@Dino29 wrote:

I don't think it is that. I think it is more along the lines that the market is now saturated with people. They pick up all the jobs, and they're no longer bonused. I live in a big city, and there is hardly anything to do here.

Also, I think, some of the MSCs who hadn't previously done a lot of advertising have unlocked the magic of email blasting. I'm thinking particularly of Market Force:

MFI: "Hey, did you know that Market Force has [name of restaurant] shops in your area? Enjoy delicious chicken wings in a fun setting!" (For $3 or even reimbursement-only, but they don't say that.)
Idiot shopper: "WOW! I've got to get one of those!!!"

Americans are straight-up suckers for advertising.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2025 02:20PM by KokoBWare.

I do believe the fatlady has sung.

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.

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."

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!

Miller’s stopped being shopped by “the knee” after January. I had a Feb shop that was pulled. Supposedly they stopped shops completely. If anyone is seeing them for another MSC, plmk. I miss them very much. I still go to Miller’s but have to pay “real money” and I prefer getting it on the client. TIA!

In 2003, yrs. before this board existed, there was a post on the Volition forum concerning the reduction of fees; that was almost 1/4 century in the past. Until, which in my opinion will be never, shoppers stop toiling for a pittance, the Arab/camel MSCs will continue to "drop the pay." In addition, the FREE mentality, which is now morphing into the SEMI-FREE manner of thinking, will expand.

Last month, a scheduler contacted me concerning a job the MSC was experiencing difficulty filling. It entailed zero fee and a partial reimbursement. When I objected to her proposal, she mentioned I could use the shop as a coupon. My guess is she was new to the business and did not understand Bob works for Bob. Perhaps I am no longer on the scheduler's blacklist.

I share your view completely, shopperbob. If the job is not worthwhile, then why do shoppers complain and keep accepting those jobs anyway? It is that very acceptance that keeps the low paying jobs in existence. Why would any client pay $25 for a shop when they know that there are shoppers who will do the job for $10 or even less? Although I have been in this business for more than a decade, I am still at a loss to find a valid reason that shoppers not only allow but perpetuate this situation.

I agree that many shops are not worth doing. My response is that I leave those alone and let the newbies and the shoppers who work for a pittance have all of those shops they want. Sometimes, I will shop a quid pro quo shop, but that implies that the shop is worth doing, even though the pay might be lower than I want to accept.

The worthwhile shops exist, but I think you have to patiently prove yourself to the clients and schedulers before those shops come to you. Desirable shops that pay high will generally require more work and the shopper expertise that generally comes with experience of having done a great job on at least a several hundred shops of various types. Realize that not every shop makes it to the job board before it is accepted by some shopper who has worked patiently to establish a good reputation and relationship with his/her scheduler(s).

@sandyf wrote:

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. . . however seeing 4 or 5 new posts per day now instead of 20 or 30 is common now.

I read the new posts whenever I have time, but I do not post much. I have usually been so busy with mystery shopping jobs these past two years that I do not often have time to read or post in this forum.