Earn $10.00 In An Hour Or Less! Um, sure....
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I aim for $25 an hour, from leaving my front door to returning to my front door.
But I (sadly!) find that doesn't include prepping, searching job boards, etc. etc. etc. Although since I have mastered a couple apps, I usually don't have hours of reporting facing me when I get home (Marketforce is the exception to that; I wish they had an actual app that works!).
I mostly do those other things while I'm drinking coffee, doing housework, etc., in maybe snatches of just a few minutes (bored with my latest book? Check a couple job boards, etc.). So I find I don't really calculate that time in.
Mostly I'm quite happy if I reach my goal. Gone six hours? Made $150 net? Happy camper.
But, Birdy, I agree -- it means I pass up a great many shops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2021 10:28PM by ceasesmith.
But I (sadly!) find that doesn't include prepping, searching job boards, etc. etc. etc. Although since I have mastered a couple apps, I usually don't have hours of reporting facing me when I get home (Marketforce is the exception to that; I wish they had an actual app that works!).
I mostly do those other things while I'm drinking coffee, doing housework, etc., in maybe snatches of just a few minutes (bored with my latest book? Check a couple job boards, etc.). So I find I don't really calculate that time in.
Mostly I'm quite happy if I reach my goal. Gone six hours? Made $150 net? Happy camper.
But, Birdy, I agree -- it means I pass up a great many shops.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2021 10:28PM by ceasesmith.
There is a certain freedom that comes with being a mystery shopper. The freedom to set my own schedule and to work for myself. To sometimes making a tremendous amount of money in a short period of time. Getting to see other parts of the country. Not having to answer to anybody but myself as long as I complete the evaluations that I agree to do. That said, if I was simply going to be going around all day doing a bunch of evaluations at base fee, it would be much better for my overall well-being to just get a real job again. Jobs are paying more than they ever have, in many places have a sign on bonus. Wl I will never understand the reasoning behind accepting a bunch of locations at base pay. That's just me, though, and I respect everybody else's freedom to do what they think is best for them.
@ceasesmith wrote:
I aim for $25 an hour, from leaving my front door to returning to my front door.
But I (sadly!) find that doesn't include prepping, searching job boards, etc. etc. etc. Although since I have mastered a couple apps, I usually don't have hours of reporting facing me when I get home (Marketforce is the exception to that; I wish they had an actual app that works!).
I mostly do those other things while I'm drinking coffee, doing housework, etc., in maybe snatches of just a few minutes (bored with my latest book? Check a couple job boards, etc.). So I find I don't really calculate that time in.
Mostly I'm quite happy if I reach my goal. Gone six hours? Made $150 net? Happy camper.
But, Birdy, I agree -- it means I pass up a great many shops.
I'm with you. If I'm doing local shops, I aim for $20/hour, $25 if going out of town. Since my two other businesses require that I'm at my computer most of the day, anyway, I do what you do--search for jobs during a break or while I have my first morning cup of coffee. And I really only do a lot (for me) of shops when my other businesses are slow. Thank goodness I don't have to rely on this for my only source of income!
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've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
But the other side of the coin is this: waiting too long for just the right bonus might cause one to miss out on the better-paying gigs. I just lost out on a bonused local gig while hoping it would once again reach $100 for the multi-part event. *oops* It will come around again next month, and I can wait again...
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
You would all laugh your heads off if you lived in my big city. Finding a job that actually pays $10 an hour is like finding a needle in a haystack. Since the pandemic tho we have had some better prices and quite a few jobs that have gone to bonuses. One I was watching, which the scheduler must have thought was a 15 minute job, started out paying $7. After spending two hours or more to do the job I would gross $3.50 an hour before taxes and gas.
I would say the majority of the jobs here are like that. Many pay as much as $12 but still would take a minimum of two hours for me. So I am very picky for those few jobs I qualify for with much higher starting figures that are not right next door to another job with a decent pay. .
I would say the majority of the jobs here are like that. Many pay as much as $12 but still would take a minimum of two hours for me. So I am very picky for those few jobs I qualify for with much higher starting figures that are not right next door to another job with a decent pay. .
I don't even understand this statement.
I never "wait" for a bonus to meet my goal -- I e-mail the scheduler and tell her/him "I need this much for this shop; it's currently at $XXX, can you get closer to $XXXX?" If I hear back, yay! If I don't hear back -- well, I'll tell ya, I've already sent 4-6 e-mails to other schedulers, and it's first come, first served. I missed a bonus shop? Guarantee ya I have others already lined up.
I just don't understand "waiting". Businesses that sit around and "wait" are moribund.
Now, I do understand different shoppers have different lives, and if one works MSing around a full-time job (or even a part-time one), then waiting is necessary.
