one (sure). So now I'm stuck getting the oil changed as its on the lift and not happy. the woman tells me about the car wash and I say NO I don't want it, I don't care if its just a penny (MSC only reimburses 24.95 for oil change, when these clowns bill it out, the oil change gets dropped down to 17.95 and then there's the 15.00 car wash billed separately). So I refuse it so I get my full reimbursement. And as I sign the slip I see the oil change only on my paperwork so I slide my card and sign on the machine. Welll.....lo and behold I got charged the 35 and change for the car wash which I disputed with the MSC and this place had the gall to say "we washed her car". I took pictures of my car, the inside of it (its one of these ultimate car wash places) and sent them to the scheduler. She called back to apologize, said I would be paid for everything but the client had requested I not shop them again.

I told her to tell them that not only would I never shop them again but I wouldn't ever set foot in there ever again, tell all my friends and family the same and then called over there and demanded a new dipstick replacement.

ces1948 Wrote:
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> I don't think I'll ever do the "look at the coffee
> grounds" convenience store again.


Do you mean the one where you have to PULL the Baskets out and LOOK in them, to see if there is coffee grounds/filter?..... Yikes! I did this once, worrying the ENTIRE time if an employee would walk up and shout "WHY ARE YOU PULLING THE COFFEE BASKETS OUT OF THE MACHINE?" Nope ! No more !

Ha ha...I could not believe the different shops described on this post...funny. I would AGREE 100% ~ there are so many shops that are just not worth the money and your time by any means. I have been doing this for a long time and I definitely had to get to a point where it had to make "sense" and you actually made some money. You are not going to get rich doing MShops! I think that is the biggest thing for Newbies to get quickly......Some of these companies try to make it sound like you are going to make soooo much money! NOT! Just do the shops you like - and enjoy the benefits from those few...Because they do seem to be few and far between the DUDS....

rmqsmq Wrote:
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> Ha ha...I could not believe the different shops
> described on this post...funny. I would AGREE
> 100% ~ there are so many shops that are just not
> worth the money and your time by any means. I
> have been doing this for a long time and I
> definitely had to get to a point where it had to
> make "sense" and you actually made some money.
> You are not going to get rich doing MShops! I
> think that is the biggest thing for Newbies to get
> quickly......Some of these companies try to make
> it sound like you are going to make soooo much
> money! NOT! Just do the shops you like - and enjoy
> the benefits from those few...Because they do seem
> to be few and far between the DUDS....

as a newer mystery shopper (about 5 months now), i now tend to take only shops which offer multiple (3-5) visits per months, because the report for a shop tends to go faster if you've done that particular shop before. but when it's a brand new shop that you've never done before, then it may not be worth it if you're only going to do it once every six months to a year, because it takes longer to fill out the report if you're not too familiar with it.

I did an oil change excellent with higher pay than SS, and a much better oil change (use better oil). Took 1 hour total, which they proposed it would.
This was with Firestone, I highly recommend this one over Jiffy Lube, which I will not touch again with the ten foot pole.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> I did an oil change excellent with higher pay than
> SS, and a much better oil change (use better oil).
> Took 1 hour total, which they proposed it would.
> This was with Firestone, I highly recommend this
> one over Jiffy Lube, which I will not touch again
> with the ten foot pole.

Mine was Midas....never again, not even with a good bonus (although this particular msc isn't known for bonuses, only hero citations).

UGG just submitted one. Large home improvement store. Visit eight departments and interact with a minimum of 5 employees in 5 different departments. Write a narrative about each interaction and do a purchase and return for the wonderful sum of $10. I hesitated before accepting but did it because I needed to go to that store anyway. Also have to count all the carts in the parking lot both loose and in racks before entering and after leaving.

In one of the sections you were supposed to write in a complete sentence, but when I did, I got an error message that it needed to be less than 19 characters. That is a really short sentence!!!!

Wander around for 56 minutes and still need to do return and report.

Uh oh, Shelly, I can tell what you will never do again!

I wonder why she did it in the first place for $10.