Am I being naive?
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To a great extent you are seeing the standard mystery shopping "stuff". With some companies there are better opportunities from time to time and with many of them there are not. Sometimes you get into something better by pure luck or referral or because over time you have become a 'go to shopper'. And we all glory in 'the best deal I ever got'. I have had shops that paid $70 for roughly two hours of my time, but it is not standard. I have had shops that paid $50 for 20 minutes--but it took me an hour each way to drive there. Probably my best day was about $425 in fees and $120 in reimbursements and less than 100 miles on my vehicle. It was a memorable day mostly because it was a special project and paid extremely well. My best shop for fees this week was $40 and my best reimbursement was a reimbursement only dinner shop for around $45.
Sunday I will earn $35 in fees, $50 in reimbursements and spend about 4 hours total between driving, the shops themselves and the write ups. These are shops that are self assign and pretty standard. When I first started doing them they probably would have taken me closer to 6 or 7 hours.
Sunday I will earn $35 in fees, $50 in reimbursements and spend about 4 hours total between driving, the shops themselves and the write ups. These are shops that are self assign and pretty standard. When I first started doing them they probably would have taken me closer to 6 or 7 hours.
Okay, so mainly everyone else is just really good at the shops now so they don't eat up your time? I'm glad I'm not being foolish because I was starting to worry that I had been naive all this time.
@Sam,
Also, cultivate relationships with the schedulers. I have tried to emphasize this with my husband, but he doesn't. He hates writing (even emails). His narratives take hours to do - he's dyslexic. On the other hand, I've done my best to take the time to email schedulers asking if I could have several jobs to make a route because of gas prices. (Sometimes it works, others not).
Thursday, I saw an email come through asking for help picking up a sub shop. $39.00 pay! I jumped on it, emailed the scheduler immediately. The shop was out of the way - and I had to readjust my already planned route so I got a later start in the day than I wanted. Heck, I'll take that for eating a sub! NOTE: I've seen these sub shops advertised and refused to do them - no way was I doing one for $9.00 - and that included your reimbursement! So for 9.00 I would get a sub, drink, miles on my car, and maybe 15-30 minutes of a survey? No thanks!
Your shop pay sounds just about what I will make too. Today I'm driving to another city, 2 hours. I picked up an interstate shop (12), I have 4 audits in the city (65), and I picked up another job for 10. But, I get to see my daughter-in-law (son is on Drill weekend), get to take some of our household items up since we are moving back to this city - and get some nice pay.
Only thing I can think that may seem like your base "hourly" rate is low is because it is taking you longer to do the surveys. You said some of them take you up to 2 hours. Try and whittle that down to less than an hour per survey.
The only time a survey takes me over 30 minutes is when I Just.Don't.FEEL.Like.Writing.! *laughing* (I had one of those days yesterday, so it took me all dang day for 3 surveys)
**Edited because I cannot spell this morning!**
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2012 12:20PM by r@inyDayZ3.
Also, cultivate relationships with the schedulers. I have tried to emphasize this with my husband, but he doesn't. He hates writing (even emails). His narratives take hours to do - he's dyslexic. On the other hand, I've done my best to take the time to email schedulers asking if I could have several jobs to make a route because of gas prices. (Sometimes it works, others not).
Thursday, I saw an email come through asking for help picking up a sub shop. $39.00 pay! I jumped on it, emailed the scheduler immediately. The shop was out of the way - and I had to readjust my already planned route so I got a later start in the day than I wanted. Heck, I'll take that for eating a sub! NOTE: I've seen these sub shops advertised and refused to do them - no way was I doing one for $9.00 - and that included your reimbursement! So for 9.00 I would get a sub, drink, miles on my car, and maybe 15-30 minutes of a survey? No thanks!
Your shop pay sounds just about what I will make too. Today I'm driving to another city, 2 hours. I picked up an interstate shop (12), I have 4 audits in the city (65), and I picked up another job for 10. But, I get to see my daughter-in-law (son is on Drill weekend), get to take some of our household items up since we are moving back to this city - and get some nice pay.
Only thing I can think that may seem like your base "hourly" rate is low is because it is taking you longer to do the surveys. You said some of them take you up to 2 hours. Try and whittle that down to less than an hour per survey.