I never "wait" for a bonus to meet my goal -- I e-mail the scheduler and tell her/him "I need this much for this shop; it's currently at $XXX, can you get closer to $XXXX?" If I hear back, yay! If I don't hear back -- well, I'll tell ya, I've already sent 4-6 e-mails to other schedulers, and it's first come, first served. I missed a bonus shop? Guarantee ya I have others already lined up.
I just don't understand "waiting". Businesses that sit around and "wait" are moribund.
Now, I do understand different shoppers have different lives, and if one works MSing around a full-time job (or even a part-time one), then waiting is necessary.
@Shop-et-al wrote:
But the other side of the coin is this: waiting too long for just the right bonus might cause one to miss out on the better-paying gigs. I just lost out on a bonused local gig while hoping it would once again reach $100 for the multi-part event. *oops* It will come around again next month, and I can wait again...
I agree with the above. As long as I am sending a reasonable number of emails and not badgering a scheduler, I never have a problem asking for a particular bonus. They can either tell me yes or no. After a while you get an idea of how far along with certain project needs to be before they can pay bonuses. However, I have been surprised in the past. I have discovered that I truly began to make money as a mystery shopper when I learned to not be afraid to be told no. You might be told no, and you might occasionally miss out on a location by standing firm on a particular amount that you think is fair. However, in my experience, more often than not I will end up getting a fair amount for a location. As stated above, it's important to have a lot of irons on the fire. That way, if one location doesn't work out, there are several others waiting. This is especially important when there are multiple companies and multiple projects and multiple schedulers, and everybody has their own timeline and agenda.
I wait until it's pretty obvious they're having a problem filling the shop, then I ask for a bonus. Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't, but I'm not afraid to ask and am not afraid to be told no. But because I don't do this full-time, it's not worth the time for me to email schedulers on a regular basis to ask for bonuses.
But sometimes I do need to just wait it out. I'm doing a 5G shop tomorrow out of town, with a nice bonus. But I hated to go just for that one shop (even though I have another errand in that town), and I saw a shop in the same plaza that was bonused "up" to $20. LOL. I've done the shop before, and it should be at least $25. I emailed the scheduler and said I could do that one and the other remaining ones in my area for $25 each. No response. So I ended up applying for and getting the shop at $20. Now they're bonusing the remaining ones at $22. Not a big difference, but if I'd waited another day, I'd have gotten the $22. But I needed to work out my schedule for tomorrow. The extra $2 would have paid for most of my gas to get there!
It can be a balancing act, and sometimes we hit it and sometimes we don't.
But sometimes I do need to just wait it out. I'm doing a 5G shop tomorrow out of town, with a nice bonus. But I hated to go just for that one shop (even though I have another errand in that town), and I saw a shop in the same plaza that was bonused "up" to $20. LOL. I've done the shop before, and it should be at least $25. I emailed the scheduler and said I could do that one and the other remaining ones in my area for $25 each. No response. So I ended up applying for and getting the shop at $20. Now they're bonusing the remaining ones at $22. Not a big difference, but if I'd waited another day, I'd have gotten the $22. But I needed to work out my schedule for tomorrow. The extra $2 would have paid for most of my gas to get there!
It can be a balancing act, and sometimes we hit it and sometimes we don't.
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've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
From experience, I have learned that bonuses are not granted to me when I want them or need them. Perhaps they are granted to you when you want them or need them. Are you the preferred or favored shoppers? If so, you will get the money you ask for and good on you. Am I the non-preferred shopper? If so, this may be why I do not receive the bonus money I need for most assignments and so be it.
We might have learned something today. Thank you for your insights and input.
We might have learned something today. Thank you for your insights and input.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Building relationships with schedulers can help some, but I don't think there is anything personal. In the end, it boils down to supply and demand. They want to do the locations as cheaply as possible, and we want to make as much money as possible. They will pay what it takes to get it done. If there's not a lot of bonus shops in your area, I'm certain it's because there are a lot of shoppers that are willing to do jobs at low fees. I live out in the middle of nowhere, and I drive even further out into the middle of nowhere to do evaluations. I also fly to remote places, rent a car, and shop the area for the week that I'm there. I know there are places where most locations can get filled with little or no bonus.
And that leads me to consider what I would do if I lived in an area where there were not a lot of bonuses. In today's economy, I think it's better to just get a regular job then to do shops at base pay. I think shops at base paid don't even end up paying minimum wage whenever the mileage and time is taken into account. However, that's just me. I respect the decision that anybody else makes. I would never be able to make ends meet just getting base fees, though.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2021 09:04PM by thunderdeacon.
