How should we ask for and negotiate bonuses or total shop fee?

I've usually asked for bonuses, and I've wondered what is the highest possible they give. Do they have something in mind?

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There is absolutely no magic formula. It depends on the MSC, the time of month or quarter, how many shoppers are in the area, how remote or difficult the shop is to cover, etc.

The answer to your question can be summed up in one sentence. Always ask for the lowest $$ that will do the shop for, and you will either get the shop without negotiation or move on to the next shop opportuity.

AZ, I prefer negotiation. I'll give what I DREAM of getting for the job (LOL) and mention that there is some flexibility.

I believe (totally unscientifically, obviously) that I get more jobs that way. And I don't accept low-ball counter-offers, either. I just tell 'em, "Sorry. It's not profitable for me to accept."

Hey, really, this isn't a hobby for me, or a pleasant pastime. It's a business, and like larger companies, I must maintain profitability.

I'm a pretty lenient, flexible thinker, and I'm not a black-and-white, do this or else personality, either. So I'm not the type that operates with the minimum I'm willing to do or move on. I'm just unable to think or operate that way. That's how I run my life in all ways. It depends on the person and circumstances. I'm much more forgiving than most people are.

I'll prefer something reasonable for my time, effort, and expenses, but I'll have some leeway if it's not as high as I'd like, depending. Maybe I can do a few on the same day, in the same area that's not too tough, or maybe the reports are easier (and the whole pic/receipts thing), or maybe they're shops I like better.

I have to say, from the administrative side of things, there is NOT always bonus money to just throw out. There is one client we have that has multiple locations (and is expanding more), that we simply cannot offer bonuses on because we complete each location 4-6 times each week. If shoppers start getting bonuses, then they start to expect it all of the time and if we use all of our bonus money, we are stuck. We will not have to money to pay the editors, pay for the platform we use to complete the assignments, pay the schedulers, etc. There are a lot of expenses on the back-end that shoppers do not see or know about.

We have to have a limit on our assignments to $1 for each assignment for the month. So for example, if we have 700 assignments in a month, we have a total of $700 for bonuses. Period. I'm just thankful we have understanding clients so we do have missed shops, but they understand the economy.

They know what they can afford, we know what we can afford and unlike other companies, who do not give a pay for shops that require a purchase, we make sure our shoppers know that their time inputting reports, driving is worth something other than reimbursement only.

Just my 2 cents.

Deva Roberts
Director of Operations
shoppers@acemysteryshopping.com
ACE Mystery Shopping
[ace.shopmetrics.com]
[acemysteryshopping.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2021 02:02PM by SchedulerDeva.

@ceasesmith wrote:

AZ, I prefer negotiation. I'll give what I DREAM of getting for the job (LOL) and mention that there is some flexibility.

I believe (totally unscientifically, obviously) that I get more jobs that way. And I don't accept low-ball counter-offers, either. I just tell 'em, "Sorry. It's not profitable for me to accept."

Hey, really, this isn't a hobby for me, or a pleasant pastime. It's a business, and like larger companies, I must maintain profitability.

I guess we are in different situations. This is also my sole business, and I have always had as many or more available shops in my area as I could handle. Therefore, it's counterproductive for me to waste time negotiating when I could use that time mystery shopping.

I usually will judge it on how desperate the MSC is needing on getting a shop filled. If I see the same email with the amount going up With schedulers that I work with on a normal basis, I have no problem asking for triple the amount of pay or even higher if I notice that they still can't find someone to take the shop.

I remember years ago, a MSC that I work for was having a hard time finding someone to pick up a grocery shop located in the middle of Wyoming. It was a new client of theirs and they wanted to make sure all shops were filled to leave a positive impression. Now I lived in California at the time, but they were so desperate that they sent an email blast to see if anyone traveling would pick it up. I actually made a deal with the MSC that I would pick up this simple 30 minute grocery store visit. They covered my round trip plane ticket, rental car and gas, hotel room and even gave me a nice shop fee as well. Now that's an extreme case, but it just goes to show you that if push comes to shove, the MSC's will sometimes go above and beyond to get a shop covered.

I view it as supply and demand. Once you work with a MSC you'll see the job board and know when the cut off date is near. That's when bonuses are most likely. For example, I've been called several times by a popular MSC in the last two days asking if I'd take a shop that I've done monthly in the past for a $60 fee (typically starts under $12). I've declined so far, as I have my calendar filling up. With fuel increasing in price, I'm going to need to politely raise my request higher upon the next call. Hey, it's the cost of doing business.

Bonuses are tricky for new shoppers. You have no idea what they are willing to pay, so you have to rely on figuring out what you are willing to accept. Eventually you get a better idea of what is out there, and you figure out when you can hold out for higher amounts in an effort ot increase your profits. It' is often trial and error, and sometimes you lose out. But the optimal situation, as some have alluded, is to expand your available options to the point where you can just make an offer and not really care if they say no.

Totally agree.

A typical day for me is a minimum drive of 100 miles each way.

So I MUST negotiate.

@AZwolfman wrote:

@ceasesmith wrote:

AZ, I prefer negotiation. I'll give what I DREAM of getting for the job (LOL) and mention that there is some flexibility.

I believe (totally unscientifically, obviously) that I get more jobs that way. And I don't accept low-ball counter-offers, either. I just tell 'em, "Sorry. It's not profitable for me to accept."

Hey, really, this isn't a hobby for me, or a pleasant pastime. It's a business, and like larger companies, I must maintain profitability.

I guess we are in different situations. This is also my sole business, and I have always had as many or more available shops in my area as I could handle. Therefore, it's counterproductive for me to waste time negotiating when I could use that time mystery shopping.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2021 04:33PM by ceasesmith.

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