If memory serves me correctly, Reality Based Group's apartment shops are $18. I believe you have to do a pre-visit call and then on-site visit.
Another company - maybe (not sure) Quality Assessment Mystery Shoppers (QAMS) - has them for like $25/$35.
How is this not labor exploitation? This is a job that takes a full day to complete (esp. if it is a targeted employee one). You most definitely need (I did not without once and forgot so much stuff that I had to guess on questions - and constantly had answers like "I believe..." what happened was...) a hidden audio recorder. When you tour these places, the agent will say so much stuff and no one's memory is that good to recall accurately exactly what they did or didn't say and how they said it over the course of 30-60 minutes.
The pre-visit calls can take 10-15 minutes as they gather info. I have to listen to my recording afterwards to get everything accurate for the report. Then you have to do multiple choice and commentary on them. If one is thoughtful and reflective of their experience, that in itself takes time. If one doesn't care and wants to write whatever without much reflection, then that still takes considerable time, given the narrative requirements.
Now you have to drive on-site and then meet with the agent. The drive is probably something like 30 minutes round-trip on average probably. I've had longer drive times, with far away places. I was desperate, so picked them up at base rate (I've asked for apartment shop bonuses and been denied). I prep before the visit, but also review things before going on, because of how much stuff needs to be asked and gone over. And, I have to act, so I want to prepare myself mentally to play the part.
The visit/tour will take 30-60 minutes oftentimes (occasionally shorter). That means re-listening to the audio will take about two hours at least with the constant pausing and taking notes. The report will require narratives again and that takes contemplation/self-reflection of how things went and what our perception of things was. It's a lot of work to be done honestly and done right. I need a full day to do one of these.
For $45 Remington, $40 Ellis, $18 RBG, etc., that's just not enough!!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/11/2018 01:20AM by shoptastic.