I have Desperate shoppers in the area!!!

They are taking shops for $8-9 and these shops take AT LEAST 30 min to complete and another 10 to put in! (Not adding in the drive time, gas, ect.)

I have 3 companies I work with and ALL 3 have the same thing.

I have a good repore with 2 of my schedulers and when I made the comment to them that shops were disappearing for ridiculous amounts, I was told that the funny part of it was they were "seasoned shoppers" and they were surprised to see them take these so low!!!

I know there is nothing I can do......just GRRRRRR frustrating!!!!

I know, it's frustrating! Someone is snatching up the Lowes jobs for $4.00 !!!!!

I understand your frustration but I also don't think it's any of your business whether people take $1 shops or $10 shops.. If you don't like the fee your favourite MSC are offering, you can always find other companies who pay better. To some people, they don't mind doing it for $8 because they may already be in the area and perhaps it takes them less than 30 minutes to fill out the survey. Some people are simply happy to be reimbursed for a purchase.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2013 02:57PM by dixiewhiskey.

And some people don't realize their time has value. Sure it is her business, because it affects her business

I believe we're going to have more shoppers working as the big companies cut back the work week. People who get a big cut in pay are going to feel desperate to supplement their incomes and we may have some downward pressure on shop fees. On the other side of that coin, more part time jobs will be available and perhaps that will give us some relief as more people are able to find at least part time employment.

if you are really determined you can track them down
and have a discussion with them about not taking shops
early, depending on the msc and their fee structure it
could make a difference

It might just be that holidays are coming and these shoppers see the reimbursement and fee as a free gift for someone in their Christmas list. I am usually not interested in the Disney or Lego, or the kids clothing shops, but I try to grab some in September and October to get gifts for the holidays. I also do the gift card purchase in pet shops, auto cars, music instrument and just use them for small gifts. Other times I do the same shops but wait for a good bonus as I have no pets or musical instruments.

It's IS her right to complain. The more people that are CL and take shops for such low fees, the more it drives down the other people's fees who actually want to make some money. If you like being paid next to nothing, I'm sure you can find somewhere to volunteer your time.

That's what makes this country great; freedom of speech and freedom of expression. People have the right to complain and stand up when they feel something is amiss.

txNana has a valid point. There was no need to go all stompy-foot on her.

dixiewhiskey Wrote:
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> I understand your frustration but I also don't
> think it's any of your business whether people
> take $1 shops or $10 shops.. If you don't like the
> fee your favourite MSC are offering, you can
> always find other companies who pay better. To
> some people, they don't mind doing it for $8
> because they may already be in the area and
> perhaps it takes them less than 30 minutes to fill
> out the survey. Some people are simply happy to be
> reimbursed for a purchase.

In the two months I have been doing this I see that all the time. Grocery shops and fast food locations being shopped for $4 to $5 along with a Lowes. I understand the frustration but I don't see where there is anything you can do about. I may be new but know the value of my time. The shops I have seen that go that low just don't seem anywhere near worth it. When you see a Lowes shop go for $4 that's pretty bad. The excuse for doing it for reimbursement will not work on that one as the reimbursement is $1.00 .

Agreed. If shoppers would have a little patience, the fees will go up as they near deadlines.

americanjoe Wrote:
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> In the two months I have been doing this I see
> that all the time. Grocery shops and fast food
> locations being shopped for $4 to $5 along with a
> Lowes. I understand the frustration but I don't
> see where there is anything you can do about. I
> may be new but know the value of my time. The
> shops I have seen that go that low just don't seem
> anywhere near worth it. When you see a Lowes shop
> go for $4 that's pretty bad. The excuse for doing
> it for reimbursement will not work on that one as
> the reimbursement is $1.00 .

I've seen this happen every couple of months. But, the way to look at it is - your shops were taken for that month, yet they'll be back next month and that naive or desperate shopper will have to await the next shop period. As for the Lowe's shops, there are usually up to 3 for the month to do. It just means one of them is gone at a ridiculously low price - the rest will bonus as they age.
Patience, my dear, patience.

I'm amazed that the Lowe's start at $4. I just started with that company and refuse to do the gas station audits for the $6 they offer. Plus $1 gas reimbursement? Looks fishy to the gas station associate, don't you think? I like when I see a bonus attached to a shop, BUT, not to support either side, I just play Devil's advocate and look at both sides.....even if this is a seasoned shopper, are they seasoned with THAT company to know how much higher the fees go? And, maybe that seasoned shopper usually waits for the fees to go up, but by the time they are up, someone else grabbed it, so this time, they planned their routes and snagged the job first just to throw things off but still is making the same profit amount because they pre-planned a good route? I will say, since moving, I have signed up with more MSC because I am in a larger area. So, some of the newer companies, to me, have average paying jobs plus reimbursement (because the area I was in before, these are the amounts one would see with the bonuses). So, even though I am seasoned and have performed mystery shopping for a long time, I will be humble and admit, I might take a job for what I think is a fair amount, but to someone else working for that company for longer might think "hey! why did someone take that low of a job!?!"

