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Why do you mystery shop?

August 19, 2022 09:20PM
Why not get BOTH? Most shops don't care if you have a promo offer when opening. So DOUBLE bonus instead of just skipping the shop.

@sestrahelena wrote:

@MSF wrote:

Where are these shops?

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I will open accounts at banks and investment firms because I like $ and that interests me anyways, so moving $5k into an investment account that will pay me $300 or more for 1 hour is a non-issue to me.

You can save time and writing by not even doing it as a shop. Check nerd wallet for investment rewards. Most large Banks offer incentives for opening new accounts and the bigger the money the bigger the reward.
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August 19, 2022 09:28PM
@metro25782

I'm not sure why you would get confused doing 6 shops. There are plenty of ways to keep track. You can go old school pen/paper and write down details after each shop.

You could email yourself details of the shop you did as you complete them

You could do audio recordings of details as you do the shops.

If you just put down the name, location, time in and time out....then yes...I could see where you might struggle to keep them straight.

You need to do more than minimum details. employee name (appearance), what was said, what was offered? was food good? Did they thank you? How long did you wait to be helped? how many customers where there.

Whatever is important for the shop report, is what you should document so you can refer back to it.

*****************************************************************************

If you don't mind my asking....do you have a system to where you do X number of shops a day? How many shops do you do a day on average?

One day I had six shops and my head was swimming from all of the details and driving.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2022 09:29PM by hbbigdaddy.
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August 19, 2022 11:30PM
@hbbigdaddy wrote:

Why not get BOTH? Most shops don't care if you have a promo offer when opening. So DOUBLE bonus instead of just skipping the shop.

@sestrahelena wrote:

@MSF wrote:

Where are these shops?

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I will open accounts at banks and investment firms because I like $ and that interests me anyways, so moving $5k into an investment account that will pay me $300 or more for 1 hour is a non-issue to me.

You can save time and writing by not even doing it as a shop. Check nerd wallet for investment rewards. Most large Banks offer incentives for opening new accounts and the bigger the money the bigger the reward.

That would be the best scenario. There are just not many banks in all areas of the country that get shopped for account openings. Actually, none that I know of in my area and it's been years since I've seen investment shops.
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August 19, 2022 11:54PM
@sestrahelena

Not sure where you are located, but many major metropolitan areas have BofA. Wells Fargo is not as big as BofA, but they have openings too.
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August 19, 2022 11:59PM
Yep. None of the above for me but I have considered a long trip to Wells Fargo. The timing just never lines up.
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August 20, 2022 12:11AM
@sestrahelena

I just looked, and Bank of America has branches in 38 of the lower 48 states. They have account opening and investment shops every month. Wells Fargo is in all 48 lower states. TD Bank is currently in 16 states plus D.C. and is expanding (they are merging with Horizon Bank which will give it coverage in most of the South) and has account opening shops (their investment shops are all for annuities). Chase now has branches in all 48 lower states and I occasionally see account opening shops for them. PNC is in 27 states and occasionally has account opening shops. Woodforest Bank is in 17 states from Texas to Pennsylvania and has account opening shops every month. I am sure that I see others.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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August 20, 2022 01:17AM
Started MS around 2010, a good friend of mine took services audit position with one of the large audit firms, and clued me in that MS existed. There are a few reasons why I still mystery shop in my free time: 1) I get to see what these companies care about, and how they 'audit' their operations, 2) I'll find an MS for something that I would have done or would have been on the borderline of doing anyways - groceries at a certain location, driving by a fast food place, sending care packages I otherwise would have been too cheap/lazy to make and send, etc., 3) I rack up a ton of credit card and loyalty program reward points, 4) I now have a side business with income through which I can expense mileage, equipment purchases, services, etc.
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August 20, 2022 05:13AM
First, I mystery shop as my main source of Income. I do so as it is one of the few jobs I can do as I have a back disability that prevents me from doing the quote unquote normal jobs. I also enjoy the ability to schedule and work what I am physically able to do and when I am physically able to do. Having a period of time to complete shops works great. The flexibility to reschedule when needed is great, although i rarely ever need to reschedule. I like being able to work a long hard 12-to-14-hour day and take the next one or two off or do 3 quick days of say 4 hours each day and then have a few days off. I also like being able to do a large portion being scheduling, planning routes, and doing reports from home or the road hotel while watching Tv or doing other things. I like being my own boss. I like being able to travel and shop anywhere in the country and/or the world if I wish. So, I would say it is the flexibility I enjoy most. Other things I lie are the useful reimbursements like oil changes, food, and other things such as my phone which I got for free from a shop.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
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August 20, 2022 09:43PM
@Morledzep wrote:

