Hello! I've been mystery shopping for a few years now - apartments, auto dealerships, banks, restaurants. I mostly like the apartment shops because they pay the most. For the apartment shops, I work with Jancyn, Marketstat, NWLPC, Ellis (EPMS) mostly. What are some of the other apartment companies that you work for? I'm in the Northern California area and would just like to get signed up with some other companies for mystery shopping apartments.

Thanks!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2012 05:37PM by matyglenn.

Welcome to the forum. Since you're new here, please take some time to read and get familiar with the layout.

The only people who would know the answer to your question are the people you would be taking work from if they told you. Please review the post on the top of this forum titled "Before you ask ...." It is "stickied" there to keep it on top of the list for a reason. We generally encourage people to do their own research here since the people who have been on these boards have spent a lot of time smoking out the companies that have the jobs they prefer and most do not share that information readily.

You'll find more information on that post I referred you to.

Matyglenn has been a member since May. You have only been a member since October of this year.

Edited: to be nice
itsasecret Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Welcome to the forum. Since you're new here,
> please take some time to read and get familiar
> with the layout.
>
> The only people who would know the answer to your
> question are the people you would be taking work
> from if they told you. Please review the post on
> the top of this forum titled "Before you ask ...."
> It is "stickied" there to keep it on top of the
> list for a reason. We generally encourage people
> to do their own research here since the people who
> have been on these boards have spent a lot of time
> smoking out the companies that have the jobs they
> prefer and most do not share that information
> readily.
>
> You'll find more information on that post I
> referred you to.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2012 05:58PM by FLguy65.

matyglenn has made 2 posts, one of which heads this thread. Does not appear to be a regular user of the forum. I joined and have been active and participating and learning the rules. Thus my attempt to be helpful to what appeared to be a new user, both in post count and in the nature of the question asked. And you appear to have either just joined or made a new ID just to give a hard time to someone who was trying to be helpful to what appeared to be a new user.

GC reincarnated, I suspect.

I sure do miss goosechicken. Don't you?

All I did was state the facts.

itsasecret Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> matyglenn has made 2 posts, one of which heads
> this thread. Does not appear to be a regular user
> of the forum. I joined and have been active and
> participating and learning the rules. Thus my
> attempt to be helpful to what appeared to be a new
> user, both in post count and in the nature of the
> question asked. And you appear to have either
> just joined or made a new ID just to give a hard
> time to someone who was trying to be helpful to
> what appeared to be a new user.
>
> GC reincarnated, I suspect.

and for the record: Not GC, but say what you will.

From Itsasecret: Welcome to the forum. Since you're new here, please take some time to read and get familiar with the layout.

The only people who would know the answer to your question are the people you would be taking work from if they told you. Please review the post on the top of this forum titled "Before you ask ...." It is "stickied" there to keep it on top of the list for a reason. We generally encourage people to do their own research here since the people who have been on these boards have spent a lot of time smoking out the companies that have the jobs they prefer and most do not share that information readily.

You'll find more information on that post I referred you to.



thank you for your attempt to be helpful. I've read a lot of these posts for the past few months. I haven't had a need to post much. I only posted today because I wanted to find out from other shoppers what companies they use for Apartment shops. I've done research, I've looked into several companies - and that's all fine and good. I've gotten connected with some great companies by doing my own research. However, sometimes, word of mouth and recommendations from other people can help quite a bit. That's all I wanted and still want. Thanks.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2012 10:21PM by matyglenn.

...and regarding the posts in the "Before you ask..." section: there seem to be more snide and flippant comments there than there are helpful tips, which another reason I decided to ask my question.

I've never done apartment shops, but I just did a search for all dates for "apartment shop" and got the names of several companies that do the shops. From there it's an easy search for posts by each particular company to see the word of mouth for each company. There's lots of information about who pays and doesn't pay, who works with shoppers and who doesn't. While some shoppers may post with some answers, most prefer that shoppers search and find the answers which are already present in this forum -- they are there if you look.

The very first post in the "Before you ask" thread had the information I wanted you to see. Basically -- don't ask members here to answer the very question you started this thread with. If you've been reading here for a few months, surely you would have stumbled over one of the many posts that were the inspiration for that stickied thread.

Yes that thread deteriorated into some light-hearted nonsense, but that first post on that thread really explains why we don't generally answer questions like the one you asked.

