One more thought. The reason all these companies give insulting pay is "US". If we did not accept the $17 for a job that is worth at least $50 it would help solve the problem. Some day the supply and demand will reverse - if the economy ever improves. I am not a union guy but it makes you wonder.

@gebmd123 wrote:

One more thought. The reason all these companies give insulting pay is "US". If we did not accept the $17 for a job that is worth at least $50 it would help solve the problem. Some day the supply and demand will reverse - if the economy ever improves. I am not a union guy but it makes you wonder.

absolutely...& i snicker at those who make comments like, "keep refusing those shops cuz it means more for me to take" & other such nonsense. Like I've said (& have gotten blowback)...grow some, folks & have a backbone & just say NO!!!

Contact Dan Thomas <greyhawkgear@outlook.com>. I just bought a PV0-500L3 Lite 3 Recorder Hidden DVR from him at a very good price discounted since Jeff Crozier recommended him. I told him I'm just learning about video mystery shops and he was happy to offer me the discount. He'll also answer you questions about the equipment. Good luck.

For the most part, I enjoy the work I do for TS. The audits and inspections are a nice change of pace from retail MS. I am in a rural area, so I can usually ask for an receive PAD. Of course, I also have to travel to those locations, which is sometimes simply not worth the PAD they are willing to pay. If I can route jobs for other MSCs along the way or if the location is a place where I shop or visit friends or family, I many accept a lower offer, because the pay is still enough to cover my gasoline and meal costs for an enjoyable trip. If I have no other purpose on that route or at that location, I make sure I only agree to a PAD that makes the job profitable.

If you are looking for more enjoyable grocery shops, try North Fork. Their shops involve a lot of employee/department interaction and a moderate amount of narrative, but if you are near a hard-to-shop location with few other mystery shoppers, they will offer large bonuses and allow you to do the jobs frequently. These shops don't require any item inventory, and you are free to purchase whatever items you desire for the reimbursement portion. They are, however, extremely particular about how the reports are written. They will often leave comments on the completed reports asking for changes and clarification on the report, but I've always been able to do so satisfactorily. The biggest issue I have had is that some of the cash registers have inaccurate times that do not coordinate with actual time according to my cell phone, so at times, the only way to please NF has been to revise the times so that they are close to the register receipt time. I dislike doing this, because I prefer to be exactly accurate and explain in the details that the register was printing incorrect times. One time, I kept being asked for revisions due to this issue, even after I had explained my position and how the shop had occurred. Part of the issue was that I was in the store a very long time, and the reviewer felt that must be in error. Instead, I had purchased many items in addition to the required interactions with employees, had used coupons, and had been stopped in the store for conversation by an acquaintance who I couldn't politely avoid, so my times were accurate and would have matched the store video cameras. The reviewer just didn't seem to be hearing me, so I contacted my scheduler, who contacted the reviewer on my behalf and clarified the issue for me.

I love doing the inspections but I feel that this MSC does not understand that some things are a bit different in Canada. Business licenses for example are not the same 100% and not all licensing agencies have phone numbers on the licenses. Or if the person you meet with doesn't know the answer and TS is not satisfied with your explanation. QC department goes overboard with "issues" IMO but they do pay on time if everything is good to them.

Business licenses in the US do not always have all of the information either. I just report what is there, and there is a photograph to prove it. I have never been questioned about that. And the rules for what type of business requires a license seems to vary from county to county even in the same state. I just report what the client told me. That is not to say that I never get questioned about something, because I do. [Q: Why is the lock on the attorney's office installed backwards so that he can be locked in? A: I assume that the staff occasionally wants to show him what it would be like to be in jail. - Yes, I got that question. No, I did not give that response, but I was sorely tempted.]

Hahaha I would be too ^

Yes I think taking a photo of the business license and anything else one thinks TS QC will ask for is a really good idea. There have been occasions where I saved myself a second trip because QC asked for something that the questionnaire didn't say was required.

reader99, Found it! Here's a thread explaining "PAD." I only skimmed, but it seems to be a TS-specific term. [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

