They have a few shops listed that are places that we visit several times a year. I would love to do the shop to be reimbursed for the expenses but the guidelines state the reports are 3-4 hours long. Any one do shops for them and do they have awful reports?

The reports and amount of information you have to get have always put me off too. Also I'm 50 so the payment in more amusement park tickets are not so attractive to me even though we do have one of the locations nearby. I wouldn't mind going once but to receive more tickets for payments is not really attractive to me.

Interesting I didn't see anything but cash compensation. Compensation other than reimbursement is not great. But if a report is going to take 4 hours to complete no way I could possibly enjoy myself during the visit with my family.

I did a zoo...once. I thought it would be a great day out with the family and get reimbursed for some of the purchases I would be making anyway. WRONG! There wasn't enough time to be with my family and get all the observations and purchases made. I left my family at the bears and ran around like a mad woman trying to get all the purchases and observations made. I hated it. I still ran out of time (I arrived at opening and we left at closing).

I started the report and just couldn't complete it. I emailed the scheduler and apologized. He was professional and told me to try again later on now that I know what I will be doing. The report has narrative for every interaction, every person, every place you are supposed to be. It is exactly what I expected according to what the company told me it would be.

I will try one again now that I know what to expect. Not sure if I would do an amusement park though, too many people and we really like to ride rides.

I've not done an amusement park but I've done four other types of shops for A.A. They have all been easier interactions and photos, and I think the time estimate is for an inexperienced shopper. I generally only need about half the time they quote, both in terms of boots on the ground and reporting time. If you have a walkaround shop in your area, that would give you a chance to get a taste of their report style without over committing.

What other types of shops does AA offer? I am new to this forum but not mystery shopping. I used to do Ikea shops and the reports were very long and very detailed. It kind of took the fun out of shopping, lol. I am definitely looking to expand my shopping opportunities after doing the same places for the last 5 years!

Ikea made me cry. If you can handle that, you'll be fine at AA. As far as what they have in your area, you should ask them.

I'm looking forward to signing up with Amusement Advantage, but I figure I should get more experience first. There's a very good chance that they shop my ex-place-of-employment. Obviously, I wouldn't be able to do that shop now, but I wonder if I'd be allowed to after a certain number of years away from the place. I'd certainly have an advantage in knowing the layout of the place, and where everything is.

Can anyone say if their screening questions ask: "Has anyone you know worked for this place in the last 5 years... last 10 years... ever?

In my area, they do "fun" places like amusement parks, whale watching trips, aquariums, even carousels at a mall. The latter did not seem so time consuming, but their normal shops consist of an extensive evaluation of the facility and significant time to write it up.

How difficult are they? The ones I have done require many interactions at different parts of the facility that include their website, admissions, snack bars and restaurants, restrooms, shows and parking facility. I find they do take planning to get them all in and time to write them up. There should be time in between to find a private place to take notes and review your instructions/plan for the next ones. You will almost certainly need the cooperation of your family/guests to go along with your plan to cover all areas.

Fees/reinbursement: They typically pay a flat fee that is intended to cover all required expenses, but with little beyond that.

Time: The first one I did for them required about 2 hours prep time (including pre-visit website visits and phone call), four hours at the facility and 2 1/2 to 3 hours to write it up.

Are they good to work for? I think so. Their instructions are detailed, but clear and understandable with accurate estimates for time expenditures. They are responsive to questions and even bumped up my fee for an unexpected cost. When doing a shop, the client had raised it's fee (admission fee I think) higher than the fee stated in the instructions. After completing the shop, I emailed asking for an increased fee to compensate. That request was granted.

I find their shops involved, but if you are willing to do the work and your guests can handle the mystery shopping part of the visit, their shops can bring down the cost for visits to certain "fun" places.

Thank you so much for that detail! I appreciate the complete responses to everything I was looking to ask. Do they pay promptly or at least on a regular schedule?

I've only done one shop for them, and have another coming up, same type of facility. I really, really like the people there! They're very responsive, and when I ran into something I thought would be a problem, they helped me out immensely. I wouldn't do a shop for them at a venue I wouldn't ordinarily go, but if they have a shop for an entertainment facility you'd go to anyway, or would if you were getting reimbursed, I'd do it. The report for the shop I did (bowling) wasn't as involved as some of the others probably are, i.e., an amusement park. I didn't find the report hard at all, just very detailed. And it didn't take 3 to 4 hours. This report takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, probably quicker if you don't run into any issues while doing it (which I did). If you like to write (and I do--LOL!), the short narratives aren't a big deal, and someone who isn't as anal about writing as I am would probably get through it faster than I did.

If you're a new shopper, I don't think I'd want to do one of these right off the bat--you do need the kind of selective observation skills that tend to become second nature. My husband, who's used to going with me on shops, is great about helping me with observations and names. I highly recommend enlisting your family's help!

Once in awhile, they have some "walk-around" shops that require several interactions and photos, but no purchases, so the pay is really "pay" and not reimbursement. I think they may factor in parking fees in these shops, too, so there is extra $$ left over after paying those. I didn't do one of those this past year, but am going to try and do one when they start offering them again.

Their editors are fast and fair, and their "grading" and feedback system is terrific. And I got paid when they say they pay (though I can't remember what their timeframe is).

I wish they had more shops, and more of a variety near me, because I love working with them! There is only one other company I shop for that has such helpful and responsive folks. But there just aren't enough shops around here at places I want or need to go....

Your welcome.

The site lists a varied payment speed is depending on which of the three options you choose.

PayQuicker 10-17 days,
PayPal 21-28 days,
Check 45-60 days.

