Seeing less and less shops posted and the ones posted are not worth doing!
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I do believe the fatlady has sung.
At least in my area. I agree with these observations.
At least in my area. I agree with these observations.
@Fatlady wrote:
$15 to go to a mall and take a list of pictures and make a lot of observations? If questioned- say you ae doing an audit? Really? $15?? Go to a mattress tore be annoyed for up to an hour or more for $10??? Go to 5 Guys for a greasy heart attack burger for a starting fee of $9?// Honestly, I think mystery shopping is on its way out!
Last December I made the most I had ever made in a 2 week period doing actual audits (revealed and covert). This year? Mostly food only reimbursements and one jewelry shop with a $100 reimbursement. I was able to get a piece of nice costume jewelry for a short survey. I noticed no OG (although we had Darden last month for other brands) or Miller's Ale House, both of which were very nice to go and have dinner around the holidays (even though reimbursement only). And people like me-who do MS to get free or deeply discounted food/merch in return-are the typical shopper nowadays. I have my limits-I don't do the burger shop unless they make me an offer I can't refuse. But the shops in general have dried up as companies cut costs and also the MS are just making shops reimbursement only because they are tasked to do so, and it works in a lot of cases. And people who have been doing MS for years to make money are understandably feeling some kind of way about how the "industry" has changed for them.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/2025 03:29PM by Tiffany0921.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/2025 03:29PM by Tiffany0921.
Tiffany posts--......And people like me-who do MS to get free or deeply discounted food/merch in return-are the typical shopper nowadays.
Bob agrees--The industry has been successful in indoctrinating some shoppers as to receiving FREE or reduced pricing toward their reward for working. I do NOT criticize anyone for whom such is acceptable; it is not for me.
Tiffany closes with--And people who have been doing MS for years to make money are understandably feeling some kind of way about how the "industry" has changed for them.
Bob comments--Unfortunately, beginning in 2022, my category 1, money, began steadily declining. #2, leisure, is also on the wane, this due to my refusal to work where the reimbursement does not completely cover my expenditure AND provide me with a fee. My category 3, however, is experiencing a stellar yr.
In my opinion, to be successful in business, one must adhere to Kenny Rogers', as the character Brady Hawkes, when he sang the chorus from "The Gambler."
Bob agrees--The industry has been successful in indoctrinating some shoppers as to receiving FREE or reduced pricing toward their reward for working. I do NOT criticize anyone for whom such is acceptable; it is not for me.
Tiffany closes with--And people who have been doing MS for years to make money are understandably feeling some kind of way about how the "industry" has changed for them.
Bob comments--Unfortunately, beginning in 2022, my category 1, money, began steadily declining. #2, leisure, is also on the wane, this due to my refusal to work where the reimbursement does not completely cover my expenditure AND provide me with a fee. My category 3, however, is experiencing a stellar yr.
In my opinion, to be successful in business, one must adhere to Kenny Rogers', as the character Brady Hawkes, when he sang the chorus from "The Gambler."
Just checking boards for shops and do not see a lot if any. The ones posted are not worth doing. With all the job cuts, lay offs and AI cost savings I do believe mystery shopping will be on of the things companies cut. I notice surveys on receipts which I suspect companies are using instead of paying for shops. Sad but true
Sad. End of an era. In 2014 it was fun. But sad to see fees are same or lower than in 2014. And lots of complaints then. I did phone shops and McDonalds and gas station audits. Kept me afloat for 6 months. But it's sad.
It is not only shops where there are less and less postings but this forum has less and less postings. Until a few years ago when I would sign on there might be a few pages (screens) of new postings for the day. A healthy back and forth was going on which also included a few people who were constant topics of comment for negative reasons. I do not miss those negative and/or rude posters however seeing 4 or 5 new posts per day now instead of 20 or 30 is common now.
I want to ad this... At my job I was approached by an illegal immigrant who asked me if I'd allow him to DoorDash using my identity and he'd kick back money. I said no. This may happen in mystery shopping. On X I see many customer complaints about DoorDash drivers not being the person in the picture on the app.
I was sold on making great money in video shopping and got in recently. The first few months were good, but the companies did some heavy recruiting to get more video shoppers on board, and now the best paying ones are going to the long long time video shoppers. The market for newbies has dried up, or the shops are paying less and less and keep more products- supply and demand. I predicted that this would happen- the companies have an interest in getting more shoppers in so they can pay us less. Everyone kept talking about all those great end of year bonused shops- but they are non existent this year!
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