My best friend wants to start shopping...

September 13, 2012 10:18PM

Mystery shoppers are the fun ones. The ones that always have money to go out to eat, or to go fun places. Eventually your best friend wants to know what's up, since she knows you are not that rich...lol.
I explain a little about the process and bam, she wants to shop too. First off - what are your thoughts about giving yourself more competition, and where should I send her to start? I figure CORI - but what else ? I'm looking for minimum narratives , with beginner's pay. It's been a little while for me so I could use some imput. Thanx guys , y'all rock :-)

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September 13, 2012 11:05PM

If she resides in your "Zone". its not a good idea. That puts you on the road to losing a freind and gaining competetion...

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.

September 13, 2012 11:27PM

I do not want to give my self more competition. I even told my sister ( with whom I do almost everything) that I could not help her get started mystery shopping because it was very competitive and I had to spend a lot of time and energy looking for and being accepted to shop, and I just could not afford to share my information. She respected this. I have told other basically the same thing. Real friends will understand, other?? oh well...

September 14, 2012 12:47AM

Telll her, no dice.

September 14, 2012 01:12AM

I usually suggest the companies that pay the least and want one to write the most. That way, my friends think it is too hard and they don't last long.

September 14, 2012 01:53AM

I would and have directed someone to the MSC list and leave it at that. I do think that, depending on your market, there are enough rotation openings for others, that at least where I am would not worry too much. As discussed a lot of people will look at the list and maybe start applying and give up after they realize...hmm? not really a day at the beach.

September 14, 2012 01:56AM

I keep my shopping very quiet. I have told NO friends. My boss at my day job (he's like family) knows and my family. I haven't told anyone else, and I have no intention of helping anyone local get started and training my own competition.

September 14, 2012 02:06AM

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 08:58PM by CAscotch.

September 14, 2012 02:10AM

CAscotch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I tell everyone, even the best companies that I
> work for... If you think about it, there are
> thousands and thousands of shoppers out there
> exposed to the same companies... honestly, one or
> two people you know would not change the odds of
> getting assignments all that much, provided that
> you are good at what you do.

Yes that is what I was getting at. Definitely not saying train. Tell them how to find the list and let them go for it. End of story.

September 14, 2012 02:34AM

I tell most anyone that has learned what I do, either from my loud mouth or my sister's, to investigate the business just like I did....google "mystery shopping", pretend like you are doing a research paper on the business and dig in for themselves to whatever level they want to take it. I had an inkling of help, but that was pretty much it. Just because someone likes to shop or wants free stuff does not mean they will be a good mystery shopper. I learned quickly that there is a big difference. I think it most cases, it is probably best to give someone a couple of tips on how to get started (give the same tips you received to get into the business), and if they want to do it bad enough, they will figure it out just like you and the rest of us did. The first clue to me if someone is going to be a good shopper is how much work they will put into learning about the industry and researching companies. If they do not want to do that, I would not let them ride on my hundreds of hours of research, applications, finding companies, narratives, etc.

September 14, 2012 02:58AM

The only people who know that I am a Mystery Shopper are my husband, and my mother. Everyone else just thinks I have lots of "errands.'

September 14, 2012 12:53PM

I would send anyone to the list of MSCs here and let them work on getting started. Frankly, I suspect that only about one in 10 persist far enough to become competition.

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.

September 14, 2012 01:04PM

I have told very few people locally what I do. Two have expressed interest and asked for a company name and I politely explained that "I have the market" in this area and there was not room for someone else at this point.

I have only referred one friend who lives in another area, who has come with me to some dinners and recently was laid off. I didn't give her my entire contact list but 3 basic ones to start. She can branch out on her own from there.

**********************************
Always take the high road.

September 14, 2012 01:20PM

Early on my best friend was interested. I told her there was too much competition already and truthfully she is too flaky anyway. The smart thing would have been to give her the information and then pick up the bonused jobs after she flaked

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

September 14, 2012 01:39PM

I always refer people to the MSC list here and on V when people ask how to start shopping, and give them the short list of easy companies to start with. Many of my friends have asked, and some have actually signed up with companies and tried shops...none are still shopping.

Not sure if that means I'm the crazy one for being able to do it or not. Truth be told, I do not want to work for the companies I tell people to start with. I got started when jobs were a bit easier and paid better, I think.

September 14, 2012 01:40PM

I am a HUGE fan of Feedback plus. The scheduler is AMAZING and their narratives are simple. I LOVE having a friend in the area that shops. She calls me immediately if a company calls her so I know in advance if I want to answer my phone

. She tells me what she told them it would take for her to do the job. I won't undercut her. and she won't undercut me. Whoever gets the call first, can either accept or decline, with no guilt.

monarch2003 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Mystery shoppers are the fun ones. The ones that
> always have money to go out to eat, or to go fun
> places. Eventually your best friend wants to know
> what's up, since she knows you are not that
> rich...lol.
> I explain a little about the process and bam, she
> wants to shop too. First off - what are your
> thoughts about giving yourself more competition,
> and where should I send her to start? I figure
> CORI - but what else ? I'm looking for minimum
> narratives , with beginner's pay. It's been a
> little while for me so I could use some imput.
> Thanx guys , y'all rock :-)

Robin

Silver certified, I shop in Cities in NM and TX that no one has ever heard of.

September 14, 2012 02:15PM

Way too much competition for jobs already. I would never show anyone in my area this board and the list of companies. Not trying to be selfish. just trying to survive.

September 14, 2012 06:43PM

I am soooo disapointed in you all!! Nah, I'm just kidding. I live in a city with lots of work and I don't have the problem of lots of competition. I did Google MS'ing first and branched off from there, like some of you have said already. When my friends tell me that they are interested, I give them the MSPA website and tell them to start at A and work down to Z. I have 1 sister and 1 friend that shops now. All of us are in the same area and we don't fight over them. They are kind of my "support system", if you will. We talk and vent about our shopping experience and give each other "heads up" on some jobs and payment schedules. All of us have regular "9-5's", so we are not shopping hungry. If I see one that my sister likes, I'll tell her about it and the same with my friend. Well, happy shopping ya'll. (Can you guess where I'm from?)

Little lady shopping Southern Louisiana & Mississippi.

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