The only time a survey takes me over 30 minutes is when I Just.Don't.FEEL.Like.Writing.! *laughing* (I had one of those days yesterday, so it took me all dang day for 3 surveys)
**Edited because I cannot spell this morning!**
~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~
Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2012 12:20PM by r@inyDayZ3.
It is also the case that a very large MSC that does apartment shops pays a lot less for the same report in the South and Southwest than it does in the Northeast and Midatlantic. I wonder if that may also be the case for bank shops, and others.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Sam - your list looks about right to me. What's helped me is to specialize in the shops I do. With repetition, a shopper becomes faster and faster at shopping and reporting without sacrificing quality of work. A new shop will always be like reinventing the wheel. Also, if you don't feel any sense of urgency, you'll slow down. It's a good idea to make yourself a schedule for the day and try to keep it. I find this helps me concentrate on what I'm doing and not waste time, whether shopping or reporting. A highly bonused shop may come along every now and then but not often. What makes this work better is cranking up the hustle factor.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
I agree that the list looks average. It's what you can expect when starting out as a shopper.
Much of the profit comes from experience and knowing which shops to take, and organizing your time/reporting. The other part of experience is just being around over time and to make relationships with MSCs. For me, that's how I moved on to better paying assignments.
The last component is location. If you are in an area that is not known for high-end establishments, gourmet restaurant and 5-star hotels, you may have trouble getting your foot in the door with hospitality companies. That's where jobs with paid airfare come into play. Shoppers in those areas will usually work for less $ as well.
Much of the profit comes from experience and knowing which shops to take, and organizing your time/reporting. The other part of experience is just being around over time and to make relationships with MSCs. For me, that's how I moved on to better paying assignments.
The last component is location. If you are in an area that is not known for high-end establishments, gourmet restaurant and 5-star hotels, you may have trouble getting your foot in the door with hospitality companies. That's where jobs with paid airfare come into play. Shoppers in those areas will usually work for less $ as well.
GonzoSam Wrote:
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> Okay, so mainly everyone else is just really good
> at the shops now so they don't eat up your time?
> I'm glad I'm not being foolish because I was
> starting to worry that I had been naive all this
> time.
In my market I could not make a living doing mystery shops. There is a law of diminishing returns and to attempt to make a living I would need to be taking shops that paid so little that I would lose money on gas and forget about earning anything for my time spent.
I entered shopping with a goal of having it cover the monthly cost of my health insurance. Since I started there has not been a single month that did not accomplish that. There have been months when I more than covered my monthly bills, but that is not systematic enough to decide this can be a full time job.
Expecting too much from mystery shopping is a frequent source of shopper frustration and burn out. It is a useful tool to be used with other tools to achieve a comfortable life/lifestyle. Just as you couldn't do all repairs with a screwdriver, you couldn't do all of them with a hammer either. Budgetary control, shops, coupons or other savings, and other sources of income can combine to make it work.
In all fairness, those of us who started before the economic crisis saw more clients, more shops, overall higher fees, more frequent bonuses and less competition than is the case for shoppers starting today. If we are still shopping it is because we found companies and work that fit us very well and we are likely continuing to be awarded those shops.
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> Okay, so mainly everyone else is just really good
> at the shops now so they don't eat up your time?
> I'm glad I'm not being foolish because I was
> starting to worry that I had been naive all this
> time.
In my market I could not make a living doing mystery shops. There is a law of diminishing returns and to attempt to make a living I would need to be taking shops that paid so little that I would lose money on gas and forget about earning anything for my time spent.
I entered shopping with a goal of having it cover the monthly cost of my health insurance. Since I started there has not been a single month that did not accomplish that. There have been months when I more than covered my monthly bills, but that is not systematic enough to decide this can be a full time job.
Expecting too much from mystery shopping is a frequent source of shopper frustration and burn out. It is a useful tool to be used with other tools to achieve a comfortable life/lifestyle. Just as you couldn't do all repairs with a screwdriver, you couldn't do all of them with a hammer either. Budgetary control, shops, coupons or other savings, and other sources of income can combine to make it work.
In all fairness, those of us who started before the economic crisis saw more clients, more shops, overall higher fees, more frequent bonuses and less competition than is the case for shoppers starting today. If we are still shopping it is because we found companies and work that fit us very well and we are likely continuing to be awarded those shops.
