Is it just me or is it very slow these days?

August 28, 2025 06:42AM

I don't know if I am the only one experiencing what seems to be quite a slow time for mystery shopping. The summer started off fine but lately, especially in the last month, I have felt it to be quite slower than it normally has been. What are your experiences?

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August 28, 2025 12:24PM

This is our new economy and it will only get worse.

August 28, 2025 12:44PM

Same

August 28, 2025 01:09PM

I haven't done a single job all week. My family is like, why are you home? Very quiet.

August 28, 2025 02:29PM

It seems some of my favorite jobs no longer exist. Some of the smaller jobs I could do as filler or pair with larger jobs and have a route make sense. Now, without the bigger jobs, the little jobs don't make sense for me to go out and fight traffic for.

It's kind of depressing but I'm trying to shift my attitude and find other income streams to fill the gap.

August 28, 2025 03:10PM

Hmm
I’m exhausted from working MS jobs after work every single day this month.

Try applying for new companies you read about here.
A lot of people use Presto (I don’t unless it’s a special project I’ve been assigned). ISecretShop app has a ton of work and you may find new companies there too.

August 28, 2025 03:27PM

To date, I have completed 132 shops in 2025, with 2 being Category1-money and none Category 2-leisure. The remaining 130 have been Cat 3-defrayment of travel expenses, While that category definitely serves a purpose, I would much prefer greenbacks for my reward.

As I am in the classification of non-needy and extensive narrative seems to no longer been desired, MSCs continue to adjust the Arab:camel business model to squeeze as much profit as the marketplace will bear. That situation does not in the slightest bother me. I am perfectly content to sit unless my fee requirements are met. I do, though, feel empathy for those who must continue to toil for a pittance.

3 yrs. ago, a bottom paying MSC's scheduler contacted me concerning Shell Oil work. The pay, as I recall, was $12.50+$6+$1, with a minimum of 25 required pics. In addition, I would not be permitted to purchase 93 octane gas my vehicle required; I passed.

August 28, 2025 04:44PM

The $1 reimbursements are a joke and proof that these corporations are no longer investing in this type of consumer experience. It’s all about user experience online these days.

The other day, a young girl asked “mystery shopper?” After I asked for a receipt for my laffy taffy.

My response was “yup”

What do they expect ?

August 28, 2025 07:14PM

I've been very busy, mostly with site experiences and sticker removals at gas stations. I'd be even busier if I were approved for loan and checking account queries. And it would be great if I were sent an approval / denial email letting me know the results of my application.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks

August 28, 2025 08:05PM

I'm only getting a handful of emails a day. I was thinking maybe need to go back into all my Sassie accounts and reverify my email address or something.

August 28, 2025 09:41PM

Antipop, you made me smile. That is hilarious!!

August 29, 2025 12:05AM

July was my busiest month in the past 4 years! August has been pretty slow, but hoping September will be great.

August 29, 2025 02:08AM

It has been very slow for me, but August of last year was slow too. This year it is a little slower, because a couple of clients discontinued their programs, and I think those who dove into the sticker removals are also picking up other shops with them.

Two years ago, August was very busy for me. That was before a bunch of stuff moved to Presto.

August 29, 2025 02:24AM

I find the last week of the month is always slow for me. I am always open for "bonus" shops. I just did a dinner for a $40 bonus earlier this week.

I use this time to clean out my fridge and freezer and also utilize GIFT CARDS ( talking about you, BJs) and rewards from dining apps.

That said, My shopping year to date is much less than last year (Sonic, Cane's, car washes, etc are missing).

August 29, 2025 05:11AM

I don't think I'm having any issues. I have dinner shops scheduled, I have grocery shops scheduled, I've done 9 gas stations this week, and a similar number last week. I take most Sundays and Wednesdays off. Unless I get something that pays really well.

I know I'm working less than last year, and probably a lot less than the years before that. But I'm working as much as I want, mostly. I could use a few more paying dinner shops. I'd like to go back to doing Faux Chinese food shops, and I don't know what's going on with the artsy, groovy pizza restaurants, I hope they come back soon.

August 29, 2025 10:43AM

@shopperbob wrote:

I do, though, feel empathy for those who must continue to toil for a pittance.

Thanks for the empathy SB. There are days when a Mexican match stick girl can beat my take home.

August 29, 2025 01:49PM

@joanna81 wrote:

I'm only getting a handful of emails a day. I was thinking maybe need to go back into all my Sassie accounts and reverify my email address or something.

same with me! I am not getting the usual job posting emails and I am missing jobs because of it. I checked the profiles and the email is all on. I was playing around with stuff last night but not sure how to refresh that!

August 30, 2025 12:27AM

Weird, I am not getting Sassie emails either. I can't figure out what I did or how to fix it. I noticed they were all turned off in my profile somehow and and turned them all back on, but nada. I checked my block list and didn't find any Sassie email addresses there. Any one have any suggestions? Thanks.

August 30, 2025 12:47AM

I have not done as much MS as I fell into preferring audits (though minimal gas) and other 1099. Now that I am looking at picking up more variety agian to leverage possible income opportunities, it seems as if there are not as many businesses seeking this kind of feedback. If you think about how petroleum industry has cut back on visits, different stores declaring bankrtupcy or closing locations, there has been a steady constriction in type of assignments or an assignment pool. It seems like finding basic merchandising is a way to close some of the gap if you can get in with the right compan(ies).

Good luck out there.

