I’m undecided whether I’m just becoming generally disinterested in mystery shopping or whether more and more assignments just aren’t worth the effort. I mean if, based on the pay/reimbursement, I’m even intrigued enough to click on them and I often barely begin to read the requirements when most assignments seem to quickly exceed their work:adequate pay ratio.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2025 01:47AM by DT.

Disclaimer: This is not a direct response to OP, but rather a general observation. No harm intended.

I honestly don't think a lot of people are meant to be mystery shoppers. Sometimes, when I read how some experienced and long-time shoppers overreact to setbacks or the kinds of questions being asked, I can't help but wonder how successful or suited some shoppers are.

After reading some more, I was not aware before that some shoppers rely heavily on this as income and to support themselves. There are some members that I am fond of reading and are very savvy. But for whatever reason, they are in an undesirable situation or circumstance.

I remember reading somewhere here or somewhere else what a full-time shopper was making annually, even in a low-cost-of-living area. I felt bad for that shopper, knowing that I made significantly more than that straight out of college many years ago.

Maybe it was here or Reddit, but I read about people who get others started in mystery shopping. After a while, you just know that some aren't fit for it or have unreal expectations.

Also, I think some are instead wired for gig-type work like merchandising, audits, and reveals.

I am lucky to have found that sweet spot of deriving value from the shops that I choose. More and more, I have thought of mystery shopping as a nice break and a reason to get out

I have posted the below on several occasions.

During my 41 yr. sales career, if I were failing with a product, I would quickly bail. As I had retired shortly before my first shop in April of 2003, I continued attempting to be successful up to 2007. At that point, I decided to either radically change my game plan or cease shopping.

If any shopper is unhappy with the business, perhaps it merely requires a different approach. I went from being a dismal failure to resounding success.

@DT wrote:

I’m undecided whether I’m just becoming generally disinterested in mystery shopping or whether more and more assignments just aren’t worth the effort. I mean if, based on the pay/reimbursement, I’m even intrigued enough to click on them and I often barely begin to read the requirements when most assignments seem to quickly exceed their work:adequate pay ratio.

It can be that some are legit not worth the pay for what is required of you. It could also be burnout.
I've backed off a lot of shops I used to normally do due to personal matters and weeks of extreme heat and humidity this summer.

Wait until the tariffs kick in and these companies can no longer afford to have mystery shopping in their budgets. The incentive to work for peanuts will continue to decline. The MSC’s started prepping us for it months ago. I haven’t seen any shops for reasonable pay in months, so I’m not taking the scraps. When it no longer makes economic sense, it’s time for a plan B, and leave these companies in the rear view. It’s what they deserve.

It can be both, but the unfavorable work:adequate pay ratio is likely the bigger issue. The fee rates are largely stagnant while many costs we have in life have gone up dramatically in recent years. Gig work has always kinda been a race to the bottom, and mystery shopping / auditing mostly follows suit

I can’t believe some of the offers I see on the field app. Who’s doing these $2 jobs?!

If I’m not mistaken, ‘Not worthy’ is from Wayne’s World….Wayne’s World! Party time, Excellent! BBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTT!

@Minime wrote:

If I’m not mistaken, ‘Not worthy’ is from Wayne’s World….Wayne’s World! Party time, Excellent! BBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTT!

Oh my gosh, you’re right! I attributed it to the wrong Mike Myers movie! Haha

There. Fixed Now. :-)

@paniconmon wrote:

Disclaimer: This is not a direct response to OP, but rather a general observation. No harm intended.

I honestly don't think a lot of people are meant to be mystery shoppers. Sometimes, when I read how some experienced and long-time shoppers overreact to setbacks or the kinds of questions being asked, I can't help but wonder how successful or suited some shoppers are.

After reading some more, I was not aware before that some shoppers rely heavily on this as income and to support themselves. There are some members that I am fond of reading and are very savvy. But for whatever reason, they are in an undesirable situation or circumstance.

I remember reading somewhere here or somewhere else what a full-time shopper was making annually, even in a low-cost-of-living area. I felt bad for that shopper, knowing that I made significantly more than that straight out of college many years ago.

Maybe it was here or Reddit, but I read about people who get others started in mystery shopping. After a while, you just know that some aren't fit for it or have unreal expectations.

Also, I think some are instead wired for gig-type work like merchandising, audits, and reveals.

I am lucky to have found that sweet spot of deriving value from the shops that I choose. More and more, I have thought of mystery shopping as a nice break and a reason to get out

No offense taken, my friend.

I will, however, share that I consistently receive -and have for many years- positive feedback after submitting reports for the assignments I do choose to complete. That does not support your hypothesis that I may not be ‘’successful’ at Mystery Shopping or ‘suited’ for Mystery Shopping Assignments. I’m confident that I, along with I would expect quite a lot of other workers, can and do perform at or above expectations.

I also believe I do not have ‘unreal’ (unreasonable) expectations when it comes to the issue of reimbursement/ compensation. When considering whether to accept an assignment, I consider things such as travel expenses, my time, my work, etc. and weigh them against compensation such as reimbursement, payment and any service/experience/product gained from completing the assignment. Afterwards, that seems to be leaving fewer and fewer opportunities that are worth it (to me). But based on some of the posts I’ve read recently relating to this issue, I feel like I’m in pretty good company.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2025 02:32AM by DT.