I love Trend Source. Did my first shop through them. Clark Howard was talking about ways to save money and he mentioned mystery shoping for things that you need anyways. And off I went on an internet search and they were mentioned in an AARP article.
I thought it would take forever to get my first assignment anywhere and I was willing to grab the first thing offered to get my foot in the door. I made almost every rookie mistake with their assignments and they were always cool and helpful.
I think the pay for for some of the jobs like inspections may have to do with the area and how many shoppers are in your area. By the way TS is you are reading this, this is the SamanthaB from Modesto (did a double-take when I saw OP's name).
Also I notice that the cell phone shops are gone, bet anything that company was being investigated by the government. Don't see them anymore our in front of my work. It is another company and they are being made to stay further from the entrance and they are not being allowed to just approach our clients. have been thinking for a long time, there are only so many people on welfare and most of them have to have their free phones by now, so I figure they were cooking the books. I am thinking those shops probably were a drain on their resources so maybe their rates will go up now.
And I do have to laugh when I get offered a PAD of like seven dollars for something that will take me 45 minutes driving each way, I think they forget it is not just about gas it is about time also.
You know you also really have to question the companies that let the client put strange crap in their wants. Was reading about this gym shop that was paying 40 dollars, average is 20 in my area. Well, get to the end and you have to actually buy a membership. That was a WTF thing for me. So you pay me forty dollars and I get stuck paying the gym 40 a month for the next two years?
And I just glad that the first company that I got hooked up with was TS, I can just imaging if it had been the one that does that pizza shop and only reimburses you for the food and a one dollar tip. I have not been able to bring myself to eat at that pizza place again, because either the company is cheep or the client is cheep and does not value their employees at all.
Now the problem is I do what each company tells me to do so and most of the time it is hook up paypal, they keep sending me paper checks.
Please excuse my typos, long week at work and my eyes are really sore so I am missing alot of my typos.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2015 06:26AM by Maiddaraya.

I have done many grocery shops and will NEVER do another again. I finally realized that I was paying THEM to work and receive groceries. NOTHING is for free with ANY company. Trendsource and Northfork being the worst make you repeat and repeat yourselves and then they ALWAYS make you re-do your reports over and over again. You will spend up to 5 hours completing a survey with them. IF you make ONE mistake on requesting information on an item you DON'T get paid. What's the difference if you ask about a potato or parsley??? Your surveying the produce team member to see if she's doing her job and if sh'e knowledgeable. I put in over 4 hours on that report and because of that one mistake it was eliminated and I BET you they submitted the report for payment anyways. I really think the gimmick of these companies is to find ONE mistake so they don't have to pay you and they get paid anyways. Think about it. That's a lot of money their saving by not paying you. It's always easy to find one mistake when your surveying 3-4 departments. North-fork handles the super centers such as (store names removed) and Trendsource is (store names removed). I shop all the time in (store names removed) and now they made me hate shopping there. You would have to be REALLY desperate to work for these companies. I emailed both of them and told them they should be ashamed of themselves. I work for over 25 companies and always get 9-10's WITHOUT re-editing my reports. I told them I rather work for companies that pay $30 to $95.00 and only put 2-3 hours work in and then purchase my groceries/goods on my own. You can keep your freebies!

(Mod note: Client names removed as it is a violation of Forum rules and probably also a breach of your ICA to link a MSC with its clients)

I agree. Your not getting anything for free. Most of the time your paying the companies to work. I only select high paying shops with minimal reporting and surveying time. There are certain $15 shops I'll do because their quick, fun and easy reporting and the schedulers and editors are GREAT! White Clay is the best and they pay quick and always on time. If you want big paying shops apply for nursing homes, assistant living, apartments, mortgages, etc. They all pay $50 up to $95.00 with no expenses. Reporting 1-2 hours if done right. I also love deposit teller shops. They only pay $10.00 but their quick (less than 3 minutes and the reporting is quick as well !

I'm starting a class action suit for all mystery shoppers who aren't getting paid for their services or who are receiving low scores so they can't work for that company anymore. If interested keep your emalls and proof so you can emailed them once we set-up a file to send to the attorney's so they can decide which companies will be sued. We need to get paid for our work. Take the power out of the editors to do you wrong. Most of them are on a power trip with management who can care less.

I take photos of EVERYTHING such as the shop, what's next to the shop in both directions, what's across the street, inside the bathrooms and establishment if I can, etc. This way I won't be surprised when I fill out my reports. I purchased a tablet recently and that has help a lot. I start filling out the important facts and notice I didn't do something which would mean I would have had to go back and do it or not get paid.

@Chilo wrote:

I'm starting a class action suit for all mystery shoppers who aren't getting paid for their services or who are receiving low scores so they can't work for that company anymore.

You obviously have not spoken with a lawyer, as they would laugh you out of the office if they even let you walk in the door.

You have not even bothered to read the Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) of a single company you signed up for. They ALL prohibit suing them and demand arbitration in the jurisdiction that the LLC is located at.

I can see why your getting low scores if your reading the shop guidelines like your reading the ICA.

Name one company you think your going to sue that does not have a no class action, no lawsuit as part of the agreement? I know you can't.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2015 06:39PM by scanman1.