I think your list is right on, except perhaps the auto dealership which here start at 20.00 and goes to 30.00 depending on the MSC. Intellishop are usually 20.00 (never bonus here). The rest is right, we don't get big bonus
here in L.A., where there are many shops and more shoppers. When I started 6 years ago, I got all the jobs I applied for,and at a higher rate, there wasn't competition, now, prices have come down as shoppers have grown, another sign of the times and economy. Count the good stuff this brings you, and don't have high expections, you'll come out ahead, but certainly msing isn't a money making career, for most a supplement and allows a better lifestyle. I wouldnd't give up my day job (if I had one).
here in L.A., where there are many shops and more shoppers. When I started 6 years ago, I got all the jobs I applied for,and at a higher rate, there wasn't competition, now, prices have come down as shoppers have grown, another sign of the times and economy. Count the good stuff this brings you, and don't have high expections, you'll come out ahead, but certainly msing isn't a money making career, for most a supplement and allows a better lifestyle. I wouldnd't give up my day job (if I had one).
Live consciously....
r@inyDayZ3 - Yeah, I try to do a route and a schedule everytime I shop and it does really help. That sub shops sounds awesome! Go you for getting it. I try to write fast but I just don't for some reason. I usually record my shops and listen to them as I type them up.
walesmaven - I bet I work for that shop company. I like doing the apartment shops but they are very long and detailed.
MDavisnowell - I don't think specializing in shops would be possible for me because there just are not enough by any means. It's frusterating because I live in a big metropolitan area but the whole country treats us as if we are a backwoods small town.
SteveSoCal - It's good to know that my list is average. Your posts were some of the one's that made me start wondering if I was being foolish. There are some high end things around here and we are getting more by the day so hopefully it will get better.
Flash - I don't neccesarily expect more money from them I just started to get worried after lurking on this board for a while. I think there are actually not that many shoppers in my location though because so many shops end up getting bonused. I mostly do this and occasionally I pick up a film job when a production comes into town but that's not often.
Irene_L.A. - I've seen this company mentioned on here for having a bad reputation but I like them mostly because they pay every two weeks. I do get tired of the shops they have though because the tan shops are a little strange because they changed their policy in my city only and so a lot of the questions on the survey don't make sense anymore or apply to us. Also, the car shops are hard for me because I hate making someone feel like they have a sale. It makes me feel guilty. Also, the surveys are really long and then I have to make a phone call or web inquiry that also takes time. The thing I hate the most is that the salesmen call and e-mail me for months after the visit. Drives me batty.
walesmaven - I bet I work for that shop company. I like doing the apartment shops but they are very long and detailed.
MDavisnowell - I don't think specializing in shops would be possible for me because there just are not enough by any means. It's frusterating because I live in a big metropolitan area but the whole country treats us as if we are a backwoods small town.
SteveSoCal - It's good to know that my list is average. Your posts were some of the one's that made me start wondering if I was being foolish. There are some high end things around here and we are getting more by the day so hopefully it will get better.
Flash - I don't neccesarily expect more money from them I just started to get worried after lurking on this board for a while. I think there are actually not that many shoppers in my location though because so many shops end up getting bonused. I mostly do this and occasionally I pick up a film job when a production comes into town but that's not often.
Irene_L.A. - I've seen this company mentioned on here for having a bad reputation but I like them mostly because they pay every two weeks. I do get tired of the shops they have though because the tan shops are a little strange because they changed their policy in my city only and so a lot of the questions on the survey don't make sense anymore or apply to us. Also, the car shops are hard for me because I hate making someone feel like they have a sale. It makes me feel guilty. Also, the surveys are really long and then I have to make a phone call or web inquiry that also takes time. The thing I hate the most is that the salesmen call and e-mail me for months after the visit. Drives me batty.
GonzoSam, most of the time you almost do yourself a disservice listening to the recording as you write up a shop. My recording is my crutch, it is there if I need it because I am not positive someone said something or not. When I speak aloud to the recorder a description of a associate while walking back to my car, that is almost enough to 'fix' the description in my mind without having to go back and listen to it again.
About the only time I listen to a full recording is after a restaurant shop. My recorder is on pause during most of the visit, being made active to note timings and generally the server's first visit to the table and their final visit since otherwise I may not give full credit for upsells and departure remarks. So for an hour+ dinner, I may have 10-15 minutes of recording to listen to. As I listen I put timings in a spreadsheet that calculates elapsed times for me as most restaurant shops seem to want to know how quickly the table was greeted, how long it took from order to receive beverages, appetizers, entrees, etc. Then I'm done with the recorder and can just start writin up the visit with my elapsed times ready, my scanned receipts ready and a fresh cup of coffee ready.
