Just this morning, I got an email from the owner of a favorite MSC thanking me for my good work and telling me that the base pay for all the shops I do for them from here on out would be raised by $10.
The more I do this, the more I realize that Job Boards do not often have the most desirable shops or the best possible pay. It is very possible that job board pay rates are going down - or, at the least, not going up with inflation. However, once you establish yourself as a strong shopper in a specific niche (such as video shopping) that requires more skill, work, equipment, travel, organization, etc. than what most folks have, there is good work out there.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.