KarenIL has the right approach. The forums are easily searchable by anyone who really want to find existing information on any sort of shop.

Hi, FLguy65, welcome to the forum. You are absolutely right: matyglenn registered here on the forum earlier than itsasecret and has been a member longer. But itsasecret has been very active since registering and has become very knowledgeable on our forum. She gave matyglenn a very good answer.

Different MSCs have different shops in different parts of the country. For example, matyglenn, a couple of the companies you said you perform apartment shops for in North California have no apartment shops in my area .... and one of the companies has almost NO jobs in my area. itsasecret is very correct in that the only shoppers who would know which companies have apartment shops in Northern California are the shoppers who are currently doing those shops in Northern California and are your competition.

By using the "search" function, selecting "all dates" you should be able to see some companies that perform apartment shops. You can check then and see if they have apartment shops in Northern California.

The reason some comments may appear to be snide and flippant is because they come from people who were attacked for not handing over the keys to a successful mystery shopping business on the proverbial silver platter. A relatively new poster commented on how many of the questions are redundant. Most veteran shoppers are patient and repeat the same mantras over and over again. There are OPs who are less than gracious, downright demanding and resort to name calling and stomping their "princess" feet. That thread was designed to show new shoppers that there is no magic, hidden, super secret list.

As to this thread's topic, other than Ellis, I don't know of any MSCs who specialize in apartment shops on a nationwide basis. Over the years I have seen several that are regional and outside of my area.

Hello Matyglenn and FlGuy. Welcome to both of you. Ellis is the only one I see in my area listing apartments. I don't do apartments so I don't have personal input on the company but I haven't heard anything negative about them. The first posting in the recommended sticky is helpful and thorough. I admit the thread develops into a spirited back and forth that might seem puzzling if you hadn't been following other threads for a few days. We exchange useful information but we also have fun. From time to time I try to be kinder and more considerate, but I eventually break down and go feral under pressure. I'll try again to do better. Again, welcome.

And as Lt. Columbo would say, "Just one more thing..."

Best is a relative term. Given our individual idiosyncrasies, as well as our own particular requirements that allow us to deternine "best" for us, my best may not coincide with your best. Therefore I would suggest try one shop with a company, see if things work out as you would like or expect, then add on and expand. And should things happen to sink faster than the Titanic, you haven't invested a lot with that one company.

Honestly, if I list my best companies, most people would laugh.. For me, that's just means they have shops available here.

Me too, Shelly. Some of my favorites and most reliable, are other people's "most hated"!

I haven't done an apartment shop yet. I had one scheduled, but had to cancel when one of my pets died. I know that would seem like a silly reason to some, but I know there are several pet lovers on the forum who will likely understand.

That was way back when I was a fairly new shopper, in early 2011. Since that time, I've read how many apartment shops are really narrative-heavy, and kind of a pain in the a$$. However, if memory serves, I've gleaned from discussions on here, that there are *some* apartment shops that aren't quite as narrative-heavy, nor painful. : )

Is it OK to ask which MSC's have the less-narrative apartment shops? So I can investigate to see if they have shops in my area? I've only ever found two MSC's that do apartments in my area, except for a third that seems to have dropped them.

Is it OK to mention the one MSC that has fairly frequent apartment shops in my area, and ask if they are one of the ones with narrative heavy reports?

I'm still learning some of the etiquette on these things, and thoroughly understand not wanting to just "hand over" the results of a lot of hard work. But was hoping these questions might not step on any toes.

Thanks!

You are wecome to mention what MSC has frequent apartment shops in your area and to ask questions about the company and the degree of difficulty of the report. Another method would be to do a search on that company name for "all dates." Discussions of apartment shops that are narrative intensive will turn up very nicely with such a search.

itsasecret Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Welcome to the forum. Since you're new here,
> please take some time to read and get familiar
> with the layout.
>
> The only people who would know the answer to your
> question are the people you would be taking work
> from if they told you. Please review the post on
> the top of this forum titled "Before you ask ...."
> It is "stickied" there to keep it on top of the
> list for a reason. We generally encourage people
> to do their own research here since the people who
> have been on these boards have spent a lot of time
> smoking out the companies that have the jobs they
> prefer and most do not share that information
> readily.
>
> You'll find more information on that post I
> referred you to.

