Newbie question, Clear Evaluations is a legitimate company? I was asked to get a $500 equipment to start with them, They also sent me link to the company that sells the equipment. In addition to that they promised tons of shops if i get the equipment. Want to make sure this is legit before I invest money. Thanks

Link to website [www.clearevaluations.com]
Link to shopping store Clear Evaluations promote [mysteryshopping.com]

Well I did my first shop for them on 7/25 and was paid on 8/31 which isn't bad. That's their website in your first link.

I have never gotten any request to buy any equipment in order to do shops with ANY company (video shops excluded).

The second link appears to be a company that sells equipment for video mystery shopping. That's something that can be lucrative. I've only done one years ago where the equipment was lent to me by the MSC.

The second link also references a mystery shopping app that appears to be 3 years old with only 22 reviews. I find that highly suspect.

Other's on this board can better address video mystery shopping.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2021 10:52PM by wrosie.

Most of their work is video shops and they prefer the PV500. I think that's what Op is suggesting.

If I was a new shopper I would not even attempt to video shops until I was comfortable with regular mystery shopping first.

Most of us that have been around a while and do video shops have the PV 500 but we do a lot of work to make it worth having that equipment.

They are legitimate company!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2021 04:34PM by foodluvr.

I completed my first video shop during the summer of 2009. The following year, I spent $400 on a PV-500 rig that has paid for itself many times over. This due to my ability to secure local work where I keep all of the money. Currently, I only average three audio/video shops annually, this due to the continued lowering of fees by MSCs. In addition, my rate of A/V rejections, 1.13%, has been far greater than with traditional assignments, which is.currently .0016%. Another consideration is equipment failures. I have only experienced one, but it cost me $320 in lost fees, a repair bill and driving expenses. I actually profit much more by being able to wait until the end of the month, quarter and/or year when companies open their wallets/purses for conventional shops.

@shopperbob wrote:

I completed my first video shop during the summer of 2009. The following year, I spent $400 on a PV-500 rig that has paid for itself many times over. This due to my ability to secure local work where I keep all of the money. Currently, I only average three audio/video shops annually, this due to the continued lowering of fees by MSCs. In addition, my rate of A/V rejections, 1.13%, has been far greater than with traditional assignments, which is.currently .0016%. Another consideration is equipment failures. I have only experienced one, but it cost me $320 in lost fees, a repair bill and driving expenses. I actually profit much more by being able to wait until the end of the month, quarter and/or year when companies open their wallets/purses for conventional shops.

Ive been slowly considering getting into this as this is my main source of income at the moment and I have money to invest. Why do you believe you get a higher rejection rate? Is it because you forgot something or the video is not good? What type of traditional shops are you doing where bonuses are making more profit than video shops? I always see video shops pretty high in my area but I am not sure how consistent they really are. I know signing up with more MSC's would probably help me get a better idea.

jrj76 inquires--Why do you believe you get a higher rejection rate? Is it because you forgot something or the video is not good?

Bob replies--One was rejected due to my voice being distorted. I appealed that decision, explaining I needed to increase the recorded audio to capture the targets voice; it was denied. On two others, there was a considerable height difference and the requirement was for at least 80% of the target's face to be visible. I again appealed, but lost and fired the MSC. As to the type of traditional shop, today's work is two apts. at $75 each and a retail at $30. The apts. started the month at $40 and the retail at $10. Finally, as it applies to equipment failure, I am guessing this happens to most, if not all, audio/video shoppers who complete a volume of work.

Besides apartments, what other places do video shops?

@wrosie wrote:

Besides apartments, what other places do video shops?

Banks, dealerships, new home sales, car dealerships

The company is legit; however, make sure that you are really, truly comfortable with longer, traditional written shops. Ability to role play is crucial.

Parking garages and hotel valet parking often involve video. However, these tend to use ear-mounted or eyeglass-mounted cameras. since at least part of the shop is conducted while the shopper is in their vehicle interacting with someone through the window. So do drive-thru video shops at banks or other venues.