And that leads me to consider what I would do if I lived in an area where there were not a lot of bonuses. In today's economy, I think it's better to just get a regular job then to do shops at base pay. I think shops at base paid don't even end up paying minimum wage whenever the mileage and time is taken into account. However, that's just me. I respect the decision that anybody else makes. I would never be able to make ends meet just getting base fees, though.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2021 09:04PM by thunderdeacon.
Theoretically, that is perfect. In my imperfect world, I am losing money on all counts. I cannot speak enough or sit long enough to accomplish my hourly wage talking head job, and I cannot cobble together enough gigs (at base pay or bonused) to make up the lost wages. This, too, shall pass.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Switch to surveys folks.a ton out there and absolutely legit.
Sometimes I'm willing to get less of an hourly rate if the shop is something I'm interested in. Tomorrow I'm going to check out an electric bike....something that I may be putting on my Christmas list. Hubby wanted to go, too, and I got permission for him to come. By the time we both take a test ride I guarantee I will be getting way less than minimum wage, but the whole thing will be a mini date.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
Hang in there!
If you feel like you are in a position where you are unable to work successfully because of a physical condition, then I would definitely look into SSI benefits.
If you feel like you are in a position where you are unable to work successfully because of a physical condition, then I would definitely look into SSI benefits.
@Shop-et-al wrote:
Theoretically, that is perfect. In my imperfect world, I am losing money on all counts. I cannot speak enough or sit long enough to accomplish my hourly wage talking head job, and I cannot cobble together enough gigs (at base pay or bonused) to make up the lost wages. This, too, shall pass.
Go for surveys.... plenty out there, all at home
@Shop-et-al wrote:
Theoretically, that is perfect. In my imperfect world, I am losing money on all counts. I cannot speak enough or sit long enough to accomplish my hourly wage talking head job, and I cannot cobble together enough gigs (at base pay or bonused) to make up the lost wages. This, too, shall pass.
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
Switch to surveys folks.a ton out there and absolutely legit.
I'd like to know what survey companies you are using that pay a reasonable hourly wage.
I've done surveyjunkie.com and the best I can get is the 10 point daily survey that takes about 2 minutes. However it takes 500 points to redeem $5.00. That's 50 days at $.10/day. But that's still only $3.00 per hour.
The rest of their surveys I'd be lucky if I got as much as $3.00 per hour completing. I find many of their surveys misquote the time required to complete them or you get through about 10 minutes of questions and they tell you you don't qualify and you get 3 points or $.03.
Research.. plenty out there., got $125 last night half hour.
Yes, we'd all like to know how you did that, Mommy!
Yes, please! For research. I interview people and am nowhere near $125 per half hour or per half day.... Inquiring minds want to know.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
I've done market research when I lived in Dallas that paid $100-$250 per hour but normally I had to go into the location and do a focus group. I can get together the information on the three companies there because at least one of them have offices in LA, Chicago, NY etc. also.
Give me a few days to research it and also to see if I can get a referral fee.
Give me a few days to research it and also to see if I can get a referral fee.
Since covid have done a bunch. All at home.
Just research . I built my base just like mystery shopping.
I don’t think referral links are allowed here.
Just research . I built my base just like mystery shopping.
I don’t think referral links are allowed here.
@wrosie wrote:
I've done market research when I lived in Dallas that paid $100-$250 per hour but normally I had to go into the location and do a focus group. I can get together the information on the three companies there because at least one of them have offices in LA, Chicago, NY etc. also.
Give me a few days to research it and also to see if I can get a referral fee.
Outside of my job (where the surveys are way too long for my preferences but pay me for conducting them), the only surveys I like are the personal feedback surveys about things such as real-life experiences. If these can be completed within two minutes or less, I do not mind pressing a button on the monitor at the self-check in Wal-Mart, answering questions about a non-shop hotel stay, pressing a button to comment on the condition of a public restroom, or providing feedback regarding a customer service interaction. No one pays me for this feedback, but at least I am talking about things that are relevant and about which I know something.
I am leery of [presumed] suggestopedia or other subtle methods that might be embedded into lengthier surveys. I do not want to be manipulated via suggestion or other tactics in the realm of marketing, etc. I do not need to wear a foil hat. I just need to manage exposure levels. haha.
If the surveys you are talking about can be completed within less than two minutes, including reading introductory material, I might complete them. Otherwise, no amount of remuneration will catch and keep my attention.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2021 10:51AM by Shop-et-al.
I am leery of [presumed] suggestopedia or other subtle methods that might be embedded into lengthier surveys. I do not want to be manipulated via suggestion or other tactics in the realm of marketing, etc. I do not need to wear a foil hat. I just need to manage exposure levels. haha.
