The high cost of…working

SBP · 2025-10-04T17:40:27+00:00

The landscape is changing. Costs of everything have increased, but our rates have not. In fact, as I have reviewed the various MSC offerings across many apps and portals, they’ve decreased. This is simply not sustainable. I’m sharing my reply to a personal plea from a scheduler to do an assignment none of us can afford to do, and am interested in your thoughts about how we can talk sense to corporations that can’t look beyond “profit” to see that the current strategy is not sustainable for those of us they depend on to…do the leg work required to make their profit, or themselves in the long run: “Thank you for keeping me in mind xxxx, I’d love to help you, but even with the $5 bonus, after the cost of fuel and overhead, I’m not making anything, plus waiting 30-60 days to be paid for my $10 job fee and “up to $15 reimbursement” for a small item I don’t need, and no, “reimbursement” is not part of my “pay” as stated in the title of your appeal. Reimbursement is the equivalent of an interest-free loan I’m making to the payor, to complete the job as requested. The costs of doing this assignment exceed the return, just for fuel. In summary, this assignment, even with the “bonus” is asking me to ‘pay to work.’ Would you classify that as a wise business decision? I know you’re likely not the one making the choices about assignment rates. I feel for how hard it must be to promote this assignment, but everything has become more expensive. The higher costs of doing business are already passed on to the public (all of us) by the clients, but the job rates remain the same or have been reduced for those of us needed to gather the data. If the client can still afford to do these studies, they can afford to pay us enough to make these assignments a gainful endeavor. I’m just one voice, and “the messenger” often becomes a target, but it can also be the voice of reason that shifts things into something more positive for everyone.” I need and deserve to make back my costs of doing business, plus an hourly fee in alignment with minimum wage for my time plus required skills. Don’t you?

The high cost of…working

October 23, 2025 10:55PM

[with clarification]

ROFL!!!

Another STOCK MARKET loser (below) raises their hand.

Meanwhile, the US stock market goes up 73% of days. No one knows in advance which days. Simple; buy and hold a diversified portfolio long-term with a plan.

If you can't read well, get someone to point your browser to the "Jill On Money" podcast. She's a SELF PROCLAIMED NYC liberal lesbian who has a CFP designation and had a business for household financial planning. Seriously, you will learn from her.

@Minime wrote:

The problem with stocks is you have to invest a considerable amount of time to learn the ropes to avoid fees. Then your risks and losses are all your own. If you trust others to invest your money, you have no idea what their motivations are. There’s always a chance that someone will steer you wrong for their own benefit. Somebody is always on the losing end at some point.
When a leader is playing puppet master with the markets the risk is much higher. Your choice is to invest in what they’re peddling or risk losing your shirt. The tariffs will upend any investments in manufacturing companies that rely on trade. That’s why tariffs must be approved and authorized by congress, who would involve actual economists in their decision making, not a bully. That’s not happening, so all of the Trumpsters who think they’re getting ahead due to his leadership are in for a rude awakening. I’m seeing prices in the stores and online up by 20% over last year. What happened to bringing down grocery prices? It will never happen.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Sorry, you can't reply to this topic. It has been closed.

The high cost of…working

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine