How low can they go?

I'm trying to put together a small route for today in order to be able to get a very large bonus on the casual burger shop, but it's not large enough to warrant making the drive for just that. So I was looking for something to add on and just saw a new wave of "knowledge cell phone" shops, one of which is near the burger place. These used to be $12, sometimes $14, and the new fee is a whopping $11! .

I've done a lot of these, usually only when they're bonused or I'm going to be literally in the same shopping center. Between studying your assigned phone and feature set, visiting the location, and doing the survey, the shortest amount of time I've ever spent on one is probably 45 minutes. And if you get there and have to wait, it can easily be more than an hour total. For $11? No, thank you. I'll stay home and list stuff in my Etsy shop.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

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Lower seems more common. got email today for a flyer drop and manager chat, and placement of those flyers and pics and report..... whopping five bucks. Nope.

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

Lower seems more common. got email today for a flyer drop and manager chat, and placement of those flyers and pics and report..... whopping five bucks. Nope.

Where's the "jaw drop" icon?

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

I was just reflecting on the disparity between MSCs and the job type. For example, I have emails from two different companies with car wash shops. Company A reimburses the wash and includes a shop fee of $25. Company B reimburses the wash and now that they are begging for shoppers they have added a $5 fee. It's laughable. To further make the case against company B, they are one of the slowest payers out there while company A pays the next month like clockwork. It's like they don't even try. Don't even get me started on the difference in pay for non-revealed gas stations.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2020 04:28PM by callinectes.

I cancelled my favorite Mexican food shop. Due to the rotation, I forgot that the reimbursement only shop does not cover the required order.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

On another thread we were discussing the "long" audits by another company. Those shops are currently paying $12. The starting price was $10. These jobs take a minimum of about 40 minutes to complete. I noticed today that these are almost completely gone from the job board in my area. There were almost 50 of these on the board when they first got listed.

I realize that some people may "like" this job or need the money. But in my area, where there is really a ton of work, there is almost no need to take jobs at this extremely low fee. As long as shoppers continue to take these jobs at the bare minimum, MSCs will probably continue to lower the fee. Maybe some of these shoppers are the same ones who complain about never making enough money in this industry.

I find it frustrating.

89lulalula89 states, with respect to low fees--I find it frustrating.

Bob's suggestion--In 2007, I accepted this business did not have an acceptable work:reward ratio for me to continue. It was either design a system by which I was profitable in relation to my efforts or direct my time toward another venture. What I formulated quickly turned a resounding failure into a successful side line. Give it a try, but do not be frustrated as this IS business and you are correct that fees will continue to drop until there are no longer any shoppers willing to work. At that time, they will rise ever so slowly until the water again flows.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I cancelled my favorite Mexican food shop. Due to the rotation, I forgot that the reimbursement only shop does not cover the required order.

I think many MSCs are going to have to raise their restaurant reimbursements in order to continue to draw shoppers. Prices go up, but reimbursements, by and large, seem to have stayed constant. With some exceptions. But I don't care how much I like a restaurant's food -- there's a limit to what I'm willing to go out of pocket to eat there plus have to report on it. At some point, it becomes as cost- and time-effective to go to a restaurant of my choice, have what I want, and go home and relax instead of inputting a report. If the report's easy and the food great, I'm willing to be more out of pocket. Like at BJ's. But another experience like we had at TRH last time, and the amount of $$ we were OOP.... I'll skip those.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

there are gas station shops near me for $7. i think at that point i realized i need to find a different job. i'll still continue shopping a few places for fun, but i don't have the shopping resume that some others here have (the ones who earn 60k+ a year) so it's not going to be able to be a full time thing for me

I just saw a storage shop for $9! Seriously. Not only do you have to tour the facility if it's offered, you have to wait 30 minutes if you get there and nobody's there, then do the shop if someone shows up.. And you need three images as POV.

I know we're ICs and can choose or not choose to do shops. But, c'mon; this is ridiculous. What do they expect to get for $9 in exchange for a shop that may take at least 45 minutes to an hour, probably more, in total? I've done three storage shops, two very recently, and the shortest one on-site was about a half-hour. Then there was prep time, drive time, and report time. I was able to do the last two in one day, in the same area, so the travel time was shared. But both were nicely bonused; otherwise, I wouldn't have done them.

I learned long ago that when you're hiring ICs, pay them well, and it pays off in the long run. Don't try to "cheap out." It's bad for business. I almost cheaped myself out of a very good client because I used an IC I could pay a "cheap rate" to. Never again.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

The $7 gas station shops increase to $30 at the end of the quarter. That's when they fly off the boards.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Gas station, full reveal audit, $15.

Doesn't pay the gas to get there and back.

Been informed my recently favorite ff shop is now paying $13 -- for 120 mile round trip. No travel funds/bonus funds available.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2020 10:03PM by ceasesmith.

How low? Guess the MS! $10 fee at the high end street, just meter parking is $3.50 hourly if you can find it. High-end retail establishment, expensive clothes. Buy and return within 24 h, but not same day, at the same location, no additional fee. Yes it is the $5 comic shop MS.

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