If typing speed/accuracy is a problem it may make sense to do some typing tutor exercised for 15-20 minutes a day. There are a whole bunch of freebie ones on line.
About the only time I listen to a full recording is after a restaurant shop. My recorder is on pause during most of the visit, being made active to note timings and generally the server's first visit to the table and their final visit since otherwise I may not give full credit for upsells and departure remarks. So for an hour+ dinner, I may have 10-15 minutes of recording to listen to. As I listen I put timings in a spreadsheet that calculates elapsed times for me as most restaurant shops seem to want to know how quickly the table was greeted, how long it took from order to receive beverages, appetizers, entrees, etc. Then I'm done with the recorder and can just start writin up the visit with my elapsed times ready, my scanned receipts ready and a fresh cup of coffee ready.
If typing speed/accuracy is a problem it may make sense to do some typing tutor exercised for 15-20 minutes a day. There are a whole bunch of freebie ones on line.
Yeah, I agree on the recording but it does help me to remember and it's easier than constantly texting myself about timings. I don't use it for resturaunt shops because the baterries would probably be dead before it was over. I really need a new one. I can barely hear the other person but it's like a security blanket.
I am in awe at your professionalism with the spreadsheets and everything. Wow! I think I'm just slow and have attention issues. I have taken typing classes since I was a little kid and I've never been able to do it the way the say. I've been told I type really fast for the way I type which is with three fingers on one hand and two on the other. Weird, I know.
I am in awe at your professionalism with the spreadsheets and everything. Wow! I think I'm just slow and have attention issues. I have taken typing classes since I was a little kid and I've never been able to do it the way the say. I've been told I type really fast for the way I type which is with three fingers on one hand and two on the other. Weird, I know.
Gonzo - It may be just that you are not retaining the entire "visual" in your mind's eye when you settle down to write your reports. (I hope I make sense here).
I too listen to my recording while I am typing. I record my entire shop visit. Now, that said, I do NOT take the entire recording to type up my survey. It's "just there" for me to catch a key word or phrase that may have slipped my mind. After I've gone though my "finally home after shopping" routine, I will start my recorder, but it is only there to help me visualize the shop. As soon as my recorder starts playing, I'm back "in the moment" of doing the shop and everything comes back to what was said or done. BUT - funny thing is, I can remember the entire conversations with different employees/different shops- however, I forget what time I walked in the store! (funny, I know, that's why I write it down & it's the first thing on the DVR for every shop!)
To help you cut down on time so your average can go up - figure out where you can cut down, where you spend a lot of time. Do you have distractions when you do your surveys? Is the TV on? Is your cell off?
There are also some people who just cannot "flow" easily with words. Not saying you are - my husband is like that. Me, when I type, it just all comes out, I don't even stop to think, just start typing. DH on the other hand, he has to stop with every few words to think about what to say. For this reason, his reports will take an hour or two for just a few narratives. It's just the way he is.
I too listen to my recording while I am typing. I record my entire shop visit. Now, that said, I do NOT take the entire recording to type up my survey. It's "just there" for me to catch a key word or phrase that may have slipped my mind. After I've gone though my "finally home after shopping" routine, I will start my recorder, but it is only there to help me visualize the shop. As soon as my recorder starts playing, I'm back "in the moment" of doing the shop and everything comes back to what was said or done. BUT - funny thing is, I can remember the entire conversations with different employees/different shops- however, I forget what time I walked in the store! (funny, I know, that's why I write it down & it's the first thing on the DVR for every shop!)
To help you cut down on time so your average can go up - figure out where you can cut down, where you spend a lot of time. Do you have distractions when you do your surveys? Is the TV on? Is your cell off?
There are also some people who just cannot "flow" easily with words. Not saying you are - my husband is like that. Me, when I type, it just all comes out, I don't even stop to think, just start typing. DH on the other hand, he has to stop with every few words to think about what to say. For this reason, his reports will take an hour or two for just a few narratives. It's just the way he is.
~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~
Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
When my significant other was trying his hand at some shops the real issue was spelling, with a secondary issue being typing speed. It was most expeditious to have him dictate his reports while I typed in exchange for him cleaning up the kitchen :-) We could get his reports filed as fast as he could dictate and I could then 'make up' for lost time in getting my own stuff done by not having to spend time on cleanup. Win-win.
