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What is the Christmas season like for Mystery Shoppers?

September 08, 2014 02:02AM
I'm VERY new to mystery shopping and it just dawned on me that this could be a good way to snag a few extra Christmas presents for my family. Just wondering, do they have more shops available during the Christmas season or is it slower? I figured it could go either way but wanted to hear from some of the veterans of the industry.
Thanks!
~Mandi

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September 08, 2014 02:10AM
It's different in November and December because of the holidays.

It's hectic for shoppers to find time. It's difficult for schedulers to get shops done. Some programs are suspended altogether and others are pushed forward in the month. The result is schedulers make efforts to get shops completed earlier in the month. Bonuses are offered more quickly. Good money can be had for those shoppers who are available to take advantage of the opportunities.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
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September 08, 2014 02:11AM
It's busy as all hell. There are all the seasonal display audits, promotion shops, restaurant shops speed up, and besides that... you have to remember that most mystery shoppers are dabblers. So, they pretty much all drop out of the game during the season, so... bonuses for the rest of us, picking up the slack .

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September 08, 2014 02:40AM
That sounds perfect! By December I should be comfortable enough to do several shops a day so hopefully I'll be able to score some goodies for my boys!

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September 08, 2014 02:43AM
I'm in an area where there are lots of winter visitors ('snowbirds') who are here for the weather and have relatively little to do but shop, so the holidays are not particularly busy for shops, but shops take a lot longer than normal because of the crowds. I generally wrap up my shops for the year with the Medicare seminars that end in the first week of December. Then I watch for nicely bonused jobs that justify fighting crowds.

As for purchasing Christmas gifts, most of us have learned to do that with reimbursements throughout the year. Unless I get some last minute inspiration, I'm already taken care of for this year.
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September 08, 2014 02:54AM
Yeah, you'll probably be in stockpile mode within the next year.

I use January shops to pick up clearanced Christmas decor. Shoe stores, I shop all year long and buy in the next sizes up. Department store shops, you scope clearance, and try to keep it as close to reimbursement as possible.

Directly before the holiday season, I take on more quick-pay shops, from the companies that pay within 2-3 weeks. I also do more auto shops or bank inquiry shops, no money OOP.

I then take that additional money, and coupon the hell out of Christmas sales. Last year, I got a Samsung tablet at Kohl's for $27, after Kohl's Cash, Kohl's coupons, and manufacturer mail in rebate. It was a Black Friday sale, but I don't do Black Friday in-store. I bought it on their website, then took my Kohl's Cash and coupons in, and received store credit for them.

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September 08, 2014 03:07PM
My Christmas shopping has been done since late July so I have plenty of time to pick up tons of shops. Usually there aren't any retail shops I need to worry about on a black Friday, just as well because I'm not into hand-to-hand combat nor the parking lot demolition derby.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
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September 08, 2014 06:33PM
No kidding, I use to work as an Asset Protection Manager for the largest big box store in the country. I was over planning and execution of the ENTIRE black Friday event at my store. It was a nightmare. If I never see a black Friday sale again it'll be too soon!

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September 10, 2014 07:25PM
I can only comment about last year but after November, it was slim pickings in my area. I have definitely more MSCs to work with this year than last but my sense is that not many shops happen in December. I think I made a thread asking about holiday shopping before and from what I remember, the general consensus was that most clients are not shopping stores around xmas due to temp workers.

Silver Certified ~ Shopping all of Toronto and beyond
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