August 30, 2025 10:21AM

Each time this topic comes up, I wonder how the MSCs are doing because this would impact them as well and you'd think that would be like the canary in a coal mine if any of them just closed shop.....presumably they would have more overhead to cover than a single IC working out of their home.

August 30, 2025 04:23PM

I have not felt the change yet. Each year I am more selective and no matter how seasoned I think I am, I continue to learn. My time/pay ratio clicks in immediately, so I am faster at deleting messages and not pondering if I should do it anyway. If I really desire some meal shop, maybe.

But, I also think the MSC's have been flooded with more poor shoppers than ever since COVID. Or have noticed some experienced shoppers are cutting corners and not as efficient as they once were. They may be using analytics to see how that works with current offers to generated pools of shoppers.

August 30, 2025 05:42PM

@bradkcrew wrote:

Weird, I am not getting Sassie emails either. I can't figure out what I did or how to fix it. I noticed they were all turned off in my profile somehow and and turned them all back on, but nada. I checked my block list and didn't find any Sassie email addresses there. Any one have any suggestions? Thanks.

I’ve noticed the same reset of notifications issue after having a difference of opinion with someone regarding an assignment.

The recent compensation rates are barely covering expenses, so I’m looking at other options.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2025 05:44PM by SBP.

August 30, 2025 10:04PM

@bradkcrew wrote:

Weird, I am not getting Sassie emails either. I can't figure out what I did or how to fix it. I noticed they were all turned off in my profile somehow and and turned them all back on, but nada. I checked my block list and didn't find any Sassie email addresses there. Any one have any suggestions? Thanks.

I just sent an email to the general inbox. I don't know if I will get a response but I am giving it a shot. I can't see any reason why I am not getting these notifications and I missed out on a few opportunities because of it. People are quick to grab certain jobs, I need all the help I can get.

August 31, 2025 08:06PM

sheikh, either it's just you, or it's the area where your home shopping base is. I have been literally swamped with job opportunities this year and last year. There is not enough time for me to take all the shop opportunities.

September 10, 2025 05:40AM

I'm seeing tons of jobs that aren't even worth the gas to leave my driveway, then I'll see one I'm used to and pounce on it, but something's definitely up.

I've been doing this for close to 2 decades and also worked for various corporations in my career. I'm now seeing a lot of mergers in specific assignment areas with fees 50% lower than a month or two ago.

There are 4 or 5 companies under a new umbrella and sudden personnel changes, schedulers juggling multiple companies' assignments, and I'm noticing the payments coming from the same source, so I'm thinking it's a buyout/sellout thing.

Monopolies and rate manipulation are not a good thing for us. I'm hoping that's not the case, but given the economic climate, it wouldn't be out of the question.

Always have backup alternatives.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2025 05:42AM by QTShopper.

September 10, 2025 09:54AM

QT, how do all those symbols get into your posts? Some other members have it too. Just curious.

September 10, 2025 01:46PM

Expect lower and lower offers as people are becoming more and more desperate.

Edited to add: I'm one of them. My role as a consumer insight analyst at a nonprofit no longer covers my basic needs. Times are tough and I truly believe this is only this beginning.

September 10, 2025 02:51PM

I shop in an effort to pay off my mortgage earlier to make retirement easier -- it would be great to retire in 3 years when I first become eligible with 30 years with the school system. I am finding there is less and less that I am willing to do at an acceptable rate or compensation. The grocery shops have been cut way back and you can't even get them if you aren't online when they post. The gas/convenience shops I used to do dried up. Box store appliance shops with a decent bonus are a thing of the past. Some of the easy restaurants that I enjoyed the food, gone. Even 5 Guys seems to be cutting back (my health appreciates that one but I used to bring in $300 a month + compensation from them and now it is closer to $100). A 21/2 year project just ended. Definitely I think there are more players out there and less shops being conducted.

I am looking at expanding my other revenue streams -- I will be tutoring after school to make up some of the short fall and I am thinking about signing up for Rover or the like to attract some more clients for dog boarding.

September 10, 2025 06:15PM

@jazzzyjd wrote:

I shop in an effort to pay off my mortgage earlier to make retirement easier -- it would be great to retire in 3 years when I first become eligible with 30 years with the school system. I am finding there is less and less that I am willing to do at an acceptable rate or compensation. The grocery shops have been cut way back and you can't even get them if you aren't online when they post. The gas/convenience shops I used to do dried up. Box store appliance shops with a decent bonus are a thing of the past. Some of the easy restaurants that I enjoyed the food, gone. Even 5 Guys seems to be cutting back (my health appreciates that one but I used to bring in $300 a month + compensation from them and now it is closer to $100). A 21/2 year project just ended. Definitely I think there are more players out there and less shops being conducted.

I am looking at expanding my other revenue streams -- I will be tutoring after school to make up some of the short fall and I am thinking about signing up for Rover or the like to attract some more clients for dog boarding.

There's also DJ-ing Jazzy Jeff. Just sayin'

September 10, 2025 11:39PM

@Datagirl wrote:

@bradkcrew wrote:

Weird, I am not getting Sassie emails either. I can't figure out what I did or how to fix it. I noticed they were all turned off in my profile somehow and and turned them all back on, but nada. I checked my block list and didn't find any Sassie email addresses there. Any one have any suggestions? Thanks.

I just sent an email to the general inbox. I don't know if I will get a response but I am giving it a shot. I can't see any reason why I am not getting these notifications and I missed out on a few opportunities because of it. People are quick to grab certain jobs, I need all the help I can get.

Did you find out anything?

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