I type slowly, so video shops are perfect for me, lol.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I think I'm just very ADD. When I directed my capstone film my crew started saying shiny to me when I was getting distracted. We would be talking about something related to the film and then I would go off on a tangent and they would say "***(my name) hey shiny!" It was really funny and it made everyone laugh.
Anywho, I don't obsesively listen to the recording it's more to try to get back in the moment like you said and for specific phrasing of hello's and goodbye's. I do a lot of apartment shops so it really helps with the crime and fair housing questions. I'm getting faster I just think I struggle with time management on everything. It's my absolute biggest fault. Period. I actaully had to go to truancy court when I was in fifth grade because I was a few minutes late to school every day. I've come a long way on the time management thing but I don't think I'll completely overcome it. Lol!
Anywho, I don't obsesively listen to the recording it's more to try to get back in the moment like you said and for specific phrasing of hello's and goodbye's. I do a lot of apartment shops so it really helps with the crime and fair housing questions. I'm getting faster I just think I struggle with time management on everything. It's my absolute biggest fault. Period. I actaully had to go to truancy court when I was in fifth grade because I was a few minutes late to school every day. I've come a long way on the time management thing but I don't think I'll completely overcome it. Lol!
wow I would love to hear more about your film directing. Anyway you type as long as it gets done is fine. Fast is not the issue. ADD can work in a lot of areas. Time management is not everything. Found it intersting that you brought up 5th grade that is still bothering you. People that go off on tangents are the creative ones I hope that you understand this. Mozart, Eienstein, Lady Gaga. You are in a good group. You can PM me for more encouragement.
or cyb24_2000@yahoo.com
or cyb24_2000@yahoo.com
I don't use a recorder but managed to develop a knack for being able to replay large clumps of conversation and exact quotes after my years as a journalist. I know what it's like to have an editor ready to pounce on any possible mis-step so I learned to commit things to memory accurately and with an irate reader or politician in mind.
Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
r@inyDayZ3 Wrote:
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>
> Thursday, I saw an email come through asking for
> help picking up a sub shop. $39.00 pay! I jumped
> on it, emailed the scheduler immediately. The
> shop was out of the way - and I had to readjust my
> already planned route so I got a later start in
> the day than I wanted. Heck, I'll take that for
> eating a sub! NOTE: I've seen these sub shops
> advertised and refused to do them - no way was I
> doing one for $9.00 - and that included your
> reimbursement! So for 9.00 I would get a sub,
> drink, miles on my car, and maybe 15-30 minutes of
> a survey? No thanks!
Wow! $39.00! I must be an idiot. I did that shop yesterday for $9.00. But I was hungry and I needed to eat. At least it was healthier than eating at the traditional FF restaurants. But the first location I was assigned to went out of business 2 days earlier so I called my scheduler and they said that I would be paid for it anyway since I physically showed up. And then they offered me another sub shop about 15 minutes away from the first location. So basically I earned $18.00 between the two shops with minimum mileage and received a regular sub and medium drink.
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Thursday, I saw an email come through asking for
> help picking up a sub shop. $39.00 pay! I jumped
> on it, emailed the scheduler immediately. The
> shop was out of the way - and I had to readjust my
> already planned route so I got a later start in
> the day than I wanted. Heck, I'll take that for
> eating a sub! NOTE: I've seen these sub shops
> advertised and refused to do them - no way was I
> doing one for $9.00 - and that included your
> reimbursement! So for 9.00 I would get a sub,
> drink, miles on my car, and maybe 15-30 minutes of
> a survey? No thanks!
Wow! $39.00! I must be an idiot. I did that shop yesterday for $9.00. But I was hungry and I needed to eat. At least it was healthier than eating at the traditional FF restaurants. But the first location I was assigned to went out of business 2 days earlier so I called my scheduler and they said that I would be paid for it anyway since I physically showed up. And then they offered me another sub shop about 15 minutes away from the first location. So basically I earned $18.00 between the two shops with minimum mileage and received a regular sub and medium drink.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.”
~ Jimi Hendrix
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” ~ Mark Twain
“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
“I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.”
