Hello I'm Stephanie, how is everyone. I have been shopping for about 9-10 years and i love it. I am presently employed full time in a regular job and looking to resign and perform shops on a full-time basis.....any suggestions.

Hi Stephanie, welcome to the forum. I hope you think about that decision long and hard. In my opinion, the benefits of a "full time job" greatly outweigh the uncertainty of independent contractor work. I wouldn't try a move like that unless I had a couple of years (at least) pay stashed away in savings I wasn't holding for retirement. Is there that much MS work in your area that you're not taking assignments because of your FTJ commitments?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2015 01:29AM by PaulinMI.

Welcome Stephanie,

I too share Paulin's caution about full time shopping. It can be done, but it is not always an easy road. Because you have been shopping for a long time you should know what opportunities are in your area. That is perhaps the biggest concern. As for advice, there is a series of interviews with shoppers making $2k or more a month that may be illuminating. You can find them in the "interviews" section of the Mystery Shopper Magazine.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Your long history of ms'ing no doubt has led you to this place, factoring in favorable shops, competition and location. On the one hand, replacing a full-time job is attractive. Shopping allows more freedom. On the other hand, shopping does not include health insurance, retirement, or vacation pay. A benefit package is worth lots, as you know. Is travel something that will fit into your life to make the transition, if your financial goal dictates? Maybe shopping can replace the amount of income you have been accustomed to, and if your bennies need replaced and you think ms'ing can afford those as well, go for it!

I was going to say about what Mert has said. I figure you have 'been around' long enough to know the vagaries of shopping and the lack of benefits but still your set of circumstances is telling you 'it is time'. I can dig that. Welcome to the forum and know that we look forward to interacting with you!

Stephanie,
Welcome! All of the above cautions apply. HOWEVER, we are here to support you, regardless of your decision. If you have not already done so, I urge you to ease into developing multi-day routes (using paid leave while you have it, to explore this.) and video shopping (using equipment loaned by the video MSCs before you invest in your own.) There are ots of threads on these forums dealing with route and video shopping, so learning to make good use of the "search" function will pay off!

Again, welcome and, above all, enjoy!

Welcome!! I work fulltime also and never considered leaving to do this full-time. I haven't been in it long enough to offer advice of any significant value, but I will say, like with anything else, if you are serious about it, and take it as a true business, I am sure you can make it happen.

Hi, I am a retired Government Officer and find I have too much time on my hands. I was grooming dogs but have moved away from the center I worked in. I had let my business wind down to 4 dogs. As you know dogs die people pass and dogs go elsewhere. I feel Mystery shopping could be an extension of the Investigative skills I used in the Government.
It pleases me to no end to have found this forum and to know there are other people out there who care about
what I am planning to do and are willing to give a few words of advice. I began green (hence the name foolish) and was fortunate enough to have been led to your articles that I identified with completely.
I didn't want to make any mistakes and have not so far. However, after reading so much on here I see there is so much more to learn.
Thank you all for letting me into the inner circle.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2015 01:20AM by foolish.

Welcome to the forum!

Although you do have to crawl before you can walk, at some point you do need to get out and take a shop or three. With the resources of this forum you can get there fairly quickly. Are you there?

Thank you vlade5394. I have read about the downloads that will make my job easier. So, I have to get that first I believe. I forgot to tell everyone I am from Canada and will have to check the laws here about taping and video making because we have that Charter of Rights and Freedoms to contend with. Then I will have to read, read, and read. Til the day I feel I have enough under my belt to go out and do. Isn't that how it is done.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2015 01:37AM by foolish.

You don't need to worry about audio or video shops at this stage in your in business. Should you decide to pursue either or both at a later date we still recommend experience in traditional written shops first in order to build your confidence level with various types of mystery shops and scenarios.

In the U.S. some states have laws governing audio recording. We video shoppers can still work In those states as long as the client has obtained prior written consent from their employees. We have enough Canadien forum members you should be able to find if Canada law allows the same.

To LisaSTL,
Thanks for the info. I have no intentions of attempting to start with videos,however that could be a goal for later. I realize I am new and have to learn the ropes.

Read, read, read, yes, please. There is lots of information on this forum that makes it an awesome source. However, that can also be it's greatest flaw. I have noticed some new members get caught up in trying to become an expert in everything by reading they don't get themselves out of the house to do some shops.

I feel nothing can replace the actual experience as a part of a new shopper's learning curve. Learning the company's different websites, how to get jobs, how to read the instructions and guidelines, how to enter the reports, finding out the number and types of opportunities in your area, etc.. These things can be read about, but must be experienced, at least a little, to know if this is for you. Someone who is detail orientated and motivated can do a simpler shop immediately. All one needs is some beginner friendly companies with shops in their area.

LisaSTL is correct about the video and audio recording. It is not necessary to become an expert in that just yet as 95% or more of shops do not require recording of any kind. Unless you are thinking of recording the shops for your own purposes.

I hope I have convinced you that doing some shops are part of the learning curve. I'll throw some names out there for you to go on. Bare, Maritz, Stericycle (Expert Solutions), Market Force, Jobslnger/Prestomobile.

Good luck and have fun!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2015 12:28PM by vlade5394.