Amusement Advantage 'Fun' shops, are they worth it?
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I do want to do one of their shops here. If you want to go anyways I do think it is profitable.
That is the point. 
Personally, I just did another one a couple weeks ago.
Personally, I just did another one a couple weeks ago.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
One of my very first Mistry shops was with amusement advantage. They gave me five free tickets to a waterpark overall my family enjoyed the trip but I was too busy paying attention to names and eating places and rock locker rooms restaurants so I didn't really get to enjoy myself as much as I would like there was no reimbursement only the tickets
I did about 12 yrs ago for Six Flags.. very easy, simple, coupla happy snaps.
If it's something you would do anyway, or would do if you could afford the tickets (and they give you enough tickets to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses enough for you), they're probably worth it. But I think it depends on the shop. We used to do the bowling shops, and my family helped with the observations, so I wasn't obsessing the entire time about missing something. But I can see where some shops would have so many different observations and other requirements that the shopper might not have any fun!
I'd like to do one of their walking-tour shops, where the only thing you pay for is parking, and there's no required purchase. But the nearest one is about 40 miles away. It would have to be a situation where I was going to be in the area anyway, or when my husband and I plan to go to that area for the day to enjoy the sights and activities. Not worth it to go just for that two to three hours for the payment amount. I'd do them if they were closer to home.
I'd like to do one of their walking-tour shops, where the only thing you pay for is parking, and there's no required purchase. But the nearest one is about 40 miles away. It would have to be a situation where I was going to be in the area anyway, or when my husband and I plan to go to that area for the day to enjoy the sights and activities. Not worth it to go just for that two to three hours for the payment amount. I'd do them if they were closer to home.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
vlade5394,
On a scale from 1 - 10, where one is the worst and ten is the best, how fun is this shop for you?
On a scale from 1 - 10, where one is the worst and ten is the best, how fun is this shop for you?
Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)
It was fun for me and my guest. But before I clarify, I need to state that identifying with certain details will probably disclose the client. I will withhold some information.
If you are asking if the demands of the shop took away from the enjoyment of the attraction, the answer is some, but not too much for both of us to enjoy the attraction. The shop I described was actually my first time-intensive, narrative-heavy shop, so there was some apprehension then. Since then I have done two other shops for Amusement Advantage. Both were for the same attraction, but a different one than my first shop. I found it easy to mix in the demands of the shop with the experience. For the very recent one, I copied the observations onto a form that was accessible by cell phone and used it to both access those instructions and made notes of harder to remember details step by step during the visit. Observations for these shops are broken down into different areas of the attraction. I found one can take the time needed to review instructions before each area and then take notes before moving on.
LOL, I forgot to add the requested grade. 8 or 9 would be it and that is based primarily on the attraction itself. The demands of the shop did not significantly detract from it.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2015 06:48PM by vlade5394.
If you are asking if the demands of the shop took away from the enjoyment of the attraction, the answer is some, but not too much for both of us to enjoy the attraction. The shop I described was actually my first time-intensive, narrative-heavy shop, so there was some apprehension then. Since then I have done two other shops for Amusement Advantage. Both were for the same attraction, but a different one than my first shop. I found it easy to mix in the demands of the shop with the experience. For the very recent one, I copied the observations onto a form that was accessible by cell phone and used it to both access those instructions and made notes of harder to remember details step by step during the visit. Observations for these shops are broken down into different areas of the attraction. I found one can take the time needed to review instructions before each area and then take notes before moving on.
LOL, I forgot to add the requested grade. 8 or 9 would be it and that is based primarily on the attraction itself. The demands of the shop did not significantly detract from it.
Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2015 06:48PM by vlade5394.
Over the last 9 years, I have completed 40 assignments for Amusement Advantage. Some I enjoyed more than others. I enjoyed the ferry ride to an island near Boston. I enjoyed roller skating in New York, New Jersey, MA. I took snowboarding lessons and went skiing. This year I did indoors skydiving. I found out even a fluffy girl can skydive. I do not do many assignments any more because I find I stress over writing the report. It does not get any easier for me, 4 hours would be a quick report. I have taken as long as 20 hours writing the report with the many interactions.
@galct wrote:
Over the last 9 years, I have completed 40 assignments for Amusement Advantage. Some I enjoyed more than others. I enjoyed the ferry ride to an island near Boston. I enjoyed roller skating in New York, New Jersey, MA. I took snowboarding lessons and went skiing. This year I did indoors skydiving. I found out even a fluffy girl can skydive. I do not do many assignments any more because I find I stress over writing the report. It does not get any easier for me, 4 hours would be a quick report. I have taken as long as 20 hours writing the report with the many interactions.
I have knocked out a report in less than 90 minutes at 25-30 WPM. I have no idea what you did for 20 hours?
I'd hate to think that people would not take jobs from this company based on your post.
I've done several for them and the shortest has been around 3 hours. Most take closer to 5, even having done them before. I recognize that I write more slowly than many. On a 1-10 scale, I'd give them a 9. They pay pretty quickly, are immediately responsive, offer bonuses, and the shops are fun -- moreso for your guests. Just pick and choose. Some assignments do end up with $ after your expenses; most do not. Still worth it.
Just did an amusament park. .. both water & rides. .. full day there... score was 100% and the report took me about 3 hours, over 25 pictures and 15 interactions. Good notes and I type at a decent speed. I spent $325ish and was paid $150. But instead of purchasing regular admission which would have cost $120ish I took advantage of a special and purchased season passes for next year and it included the rest of this season. I have 5 kids (only one is young enough for free admission) so 6 season passes(and food for the shop) cost me $175ish. We already went back once this year so by the end of next season I will have saved a TON.
I just did my first shop for them, a specialty bike rental at a park. The shop paid $75 and I was required to rent the bike for one hour. I also had to bring an additional adult and two small children. I only had one small child and adult to bring, my scheduler approved this. The cost of the rental was $27.22 (I rented the bike for one hour). The location was 5 miles from my house. The report took me about four hours. I really took my time as this was my first shop with them. I received a grade of 100% and the editor gave me a $5 bonus because it was my first shop with them. I was nervous because it took six days to grade. It was a great first experience and totally worth it. The required observations did not detract from the experience, we totally enjoyed it.
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