I was just noticing we spend a lot of time discussing negative things on this board. And of course, why shouldn't we? This is our place to gripe and be heard. But I was wondering if you have a favorite shop, one that you might do regularly, or one that has an easy report, or pays fairly, etc.? I'll go first.

I LOVE Money Tree. They pay well, you are in and out of the shop in four minutes, and you make one short phone call. The form is short and easy. I can't wait to do them. They have a 60 day rotation, and they only let you perform 2 per month unless they are desperate, but it is one I really enjoy. (Did my 2 for the month last Thursday night. Hubby went along, and one was right next to a Panda Express, making for a quick dinner stop as well.)

Carol

p.s. I like Applebee's as well. I have taken many friends out to lunch there. The form is long with narration, but I have done so many I know what they want to read, and how to fill it out in the shortest amount of time. I like their food as well. My friends love it when I invite them out to lunch. I'm actually becoming quite popular, (smile).

Hilton Hotels. Report is not a big deal; food and rooms are usually great; guest rewards points pile up fast; fee is fair.

I really like grocery shops - either audits or mystery shops. I prefer the audits because there is no minimum purchase so I just buy a small piece of ginger for less than $0.25 to have a receipt. The audit takes about 30 minutes but pays $45 so I try to grab as many as they'll let me

My other favorite is for Transport Canada where I have to go to a specific intersection and count cars, people wearing seat belts & people on cell phones for 1 hour (sometimes 2). The pay was incredible for such easy work. I can hardly wait for this year's project to get started!

Did I mention today how much I love my job?

I have many, to start:

1. BJ'Brewery (not the bar audit), love their BBQ Chicken salad, easy report and do about 3 monthly in different locations, favorite is the one near home.
2. Neiman Marcus new shops, in and out in 15 minutes,(although I shop after report, who could leave that store)? makes me feel rich trying on those great clothes and enjoy the reports. Love the cosmetics as well.
3. Baja Fresh and The Counter, great lunch, easy reports and actually get paid enough to eat + report fee.
4. Every upscale restaurant I do (only do ones I love) and that are close to home.
5. Sephora, another store I adore.
6. Last night did a phone call to Expedia travel call ctr., since I book so many flights for myself, a breeze, ate ice creme and made $12.00.
7. I like retail (woman's upscale clothing), restaurants and cosmetics. TNS didn't have their grocery store for March, so, miss that.

8. Did a Guitar Center yesterday, you need to have been involved in music, checked out a "keyboard" for daughter who plays in a latin jazz band,(hobby) great fun, decent pay for 20 minutes. Give me a store with no reimbursement and I'm a happy camper.

Oh yes, I loved doing Sephora and the Counter as well.

Carol

iHop. They don't have a shop fee, but the reimbursement is VERY generous (enough for me to take two people along with me and still cover the entire cost). They don't put restrictions on what you can order. You're allowed as many people as you want to bring. And the report is only three pages (takes about fifteen minutes to do).

Downside: only two locations near me get shopped, and they get snatched really fast. I've only done three of these shops, and I wish I could make a habit out of them.

Any hotel or resort in a warm beachy type area is my favorite!

Agreed that Hilton properties are nice because I have always been allowed to keep my points when doing one (unlike my exprience with Marriot, Sheraton, and Hyatt properties, where the points are always taken away after the report it turned in) - however, having done Hilton properties for four different companies, generally I find only two companies really worthwhile given the amount of work for the fee and/or experience.

Hyatt left my points when the charges were backed out by corporate after the visit. Where the charges were reversed at the location, however, they did go away. But I find these shops really aren't worthwhile for the fee and/or experience.

My favorite shops are the ones that pay well, are commensurate with the amount of work, and where the instructions and forms make sense! I'm totally serious about that, but in terms of ones I'm always happy to do, I think Chipotle, a certain sushi counter and my regular gym workout shops are at the top of my list. There's also one upscale banking shop and fine jewelry store I really enjoy, but a large part of my appreciate about those is what I said at the top of my post.

I LOVE the trailer checks on the weekends!!

I love doing billboard day and night pictures...

I like to do the Sizing Audit shops.

I've never seen a billboard assignment.

I love these accessory shops

*Charming Charlie's

*Pandora

Easy peasy reports and decent reimbursement based on their product lines.

I do billboards for Mintel; Miller/Coors and also competitor billboards..usually every six weeks.