I do prefer a good bonus, but if I'm already 'ok' with the amount, and I have time, I'll take it. Afterall, someone is going to get it. And yes, as much as we all want to 'help' one another here, the truth of the matter is it's a dog eat dog world and we're all competing for a bone. The meatier the bone, the tougher the competition. We all have bills and savings goals. So, yup, the original poster is irritated because she feels/is worried about how this will impact her wallet. The 'low-balling snagger', well, they have a wallet too and maybe, just maybe taking it low was more important to his/her wallet than waiting it out and having $0 because of a 'high ball snagger'.

just my "looking-at-both-sides" opinion.

I feel your frustration as I often feel the same way! It really does make you wonder about these other shoppers and sure, maybe someone is going there anyway so $4 seems fine but when a whole bunch of them get snapped up at $4 you really have to wonder!! I agree, it definitely is your business because it hurts your business. Sadly, not much we can do about it though huh?

I'm with Dixie. Not anybody's business what someone else takes a job for. They have just as much right to do things the way they want to as you do.

I decided I can't do this full time due to those shoppers who take the low shops. Bank shops I do for $18-20 have been going for $7. I can't, or more appropriately WON'T compete with the people who work for so little. Now I only MS for bonus shops, usually at the end of the month when they start calling me.

Is it just me or does Dixie always have something negative to add?

Do you think people are really doing the Lowe's for 4.00? I sort of thought it meant the required cycle was not yet up to allow for assignment.

If I'm okay with the fee, I'm going to take it. I'm talking about the shoppers who take shops that are ridiculously low.

Another factor is when I am already going somewhere and there is a shop for that place. For example, if I already decided I want to go eat wings, I may be inclined to take that shop so my meal would be discounted.

One shop that I noticed stays on the board until the bitter end are certain "novelty" shops, where they pay $7 plus up to $5 reimbursement. They try and act like they're doing someone a big favor by adding a $2, $3 or $5 rush bonus. I'm sorry, the report for these shops require a bit more money for me to complete.

Curlzzzzzzzz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm amazed that the Lowe's start at $4. I just
> started with that company and refuse to do the gas
> station audits for the $6 they offer. Plus $1 gas
> reimbursement? Looks fishy to the gas station
> associate, don't you think? I like when I see a
> bonus attached to a shop, BUT, not to support
> either side, I just play Devil's advocate and look
> at both sides.....even if this is a seasoned
> shopper, are they seasoned with THAT company to
> know how much higher the fees go? And, maybe that
> seasoned shopper usually waits for the fees to go
> up, but by the time they are up, someone else
> grabbed it, so this time, they planned their
> routes and snagged the job first just to throw
> things off but still is making the same profit
> amount because they pre-planned a good route? I
> will say, since moving, I have signed up with more
> MSC because I am in a larger area. So, some of the
> newer companies, to me, have average paying jobs
> plus reimbursement (because the area I was in
> before, these are the amounts one would see with
> the bonuses). So, even though I am seasoned and
> have performed mystery shopping for a long time, I
> will be humble and admit, I might take a job for
> what I think is a fair amount, but to someone else
> working for that company for longer might think
> "hey! why did someone take that low of a job!?!"
>
> I do prefer a good bonus, but if I'm already 'ok'
> with the amount, and I have time, I'll take it.
> Afterall, someone is going to get it. And yes, as
> much as we all want to 'help' one another here,
> the truth of the matter is it's a dog eat dog
> world and we're all competing for a bone. The
> meatier the bone, the tougher the competition. We
> all have bills and savings goals. So, yup, the
> original poster is irritated because she feels/is
> worried about how this will impact her wallet. The
> 'low-balling snagger', well, they have a wallet
> too and maybe, just maybe taking it low was more
> important to his/her wallet than waiting it out
> and having $0 because of a 'high ball snagger'.
>
> just my "looking-at-both-sides" opinion.

I personally don't look at fee so much as what the hourly would be (i.e. travel, shop time, reports, etc.). For a $10 shop I'm not going 5 miles no matter what unless I wanted to do a lunch shop when I was meeting someone anyhow.

I do some now and then as fillers but even then, 45 minutes at $8 isn't worth my time when I can find other avenues of income or just enjoy my life and not stress over something that isn't worth my time.

I found many jobs where I didn't meet the criteria and I'm in an area with more than enough jobs to sustain me til cows fly.

The shops I am referring to have 1.00 reimbursement fee.....these are everything from gas, cell, signs ect.

As for it being my business.....anyone in the MSing business it is their business because it does effect future rates.

Can I do anything about ......NOPE ...except complain on here!! lol

And whoever is taking the shops is taking a bulk of them and if they made a route in the city Im in ....well this person will make a whooping 200.00 for doing over 30 shops. Please know almost all these shops have pictures attached and a summary of "what happened".

If this person(s) feels the need to take them that low...its ok...cause I will go to another city for this month and next moth you will be worn out from working for nothing and I will hopefully make some nice Christmas money!!!

