I began signing up during Christmas break. My old mystery shopping company that I worked for years ago does not have anything right now. Shoppers don't contact them. They contact shoppers. I had three other companies. I contacted the other two, but the third apparently has gone out of business. Then I began signing up for every company I could find. I did my first audit on January 6th. I have been shopping regularly. I am working part-time at a college. I have to be there when classes are in session, so I sometimes have a break of four hours. I used to substitute teach, but this schedule won't let me out during the morning or afternoon that the schools use for their scheduling blocks. So I mystery shop. All of the things you say have troubled me. I live in a small town that has suddenly been growing by leaps and bounds. I do get shops here. I realized that I have to approach mystery shopping in the same way that I did substitute teaching. I didn't wait for the schools to call me. I called them. I did favors for them. I took assignments no one liked for teachers no one liked.
I realize now that I am working myself to death and still not doing well. My husband lost his job three years ago, we had a small business that failed, and we are supporting a son who lives in another family house. Sometimes our utilities are shut off. Right now, I don't have access to the house phone and the fax machine. We are trying to get the company we leased the copy machine (for our business) from to decide it will do them good to come get it. The electricity was shut off already this month, and the whole bill still isn't paid. To top it off, I get lots of computer problems. I lost three jobs I'd already done because the Internet problem caused me to miss the report deadline.
My question is do any of you actually make a living doing this. I've just started, so I've only been paid for two shops. I do take those really poorly paying shops and right now I am negotiating with the company to make two travel loops to hit the small towns. I, too, am looking at repeat jobs. I spend an inordinate amount of time searching the websites for more work, but I have received phone calls out of the blue asking me to take jobs.
I live 30 minutes from a major city. I shop there also. I will travel up to 45 miles if I have several shops. Right now, I lose time and money because I get stuck on a highway where I can't find the right exit. This city isn't laid out with straight streets. I think that a few months from now I will know the locations of the repeat jobs and that problem will be nil.
My husband and I work long hours to try to meet bills, but the jobs are very poorly paying. My husband recently added up his hours and got a bachelor's degree. I have a master's degree. Our fields either don't want us or are practicing age discrimination. I would like to know that I get so efficient at mystery shopping that it is worth it. I started looking for coupons for specific shops, but at least one company won't let the mystery shopper use coupons. I have been able to get meals, my husband's eyeglasses, and a birthday present from mystery shop jobs. I am looking for a shop to repair my car.