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Shoppers taking shops for low fees-

February 11, 2024 12:56PM
Lots of unaccountable and senile folks around. As for me I am an old man with a great memory who has turned around many things just cannot remember what things

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2024 12:58PM by OldmanJames.
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February 11, 2024 04:56PM
I look at lower paying jobs as a contract I will do five or 6 low paying jobs in a 15 or 20 mile radius and look at the total pay instead of the per location pay..I figure I am building my reputation at the Mystery shopping company and will be offered more jobs.Will I do only 2 at a low rate of pay no I will not.
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February 11, 2024 06:58PM
@sestrahelena wrote:


And as far as upper level, executive, administrative, College degree type of jobs, there seem to be different opinions as to whether there really are available jobs or not, depending on which news source or agency we get information from. The tech crash certainly had a big impact on a lot of industries.

I'm a teacher with a master's degree plus 30 credits, four state certifications, 18 years experience. I get a base salary (top step! 67K), but any extra work (summer school, curriculum development, 10th period, etc.) is paid at 23.32/hr. I make more mystery shopping, make my own schedule for those jobs (more or less), and I've yet to be bitten, punched, spat on, kicked, choked, or cursed at while mystery shopping. I'll take mystery shopping for my extra pay, thanks.

Edited because I accidentally unformated the quote and it took me way too long to figure out how to fix it.

Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2024 07:01PM by mysterioso412.
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February 11, 2024 09:53PM
@mysterioso412 wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:


And I've yet to be bitten, punched, spat on, kicked, choked, or cursed at while mystery shopping. I'll take mystery shopping for my extra pay, thanks.
.

@mysterios..... and that's the parents!!! The kids are worse! Just kidding... I have similar credentials and a bit more experience... also a licensed real estate agent... I don't do any of those things anymore. I retired and when I did I didn't want to do anything that involved requiring me to think or have any consequential responsibility. So, I mystery shop. It is painless and simpleminded in comparison. I'm curious... where do you teach (state)? You could make more than your $67K salary by mystery shopping?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2024 09:54PM by 1forum1.
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February 11, 2024 10:48PM
Me too..retired teacher....If you were in NJ at top step with +30 you'd be making close to or over $100k. After returning to teaching after a 10 year hiatus to raise my sons, I was a part-timer. I was nowhere near the top of the scale and only have a small pension, but I don't make more mystery shopping that's for sure. What state are you in?

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain
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February 12, 2024 12:05PM
California...... and absolutely if you got 30 years in you would be making 100K plus. Heck, no way I could do 30 years though. Then again I started later in life. When I retired, we had just got a new contract and I was also moving over a step, scheduled to get a 15K raise. I could care less. I quit and did not look back. Did some real estate stuff for a couple more years, both as an agent and investor, and tired of the stress associated with that. So, here I am, doing mystery shops.

Regarding shoppers taking shops for low fees, it seems to me this has always been part and parcel of this business. I have seen this topic discussed repeatedly over the 5 years or so I have been in this forum. The argument is always the same..."If people would just wait....." I sympathize with that viewpoint, but forget about it. They ain't waitin..... And I am not mad at those who accept jobs for whatever fee they choose. That's part of the nature of this business I know I have to cope with.
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February 12, 2024 02:23PM
1forum1 opines--If people would just wait....." I sympathize with that viewpoint, but forget about it. They ain't waitin.....

Bob agrees.

1f1 adds--And I am not mad at those who accept jobs for whatever fee they choose.

Bob comments--Nor am I. I definitely recommend a business plan that details work this is acceptable. I have three categories, as a lifelong IC, with a strong accent upon the "I."
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February 12, 2024 03:00PM
Please let us know (not being sarcastic) how that works out - i.e. starting low ends up making sense.
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February 12, 2024 03:04PM
I keep wondering who signs up for the Cube Smart shops at $15 per? not long ago, I lived in an area of the Mid Atlantic where I had about 10 storage unit facilities within 5 miles of my home. Average pay for each location was $30-$40 per shop, so basically I made double of what they're willing to pay for these now - but different client, different MSC it seems. No, thank you.
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February 13, 2024 03:44AM
@BarefootBliss: So many storage facilities! There aren't that many storage facilities in this little town, and none of the brands I see on job boards is here. Well, maybe one brand is here but I have not seen the local location on a job board. Anyway, storage shoppers can drive in and out of suburbs of the nearest real city (90 minutes away) and complete multiple locations. Your situation for storage shops sounds naturally efficient.

