Does anyone know of any mystery shop companies that need LapTop testers or anything of that sort which would allow you to keep the laptop?

Don't mean to rain on any parades, but the myth of laptop tester jobs seems to have been born out of the scam mystery shopping sites that want you to sign up for $500 or $600 of services before you get that "$500 shopping spree" to evaluate or that "Caribbean Cruise" to evaluate or that "Laptop to evaluate". Realistically, what kind of company would have a mystery shopper evaluate their laptop? These things are tested by the manufacturers and shipped out to direct purchasers or to retailers. They may have had focus groups try a machine prototype, but even that is dubious. Software is most frequently tested by more professional computer programmers who Beta Test the software to find the bugs and flaws in the program itself.

So now let us assume for a moment that there WAS an MSP with a laptop testing program. Obviously every shopper, scheduler and employee would want a piece of THAT job. If the jobs were still available down to the shopper level, do you think that a shopper newly signed up with the MSP, who was a totally unknown quantity to them, would have a laptop sent to them to evaluate? IF there were such jobs available--and I have never heard a whisper of anyone seeing, much less getting one--don't you think that the job would be awarded to a long time shopper who was always there for them and always turned in client ready work? And IF there were such jobs available, do you think that if someone had knowledge of it they would share it? Or would they just keep applying for it themself? Such a job would be unlikely to require a specific geographic location of a shopper.

So as a brief reality check. Consider that most shoppers feel extraordinarily lucky when they land a fine dining job where they are advancing more than $100 of their own money to cover the tab until they are reimbursed. The report they are doing for their dinner is usually long and detailed, often taking several hours to do. And they still need to wait for their reimbursement. Until the check is safely in their hands they are at risk of losing their "investment" in dinner if the shop is rejected for any reason and most generally they will not be paid a fee at all. Does this sound like an environment where they would be handing out laptops?

I agree.

Have ya tried financing or a rent to own laptop? I know its not free, but hey its legal and realistic. We buy our big ticket purchases at Arrons, RentaCenter, or Everybody rents. Simply because they offer 100 days same as cash, for us thats great, there no penalty charges, financing, or credit stuff. Plus if we can't meet our desired payoff time the payments are small, and usually they will extend 100 days to six months. Our county holds a big tent sale every year that sells refurbished stuff for low low cost and with warranty, its an idea.

Thank you all for your replies. You learn by asking and I received some realistic answers. But Kristee, I think that is what I will do, contact some of these rent a centers and see what type of deals they have. There are a few here in California, like rent a center and, I think Aarons. Thanks All!!

There are a variety of places to get very inexpensive laptops. Check out this page:

[www.dell.com]

Jacob

Interestingly the one I have seen that are not refurbished ones that you get the most "bang for the buck" are at Walmart. I considered refurbished ones at buy.com and globalcomputer.com where they frequently have some good deals, but for what I REALLY needed (i.e. not a whole lot of extra toys I would seldom if ever use), Walmart was the lowest.

Walmart is a good location for "bang for youe buck,"
Dell is cheap if you can pay cash, we recently tried. We tried to pay half in cash and finance the rest on 600$, and with good credit we couldn't get fianced.

Cynthia, we recently figured this tid bit out when 100 days same as cash, or six months, pay almost all of the product off before your days are up and then have them work say the last 100$ over a year, your payments will be like 15$, but they warranty the product!!!!


Our friends and family come to visit and are amazed by how much nice stuff we have, and how much we have accumlicated with so little income. I have so learned how to get what I want. I don't want to keep up with the Joneses but, I do feel we deserve a better life. (some things we need) If ya need anything else you can private message me.
I gotta
go tend to this funeral arrangements now, BYE yall!!!

Thank you all for your ideas. I have lot's of researching to do, but at least I have some leads on where to start. Take care and happy MS!!

All Shop N Chek / Market Force independent contractors get a 12% discount at Dell. It is on their homepage.

You're very perceptive, Jude. Thanks so much.

12% is like a big coupon, thats great if ya got the money.

I didn't know that by working with Shop N Chek, you can get a 12% discount.
Thank You!