Payday Lender
Apartment
Credit Card

These types of shops may be in abundance, as people go bankrupt, lose their homes, and rely more on credit cards sadly (a la 2008).

I think bank and grocery shops should be abundant/stable as well, as essentials like this everyone will still rely on and be customers of.

Maybe "delivery" shops will increase as well, as people get more accustomed to it during COVID-19 and it becomes more habitual.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/30/2020 11:21PM by shoptastic.

I will never support payday loans. Credit cards is a split, as you can actually benefit as a consumer given you meet your agreement to avoid interest. Payday loans serve no purpose except burying people in debt.

@Tarantado wrote:

I will never support payday loans. Credit cards is a split, as you can actually benefit as a consumer given you meet your agreement to avoid interest. Payday loans serve no purpose except burying people in debt.

I think payday loans are predatory, but I've heard an argument that goes:

"Well, if it's the only way that person can keep the lights on and not get kicked out onto the street, then maybe it's better than nothing. These payday lenders provide an important societal function. And, it's not like the payday lenders don't take on risk. They have to charge 400% interest because of the risk of their borrowers not paying them back."

@shoptastic wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

I will never support payday loans. Credit cards is a split, as you can actually benefit as a consumer given you meet your agreement to avoid interest. Payday loans serve no purpose except burying people in debt.

I think payday loans are predatory, but I've heard an argument that goes:

"Well, if it's the only way that person can keep the lights on and not get kicked out onto the street, then maybe it's better than nothing. These payday lenders provide an important societal function. And, it's not like the payday lenders don't take on risk. They have to charge 400% interest because of the risk of their borrowers not paying them back."

I definitely lean toward them being predatory, but then aren't all banks? Most of those credit cards have tiered interest rates that gouge those with poor credit.

The questions is; Where do you draw the line for MSing...in terms of ethics? The credit card shops at amusement park are almost always the predatory cards as well. Will you take those?

I personally have an issue with the giant cola companies forcing their product on the world, and refuse to take the reward shops where an employee gets rewarded for pushing a larger size....but then bartenders get rewarded for refills on a glass of wine as well, and I do those shops. The majority of the products we ensure are being marketed well are not necessarily there for the benefit of society. Is it really important that someone get a 1,000 calorie sandwich in under 90 seconds? (I'm guessing at the sandwich timing requirements since I also refuse to do those shops)

It's strange how the term Wet Market gets used with negative connotations and considered foreign yet Farmers Market is seen as healthy and western. We aren't considering shutting down our fish markets like Pike Place in Seattle or the many US fresh markets. I think there is a misconception about what an asian wet market really is. Some sell live animals others don't (it's become less and less common). Some sell exotic animals most don't.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

I definitely lean toward them being predatory, but then aren't all banks? Most of those credit cards have tiered interest rates that gouge those with poor credit.

The questions is; Where do you draw the line for MSing...in terms of ethics? The credit card shops at amusement park are almost always the predatory cards as well. Will you take those?

I personally have an issue with the giant cola companies forcing their product on the world, and refuse to take the reward shops where an employee gets rewarded for pushing a larger size....but then bartenders get rewarded for refills on a glass of wine as well, and I do those shops. The majority of the products we ensure are being marketed well are not necessarily there for the benefit of society. Is it really important that someone get a 1,000 calorie sandwich in under 90 seconds? (I'm guessing at the sandwich timing requirements since I also refuse to do those shops)

As long as you meet your agreement with a bank or credit card, there are mostly no extra fees or charges, or there are options to avoid fees. If anything, responsible usage of credit cards can only BENEFIT the consumer.

As for payday loans? Along with the absurd interest rates, this serves absolutely NO purpose aside from targeting the 'high risk' demographic and profiting PURELY on that. Banks profit from opening accounts and other ways from bringing in revenue aside from just fees. Same with credit cards, as simply using it, the merchant gets charged a fee to bring in the credit card issuers revenue; not just consumer fees and interest.

So no, I don't see banks or credit cards anywhere near the same playing field as payday loans. Same with junk food, alcohol, etc. In moderation, it does NOT do harm to the body; whereas, ANY use of payday loans do absolute nothing but prey on the high risk.

Popeye's and Drive-Thru shops could be a "winner" in the future:
[news.yahoo.com]

@ wrote:

A quarantined country feeling uneasy about the coronavirus pandemic apparently has a hankering for the now legendary, yet comforting Popeyes fried chicken sandwich.

Restaurant Brands International (QSR) said Friday that first quarter same-store sales for its Popeyes brand surged 26.2% in large part because of interest in the returning popular chicken sandwich that blew up in popularity in late 2019. After cooling off toward the end of the first quarter as people ate packaged food from home, Restaurant Brands CEO Jose Cil tells Yahoo Finance sales at Popeyes have regained strength in April.

“It was a really strong quarter even with the impact of COVID-19 the last two weeks of the quarter. As we said, we have seen some progress back to pre-COVID levels [at Popeyes]. What we saw coming out of the fourth quarter when we relaunched the chicken sandwiches continues here. Plus, we have advanced quite a bit on the delivery front. Delivery is growing significantly. Our mobile order and pickup has taken off as well. There is a lot of positive momentum there,” Cil said on Yahoo Finance’s The First Trade.

There are STILL plenty of grocery shops available.

I also loathe the predatory payday loan concept but love to prey on THEM by taking their money in the form of a shop fee by cashing a check or buying a money order! I could never do the actual loan scenario because I have no actual employer other than myself and no regular paystubs. I wish I could, and would because they pay more.

@sestrahelena wrote:

I also loathe the predatory payday loan concept but love to prey on THEM by taking their money in the form of a shop fee by cashing a check or buying a money order! I could never do the actual loan scenario because I have no actual employer other than myself and no regular paystubs. I wish I could, and would because they pay more.

They also have phone shops.

and you don't have to prove your identity ....You actually get to make one up!

@SteveSoCal wrote:

I definitely lean toward them being predatory, but then aren't all banks? Most of those credit cards have tiered interest rates that gouge those with poor credit.

I think it'd be interesting if people in desperate need of money just went to their creditor and said:

"Hi. I'm having a difficult time. I have a job (something that is required for a payday loan), but won't get paid until two weeks from now. I know I owe you $x right now. If I were to go to a payday lender, they would charge me 400-800% interest if I paid them back late. It's going to be a process. I may or may not have the money in full for you. But could we work out a deal? Could I pay you what I have now and what I can in two weeks? If you want interest, I'd be happy to pay you interest on top of that too if you can make it lower than what the payday lender would charge. If I take out a payday loan and have to pay their rates, I'd be trapped in a never-ending debt cycle.

I'd be willing to pay you higher than bank loan interest, but lower than a payday lender's interest. Can we work something out?"

I think because I am 50/50 on them, I don't have any ethical problems doing their shops. I would never go to one myself, but I guess I'm not 100% sure they don't have ANY value. *see my borderline homeless example above* Maybe (I dunno) they do actually bail out some desperate people and get them through a rough time, who would otherwise end up homeless.

I'm open to being wrong, but that's my first thought. So, yeah, I've done their phone shops before. I am scared to do their in-person shops and don't think I'd fit the bill. Have heard horror stories of the in-person shops on this forum (where workers just KNOW you are the shopper).