DT, I don't give a @#$%&

Disclaimer: My post was not in direct response to OP.

@paniconmon wrote:

DT, I don't give a @#$%&

Disclaimer: My post was not in direct response to OP.

Please forgive my confusion, but for someone who says they “don’t give a @#$%&”, you gave a @#$%& to read my original post, you gave a @#$%& to reply with a lengthy response, you gave a @#$%& to read my lengthy response to your lengthy response and then you gave another @#$%& to immediately respond again.

I don't give a @#$%& about your specific shopper history

Take this for what it is. I'm honestly not trying to be a jerk here. If you don't like the parameters of a shop, close it, and move on. If you do like it, accept and do the shop.

I apologize. If you want to keep posting about your frustrations, that is your right and prerogative

“I'm honestly not trying to be a jerk here.”

and

“Please don’t feed the MSF Trolls”

LOL



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/07/2025 03:02AM by DT.

Not going to lie, you got me LOL now

Real talk, DT, in my book, adding a positive contribution to the community is, for example, helping a new member. Not repeating the same gibberish we all know and eliciting sympathy. I even saw one member who's done this for over 10 years.

@DT wrote:

I’m undecided whether I’m just becoming generally disinterested in mystery shopping or whether more and more assignments just aren’t worth the effort. I mean if, based on the pay/reimbursement, I’m even intrigued enough to click on them and I often barely begin to read the requirements when most assignments seem to quickly exceed their work:adequate pay ratio.

This is good. A good thing to post. Because a large number of posters seem to have this dilemma, I now suggest a new subforum. We could call it 'gripes, beefs, annoyances, @%^&^_$, and otherwise unprintable aspects of the gig industry' (or whatever other people prefer).

[Mods, does this belong in the meta subforum?]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2025 05:30AM by Shop-et-al.

@DT wrote:

I’m undecided whether I’m just becoming generally disinterested in mystery shopping or whether more and more assignments just aren’t worth the effort. I mean if, based on the pay/reimbursement, I’m even intrigued enough to click on them and I often barely begin to read the requirements when most assignments seem to quickly exceed their work:adequate pay ratio.

"Party Time! Excellent!"

@paniconmon wrote:

Disclaimer: This is not a direct response to OP, but rather a general observation. No harm intended.

I honestly don't think a lot of people are meant to be mystery shoppers. Sometimes, when I read how some experienced and long-time shoppers overreact to setbacks or the kinds of questions being asked, I can't help but wonder how successful or suited some shoppers are.

After reading some more, I was not aware before that some shoppers rely heavily on this as income and to support themselves. There are some members that I am fond of reading and are very savvy. But for whatever reason, they are in an undesirable situation or circumstance.

I remember reading somewhere here or somewhere else what a full-time shopper was making annually, even in a low-cost-of-living area. I felt bad for that shopper, knowing that I made significantly more than that straight out of college many years ago.

Maybe it was here or Reddit, but I read about people who get others started in mystery shopping. After a while, you just know that some aren't fit for it or have unreal expectations.

Also, I think some are instead wired for gig-type work like merchandising, audits, and reveals.

I am lucky to have found that sweet spot of deriving value from the shops that I choose. More and more, I have thought of mystery shopping as a nice break and a reason to get out

What you are seeing (or reading, actually) is a cross-section of life experiences from a small slice of activity called mystery shopping. You'll find a variety of people here with different backgrounds just like in other spaces (well, I can safely assume you can omit CEO's, President's, the homeless and prisoners).

I view it as another form of coupon clipping, gift card hacking, or travel miles. I'd never consider it to be an earned income.

I believe you have a realistic, general observation.

@DT wrote:

"...When considering whether to accept an assignment, I consider things such as travel expenses, my time, my work, etc. and weigh them against compensation such as reimbursement, payment and any service/experience/product gained from completing the assignment."



This! It's ALWAYS about the ROI (Return On Investment). Always! Well, unless you are of the belief that you are doing mystery shopping for some social justice cause...ROFL.

This is the same viewpoint students (and parents) should have about enrolling in college. But there are people who complain about how much they have to pay for a degree that employers aren't looking to hire. Where is the ROI? Go figure!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2025 10:26AM by maverick1.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

@DT wrote:

I’m undecided whether I’m just becoming generally disinterested in mystery shopping or whether more and more assignments just aren’t worth the effort. I mean if, based on the pay/reimbursement, I’m even intrigued enough to click on them and I often barely begin to read the requirements when most assignments seem to quickly exceed their work:adequate pay ratio.

This is good. A good thing to post. Because a large number of posters seem to have this dilemma, I now suggest a new subforum. We could call it 'gripes, beefs, annoyances, @%^&^_$, and otherwise unprintable aspects of the gig industry' (or whatever other people prefer).

[Mods, does this belong in the meta subforum?]

I agree I should not have gone off on DT. My apologies

From a technical standpoint (features, enhancements, fixes), it appears that the forums are what the forums are?