S Florida shoppers

My usual go to MSC have nearly no shops in my tri-county area. Any new MSC for S. FL shoppers?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2019 02:22PM by SFLshopper.

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How many MSCs are you signed up with now ?

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I am also seeing fewer shops int he South Florida area.. Hopefully it will change after the first of the month, I am counting on it since I was goind to se the money for a car payment!

Yep not much here in SFL

I just checked three MSC's that are on the "15 Most Discussed" list linked to this page. I used a 50 mile radius around zip code 33101 (Miami area). I found bonuses on shops available with two of the three and work (a bit low-paying) with the third. The bonused work pays well enough that I would consider picking it up. And, no, it's not video work.

I will refer you to @walesmaven's question: How many MSC's do you work with?

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2019 04:23AM by MFJohnston.

There are plenty of shops in the SF area, especially bonused ones. You have to check at least once a day on the boards. I have a bookmarks folder for 72 MSCs I'm signed up with.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2019 04:33AM by Luna126.

I have a book marked folder with 56 msc I check daily. I see many bonused male, bank, car shops. Some of us are not male and dont do those other types of shops. Shops in the area are less abundant than in the past.

@Want985 wrote:

I have a book marked folder with 56 msc I check daily. I see many bonused male, bank, car shops. Some of us are not male and dont do those other types of shops. Shops in the area are less abundant than in the past.

I am not male, so I cannot speak for that. I cannot also speak for the past as I am a new shopper. However, I live in Miami and travel all three south Florida counties, so I can speak on this. What shops do you do?

When I planned this week for my off days, I saw some bonused and non bonused shops for restaurants, hotels, fast food, valet, storage centers, gas stations, phones, and more.

I know its said so often it must get annoying to some but, when the main MSC's you shop for do not have much on the boards to sign up with some new MSCs. Funny enough, the usual MSCs I rarely did work for in the beginning I now find myself shopping for weekly.

I'm signed up with least 15 MSC. Glad to hear its not only me.

When you are signed up with over 100, you’ll have a better perspective on what is available.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

SFL,
MFJ is absolutely correct! Those of us who stay busy, in just about any market area, are signed up with more than 100 MSCs. The rule of thumb is this: on any day when you want more shops than you have, sign up with at least 5 more MSCs. Rinse and repeat, as many times as necessary.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I stay busy just fine without giving my ssn to over 100 companies online. Thanks though

@Want985
The advice is given to those who are frustrated that they are not staying busy.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

I"m signing up for more. Just found the Five guys shops. I guess I was lucky with the handful of MSC I had before.Thanks for the device fellow shoppers

The 5guys shops can keep you busy and full for awhile.

Hey SFLshopper - I'm also new to the forum and in SoFla. I mainly like to do the fine dining shops, and the only MSC that seems to fit the bill for those is Coyle, but I see from the other discussion you wrote in that they are not for you (and maybe not for me either, since the write-ups take literally hours).

What OTHER MSC's (not Coyle) are in the fine dining segment of SoFla (maybe a topic for a new thread?).

Try Bestmark, they have some decent dining shops.

@non sequitur wrote:

Hey SFLshopper - I'm also new to the forum and in SoFla. I mainly like to do the fine dining shops, and the only MSC that seems to fit the bill for those is Coyle, but I see from the other discussion you wrote in that they are not for you (and maybe not for me either, since the write-ups take literally hours).

What OTHER MSC's (not Coyle) are in the fine dining segment of SoFla (maybe a topic for a new thread?).

thanks 7star - I just opened Bestmark, and apparently I'd started an application there and never finished, so I did just now

I also started creating profile on Bare, but stopped as soon as they asked for my SSN. Unless you are going to be making a reportable (to the IRS) amount of money, or until you hit that threshold, they really shouldn't be asking for that.

Some mystery shop companies do ask for a SS#. There isn't anything wrong with that. As long as you join through the company's website. If you don't see any shops you want to do, at least you can see what kinds of shops they have. Clients do change companies.

Bestmark does have some good restaurant shops. Before you accept the shop, you can ask the BM contact what kind of shop it is and with whom, but you have to be signed up with BM.

@non sequitur wrote:

thanks 7star - I just opened Bestmark, and apparently I'd started an application there and never finished, so I did just now

I also started creating profile on Bare, but stopped as soon as they asked for my SSN. Unless you are going to be making a reportable (to the IRS) amount of money, or until you hit that threshold, they really shouldn't be asking for that.

Any amount you make is reportable ... even if it’s just 10.00. You will find many of the companies will not go forward without a verified SSN. No you aren’t an employee but there is a similarity here in that you are doing work for a company that is paying you and they are required to have your SSN

Liz

@non sequitur wrote:

thanks 7star - I just opened Bestmark, and apparently I'd started an application there and never finished, so I did just now

I also started creating profile on Bare, but stopped as soon as they asked for my SSN. Unless you are going to be making a reportable (to the IRS) amount of money, or until you hit that threshold, they really shouldn't be asking for that.

Most companies ask for a SS# immediately when you register. You can usually get around it until you have performed the first assignment. Most companies will not pay you until they have received either a SS# (or EIN). Most companies are unwilling to keep an eye on how much money you have made so they can require a SS# when you reach a reportable threshold. In any case, any money you earn from all sources is reportable, so if you plan to do any shops with a company, I would provide a SS#.

I'm not sure I agree with the "most companies" characterization: I'm with 4 companies, and none asked for my SSN - Bare was the first, and I didn't go through with applying because of it. Secondly, I'm really paranoid (and I think justifiably) about throwing around my SSN. A business is only required to have your SSN to prepare a 1099 if they are paying you over $600/year, and I think any MSC that requests it, does so out of laziness: 99% of shoppers will never exceed $600 (pay is different than reimbursement - even a $210 Coyle shop only 'pays' $15), but they just ask everyone because they don't know which will be the 1% for whom it's relevant.

Yes, anything you earn anywhere is reportable, but I guess I'm lazy in not reporting the amount because I don't even know where to put it, and the amount is not significant in my case (though totally understand many people on this forum are very hard-core and the amount probably IS significant).

@non sequitur wrote:

I'm not sure I agree with the "most companies" characterization: I'm with 4 companies, and none asked for my SSN - Bare was the first, and I didn't go through with applying because of it. Secondly, I'm really paranoid (and I think justifiably) about throwing around my SSN. A business is only required to have your SSN to prepare a 1099 if they are paying you over $600/year, and I think any MSC that requests it, does so out of laziness: 99% of shoppers will never exceed $600 (pay is different than reimbursement - even a $210 Coyle shop only 'pays' $15), but they just ask everyone because they don't know which will be the 1% for whom it's relevant.

Yes, anything you earn anywhere is reportable, but I guess I'm lazy in not reporting the amount because I don't even know where to put it, and the amount is not significant in my case (though totally understand many people on this forum are very hard-core and the amount probably IS significant).

FOUR companies, so you figure most do not ask for SS#? I'm registered with 175+ companies and almost all of the companies I registered with ask for SS# when you register.

"Lazy" in reporting amounts less than $600? I'm rolling my eyes but I'm not going to even comment on tax evasion.

I can’t think of one that has not asked for my SSN. I apparently have thrown all caution to the wind because I have provided my SSN to dozens (hundreds) of companies since 1999.

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