Personal experience is limited, but I have had no issue with payment speed and I can't recall any problems other shoppers list on the forums.

There are several other threads on this company. Reading them will give you more insight. I like their jobs but they do take a day to do so I space them out. Some are more involved than others. I did one for a Science museum that was very involved and long. The Natural History museum next door tho was much easier in my opinion. These shops are about the experience. I don't think you should do it if your objective is to do a shop and make money. You do spend a lot of time there but if you find the venue enjoyable and would like to visit for "free" it might be worth your time. Some jobs are for tickets and some are for a flat fee.

Thanks. They have one listed to a place we go several times a year. My husband loves it. So I was thinking of taking it and get reimbursed for the tickets and food. I may wait a few months until the weather is good.

I think it would be fun to shop a zoo or aquarium or something, the problem is I like to go those places by myself, and it seems the shops take up all your time with nothing but a reimbursement. Not sure how much fun I would have. :/

Yeah, I know what you mean! I'd love to do the aquarium shop and bring the family, but we'd be so much out of pocket on it that it seems the money we'd spend plus the time I'd spend observing instead of enjoying, and then writing the report, just isn't worth it. I could do one during the week by myself, but, like you, I'm not sure how enjoyable that would be, without being able to fully absorb the experience without being on "high alert" the entire time! Same deal with the amusement parks--I can take the whole family or just my younger son, but the "payment" is tickets, and you usually get those after you go. Not sure we'd be up for another trip to an amusement park just to use them.

The bowling shops are about all I think I can handle as far as family entertainment goes! But my DH & I would love to do the waterfront walk-around shop, or I'd enjoy that by myself--take my good camera and shoot some photos for my personal album, talk to lots of folks, grab lunch or dinner afterward.... I could live with that, even being out of pocket for a meal....

bgriffin Wrote:
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> I think it would be fun to shop a zoo or aquarium
> or something, the problem is I like to go those
> places by myself, and it seems the shops take up
> all your time with nothing but a reimbursement.
> Not sure how much fun I would have. :/

My wife and I love shopping with AA. We do a regional zoo twice a year to get away from the jobs, kids, etc. It's not an easy shop, with lots of narrative. We don't net much money, but the time together is good break. One bit of advice: "get-r-done" first before enjoying the location, for the deadline time will slip up quick. Take LOTS of pictures.

I have completed four skating shops for AA. Here is the thing, I have six children so I do NOT do it for the pay but for the reimbursement. I interact with everyone when I go to places like this while the kids are enjoying themselves so for me this was easy. Now, the report takes a LOT of time. I easily spend 2 hours on the report and I type 58 words a minute so it is not because I am a slow typer. There are just a lot of details that are necessary. I make several trips to the bathroom to jot down names and descriptions so that I do not forget. You are required to interact with EVERYONE working and that can easily be 8 or more people. They pay on time and sometimes even earlier than expected. The scheduler I deal with is AWESOME he has emailed me back at 1AM when necessary. My only warning to anyone is you have to do a very detailed report and for some people this may not be worth it.

I have been shopping for them for many years and do the same locations frequently so they are a second nature and do most of them so my kids/young relatives enjoy them as it is a free visit and a tiny ~$10-$15 profit for me. In some places that comes to over $150 and we would not be going nearly as frequently as we go now. The amount paid is always sufficient for tickets, parking, food, tickets for special events in the location, and a small retail purchase. Usually you have to buy 1 full price ticket but for the rest of the tickets you are allowed to use coupons with discounted entrance fee or the buy 1 get one free. They have a lot of fun and "unique" amusement experiences. The reports are straight forward but you do need to write about every single person you meet and do take time. If you go early in the day, you can enjoy yourself and do the required observations. They pay on time or earlier, and always have someone by the phone if problems occur. The schedulers and all staff, Scott included, are always very friendly and try to work out all problems with the shopper.

ditto for me what Kate said. I have taken my kids but they are grown up now. If I go just 2 people I end up with a profit. And I have treated my daughter twice now for the gift shop purchases on something she really wanted and I never would have bought for her. Salt lamps were on sale at one gift shop for $15...my daughter said they generally at the time sold for $75 so I allowed her to get that vs a pencil I did not need for $1.69. Another time we found something else priced really well and I also got a backpack for $10! that I could not find elsewhere for any price. You really do need to heed the advice though to get an early start as many of the booths you need to go to close early in the day. After you are done running around and eating, eating, eating you can usually relax, meet up with your other family members if you had sent them off on their own and enjoy the rest of the day. For those of you choosing to go alone, in my city this is not allowed except on the downtown walkabout shop. I am not sure how they would find out, but ...I have never tried to get away with that. As for the "many places to eat" shops..a movable feast works well to contain costs and eating many small meals vs one larger one is supposed to be a healthy way to eat...

I have loved working for AA. If you call, they always answer the phone, or get right back to you! It gives me a lot of peace of mind. And they pay as scheduled, with no super-nitpickyness (is that even a word?) Yes, the reports are long, but I have managed to enjoy myself a bit while the kids are on their rides, etc.

It allows me to go to some fun places we usually couldn't afford to visit very often.

kathierost Wrote:
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> I have loved working for AA. If you call, they
> always answer the phone, or get right back to you!
> It gives me a lot of peace of mind. And they pay
> as scheduled, with no super-nitpickyness (is that
> even a word?) Yes, the reports are long, but I
> have managed to enjoy myself a bit while the kids
> are on their rides, etc.
>
> It allows me to go to some fun places we usually
> couldn't afford to visit very often.


I love the company, hate their reports.