If the surveys you are talking about can be completed within less than two minutes, including reading introductory material, I might complete them. Otherwise, no amount of remuneration will catch and keep my attention.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2021 10:51AM by Shop-et-al.
$125 an hour keeps my attention
quote=Shop-et-al]
Outside of my job (where the surveys are way too long for my preferences but pay me for conducting them), the only surveys I like are the personal feedback surveys about things such as real-life experiences. If these can be completed within two minutes or less, I do not mind pressing a button on the monitor at the self-check in Wal-Mart, answering questions about a non-shop hotel stay, pressing a button to comment on the condition of a public restroom, or providing feedback regarding a customer service interaction. No one pays me for this feedback, but at least I am talking about things that are relevant and about which I know something.
I am leery of [presumed] suggestopedia or other subtle methods that might be embedded into lengthier surveys. I do not want to be manipulated via suggestion or other tactics in the realm of marketing, etc. I do not need to wear a foil hat. I just need to manage exposure levels. haha.
If the surveys you are talking about can be completed within less than two minutes, including reading introductory material, I might complete them. Otherwise, no amount of remuneration will catch and keep my attention.[/quote]
quote=Shop-et-al]
Outside of my job (where the surveys are way too long for my preferences but pay me for conducting them), the only surveys I like are the personal feedback surveys about things such as real-life experiences. If these can be completed within two minutes or less, I do not mind pressing a button on the monitor at the self-check in Wal-Mart, answering questions about a non-shop hotel stay, pressing a button to comment on the condition of a public restroom, or providing feedback regarding a customer service interaction. No one pays me for this feedback, but at least I am talking about things that are relevant and about which I know something.
I am leery of [presumed] suggestopedia or other subtle methods that might be embedded into lengthier surveys. I do not want to be manipulated via suggestion or other tactics in the realm of marketing, etc. I do not need to wear a foil hat. I just need to manage exposure levels. haha.
If the surveys you are talking about can be completed within less than two minutes, including reading introductory material, I might complete them. Otherwise, no amount of remuneration will catch and keep my attention.[/quote]
@CANADAMOMMY wrote:
$125 an hour keeps my attention
quote=Shop-et-al]
But I would not call what you are doing surveys. I would call them focus groups. Either in person or on Zoom conference calls. They ask a group about a product and possible modifications to something existing or the group's thoughts on a potential new product they are thinking of bringing to market. At least those are what I get the big money for.
I will say I have had some one on one phone interviews, but they are not surveys.They ask me to do more than pick a multiple choice answer. They want a narrative, or I have to tell them my experience or thoughts on something.
I've done focus groups on banks, beer, miter saws, fast casual menu items, potato chips, corn chips, frozen dinners, electric toothbrushes, credit cards, food replacement drinks (Ensure) and more that I can't remember.
MSCs need to have focus groups of shoppers any time they roll out a new program or make changes to existing ones. We wouldn't have so many contradictory, ambiguous, and incomplete information in the guidelines and surveys!
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've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Can they do this in two-minute bytes?
@BirdyC wrote:
MSCs need to have focus groups of shoppers any time they roll out a new program or make changes to existing ones. We wouldn't have so many contradictory, ambiguous, and incomplete information in the guidelines and surveys!
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
So your efforts are fruitful today. I asked for two shops at their listed, bonused fees. This is enough for the situation. Then the shops were assigned at lower but still bonused fees. I did not accept them. Instead, I asked for a pay adjustment that reflects what was shown in the e-mail. I was polite and will wait until I hear from the scheduler. Perhaps there was a glitch in their system. This has never happened before, and there is no reason to think otherwise. Whatever happened will probably be will probably be adjusted soon. So I missed one well paid, might have two others, and might replace a few shifts. I hope so.
*eta*
Huzzah! The scheduler made it right and more than right. That is perfection. !
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2021 02:30AM by Shop-et-al.
*eta*
Huzzah! The scheduler made it right and more than right. That is perfection. !
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2021 02:30AM by Shop-et-al.
@Shop-et-al wrote:
Huzzah! The scheduler made it right and more than right. That is perfection. !
Good news! Glad you got what sound to be a great couple of shops for you.
I've had schedulers make a mistake and assign shops at less than the emailed solicitation that I accepted from, but they've always made it right. But I once had a scheduler send out a bonus email on a shop, and when I self-assigned, the bonus wasn't showing. I asked the scheduler about it, and she said she had made a mistake in her email; the shop wasn't meant to be bonused. I asked her to cancel it for me, and she did--no hard feelings on either side.
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've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I have had a scheduler make a bonus mistake. I understand that things happen. It did help that she is a lovely person.
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