I appreciate the fact others like yourself have bore the burden and suffered under the heat of day to locate these companies you now enjoy, but to offer the 'name' of a company to a fellow shopper isn't selling the 'ranch,' while losing the cattle . I'd like to believe all these new shoppers are looking for is some encouragement by pointing them in the right direction. And, aligning with a very supportive company, who will give them a chance to succeed is all they need. Sometimes in life 'paying it forward is the BEST policy.'



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 08:46AM by readytoworknow.

readytoworknow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I appreciate the fact others like yourself have
> bore the burden and suffered under the heat of day
> to locate these companies you now enjoy, but to
> offer the 'name' of a company to a fellow shopper
> isn't selling the 'ranch,' while losing the cattle
> . I'd like to believe all these new shoppers are
> looking for is some encouragement by pointing them
> in the right direction. And, aligning with a very
> supportive company, who will give them a chance to
> succeed is all they need. Sometimes in life
> 'paying it forward is the BEST policy.'

I think we might have a difference in interpretation here. Many of us on the forum DO believe we "pay it forward." A number of posters spend many unpaid hours here on the forum daily/weekly answering questions, giving advice, and making suggestions. Putting together the ongoing information in the New Member Section was very time-consuming and is a work in progress, the result of several years. The forum is a wonderful resource for those new posters who choose to read it and use the information here to research and sign up with many companies. The information provided here is everything a new mystery shopper needs to start and grow his mystery shopping business. I very much know that because I used this forum as my "mystery shopping education" when I started in 2008. I owe a great debt of gratitude to those posters who posted the how-tos, and I now try to be available to "pay it forward" by helping new posters. Helping to me does not mean giving a short list.

Having come from a highly competitive sales and marketing background, I truly have been shocked by the amount of free information the posters on this forum have shared with people just entering an extremely competitive field. We all understand that every new person that enters the ms industry impacts our own businesses, by not only possibly competing for the jobs available in our own markets, but potentially impacting the pay offered, because this truly is a supply and demand industry. Knowing that every person that succeeds in establishing themselves in this industry successfully can negatively impact their own business, posters still share an astonishing amount of information that has benefited me incredibly, without specifically naming MS companies with industries and/or companies served.

When I first started, I was able to search out suggestions for companies that would pay me quickly, and more suggestions for companies that would not pay me at all. I found the suggested companies that I would not care about if I messed up a shop, because as I got better at MS'ing I would bypass their low paying work. I found advice on companies that had easy shops vs. the ones that would require much more narrative. I found advice on the shops from hell. And I found the continued advice of signing up for as many companies as possible, because you never know what they might have today, or next year. I could go on and on and on about everything that has been shared on this website that has helped me grow as a shopper.

I think it is entirely valid for the participants on this forum to continue to point newbies to do their own research, and judging from the number of times it needs to be done (daily?) I am amazed that the responses remain so professional. When I joined the forum, I started reading posts, and it took me about 10 minutes to learn not to ask these types of questions. There is a very easy to learn system in place for this forum, and the people that don't want to learn it by researching before posting, will obviously learn it very quickly after they post.
I began MS'ing in September 2012, and my January 2013 earnings outpaced my entire 2012 earnings, thanks to all of the information I have learned on this forum.
Thanks to all of you for all that you have taught me.

I just typed 'mystery shop apartments' in a Google search and several popped up. One company, I'd not heard of: apartmentmysteryshopper.com. I don't know anything about the company, but maybe it's helpful to you. Good luck.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> readytoworknow Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> I appreciate the fact others like yourself have
> > bore the burden and suffered under the heat of
> day
> > to locate these companies you now enjoy, but to
> > offer the 'name' of a company to a fellow
> shopper
> > isn't selling the 'ranch,' while losing the
> cattle
> > . I'd like to believe all these new shoppers
> are
> > looking for is some encouragement by pointing
> them
> > in the right direction. And, aligning with a
> very
> > supportive company, who will give them a chance
> to
> > succeed is all they need. Sometimes in life
> > 'paying it forward is the BEST policy.'
>
> I think we might have a difference in
> interpretation here. Many of us on the forum DO
> believe we "pay it forward." A number of posters
> spend many unpaid hours here on the forum
> daily/weekly answering questions, giving advice,
> and making suggestions. Putting together the
> ongoing information in the New Member Section was
> very time-consuming and is a work in progress, the
> result of several years. The forum is a
> wonderful resource for those new posters who
> choose to read it and use the information here to
> research and sign up with many companies. The
> information provided here is everything a new
> mystery shopper needs to start and grow his
> mystery shopping business. I very much know that
> because I used this forum as my "mystery shopping
> education" when I started in 2008. I owe a great
> debt of gratitude to those posters who posted the
> how-tos, and I now try to be available to "pay it
> forward" by helping new posters. Helping to me
> does not mean giving a short list.

