I’ve been seeing so many shops lately that make me think, “Who would do that for so little pay?” It got me wondering where some shoppers draw the line and thought it may make interesting conversation as well.

For this game, I will lay out a few real world scenarios and ask for each one; What’s the least amount you would do the shop for? I’m sure that many will seem familiar and you know what they pay, but don’t mention that yet. After we get some answers, I will post what the shops pay. Feel free to post more scenarios when you see other shops that no one will take.

Here we go…..

Scenario A: Bar integrity shop. Stay at least one hour. Order 2 rounds of mixed drinks and one specific appetizer. Paid parking is virtually mandatory and not reimbursed. Arriving at the bar outside of happy hour will most likely leave you $5 over the reimbursement budget as well. Report has extensive narrative and checklists, as well as documenting 5-10 transactions at the bar. Takes approximately 3 hours to fill out. Payment comes in approximately 30 days.

Scenario B: Hair loss shop. Book an appointment to have your thinning hair evaluated and report on the call, as well as the consultation. Both male and female shoppers with thinning hair needed.

Scenario C: Flooring shop. Book an appointment to get a quote for both carpet and hard surface flooring in your house. Allow the client to come to your home and report on details of the call and visit.

Scenario D: Asian food take out shop. Order at restaurant, ask questions, get all names, report on signage and entire interaction, including food quality, weigh the food. Location is difficult to access and will most likely require you to pay for parking. You will probably not be paid on time and have to start the process of begging for you payment after 3 months.

Scenario E: High-end clothing shop. Must have male with particular size range present. Drive to distant location. Dress nicely. Shop for wedding outfit. Decline outfit but purchase outrageously expensive shirt. Return shirt at your leisure. Get business card and turn in report within 12 hours.

So I ask…What’s it worth to you?

I’ll get it started with my personal take on this:

A=$25 + all expenses covered.
B=$150 minimum for the humiliation factor.
C=$50 for the fact that the sales person will know where you live.
D=I won't take a shop where I have to fight for payment.
E=$100

I guess I'm not hungry enough. I've seen all of these shops and wouldn't do any of them at any price.

A: No thanks to the specific scenario. What price would make it tempting? $50 plus reimbursement to cover.
B: Too much hair to qualify. If I did, this could be a useful-to-me shop, and I'd do it for reimbursement plus ?$$? depending on the report, distance, etc.
C: $30 I have no problem with in-home shops as I'm a regular customer and my mystery shopping hat is invisible. These shops have been informative to me.
D: Reimbursement only if within ten miles, and if I can order the entree(s) of my choosing. I do Asian take-outs for MSPs who do pay. Normally, I don't have to pay for parking anywhere.
E: $100 for the out of my comfort zone factor; plus it's two trips. Seeing as I'd have to take my husband, who'd only go kicking and screaming, better get $50 more.

Hmmm, I don't know, they are all sounding like a pain haha.

A: I've never been inside a bar so I'm not sure what would make it tempting for me.

B: I've got hair that is way, WAY too think to qualify for that. If I did have a problem with thinning hair, I would probably do it for reimbursement.

C: Would not do. I don't like doing the in home thing.

D: Would not do. If I knew ahead of time that the company is known for not paying, I wouldn't take that assignment.

E: $40

lisams901 Wrote:
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> Hmmm, I don't know, they are all sounding like a
> pain haha.
>
> A: I've never been inside a bar so I'm not sure
> what would make it tempting for me.
>

:-)

> Scenario A: Bar integrity shop. Stay at least one hour. Order 2 rounds of
> mixed drinks and one specific appetizer. Paid parking is virtually mandatory > likely leave you $5 over the reimbursement budget as well. Report has
> extensive narrative and checklists, as well as documenting 5-10 transactions > at the bar. Takes approximately 3 hours to fill out. Payment comes in
> approximately 30 days.

I am not huge on integrity shops, personally. Too much risk of the employee being fired and me possibly ending up in court testifying. However, I will do them for very specific MSC's only, ones that in my opinion support shoppers to the utmost (and we know how few and far between THOSE are...) For me to do this shop, when it is not part of a FD shop, would require full reimbursement, $ to cover parking, and payment of $30.



> Scenario B: Hair loss shop. Book an appointment to have your thinning hair
> evaluated and report on the call, as well as the consultation. Both male and > female shoppers with thinning hair needed.

I don't qualify so I can't play. :-) Perhaps in the future...



> Scenario C: Flooring shop. Book an appointment to get a quote for both
> carpet and hard surface flooring in your house. Allow the client to come to > your home and report on details of the call and visit.

I would not do this. I did one in home window dressing thing, and I would not do it again. Now, if this were carpet cleaning, I will do it for reimbursement only. :-)



> Scenario D: Asian food take out shop. Order at restaurant, ask questions,
> get all names, report on signage and entire interaction, including food
> quality, weigh the food. Location is difficult to access and will most
> likely require you to pay for parking. You will probably not be paid on time > and have to start the process of begging for you payment after 3 months.

