Cooldude's post gave me pause for thought.
I first joined here in 2017 at the same time I got into shopping.
In over 8 years time, I have watched not only this forum, but MSing, change a bunch.
Seems like the pandemic was the turning point for change.
When I first joined here, there was a group of frequent posters who were
very serious about MSing and they weren't out just doing local gas or convenience store routes.
They were travelling around the US, hotel shops, airports, cruiselines, airlines, luxury cosmetics, Amtrak shops, mall shops
wearing disguises, sporting video cameras, almost seemed to be big income or close to it.
They were very competitive and often snarky with each other, sometimes downright mean. I recall one
in particular who claimed to make huge money on luxury travel shops and how she didn't have to go looking for them - they came to her because she was so good and in demand. Of course, when pressed, she gave no details, just liked to brag I guess lol
There was news of in-person conferences and how you had to meet in person to get the good jobs.
Buddying up to schedulers was key, they said.
Basically, it was a thing.
I am sure for some it still is, we just don't seem to be hearing about it anymore or at least, very much.

Any one else have observations of then vs. now?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2026 09:29AM by BarefootBliss.

I've never sucked up to schedulers.. I'm not that person. I don't like people, especially in large groups. If someone asks me questions, I see it as a challenge, or as someone is trying to cause me grief, and I get defensive. I know that this is a trauma response, but that's just how it is.

I tried working in an office with normies, and corporate double speak, lots of words that sound nice, but mean you're actually getting the @#$%& end of the stick. I couldn't do it for very long. Long enough to learn how to do payroll in a big company, ON PAPER (before it all got digitized).

There was a time when to really do well you neded a home computer, home internet, a digital camera, and even a cell phone if you traveled a lot. Those things cost a lot, and not everyone had them. Those that did tended to be in higher income groups, and were less willing to work for low fees. Now, everyone has all those things in a smartphone. That is the biggest change I have seen since I started.

And, yes, the forum has changed too. I think a lot is caused by increased compeition causing people to be more stingy with information. And many prolific posters simply retire from mystery shopping or move on to other things, perhaps in some part due to the lower fees, but more likley just dealing with aging. This industry was long dominated by older people, many if not most retired from other jobs. The new gig nauture of the the work with apps and such has drawn in a younger demographic, especially after the pandemic. But many of the new people have picked up the slack and make this forum still worthwhile, imo. Even some who I may not have liked at first have made positive contributions. And I sure don't miss some of the nastiness from the past, lol.

I only started 3 years ago and I already see a shift. Jobs are not as plentiful or paying as much as they used to. Many people are taking these jobs at base pay and doing the work for nothing. I sit back and wait for bonuses but there are certain jobs that I know, if I don't grab them, they will all be gone.

Seriously need a second side gig at this point. With TY and Lidl both ending, that hurt. Those were big for me. I really miss the photo audits with Lidl. Nobody wanted to do them and I was making mad money doing that. Even though there are some TYs left, someone else in my area must have taken them all as a route. I wasn't doing them for the price being offered and my offer to them was rejected so I can only assume the other person is being way underpaid for that. I can find easier things to do for the same fee, just not that kind of volume.

Everything changes in time, hopefully another big project will come along to keep us all busy.

I only started 3 years ago and I already see a shift. Jobs are not as plentiful or paying as much as they used to. Many people are taking these jobs at base pay and doing the work for nothing. I sit back and wait for bonuses but there are certain jobs that I know, if I don't grab them, they will all be gone.

Seriously need a second side gig at this point. With TY and Lidl both ending, that hurt. Those were big for me. I really miss the photo audits with Lidl. Nobody wanted to do them and I was making mad money doing that. Even though there are some TYs left, someone else in my area must have taken them all as a route. I wasn't doing them for the price being offered and my offer to them was rejected so I can only assume the other person is being way underpaid for that. I can find easier things to do for the same fee, just not that kind of volume.

Everything changes in time, hopefully another big project will come along to keep us all busy.

Barefoot, I joined around the time that you did. I remember everyone that you mentioned. I always wondered if their stories were true because they seemed to be on this forum far too much to be out working as much as they said they were working.

I think back then, the demand for mystery shopping wasn't as strong as it is now. I think COVID and companies like DoorDash got more people into mystery shopping and gig work. With so many people in mystery shopping now, it has brought our prices down because the demand is higher.

I wondered about them too....lots of bragging! LOL....
It was like half easy going people and half obnoxious - and now, almost all are gone.
Seems like they have regular jobs now or have gotten maybe too advanced in age.

I wondered about them too....lots of bragging! LOL....
It was like half easy going people and half obnoxious - and now, almost all are gone.
Seems like they have regular jobs now or have gotten maybe too advanced in age.

I wondered about them too....lots of bragging! LOL....
It was like half easy going people and half obnoxious - and now, almost all are gone.
Seems like they have regular jobs now or have gotten maybe too advanced in age.