I bought my first lawmate DVR from Greyhawk in December 2016. Clear Eval sent me out on my first shop, an apartment, as a trial (full pay) in December. I’d never done a video shop or any kind of shop ever. Leslie is great at training you, giving you tips/guidance and visual videos to watch to learn how to shop. By January, I was in full swing and got a tremendous amount of consistent shops from them. It’s been consistent for 4 1/2 yrs. The best thing about Clear Eval, they’ll create routes for you... and you make great money on each one of your shops. They are extremely legitimate, and extremely professional. And have been very fair. The owners and the project manager Tina who does the scheduling are all highly respected in the industry. If Leslie (owner) said plentiful shops to you, she meant it. Their specialty is home shops (about 60 min long) and apartment shops (20-30 min). They have one specific retail client they handle nationally- which produces a lot of opportunity monthly for shoppers. The thing is: do great videos, get your shop assignments done, get the reports submitted on time and you’ll be offered work a lot. Cancel, no show and reschedule .... you’ll take a hit with your reputation with any company. In 4.5 years with clear I’ve completed abt 2000 shops. They’re the premier company. Additionally, be reliable and they’ll offer you amazing trips all over the nation. They add on travel bonuses to cover the costs. I’ve been to Utah, Colorado, Okl, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio all over the midwest, southeast, south and up to NY/NJ/Pennsylvania/ Maryland. Florida. The list goes on and on- I’m still shocked how many plane trips I’ve been on. And very humbled by the oppty’s that have been offered. They’re a very reputable company and they pay 30 days from the last day of whatever month you are shopping. Without fail- you never ever have to ask for your fees. Paid thru PayPal.

I’ve had slow months where I’ve only had 15 shops a month- but most months 30+ shops a month. I work on average 2 days a week to accomplish this-or 3-4 if I’m traveling out of state. The equipment will pay for itself in one week/even starting out as a newbie. At least with Clear Evaluations. Best of luck to you!

Btw-mysteryshopping.com is a company owned by Shadow Newmark (another mystery shopping company) who sells equipt also. Clear Evaluations used to refer Greyhawk, but Dave has since stopped selling Lawmate PV500’s. Which is the equip, most I’ve seen, prefer you use.

@foodluvr wrote:

Most of their work is video shops and they prefer the PV500. I think that's what Op is suggesting.

If I was a new shopper I would not even attempt to video shops until I was comfortable with regular mystery shopping first.

Most of us that have been around a while and do video shops have the PV 500 but we do a lot of work to make it worth having that equipment.

They are legitimate company!

100% agree with this!

I am somewhat strange in that I am only amused by real life situations. An example: My favorite segment of the Jay Leno Tonight show occurred on Monday evening between 23:45 and midnight, It was real headlines people has sent in that were phrased in a different manner. Now for the reason of this post and what brought tears to my eyes in reading.

foodluver states--Most of their work is video shops and they prefer the PV500. I think that's what Op is suggesting.

If I was a new shopper I would not even attempt to video shops until I was comfortable with regular mystery shopping first.

Most of us that have been around a while and do video shops have the PV 500 but we do a lot of work to make it worth having that equipment.

They are legitimate company!

foodluver replies to foodluver--100% agree with this!

I have done drive-thru video shops using a Samsung Tablet at a couple of Slim Chickens.

Does anyone know if there's an alternative to the PV500, the Neo Pro is a poor piece of kit compared to the older lawmates, the connection where the cable goes in keeps breaking and resulting in lost footage. Camera watches look obvious and glasses shake too much! there must be some sort or alternative out there?

I saw three of your very similar posts in three different threads.

May I suggest searching this forum for threads and posts regarding video equipment for mystery shoppers? Earlier in this thread and in other threads, experienced video shoppers have posted that the PV500 is the 'industry standard' and a search of the forum might find some information that will help you compare the PV500 and the Neo Pro.

Why do you seek an alternative to the PV500?

@MCE Team wrote:

Does anyone know if there's an alternative to the PV500, the Neo Pro is a poor piece of kit compared to the older lawmates, the connection where the cable goes in keeps breaking and resulting in lost footage. Camera watches look obvious and glasses shake too much! there must be some sort or alternative out there?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2021 04:46PM by Shop-et-al.

Clear Evaluations is not only a real company, it is also probably the BEST video shopping company.

PLEASE do several Non-VIDEO shops of the sort likely to show up as video assignments to become familiar with those longer interaction types of shops BEFORE you even think of doing video. Those would be apartment, new homes, senior living and automobile shops, to name a few. These all require that you create good "back stories", often require an alias and matching email, and may require a burner phone contact number. Perfect all of that sort of thing before moving into doing it with video. Perfect you apartment/new home/senior living "act" before you put it on video !!

I personally am going to bite the bullet and buy a PV500.