@condorchristi wrote:

@Morledzep wrote:

My regular monthly payments are electricity, cellphone service, and water.

No auto, home or health insurance?

A Dad shopping the Ark-LA-Tex and beyond.
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August 20, 2022 10:42PM
Nothing to insure. There are no structures on the property according to the County... my son pays the auto insurance, and I live below the poverty level, so I can't get medical insurance in this state.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/21/2022 06:05AM by Morledzep.
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August 21, 2022 02:25PM
I just started mystery shopping recently after realizing the recession wasn’t going to be helping in any way for someone that sells online primarily. I currently have a full time E-commerce store, Etsy shop, Amazon handmade shop, eBay and mercari shop and I just took on mystery shopping as another source of income mainly to diversify where my earnings were coming in. I was actually astonished by how many shops I had near me but it makes sense I guess since where I live it’s not the best neighborhood to be living in. I have already done a few and am starting to get the hang of it, and am so glad i found this community.
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August 21, 2022 03:28PM
Welcome! You will find lots on helpful and friendly folks here. You may want to visit the New Mystery Shoppers area of the forum and real all of the topics "pinned" to the top of the list there.

btw, I have made a lot of $$$$ since 2005 by picking up shops in what other shoppers THINK are dangerous area, but which I know to be quite safe. Even "not the best" neighborhoods usually have enough of the great and good residents, who do not get the credit that they deserve.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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August 21, 2022 06:01PM
I shop to avoid grocery shopping/meal prep/kitchen cleaning....and sometimes for side money.
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August 21, 2022 07:22PM
I'm lucky in that my income is for 'extras'. When I quit my part time paycheck job back in 2011 and started mystery shopping as my job I set a goal as to how much money I wanted to bring in. I managed to mostly meet that goal until Covid hit.

Since Hubby retired last year, we're traveling more, and I prioritize my time differently. Some months I meet the goal, and sometimes I don't. Either is OK with him and me.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
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August 27, 2022 05:37PM
You must be very organized! I keep telling myself I can bring in decent money IF I start committing to this like a real job, plus I have access to 3 different states on a regular basis. SMH. You inspire me.
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August 27, 2022 05:50PM
I had never thought of the points benefit of using a credit card. I always use cash, WHERE HAVE I BEEN?? I thought that if I used a card my name might flag something. And you must send the receipt in, any problems with that at all?
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August 27, 2022 06:22PM
You will be surprised how that extra, 1%, 2%, and 3% add up. COVID changed a lot of things, including creating a coin shortage where stores asked for credit card usage. It isn't going to go back. The receipts never show more than the last 4 digits of your card number, so you can safely submit the receipts. Be careful in dining situations where the credit card receipt is not the itemized receipt.
@Shoptosay1 wrote:

I had never thought of the points benefit of using a credit card. I always use cash, WHERE HAVE I BEEN?? I thought that if I used a card my name might flag something. And you must send the receipt in, any problems with that at all?

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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August 27, 2022 07:02PM
I have seen some restaurant receipts show the card holder name plus the last 4 of the card. I don't care about it. What are they really gonna do? Sometimes my wife will use my card and I will use hers. Really depends on where we are and what the bonus categories are on Discover and Chase credit cards.

In 20 years, I have never been questioned about the name on the receipt. I don't think they have the time to mess with/question that. You do the shop correctly and submit proof of payment, who cares what the name is? is that the job of an editor to worry about? They are focused on grammar, sentence structure, punctuation and details of questions being asked in the report.

