Comments on: Make Mystery Shopping More Profitable

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:37:25 +0000

I would be glad not to have to deal with that company any longer. In fact, you should have “fired” them first.

One of the great things about being an independent contractor is that you get to choose with whom you work. If a company or a scheduler is a pain in the behind, dump ‘em.

Deactivate your shopper account with any company that does not respect you and your time. They need you more than you need them.

By: diamarnel

diamarnel — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 16:15:12 +0000

I worked for one company that paid good, but they were calling all the time, expecting me to ship things back to them when they could just place the shipped paperwork online, canceling assignments when the shipments were late. It was like a full time job just to get prepared for assignments, then in these particular assignments, I had to really stretch myself. When I complained about the late shipments and other problems, they couldn’t handle it and fired me. I was a Star shopper for their team and they fired me after all this trouble I went through. I felt so used, but as I was paid well, it actually set me up for failure and then impacted my reputation and rating only because the company couldn’t, at first, use some sense and get shop instructions placed online and schedule the shops a few days more advance after the shipments were to arrive. I get blamed for this, and then when I complained, I get canned. I complained to the MSPA on this company.

By: Cathy Stucker

Cathy Stucker — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:40:15 +0000

Each shopper has to decide which jobs are worthwhile. I would not do a $5 shop either—unless, perhaps, there was a very good reason. For example, if you are trying to get a first assignment with a company you know has other, higher-paying mystery shopper jobs. In that case, the $5 shop might open the door to better assignments.

I also would not buy a GPS navigation system solely for mystery shopping; however, it might be worthwhile for someone who does a lot of mystery shopping.

Many people will have reasons beyond mystery shopping to buy a navigation system. We bought a navigation system for other reasons, and it occurred to me that it would be very handy to also use it while mystery shopping.

Each shopper has to decide which tools are worthwhile and make good business decisions. For example, I would not buy a digital camera just to do mystery shopping. But, if you have one, it can make you eligible for more shops.

By: jj

jj — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:30:45 +0000

I do not click on any mystery shopping job that pays $5.00. The area I live in is very small so I have to travel a little bit and the price of gas today it is just not worth it. I am constantly applying with different companies because as you well know that is not even minimum wage. I love to mystery shop but I am leaning more to merchandising. Mystery Shopping sure has busted my bubble sort of speak so I just have to deal with something else.

About those hand held Navigators I gather a lot of us has read what she wrote about them and how nice they are but what she fails to see is that those shopping jobs that offer you $5.00 will take you for ever to own one. I believe the only people who might own one is people who live where they get a lot of work and can afford one. I wonder if they know that poor people like myself and plenty of others are not making that kind of money to purchase one of those. Just think how long it would take you to get one and your shopping jobs are paying $5.00. Some people do not realize that we are struggling to get jobs when they are in this area.

By: ak225

ak225 — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:37:14 +0000

I didn’t participate when mystery shopping was paying more but I do wish that the reimbursements would be more then $5.00 However, the discounted merchandise isn’t a bad deal either.

By: workforyou1@yahoo.com

workforyou1@yahoo.com — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:25:45 +0000

Is it my imagination or are there more and more companies coming out and paying only $8 - $12 per shop? I know that it is up to our discretion on who to shop for - but that doesn’t pay for anyones time. I would love to know where to go and get more $$ for completing “long” hours worth of mystery shopping. Thanks!