If I was already aware the MSC had a payment issue, I would not take the shop at any price. If I was not, then I still would not do it, as I will not consider doing a food or beverage shop that requires temperature readings and/or weight readings.


> Scenario E: High-end clothing shop. Must have male with particular size
> range present. Drive to distant location. Dress nicely. Shop for wedding
> outfit. Decline outfit but purchase outrageously expensive shirt. Return
> shirt at your leisure. Get business card and turn in report within 12 hours.

$75 plus, depending on distance. I get $75 for high end purchase and returns a mile and a half from my home.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2010 05:53PM by dee shops.

A. after last fisaco, would have to pay $35.00 fee, reimbursement 25.00.
B. No thanks, would die first....
C. No thanks, do not need new floors, do not want stranger coming to my house.
D. Fighting for pay...again, no thanks. Charging something cost interest, no more waiting 3 months.....
E. Would do it for $50.00...shopping always fun for me.

Great subject.....would do "almost" anything for 100.00 (pertaining to shopping, of course).

So here's the depressing part about these shops.

All of these were available when I made this post.

Here are the fees that were offered and current status:

Scenario A: $10 fee offered + reimbursement. Shop taken.
Scenario B: Was $25...now moved up to $45 and remaining.
Scenario C: $15 fee offered. Shop remains.
Scenario D: $12 total including food purchase. Shop taken.
Scenario E: $30 offered. Bonused of $5 added and shop was taken.

All of these are in the same department as the Ikea shops as far as I'm concerned.

Way too much work for way too little pay.

Irene, You could make about $100 by taking all of the shops together and probably get them done with 2-3 days of work.

Ah, just glanced at this briefly but scenario C? I've done it and am doing it again soon. $20 each time -- guess it's higher in my area? Anyway, to me it's an easy, breezy shop for a company that pays promptly and is very communicative. Quick visit and very reasonable form. And no transportation costs! Oh, and by the way, they only get as far as the kitchen! ;-)

I am guessing you only had good service people. For the window dressing, I had a very poor one who never did the required estimates, etc. I had to leave several messages, she never returned the calls, and finally the MSC said to just write it up as is and send it in. Then I had a service rep with a very bad report identifiable to me. No thanks. Never again. And it paid $45 plus a costco membership fee.

Well, I wouldn't say he was particularly good, LOL! As I recall, he did do most of what he was supposed to, but his salesmanship was not more than fair. The estimates are written up at the time of the visit. Once they leave the premises, the shop is over. I was actually looking forward to my rotation on this shop coming up again, but after reading this, I'm wondering if I got lucky on that first one! Guess I'll know soon.

SteveSoCal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So here's the depressing part about these shops.
>
> All of these were available when I made this post.
>
>
> Here are the fees that were offered and current
> status:
>
> Scenario A: $10 fee offered + reimbursement. Shop
> taken.

BOOO


> Scenario B: Was $25...now moved up to $45 and
> remaining.

At least it is going in the shopper's direction, even though I would not do this job.

> Scenario C: $15 fee offered. Shop remains.

Let it sit. YES! Let it sit.

> Scenario D: $12 total including food purchase.
> Shop taken.

Newb is all I can figure.

> Scenario E: $30 offered. Bonused of $5 added and
> shop was taken.

Newb again.

I be they are gold certified, too. LOL.

>
> All of these are in the same department as the
> Ikea shops as far as I'm concerned.
>
> Way too much work for way too little pay.

YES!!!!
>
> Irene, You could make about $100 by taking all of
> the shops together and probably get them done with
> 2-3 days of work.

Woah, there are other ways of earning $100 less degrading than that.

Just proves what I have begun to think about shopping .....
1. some shoppers will take anything posted just to be working and make some money
2. it's amazing what some shoppers will do for money (or almost no money!)

Fun game! Here's one, 4 transaction in one shop, what do you think?

A major electronics shop, far north, fairly long drive, several parts:

1. Go online and order $10 item for in-store pickup
2. Drive to store and pick up and pay for item. Report on both transactions and customer service.
3. Make another purchase in another department at the store. Report on transaction and customer service.
4. Later the same day, returned purchase #2. Report on transaction and customer service.

(note: is for a company without pay problems, I don't even consider them if I will have to beg and plead for my money after doing a shop.)

I know this shop. I have one locally and would do it at $45 that way. $60 with the added drive.

It pays $15 and reimburses $10.... I like the store and shop this is way light for a 4-part shop requiring 2 trips. Glad to see your comment, Steve, it reinforces for me that I am not crazy, or just greedy......

AustinMom Wrote:
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> It pays $15 and reimburses $10.... I like the
> store and shop this is way light for a 4-part shop
> requiring 2 trips.

Bwahahahahahaha. And I bet someone took it. Let them work for 3rd world pay...I value myself and my time more. I just say no. :-)

Steve...that was $100.00 for one shop (one hour). I do the Integrity and appetizer's just because I like to get out...but, no more integrity's for me except barlunch at BJ's, easy and love the bartenders there and is close to the house. Hair lose, just shoot me!! Taking them all would require too much work. The above is really what MSing is all about, waiting for pay, food without pay, rejection of report, no pay and on and on!!!