What do you do besides mystery shop?
I owned and operated a Hallmark store while teaching part of that time. I am now retired from teaching and have sold the Hallmark business. I have been mystery shopping and merchandising for the past 11 years and my only regret is that I did not start sooner.
I work for a managed care organization that manages the medicaid dollars for people with IDD, SUD, and MH.
I was a flight attendant for 24 years. I have a degree in Social Work and Nursing. I am now a Psychatric ER nurse going to school for my Nurse Practitioner liscense. I mainly do high end restaurant, hotels, and entertainment shops.
I'm currently on medical leave but in my previous life I was a writer for a newspaper, worked in radio, was an editor for two MSCS, a personal shopper for another MSC, and did data collection for a market research company. I still mystery shop once in a while when I have the energy and if the pay is worth it.
Worked F/T 'til April 2017. Had to take Soc Security early to make it work, as clergy work pays zero. But I have been doing MS for 13 years.
If only I could get myself better focused,I'd be doing quite well at.While work,I did what I could and averaged $25/hr.
If only I could get myself better focused,I'd be doing quite well at.While work,I did what I could and averaged $25/hr.
I have undergraduate degrees in Spanish Linguistics and Math and masters degrees in both Teaching and Education... I spent fifteen years as a middle school Spanish and am now in my seventh year teaching high school calculus.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
As someone else mentioned earlier in this thread, it sure is very enjoyable and interesting to read about the backgrounds of everyone here who does MSing!!!
Great question... I have wondered the same about other shoppers. I just left a full time position as a Production Controller for an aerospace company and have worked in other office administration and computer tech support positions for over 30 years. I have tried a few times over the past few years to work myself into early retirement, and mystery shopping really helps to fill the gaps! I absolutely love it and I am training my younger nieces and nephews my trade secrets. There is a lot to be said for the skills gained through mystery shops; product and service assessments, customer service observations, objective writing, etc. Not to mention learning to negotiate higher fees to sweeten the deal and make the travel and reporting time worthwhile :-) I have recently accepted a part time job at Lowe's in a merchandising position so now I have plenty of time to do more mys shops!
I am a Southern Belle. I am a retired retail pharmacist of 38 years. After losing my son 10 years and retiring from pharmacy, I started mystery shopping. It was great therapy for me. It got me out of the house and demanded I pay attention to detail and helped my muddled mind to recover. I also do merchandising. I worked retail for 38 years so I enjoy interaction with folks and I very much enjoy a variety of circumstances. Extra money is always welcomed. I raised two of my grandchildren and they have learned to mystery shop and merchandise to fill in while in school. Tobacco audits puts some bucks in their pockets.It is really cool to see the varied backgrounds of folks on the board.
*correction - we are a Republic, governed by law. A democracy is governed by majority/mob rule. Huge difference. See Article 4 Section 4 of the Constitution. [constitution.com]@PaulinMI wrote:
It's only a real democracy if we all participate.
I write, mostly for magazines, but I am working on another book. The nice thing about books is that you write them once, but collect royalties year after year (granted, it's not much, but every bit helps.) I used to do websites, but Google Adsense cut their $ by about 80% and it just wasn't worth it any more. In my spare time, I go on adventures with the kidlets. I also have a regular job.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
@iShop123, your intuition has some basis, but the simple fact of the matter is that our country is now a democracy rather than a republic. Ever since women and former slaves were given the right to vote our elections have been governed by majority rule, state by state. I'm not sure what your point is that you question my comment.
proudly shopping in the D.
What is correct is we are a Republic, made up of 50 States elected democratically by the people of those states.Adding women & former slaves to the voters does not change the fact we a Republic.
Now, some changes like the States not electing their Senators by the Legislatures have made a change, and the Courts interpretation of the Constitution have had an effect.
Now, some changes like the States not electing their Senators by the Legislatures have made a change, and the Courts interpretation of the Constitution have had an effect.
Paul, it's not "intuition", it's the supreme l;aw of the land. May we never devolve into a country where the rights of a minority are subject to the whims of the majority. See the history of Rome. We are thankfully governed by LAW, not by mob rule.
My point is that we are not a democracy, regardless of what a few misguided(?) politicians claim. Here's a good article by Walter Williams: [www.dailysignal.com] if you need a refresher.
Back to the original topic, it appears that academia and journalism are over-represented here. I wonder if that holds true for the whole of shoppers.
My point is that we are not a democracy, regardless of what a few misguided(?) politicians claim. Here's a good article by Walter Williams: [www.dailysignal.com] if you need a refresher.
Back to the original topic, it appears that academia and journalism are over-represented here. I wonder if that holds true for the whole of shoppers.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
I guess somebody has to represent the Underachievers. So here I am! After barely finishing High School (not dumb but it was the seventies and there were way too many other interesting things to do!), and uninterested in any of the career choices I was aware of at the time and/ or college education, I left home at seventeen, got married and found a job as a waitress. Until I decided on a real career, I thought. I never did. Stayed a waitress, did not stay married. Worked my butt off, bought rental properties, lost them (fire and economic colapse in the area) Got married again in my 30s. Had kids. Got divorced again. Through all stayed a waitress (not a "server"- not that fancy) in addition to side gigs such as home improvement, clerical work, phone book delivery. Having remembered being mystery shopped at a corporate restaurant I had worked at for many years, I looked into mystery shopping when online became possible in the 2000s. I started that. And over time registered with more companies and got more jobs.