~ Jimi Hendrix
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” ~ Mark Twain
“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
GonzoSam Wrote:
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I have taken
> typing classes since I was a little kid and I've
> never been able to do it the way the say. I've
> been told I type really fast for the way I type
> which is with three fingers on one hand and two on
> the other. Weird, I know.
I used to type like you do. During my military training I was required to take typing lessons until I could reach their 'proficiency rate'. I think it was 40wpm. I figured "what the heck?" and decided to start over (even though I could have passed the test on the first day doing it my way).
I am so glad I did as I can now type about 50+% faster. Bottom line - try the typing tutors and do it the recommended way during your practice time. I'm sure it will be worth it after a couple of months. You'll never look back!
-------------------------------------------------------
I have taken
> typing classes since I was a little kid and I've
> never been able to do it the way the say. I've
> been told I type really fast for the way I type
> which is with three fingers on one hand and two on
> the other. Weird, I know.
I used to type like you do. During my military training I was required to take typing lessons until I could reach their 'proficiency rate'. I think it was 40wpm. I figured "what the heck?" and decided to start over (even though I could have passed the test on the first day doing it my way).
I am so glad I did as I can now type about 50+% faster. Bottom line - try the typing tutors and do it the recommended way during your practice time. I'm sure it will be worth it after a couple of months. You'll never look back!
I have been a mystery shopper for almost nine years. I keep my expectations low and try to only do shops that are convenient for me. For instance, I don't mind the fast food shops because I can do them on my way to or from work. If I do a lunch one I may often get a bank shop while I'm out. And I always do the oil change ones. On the weekends we almost always do a high-end restaurant shop--but I'd go out even if I didn't have one scheduled.
I don't make tons of money but, on the other hand, I am getting reimbursed for something I'd have to pay for anyway. So if you look at it from that perspective, even the "little" shops can be beneficial.
I also agree with the poster above who noted that if you do the same shops over and over you can get really fast at them.
I don't make tons of money but, on the other hand, I am getting reimbursed for something I'd have to pay for anyway. So if you look at it from that perspective, even the "little" shops can be beneficial.
I also agree with the poster above who noted that if you do the same shops over and over you can get really fast at them.
No, you are not being naive.
There is lots of great advice listed above. I would just like to add my voice to the chorus and emphasize - practice does makes it go quicker. Also, please don't feel so guilty about the car dealership shops were the salesman doesn't get a sale. A great shopper report can go a long way for that salesman in management's eyes.
Good luck.
There is lots of great advice listed above. I would just like to add my voice to the chorus and emphasize - practice does makes it go quicker. Also, please don't feel so guilty about the car dealership shops were the salesman doesn't get a sale. A great shopper report can go a long way for that salesman in management's eyes.
Good luck.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
The beginning of mystery shopping is challenging. I understand the long hours with minimal pay. I started taking a few jobs for a little extra pocket money. (I was a stay at home Mom.) Later I decided to see if I could make a go of it and make some real money. I bared down and took many low paying jobs just to get the experience. It was fun but long and grueling. Sometimes it would be frustrating. On more than one occasion I'd finish a report only to have it disappear into the abyss and have to start all over again.
Fast forward 8 years. Now I make some decent money and have worked on some high paying projects. I am in the data base for many companies and am still adding more. The trick...work hard, be patient and good things will come. See these low paying jobs as practice for the big ones.
Fast forward 8 years. Now I make some decent money and have worked on some high paying projects. I am in the data base for many companies and am still adding more. The trick...work hard, be patient and good things will come. See these low paying jobs as practice for the big ones.
It all depends on your needs and skills. I can always use extra money, but found that the multiple, low-paying, route-type job schedule was just not for me. I was 55 when I started, had a full-time college teaching job, and just was not up to the stress or physical challenges. I do have a special skill set, being a professional writer, and can often make a very good impression on an application or sample report. I discovered that for me, mystery shopping makes more sense as a way to supplement a beer budget with some champagne lifestyle experiences. So I focus on higher-end jobs, and once I got a lot of experience and knowledge about the industry I stopped taking the ones that barely pay for your time. I know that doesn't work for people who are doing this to live. I focus on hospitality industry jobs, restaurants (no fast food), and casinos (which often tie in with hotels and restaurants). I am very fortunate to live an hour from a resort area with a casino industry, and 2.5 hours from a city known internationally for its cuisine. I don't drive that distance to New Orleans even for a great meal often anymore unless I have other business in the city or a free hotel room. My son went to college there and it was great for me and my husband. Unfortunately, he graduated and now lives 800 miles or so away--no more Sunday drives or Saturday overnights to see him and live high. I know that my situation is not the typical one, but it could represent some of the great jobs you see people talking about.