My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2024 03:45AM by Shop-et-al.
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February 13, 2024 02:16PM
yes, when I could get 30 or 40 bucks per location, that made a lot of sense for me to do. Does not make sense at 15 bucks and if I have to go to another city, just no, not for pennies. everyone is different.
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February 13, 2024 06:53PM
someone near me is scooping up all the shops and merchandising at low $9-$12 base fees the last month or two and they’re not simple jobs either. they’ve effectively shrunk mine and probably other’s income these past couple months as the shops would go up to $20-$40 each and then people would grab them.

to each their own though, looks like my mystery shopping days right now are on pause save for a few krogers.

someone posted about the future of ms’ing looking quite bleak and i have to say i agree with them. between consolidation of companies, programs not renewing and jobs adding on extra work for no raise in the fee, its not looking bright in my area.
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February 15, 2024 03:47AM
This is actually more of a hobby for me. I find myself a little obsessive tho, and luckily am in an area where there are few shoppers. Once you get the hang of a shop, it only gets easier. I agree the first couple of times you feel like it's really not worth it.
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February 15, 2024 03:53AM
but they may not have gotten them, because others are "waiting". its a matter of balance. cant believe how often I've waited for bonused shops and the next day they are gone. my loss.
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February 15, 2024 11:55PM
@nellybean212 wrote:

but they may not have gotten them, because others are "waiting". its a matter of balance. cant believe how often I've waited for bonused shops and the next day they are gone. my loss.

I’m playing the waiting game right now. I was offered some $$$ shops out near the Texas Mexico border. So I’m trekking out there tomorrow. Downloaded some podcasts, got my pistachios; I’m ready to roll! Right across the street from the place I’m shopping is a Panda Express. I’ve gotten $90+ bonuses before at this location. So I’ve waited. First the bonus was $5. Now it’s $10. Maybe I’ll get an e-mail tomorrow from a desperate scheduler offering $20 or $30 (the “please help” e-mail came on the 20th last month so I doubt I’ll see it tomorrow--but there is always hope). Meanwhile, I have to eat tonight. The panda 2 miles from my apartment was bonused at $5....by the time I saw the $10 bonus...someone had snatched it up. Grrr. The one out in the boonies is still there and I will do it for the $18 they will pay but the waiting dance is one that comes with a cruel unforgiving partner.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2024 01:46AM by metro25782.
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February 16, 2024 01:20AM
I did my first $5 gas shop at base pay thinking it would be super simple. Nope! Joke was on me.
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February 16, 2024 11:38PM
"Thank you, Damien!"
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February 17, 2024 08:59AM
I get it.

@sestrahelena wrote:

"Thank you, Damien!"
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February 17, 2024 05:03PM
@ServiceAward wrote:

Depending on the job, I will take some for the base pay. Some I will not do for base. Another factor is proximity to my house, and whether I have anything else scheduled. I run an online business, too, and right now I am devoting about 70% of my work time to that because we are headed into the heart of shopping season. I have a handful of mystery shopping and audit jobs left to do Tuesday, then that will be it for me for the month as far as those jobs go.
My decision to take a job does not mater whether it is offered at base pay or with a bonus. All that matters is whether or not the pay meets the minimum amount that I will accept for the job. If the job is offered at or above my minimum requirement, I take it immediately and never play the "wait for the bonus" game. There will always be bonused shops for EOM, remote, and hard-to-fill jobs.
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February 17, 2024 09:27PM
The MSCS don't really look at how many low paying jobs you've done with them a a way to build your reputation with them. Unless these are your your first 2-3 shops with a brand new MSC, then ok you are building something. After that, you are just demonstrating to them that there is someone in your market who will do projects at base.

@Carolforreal wrote:

I look at lower paying jobs as a contract I will do five or 6 low paying jobs in a 15 or 20 mile radius and look at the total pay instead of the per location pay..I figure I am building my reputation at the Mystery shopping company and will be offered more jobs.Will I do only 2 at a low rate of pay no I will not.
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February 18, 2024 12:20PM
I do these so long as near other shops I’m doing or on way home from work. I tend to be picky about low fees but these and the Samsung phone shops (around $16) are such quick visits and such easy forms (5-10 minutes!) it’s fine for me.

@Cassiespark wrote:

The MSCS don't really look at how many low paying jobs you've done with them a a way to build your reputation with them. Unless these are your your first 2-3 shops with a brand new MSC, then ok you are building something. After that, you are just demonstrating to them that there is someone in your market who will do projects at base.

@Carolforreal wrote:

I look at lower paying jobs as a contract I will do five or 6 low paying jobs in a 15 or 20 mile radius and look at the total pay instead of the per location pay..I figure I am building my reputation at the Mystery shopping company and will be offered more jobs.Will I do only 2 at a low rate of pay no I will not.
Reply
February 19, 2024 06:20PM
I see some Applebees revealed photo shops near me for $10. No takers yet LOL. What, nobody jumping at that for $10? I can look through the weekly grocery flyer and save $10 in minutes....from home.
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March 03, 2024 02:01AM
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