Does anyone know what these shops are about? There is no real description in the sign-up page other than the shoppers will be using an app, a gmail account with a fake name, and an android phone with data plan and camera.

If you are in, you are not allowed to talk about it. If you are an experienced shopper then you can figure out the general parameters of the shop. If you have read in the financial news about the issues faced by the client, whom it is quite easy to figure, you will know why the shop is done. If you read the job announcement for shoppers for this project and how it differs from the larger and longer running one, you will know that the MS is trying to follow on what American Express does with their customer list. If you think it is a lucrative assignment and not a below minimum wage in the specific areas they are targeting and why they can not find shoppers to sign up, read the job announcement carefully, "A handful of select test shoppers already made a combined $10,000 LAST month on this project!"

But how many in a handful? If 2 or 3, thats really lucrative. If 100, maybe not...

Also, I am an experienced shopper, and I cannot figure out the client (presume its not American Express), or the purpose of the shops. I cant figure out how long each shop will take and whether there is lots of narrative required--so I have no way of judging whether the fee is a good one. Thats why I posted here.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2021 02:27AM by Susan L..

The job announcement says it all:
"SeeLevel has an exciting new location data project and we are looking for a few select tech-savvy people to join a short-term pilot in the above areas.
For this project, you MUST have an Android Smartphone with a working data plan and camera. You will use the device to perform a 45-second task using a proprietary app while onsite. You will be a part of a select test group of shoppers that will get to utilize a beta app that will open THOUSANDS of opportunities with one of the largest tech companies to you at a later time.
For this assignment, you will be covertly visiting an assigned location and answering a few basic questions while walking around the business browsing as a normal customer. This covert assignment is easy! Pay varies on the number of visits and tasks performed. Each task takes only approximately 1-3 minutes while inside each location."

Anyone who has shopped over the last 3-5 years with this MSC can figure the client. All the clues are in the job announcement. There have also been job announcements about the larger project the last couple of years. This is a pilot to show something that we do not really know, but if you read about American Express' very unique business model regarding customer lists you can easily figure out what the real aim is for this pilot.

As for payment, you really hit the nail on the head, "combined". Also, it is not clear if the amount was made working for the pilot or for the larger project. Is the pay rate the same for both projects? The question is how many hours you have to work in a day to make the daily rate advertised. In the cities they seek shoppers, one can make that amount easily with 2 gas stations, even if it takes a person one hour per gas station, and just a 5 miles drive. You can put brochures in a doctor's office and make the amount in one visit, without having to be out in freezing temperatures for x hours.

I received many private messages asking about this assignment. I do not know the exact project details, but I heard it does pay a whopping $2.50 per task, the app and the whole concept is terribly designed, and you can barely make $15 per hour walking non stop. You were all warned, it was right in the job announcement, COMBINED, "A handful of select test shoppers already made a combined $10,000 LAST month on this project!" Even the horrific IKEA shops paid more.

For one person to make $2500 in a month at $2.50 per task, they would have to complete 1000 tasks with the app. To make $5000, they would have to complete 2000 tasks, about 500 tasks a week or 100 a day for a five-day week. That's close to 16 tasks per hour in a 6 hour day, or 4 tasks every 15 minutes...

The unknown handful made only $2000 this month. I guess it was 1/2 month. We also do not know if November's "handful" is the same "handful" as last month's. I heard there is a $15 bonus after you complete "many, many, handfuls of tasks."

"A handful of select test shoppers already made a combined $2,000 THIS month on this project!"

Now all I need to know is the nature of the tasks.

The tasks themselves are easy. The app leaves much to be desired. There is a map showing available locations, but it's mostly covered by an open task that you can't get to go away unless you reserve the task only to find out it's at a place you might not want to go to or not nearby...ugh. Once inside a business it's next to impossible not to interact with someone. I spent a lot of extra minutes at one place discussing the benefits of facials and skin care and other b.s. when all I wanted to do was leave..but if you have time to kill (who does right now?) try it out. They are a good filler when the stars align with the tasks.

@MsJudi wrote:

The tasks themselves are easy. The app leaves much to be desired. There is a map showing available locations, but it's mostly covered by an open task that you can't get to go away unless you reserve the task only to find out it's at a place you might not want to go to or not nearby...ugh. Once inside a business it's next to impossible not to interact with someone. I spent a lot of extra minutes at one place discussing the benefits of facials and skin care and other b.s. when all I wanted to do was leave..but if you have time to kill (who does right now?) try it out. They are a good filler when the stars align with the tasks.

I only did these tasks at the mail, as soon as that timer was up I was out that shop and on to the next.