I will only pay with cash for anything if there is a discount to do so. You gonna charge me the same price, then you as a merchant can eat the CC processing fees. I expect at least 5% discount (if not more) for cash payment.
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August 28, 2022 02:10AM
I even pay most of my utilities with credit card so I can get the points.
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August 28, 2022 11:04AM
For cash back, I only see bank cards offering 2% or less. For hotel, travel, airline...you need to spend pretty big and in those categories specifically...so not sure how you are getting tons of points from MS....unless your spend is huge (thousands per month)...maybe it is, just saying lol. All that said, I only use credit cards for MS since every teeny bit helps and I use them for everything else entirely, I am basically cash-less at this point.
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August 28, 2022 11:05AM
Actually, I also pay my income taxes by credit card....so that works out well.
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August 28, 2022 05:15PM
The Costco Anywhere Visa gives 3% on dining and travel year round.

Both Discover and Chase have rotating cateogires that can get you 5%

I have a US BANK card I use that earns 5% (on my category choice of fast food), so that comes in handy with the Arby's/JITB/5G/RC and other fast food shops.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

For cash back, I only see bank cards offering 2% or less. For hotel, travel, airline...you need to spend pretty big and in those categories specifically...so not sure how you are getting tons of points from MS....unless your spend is huge (thousands per month)...maybe it is, just saying lol. All that said, I only use credit cards for MS since every teeny bit helps and I use them for everything else entirely, I am basically cash-less at this point.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2022 05:18PM by hbbigdaddy.
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August 28, 2022 05:50PM
@Shoptosay1 wrote:

I thought that if I used a card my name might flag something. And you must send the receipt in, any problems with that at all?
Sometimes the shop instructions will specify whether or not to pay with a card or cash.

When using a card, the receipts usually only show the last 4 numbers, but I black them out by using an image editing program before I upload my receipts.

I only have a debit card, though, so I don't get any rewards such as the ones credit cards give. It's definitely a good perk, but I'd rather not have credit cards.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2022 05:53PM by shopnyc.
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August 28, 2022 06:44PM
I have a cash back PNC I use strictly for mystery shopping. It gives back 4% gas, 3% restaurants, 2% groceries, 1% everything else. They offer $200 cash back on first $1000 spent within 90 days. The percentages are good on the first $8000. You don't have to bank with them.
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August 29, 2022 04:28PM
I've done mystery shops for 20 years plus, always part time along with a full time job. I enjoy being my own boss and being able to pick and choose. I live in a rural area so I can usually pick up alot of shops with bonuses. I've also noticed a huge change in mystery shopping companies the last decade, mainly with merges. There are 3 giants now, the rest are small. It makes the shopper pool much bigger and harder to get bonuses. Two of the big 3 are notorious about adding more to the shop every year, but rarely changing the pay. Since shopping is a part time gig I am fortunate to have the luxury to be picky. I had to slow down for a year after finally getting back surgery. At my peak I was averaging 900 a month. It is less than half that now.
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August 29, 2022 08:17PM
Whenever I submit receipts, I just redact the last four digits of the card, and any other personally identifying info. I've never had an issue with editors saying anything about those redactions....

@Shoptosay1 wrote:

I had never thought of the points benefit of using a credit card. I always use cash, WHERE HAVE I BEEN?? I thought that if I used a card my name might flag something. And you must send the receipt in, any problems with that at all?
Reply
August 29, 2022 10:22PM
@tgooberbutt wrote:

Whenever I submit receipts, I just redact the last four digits of the card, and any other personally identifying info. I've never had an issue with editors saying anything about those redactions....

Once upon a time, a LONG time ago, some overachiever at Trendsource tried to force me to send in the receipt pictures with all of the numbers from my transaction showing. I refused, I got management involved, and I never turned in another receipt to them with the transaction numbers visible. The only thing they need to see is the date, time, method of payment, and in Trendsource's case, the number of items purchased. NO MSC needs to see the transaction data.
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