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The answer is

April 27, 2011 03:02AM
I know we talk and discuss shops about FUEL prices. And how to string together shops without going out of the way.
I signed up for the shop b4 knowing they did not sell gum or bottled water.

This week I am doing 10 shops. No reimbursed fee. A pruchase is necessary. The cheepest item in this store is $3.75. NO comments required 3 to 4 sentences.

Now to get $100 I must spend $37.

The question is, "Did You receive a reasonable value for your money? Yes or No?

How would U the poster/shoppers honestly answer this question.

Remenber the $37 is not spent at once but in $3.75 intervals. :-)
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April 27, 2011 03:16AM
How much is the shop fee and how far do you have to drive? The answers to those questions will determine how much you will make.
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April 27, 2011 03:22AM
A $10 purchase shop (with reimbursed purchase) is acceptable to me if it is very close and/or I can do it along with other close-by shops. Subtracting a mandatory $3.75 purchase from a $10 payment makes the shop payment $6.25 .... totally not worth it to me. If I had already accepted the shops, I would follow through and do them but I would not be happy about it and I would certainly not do them again. By the time you pay for gas, what's left? Of what is left, how much per hour would you say you are making, counting accepting shop, reading guidelines, travel to and from, doing the shop, writing the report? That's a big no for me.
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April 27, 2011 03:34AM
"Value" is one of those judgmental things and is very personal. To me, for example, the price of a cup of coffee at Starbucks for a couple of bucks can NEVER constitute "good value". Meanwhile I know numbers of people who think the coffee is fabulous and worth every penny. So really the question comes down to how you feel about your purchase. I have been in situations where the cheapest item I could find was such an incredibly poor value that I purchased something more expensive where at least I didn't feel totally ripped off. I would have been annoyed with an unreimbursed purchase on a $10 shop, but if the $3.75 item was something I could use and wasn't readily available for a lot less elsewhere, I would mark "Yes". Otherwise I would likely mark "No".

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2011 03:36AM by Flash.
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April 27, 2011 06:29AM
Maybe you can pick out some early stocking stuffers are something. IDk, kind of sucks to be in that situation. When I was a new shopper It seemed like I was falling for all of the shops that were a total waste of time but I learned quickly. Maybe you can call the MSC and ask for a bonus since you are doing 10 of them.
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April 27, 2011 01:31PM
If the cheapest item in the store is $3.75, is it something useful? If so, I would consider it an okay shop. If the item is not useful and purchased only to meet the requirements, it's a dud for me.

To answer the value question (I struggle with that one frequently, as I'm frugal) the item would have to be useful and of quality, not just cheap.
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April 27, 2011 01:37PM
I finally got smart at all those $1 purchase gas shops. Instead of buying candy or gum or something super overpriced, I started buying a bottle of soda at each one. I made it to yesterday this month without buying sodas at the grocery and I'll get reimbursed for nearly all of them. Chips work for the kids but I go ahead and buy a $2 bag and get my $1 back. I consider it like a coupon.

As long as you buy something you can use, there is added value to the $6.50 per shop.

It's the same concept as doing a ff restaurant. You get a small fee but somebody gets to eat. lol Doing a Hardees drive thru today. I get $9 and Ron gets lunch and I get Diet Coke. lol

Today I Will Choose Joy!

"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!
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April 27, 2011 01:52PM
I know this is not the popular answer. If you do not feel it is worth it cancel the shops with the company or the scheduler. Life is to short and time is the most valuable asset you own. No one on their death bed wants more money. You are in business to make money and not do work for works sake. If the shops are due immediately do as few as you can and cancel the rest. It will not make you popular with the company and if you live in an area where you really need this company's work you may have to do them.
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April 27, 2011 04:02PM
Personally I think the cost for you is too high, buying something you won't use, not a good deal, however, if you could buy some food, or drink for the road, yes, it's o.k. Why no reimbursement?

Live consciously....
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April 28, 2011 02:50AM
TY TY TY

I didnot know what the cost of the requiremnet item was until I did the first shop. There are about 15 of these shops in a small 20 mile radius. Which is why I sign up for so many. As for fuel, they are within walking distance or on a major road trip so it was easy to hop on local transporation.

Some of you hit the mark on point. Taste and sight was the attraction. I could not save it for latter, I could not eat it tomorrow, As a matter of fact it had to be eaten b4 I did the report, b/c I could not save it. Eat it or throw it awwy.

I can't nor want to cancel the rest of the shops. Had I known the cost of the requirement b4, I would have not signed up for so many. I too am frugal,

I lnow now I will not make anything on this shop. The fee is a flat fee, with no reimbursement for purshace. The required item awas the adult price. Every NO answer requires a explaination.
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April 28, 2011 03:19AM
Can the item be put into a Thermos, for example, to save for later? It sounds like you are dealing with something that due to temperature is a 'now or never' item. I know that when folks were doing routes of Starbucks years ago they carried a thermos, ordered the same beverage at all locations and after all the in-store nonsense, in the car poured it into the thermos to take home and share.
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April 28, 2011 08:05AM
The value really has nothing to do with mystery shopping, you spending $37.50 to get $100, etc. The store simply wants to know if you were randomly buying the item, if you feel it is a reasonable value priced at $3.75. You have to decide that.

It's food but it has an "adult" price? Are you sure there isn't something else you can buy that is cheaper or that doesn't need to be thrown away?
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April 28, 2011 06:43PM
I keep an insulated bag in the car for storing all the ff and anything refrigerated in on my travels. A thermos is a good idea. You surely can't save ice cream, but most other perishibles can be saved. I feed my family all the stuff I collect and only collect what can be used later.

Today I Will Choose Joy!

"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!
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April 30, 2011 11:04AM
NO. NO. NO I did not receive a reasonable value for my money.

I have completed the shops. I have gain 2 pounds. I hate ice cream and sugar cones of the tiniest size. or any size now, for that matter. I am on the stairmaster now as we cyber.

In 60-90 days I can expect my $48. (I am taking the deduction it is going to cost me for indulging in such tasty delight.) I made my GC sick of this "hippy-eco friendly" brand for awhile.

If only they gave the customer enough to put in a thermos. That would of been lovely but not..... At least the cones weren't the cardboard tasting one. I think there was enough frozen stuff to fill half a cup. and that is not alot.

Hopefully the same editor/scheduler won't br reading all my reports. I kept saying things like---> I could have "bought a loaf of bread, a gallom of milk, 2# box of rice and had some left over for the next week." If he puts the reports together he will get a grocery list for a month. $37 is not cheap.

Thanks for all the answers and concerns. Now if this MSC would include the purchase fee in the reimbursement.
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