One other thing that people may not think about--hospitality industry and gaming jobs take you places where you can earn loyalty points great for discounts and even freebies. I had never gambled at all prior to mystery shopping, and it was an activity I felt wary about. At first I tried to find shops that evaluated other service people and required as little time at table games as possible. (slot machines seemed less threatening) But I soon realized that it does not require a great deal of gaming to earn loyalty points, and especially to get coupons for hotel nights, meals, concert tickets, or freeplay. During slow seasons it is really easy to score such mail or email offers. You're not going to see the latest, greatest entertainment free, but especially if you're a boomer there are quite a lot of the bands from our youth who do the casino circuit and are a heck of a lot of fun--especially for free. So I decided it was definitely worth it to learn some games online and at least develop a comfort level where I'm not afraid of making a fool of myself in order to be ready for a greater variety of jobs. Of course, if you're worried about getting "hooked" and losing the family's grocery money then it's probably not a good idea--but many people can just stick to what's necessary for the shops or set an "entertainment" budget and stick to it--and even come out ahead sometimes (as long as you don't count on it).
It's fun to pick up the occasional movie theater (especially the ones that actually include the movies), bowling, or even circuses, etc. The movies and bowling aren't usually hard to get, although the movie theaters are often lengthy, detailed reports that require a lot of observed detail (all the posters in the lobbies, the trailers and commercials before the film, etc.) None of these are shops that show up all the time, and often have limiting rotations, so, as I said, it's a lifestyle thing, not a living. Also, we're mostly a "redbox" family, so being able to take one of the kids to a brand new kid blockbuster once in a while helps make me a popular grandmother!
It's also nice to be able to "splurge" for family and friends, too. I once saved my reward points at a casino I regularly shop for over a year and at Christmastime took my entire family in from out of state to the best fine dining restaurant on the gulf coast (not including New Orleans).
I know that not all of these opportunities are available in all areas, and these probably pale next to major metropolitan areas, but probably some of them are available at least occasionally in most areas.. I hope this inspires someone to be creative with what may be available to them.`. Most of the great jobs require 2-3 hour reports, which is worth it to me, and as somebody else said, if they take longer than that it's usually a matter of my state of mind or focus.
One other thing that people may not think about--hospitality industry and gaming jobs take you places where you can earn loyalty points great for discounts and even freebies. I had never gambled at all prior to mystery shopping, and it was an activity I felt wary about. At first I tried to find shops that evaluated other service people and required as little time at table games as possible. (slot machines seemed less threatening) But I soon realized that it does not require a great deal of gaming to earn loyalty points, and especially to get coupons for hotel nights, meals, concert tickets, or freeplay. During slow seasons it is really easy to score such mail or email offers. You're not going to see the latest, greatest entertainment free, but especially if you're a boomer there are quite a lot of the bands from our youth who do the casino circuit and are a heck of a lot of fun--especially for free. So I decided it was definitely worth it to learn some games online and at least develop a comfort level where I'm not afraid of making a fool of myself in order to be ready for a greater variety of jobs. Of course, if you're worried about getting "hooked" and losing the family's grocery money then it's probably not a good idea--but many people can just stick to what's necessary for the shops or set an "entertainment" budget and stick to it--and even come out ahead sometimes (as long as you don't count on it).
It's fun to pick up the occasional movie theater (especially the ones that actually include the movies), bowling, or even circuses, etc. The movies and bowling aren't usually hard to get, although the movie theaters are often lengthy, detailed reports that require a lot of observed detail (all the posters in the lobbies, the trailers and commercials before the film, etc.) None of these are shops that show up all the time, and often have limiting rotations, so, as I said, it's a lifestyle thing, not a living. Also, we're mostly a "redbox" family, so being able to take one of the kids to a brand new kid blockbuster once in a while helps make me a popular grandmother!
It's also nice to be able to "splurge" for family and friends, too. I once saved my reward points at a casino I regularly shop for over a year and at Christmastime took my entire family in from out of state to the best fine dining restaurant on the gulf coast (not including New Orleans).