Nana, that's what I do when there's nothing close. I just drive to some other place and jump on it.

My brother and I had this discussion about pay vs. time involved and is it worth it to do the cheap ones. He likes to apply the minimum wage standard of, after I pay for gas and whatever, when you do the math, does the shop pay at least minimum wage for the time involved, including travel time and paperwork.

I on the other hand look at it like this. Once I've determined that I'm not going to take a loss after paying for gas, am I doing anything better with my time? If I could be actually doing something that makes more money, then forget it. But if I have absolutely nothing better to do, hell, I'll pick up a cheap job just to keep busy.

Also, if I go out of town on a job, I'll pick up any little jobs there I can find just to up my bottom line on the road.

Minimum wage? My time is worth more than that.

no chance I would do these shops if I only netted minimum wage.

The incompetency of many cori shoppers never ceases to amaze me.

There are 4 shops for the same client on the same street from first one
to last one is a mile and a half. 3 of them are going for 11 dollars and one
is going for 5 dollars. What did someone do this morning? Take the one
going for 5 dollars and left the other 3.

I see this happen time and again with cori shops in various areas. Makes you wonder
just how smart some of these shoppers are.

techman01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

There are 4 shops for the same client on the same
> street from first one
> to last one is a mile and a half. 3 of them are
> going for 11 dollars and one
> is going for 5 dollars. What did someone do this
> morning? Take the one
> going for 5 dollars and left the other 3.
>
> I see this happen time and again with cori shops
> in various areas. Makes you wonder
> just how smart some of these shoppers are.

They probably did the other ones the previous round, for $5 also, and now have to wait out the rotation.

MMMM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They probably did the other ones the previous
> round, for $5 also, and now have to wait out the
> rotation.


You would think that is the logical answer but that isn't
the case since all 4 went for 20 dollars each last time and were
done on the same day....

That is the key word "desperate"
There are people who have family to care for that won't qualify for government help.
Do they pass up the opportunity at that point in time to buy some food with their meager earnings from low ball jobs so that others can make the msc's raise their rates?
I think that those who are in the situation of immediate need should have no concern regarding the opinions of those who would prefer they live by any one elses standards.
Like the old saying "It's your thing, do what you want to do."

Believe it or not, I've had situations in the past where those $5 shops end up becoming a pain because then I get the scheduler saying it must be on different days, blah blah blah when originally there is a range and I request them for the same day. But alas, I don't find out until I get accepted for the $5 first and learn the $11-$15 is for an inconvenient day/time or they assign to someone else.

Wow...I have a duel mindset about this because I both mystery shop AND use crowdsourced apps. I approach the apps as "If I'm going that way anyway, I'll add this in to pay for gas". In 20mi round trip I can make up to $40 for the hour depending on the app jobs I have plus the mystery shops. I had a great day on Tuesday with tons of quick work, paid well, all in one trip. Now, I'm in a dry spell of lower paying ones of $11. BUT, I know sometimes, I have to take the lower pay to gain reputation, or feel out the company if they are new to me. Just this week, I have weeded out a company by doing that. Some people on here said they loved the company, I tried a job or two. Easy enough, but I'm just not feel a good 'fit'. Then today, I had a great experience with a Bestmark editor and we chatted on the phone for a long time. That helped to reinforce for me that Bestmark IS a good fit for me even though that other company was not.

Ok, back to the low-ball snaggers...if they do not know what they are doing, especially taking that many jobs for that little amount...they will fall upon their cheap sword which will kill their reputation. If my husband knew I had accepted so many jobs like that, with that much driving, little pay, plus the time away from him filling out my reports, I would either do a few and stop to appease him, or totally cancel all together. I'm sure other people will start feeling frazzled by the low pay and effort and will mess up their reports. Wait it out. They might just open up because the person couldn't hack it. Besides...chances are, if they didn't have much forthought about taking those cheap $4 jobs, they might not have the afterthought for quality reports. (BUT, disclaimer, we don't truly know their motive, so for some strange reason, it might actually make sense what they're doing?)

nevercoldinhouston Wrote:
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> Do they pass up the opportunity at that point in
> time to buy some food with their meager earnings
> from low ball jobs so that others can make the
> msc's raise their rates?


No, they can do like most of the rest of us... postpone (rather than pass up) the opportunity so *THEY* can earn more money in the short-term, and perhaps in the long-term, the MSC will indeed raise the rates a bit. I don't see why they want to make $4, when in a week or two, they can make double or triple that.

It's not about letting the pay get higher to benefit someone else. It will benefit them, too ~ short and long term. And, they're not even getting all of that $4 if they have to drive more than a few blocks. Even if they value their time at absolute zero, the best they're doing is making $2 or so.

Some people I have met actually admitted to me they mystery shop out of boredom. Lowe's can be $4.00 or $30+ bonused. It's all the same to them. ie. these particular people don't need the money and don't care if at the end of the day they are in the red.