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Are there any other professions that pay LESS every year??

January 06, 2026 03:37PM
I - unfortunately - decided to look over my historical shop logs since I've done a lot of the same shops over the years. My blood ran cold! Shops that used to be $45 are now $18. Shops that were $12 are now $5. Shops that were frequently bonused no longer are. And that's not counting the sparcity of shops compared to the past. Considering the cost of living has nearly doubled over the same time period, is there any other profession where we are on the verge of paying THEM for working??

Shopping domestic and international locations since 2003.
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January 06, 2026 04:19PM
None that I can think of. It's a race to the bottom

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
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January 06, 2026 05:00PM
Different method but yes. Large corporations will do massive layoffs, then hire people at lower wages, so the same jobs are being done for lower pay but not by the same people.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2026 05:00PM by joanna81.
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January 06, 2026 05:38PM
Pam,

According to your post, you and I entered the business the same yr. I definitely agree with you concerning fees decreasing and/or work increasing. As we are both aware, though, until shoppers stop working for a pittance, which I do not think will occur, fees will, as Retro stated, continue to fall.

Shoppers are faced with the alternatives to either seek work in another field or to adapt. In my case, jobs in categories 1 & 2 are few and far between. As it applies to #2, leisure, I choose not to compete with folks who are willing to work for zero fee and possibly even semi-FREE food, while being required to eat what they may not desire and/or being served in a manner they would not elect if not shopping. Add in a plethora of pics, some of which require a snapping contortion, and I have little work in that category.
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January 06, 2026 06:33PM
I have heard of Uber/Lyft/DoorDash drivers making less each year for the same amount of work, but in general I would say the answer is definitely no.
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January 07, 2026 12:50AM
According to what I've observed and the stuff I have read, we've become a K shaped economy - those who are earning more (passive or earned income) have picked up the pace considerably, while lower incomes are falling.
So I guess it depends on the type of income. All this to say, that I think what's happened in mystery shopping is similar to other types of similarly compensated work. Personally, I find it concerning.

We could then branch off into a discussion of what this will mean for the middle class in America, but keeping the peace might be better for now, no need to blow our skirts up.

Life was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on
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January 07, 2026 08:13AM
Sadly, it’s why I shifted away from mystery shop from being true, OK paying gig work to quick, low time commitment shops to offset my typical expenses these days.

Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.
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January 09, 2026 03:08AM
Yep, I've noticed the payment decreasing for many shops with many restaurant assignments only providing reimbursement!
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January 14, 2026 02:25PM
And food assignments are paying less than cost with no fee or nothing at all.

Maybe the clients figure they can just bypass us and go by the volunteered (free) Goo*#£ reviews people leave instead.

A friend signs their emails “the only constant in life is change.”

We’ve got to remain open and adapt.
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January 14, 2026 03:48PM
SBP opines--We’ve got to remain open and adapt.

Bob absolutely agrees--Folks, if you need and/or desire to remain in this business, print SBP's post and stick the paper on your fridge. Only remove it after you have bade the business adios.
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January 18, 2026 10:54PM
I was OK with doing restaurant shops without a fee, but the steakhouses they want shopped have ridiculous ordering requirements that will require OOP from me. I did one a few years ago when I first started, not realizing it was going to be impossible to get an app, 2 entrees, a dessert plus an alcoholic beverage for less than the $200 reimbursement. I did a Ruth's Chris shop once, thinking I would need to pay OOP, and was prepared to do so, just for the experience (I had never eaten there, but of course they have a good rep). It was a pleasant surprise there was a three course prix fix going on, and the OOP was really only for the extra booze we wanted. The food was very good, but the report so extensive and detailed I would never do another. It's BS to have an ordering requirement if you don't allow the shopper to get every expensive option on the menu (perhaps omitting MP items or things like a tomahawk steak) and work that number as the reimbursement cap. I should be able to get shrimp cocktail or calamari as an app, and not have to get a cheaper entree without going OOP. There is one Italian restaurant I shop that I love and appreciate the heavy discount, but it would better if it were like TRH where you can actually get a filet and stay within reimb.
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