I know that not all of these opportunities are available in all areas, and these probably pale next to major metropolitan areas, but probably some of them are available at least occasionally in most areas.. I hope this inspires someone to be creative with what may be available to them.`. Most of the great jobs require 2-3 hour reports, which is worth it to me, and as somebody else said, if they take longer than that it's usually a matter of my state of mind or focus.
Thanks CYNB! That was really sweet. The 5th grade thing doesn't bother me anymore I got over it fairly quickly because my parents told me that I needed to try harder to be on time but that the school way overreacted. I actually found out several years later that the judge was trying not to laugh when she talked to me. I was so scared when she called me up to the podium. I was so short she couldn't see me behind the podium so she told me to come around it. She asked me why I was late all the time and I said I didn't know. I said sometimes I saw something cool and looked at it or sometimes this big scary dog that looked like a lion (Chow) would follow me and I was scared of it. She yelled (actually she was probably just talking loud but I percieved it as yelling) at me not be late anymore and to concentrate on being on time. Then she asked me to wait in the hallway or the courthouse. Evidently the whole time she was stifling laughter and trying to seem upset and gruff. After she sent me out into the hallway she screamed at my principal for like 10 minutes about waisting the courts time on a little girl who dawdles and gets distracted when there are bigger problem students. They didn't tell me this until I was in high school or college but it was interesting to find out I percieved th whole thing differently.
Bena - I really should do that because man I look dumb when typing and I've typed 20-30 pages for school like this in one go (procrastinator) and it would probably go faster if I could type properly.
busyguy7447 - Yeah, I'm starting to really like the gas station shops where I can hit a ton in a few hours and get a pretty good paycheck. I think I'm starting to specialize in apartment shops.
vlade5394 - I did not think of it that way. I just hate messing with people who live on commision. It hurts my soul.
jhofer - Yeah, that's what I've been doing but what's crazy is I think this is helping me start to dream and get ready to go back to a regular job again. I had some crazy things and health issues and just stopped everything in it's tracks and this is really helping me get my confidence back.
hotshopper - I've have seen a few higher end shops lately but the reimbursement time is too long for me. I really need to get a credit card so I can afford the wait but I have the worst credit. Seriously, it's bad. Warn all college students you meet that credit cards may seem awesome at first but they will start double billing you in a month and soon you'll be behind and broke and it's just so not cool. Anyway, I really want to get into those but I'll have to wait until I can afford to have a couple hundred dollars tied up for three months. I mean there is always the chance you'll win but that's a real gamble (lol.)
Also, i have to tell you I LOVE New Orleans so much!!!! I mean you've got Jazz and Cafe DuMonde. What more could you ask for? I haven't been in about ten years but oh how I loved going there. My parents would always drive out of the way for a few hours on our way to Disney World just to go to Cafe DuMonde and get some beignets and a glass of milk. It was almost always the middle of the night when we would get there and we would eat them and walk around for a bit. I loved it and I'm a huge jazz fan and would love to go see some live jazz there someday. Ohhh and Cajun food. Sorry, just really love New Orleans.
vlade5394 - I did not think of it that way. I just hate messing with people who live on commision. It hurts my soul.
jhofer - Yeah, that's what I've been doing but what's crazy is I think this is helping me start to dream and get ready to go back to a regular job again. I had some crazy things and health issues and just stopped everything in it's tracks and this is really helping me get my confidence back.
hotshopper - I've have seen a few higher end shops lately but the reimbursement time is too long for me. I really need to get a credit card so I can afford the wait but I have the worst credit. Seriously, it's bad. Warn all college students you meet that credit cards may seem awesome at first but they will start double billing you in a month and soon you'll be behind and broke and it's just so not cool. Anyway, I really want to get into those but I'll have to wait until I can afford to have a couple hundred dollars tied up for three months. I mean there is always the chance you'll win but that's a real gamble (lol.)
Also, i have to tell you I LOVE New Orleans so much!!!! I mean you've got Jazz and Cafe DuMonde. What more could you ask for? I haven't been in about ten years but oh how I loved going there. My parents would always drive out of the way for a few hours on our way to Disney World just to go to Cafe DuMonde and get some beignets and a glass of milk. It was almost always the middle of the night when we would get there and we would eat them and walk around for a bit. I loved it and I'm a huge jazz fan and would love to go see some live jazz there someday. Ohhh and Cajun food. Sorry, just really love New Orleans.
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