Well, as some closure to this dialog allow me to say, giving anyone the name of a company or list of companies will n noways make u a dollar short at the end of the DAY!! Peace!!

readytoworknow Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I appreciate the fact others like yourself have
> bore the burden and suffered under the heat of day
> to locate these companies you now enjoy, but to
> offer the 'name' of a company to a fellow shopper
> isn't selling the 'ranch,' while losing the cattle

Not to beat a dead horse, or even a dead cow, but the names of the available companies are listed on this forum. Anyone can easily do a search to check out the experiences that other shoppers have had with these MSCs. Everybody's opinion of a specific MSC varies. What one shopper loves, another hates. No one agrees on what is the best company.

So what's the beef?

Readytoknow,

I have to very respectfully disagree with you. I do mystery shopping as a second job. There are times when I can't apply early enough to get a shop for weeks. Usually it seems like someone hops in to MSing and goes strong for a few months and gives up and I can get shops again. The competion is harsh for me and I don't want to add to it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2013 04:41AM by Shelly.

"The beef" maybe that as this industry gets more populated with shoppers, seemingly lower paying and less offers from companies they work for, and everyone trying to reach a financial goal or requirement, no one wants to give up the companies they may have worked hours and hours to find. That is said with no offense intended AT ALL. Just for example, last year, the shops I used to be able to wait to go from $4 to $25 dollars because there were no shoppers that took them, I am now seeing taken when they are given a whopping $0.50 bonus. That's right, for $4.50, someone is doing shops that were always ultimately offered for $25 or more. I presume more people are figuring out how awesome and legitimate this industry is and jumping in. The industry has been a Godsend to me and I understand the interest, but I certainly would not give out names that I have worked countless hours to find. Along the way, I have applied with more than 20 companies that offer jobs nowhere within 1,000 miles of my home.

shopgal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> readytoworknow Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I appreciate the fact others like yourself have
> > bore the burden and suffered under the heat of
> day
> > to locate these companies you now enjoy, but to
> > offer the 'name' of a company to a fellow
> shopper
> > isn't selling the 'ranch,' while losing the
> cattle
>
> Not to beat a dead horse, or even a dead cow, but
> the names of the available companies are listed on
> this forum. Anyone can easily do a search to check
> out the experiences that other shoppers have had
> with these MSCs. Everybody's opinion of a specific
> MSC varies. What one shopper loves, another hates.
> No one agrees on what is the best company.
>
> So what's the beef?

No beef? ... Take a pill anxious Annie!!!

readytoworknow Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
shopgal wrote:
> Not to beat a dead horse, or even a dead cow, but
> the names of the available companies are listed on
> this forum. Anyone can easily do a search to check
> out the experiences that other shoppers have had
> with these MSCs. Everybody's opinion of a specific
> MSC varies. What one shopper loves, another hates.
> No one agrees on what is the best company.
>
> So what's the beef?

No beef? ... Take a pill anxious Annie!!!

Can we just butcher the dead cow? readytoknow, you seem to be the only one who currently has a beef. Let's buther the cow and have a barbeque. Then settle in and have a good read. There's plenty of information available here because many shoppers spend many hours each week paying it forward by helping other shoppers. Anyone who comes here can easily do a search and find just about anything they want to find. And I think none of us has a problem with anyone searching the information that's here. Asking for specific lists of "who does XXX" and "give me a list of the best of the best" is not only unnecessary, it's quite impossible, because, as you said, no one agrees on the best company. I'm betting if you start to search you'll find it all.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2013 07:11PM by AustinMom.

Actually you have no idea how anything affects each of our individual businesses and can only speak to your own. First, because you have not been at this very long and second, you are in a different part of the country than most of us.

If you feel it would be worth your time, feel free to put together a list of companies that you think will answer all the questions and suit everyone's needs. We here will all thank you and be appreciative, but be prepared for those that will not appreciate or understand that you donated your time to help them and they will ask for still more while taking every opportunity to slam you if you do not.