In all, though, the most important job I have ever had and the best was being a mom. And I may have been pretty good at it because both kids did well with education, are reasonably well adjusted and don't hate me. I guess that was my carreer? Much too short!
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2018 11:11PM by sestrahelena.
In all, though, the most important job I have ever had and the best was being a mom. And I may have been pretty good at it because both kids did well with education, are reasonably well adjusted and don't hate me. I guess that was my carreer? Much too short!
Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2018 11:11PM by sestrahelena.
I just received a PM from WOOD4MEWORKS asking for help/$$ I learned to be very careful about what you post.
This person is a scam asking us for money...I am appalled and wonder how such people even get on this forum.
Has anyone else received a PM such as I did? I will report this to Jacob.
This person is a scam asking us for money...I am appalled and wonder how such people even get on this forum.
Has anyone else received a PM such as I did? I will report this to Jacob.
Live consciously....
Irene, has this person even posted anything else other than sending you a PM begging for $$? I have never heard of this person and no, they haven't PMed me, but that stinks. You def should report it.
I haven't seen her name before...so strange, but if she has a user name and has joined the forum, she may have posted. Creepy to say the least. She said she is getting a divorce and losing her house and abused, and needs help??
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2019 08:24PM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2019 08:24PM by Irene_L.A..
Yeah, and why target you? If anyone else here has been solicited, please let us know.
I did a search of her name, using all dates in the search function, and came up with only one post ever: so apparently she lives in Iowa.
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
I just reported her, she thinks I am successful from my post on "what did you do before MSing"....she gave me her email. like I'd write and send her money....let her get on welfare...I'm so pissed.
Live consciously....
I'm an attorney. I work part time from home.
FYI. The Coast Guard put out a memo advising their employees on how to manage their finances during a furlough.
One of their tips. 1. Become a mystery shopper.
FYI. The Coast Guard put out a memo advising their employees on how to manage their finances during a furlough.
One of their tips. 1. Become a mystery shopper.
I teach high school - AP Calculus.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I recently quit my desk job and got a new job as a work-from-home legal transcriptionist. I have also been editing for about 7 months. So between the two, all of my non-shopping work will be done from home now! Yay!
In the past, I have worked as a dance teacher, tutor, preschool teacher, nanny, tax preparer, and Health Information Specialist plus 8+ years of office/clerical/secretarial positions. Can you tell I like variety? Hehe
In the past, I have worked as a dance teacher, tutor, preschool teacher, nanny, tax preparer, and Health Information Specialist plus 8+ years of office/clerical/secretarial positions. Can you tell I like variety? Hehe
Happily shopping the Pacific Northwest. Shopping since 2013 
@MFJohnston wrote:
I teach high school - AP Calculus.
AB/BC or both?
I teach math and physics and we normally have to teach them the calculus before we can teach them the physics (in my physics class). What are your class sizes like?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2019 01:50AM by Niner.
We only offer AB at our school.... However, we also have an Advanced Calculus course which picks up where AB lets off and finishes the first year of college calculus. A handful of students each year find themselves taking a Differential Equations course..... Our AP Physics teachers teach the kids some basic derivatives, enough to get their classes going with kinematics. However, they don't go into the depth with limits and the essence of derivatives like we do in the math department. Class sizes vary from year to year. We typically run six sections of Calc and we seem to hit 34 per class before the administration will open a seventh section. Of course, if we ever get below 160, we'll knock it down to five sections. Our Calculus classes tend to run a little larger than our freshman and sophomore courses as younger students present more class management issues than upper classmen who are driven to take high levels of moath. Of course, at 34 kids in a class, the grading in Calc is brutal.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
@MFJohnston,
I may not know what I'm talking about here, because High School Calc might be a different entity altogether....
I've taught older elementary grades and some adults...
But 34 in a class is ferocious. And I would think that in a class where the comprehension needs to be solid and the content is difficult, 34 would be barbaric. Unless those kids in those classes are more self starters and able to work independently...and comprehend the concepts easily
I may not know what I'm talking about here, because High School Calc might be a different entity altogether....
I've taught older elementary grades and some adults...
But 34 in a class is ferocious. And I would think that in a class where the comprehension needs to be solid and the content is difficult, 34 would be barbaric. Unless those kids in those classes are more self starters and able to work independently...and comprehend the concepts easily
34 is tough. At least in AP Calc, there are not discipline problems. I do have to create an atmosphere where kids help one-another as there is no way for me to answer every question. The place where it really hurts is grading. The kids need detailed feedback and the problems are complex, often involving a half-page (or more) of written work.
@Jill_L wrote:
@MFJohnston,
I may not know what I'm talking about here, because High School Calc might be a different entity altogether....
I've taught older elementary grades and some adults...
But 34 in a class is ferocious. And I would think that in a class where the comprehension needs to be solid and the content is difficult, 34 would be barbaric. Unless those kids in those classes are more self starters and able to work independently...and comprehend the concepts easily
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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Previously blocked poster using new name. Post removed.