Give me bank inquiries any day. Wait time isn't a problem if you can hit them between 1:30 and 3:30, an all but guaranteed $0 purchase, plus there's only so many scenarios that can be used at a bank. Once you get your scenario down, you can use that same basic schick at any different brand of bank.

I agree with zlindedavid. I think banks shops require the least amount of work. I also like the high end haircut shops, and cosmetic or skin care shops.

I like Mystery Shopping. I guess the more I can combine means the less travel I have to do (I don't drive.) Like if I can do Sears, The Bay, Stitches, Sirens, The Body Shop and Sun Glass Hut and a couple bank shops all in the same mall (or just out side the mall) then thats good. But thats ok I still enjoy the work. I love the interaction with the employees. Sometimes even before the evaluation starts you can feel if their going to be good or not. I don't know maybe I've been doing this too long... but I enjoy it all the same...

Mention of The Body Shop is funny. I was just wondering the other day if it was shopped. I've never come across it in the States.

For great food, a generous alllowance, somewhat detailed report, the winner is
LONE STAR for my choice


paid2peek

Never heard of Lone Star, but I bet they started in Texas.

57carol Wrote:
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> Never heard of Lone Star, but I bet they started
> in Texas.


Get ready for a big laugh, guys ---- although Texas-inspired, there are NO Lone Star's in Texas!

I like the steak houses and midrange restaurants (Applebee's, etc.). I have grown fond of the grocery shops lately. And I really like the casino shops (always made money there) but they require two persons now and I have no one to go with. I work alone. Anyway, some of them were midnight to 8 AM and no one I know would go with me...

Man! Where does everyone seem to get these awesome shops? I've only seen one hotel shop before--and I had to drive almost an hour each way to do it!

My favorite shops are the Brunswick Zone shops--bumper cars, laser-tag, arcade games AND food and drink for free! It works out perfect, too, because my friends all make tons of money, which means that I don't have to feel guilty for dragging my poor friends out, but at the same time, MY pocket-book doesn't suffer either. =) They don't pay anything, but a $70 reimbursement is pretty sweet for an awesome night out!

I also did a round of shops in the fall that were pretty far from my place, so my husband and I decided to take a road trip to look at all the fall colors. I was able to get extra money for the shops for knocking out a few hard to schedule shops out in the toolies and it left my husband and I with some really great memories.

Business verifications. The manager knows who you are and why you are there, the interview/photos take maybe 15 minutes, there is no narrative, and the MSP pays frequently. Plus they pay $17-$21 each.

PAID2PEEK Wrote:
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> For great food, a generous alllowance, somewhat
> detailed report, the winner is
> LONE STAR for my choice
>
>
> paid2peek


Nastiest.food.ever. I asked scheduler not to send me those any more.

If I am going to do a steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse is the BOMB! Love the MSC and the restaurant.

How do I find out which companies do the Applebee's and IHOP shops? Is there any list to find out?
Thanks.

Not only is there not a list, but even if we know who does the shops we are not allowed to tell you because of our ICA (Independent Contractor Agreement) with the company that has the client.

The basic method is to get signed up with as many companies as you can. Most companies tend to post their jobs either at the end of the month for the following month or during the first week of the month. This is the perfect time to go in and check not only the shops available in your area but also to look at other areas and see what clients they have. Start building a list of clients by company(ies) that you see performing the shops. If you see that a company has XYZ client in other areas of the country, the chances are reasonable they have them in your area as well and either you are not entitled to see them yet except in those harder to fill areas, the shop has already been taken or it may be a quarterly shop that is done in some areas some months and other areas other months. Over time your list will change as clients change companies or the locations are shopped on behalf of more than one client.

If you hang around forums sometimes you will catch a slip where someone enthusiastically blurts out that they just got an XYZ shop with PDQ company. You have an opportunity to benefit from their error. You also may hear someone mention that they love PDQ company for the casual dining and all night locations with wi-fi. That makes it time to go see what PDQ has to offer because it just may be the shops you seek or perhaps something else you would find interesting.

Hi, I am new to the Mystery Shopper industry and was wondering how you got started mystery shopping for BJs, Baja Fresh and other restaurants like that. I am in the Fresno, CA area and have had a hard time locating the companies that service them. Any tips are greatly appreciated!

As stated in the post directly above yours, the only way is to sign up with many mystery shopping companies. Both our independent contractor agreements and the rules of the forum prohibit telling you which mystery shopping company has which client.

If your plan is to build a mystery shopping business, looking for specific clients can be a drain on your time. The best course of action is to register with many companies, try a variety of different shops and hone in on those that work with your long term goals.