If you could only do one type of shop, what would it be?

Don't take this question too literal. Meant for fun. If you could only do one type of shop going forward, what would it be? That is the only stipulation, only one type of shop for the rest of your mystery shopping career.

Before I did a recent narrative-intensive shop, I would have said mindless shops (don't take offense to this anyone) on a monthly basis and put it on auto-pilot. I would have just thought of it as a taxable monthly dividend with very little effort.

However, based on a recent long-narrative report that I was able to crank out in record time, and focus on the quality and content, I realize I would do these types of shops if I could only pick one. My preference being less-occurring / very high reimbursement hotel / resort stays. I've forgotten about a lot of shops over the years. But for some reason, blue hedgehog, clown burger, and hotel stays will always be memorable to me.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2024 03:36PM by Okie.

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Part of the reason I shop is so that every day isn't redundant. So I would not pick just one.

I could easily just do fine dining 2x monthly for the remainder of my MS career and be OK with that. I have done those for so long, it's kind of baked in to my lifestyle at this point and would blow up my personal dining budget if I didn't have the option to do it as a shop.

On my last few resort shops, I have definitely had a few, "I'm getting too old for this s#@*!" moments, and travel reimbursement is not what it used to be.

There are ways to offset travel and hotel costs using rewards and credit card points, but the dining shops will consistently add value to my lifestyle...

@SteveSoCal On average, how long do the fine-dining reports take you? Also, same question for the multiple night hotel/resort stays where activities/amenities are involved. The next one I hope to get is a golf resort, but it's going to be highly competitive.

i like the dining. I know some are not happy with BJ Brewhouse and the program/payment, but I am very content with it.

My answer matters on FREQUENCY. If i could do CURINOS shops daily or even several times per week, that would be my choice. They pay the best for the least effort. But I like going out to eat. Wifey doesn't like to cook, so the CURINOS shops do not happen all the time, but the dining ones do. The BJ's menu is big enough to have variety. Sure the ambience and staleness of one place would eventually grind on me, but the menu is big enough to keep from being bored. I like Texas Roadhouse too, but I don't feel I come out "ahead" like I do with BJ's.

I also like doing the timeshare shops. Those pay well, but you can't go that often.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2024 06:48PM by hbbigdaddy.

My choice would be a shop with extremely intensive narrative without any reimbursement. That would eliminate most of today's shoppers and permit me to charge a high triple digit fee on a take it or find someone else basis. I am guessing I am the type of shopper MSCs loath, as I am completely unexploitable.

@Okie wrote:

SteveSoCal On average, how long do the fine-dining reports take you?

I can do most of the fine dining in 60-90 minutes. The client I mainly do doesn't require reservations or bar narratives, so those I can sneak in just under 60 mins with no distractions.

Resorts are another story. I need at least 2 full days for those reports. I used to do them in one day but they have gotten more involved, and I have gotten slower in recent years.

My favorite is gas stations. Any gas station. I love them all.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.

unrevealed gas stations, Texas Roadhouse, one of the grocery chains. Health insurance not too bad.
I enjoy hotel shops if they don't feel like work.
I used to shop a fine dining chain based in FLA and the MSC had reasonable reports, but I don't live there anymore. I enjoyed those. Less than 2 miles from home and I had no competition. I suspected the staff might have guessed, but nothing was ever said.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2024 10:30PM by BarefootBliss.

I'm not sure I like any one type of shop or any one client enough to say such things. I like simple revealed gas station shops, and some covert gas station shops sometimes. I like doing restaurants, but there isn't any money to be made there, just a chance to eat something that I wouldn't fix at home. I'll always do grocery shops as long as I can, they make lots of things possible.

Since MS'ing is now basically a hobby for me now that I am older, I enjoy certain grocery shops. I frequent the two chains I shop anyway, so getting some help with groceries is a big help to us in our retirement years. I enjoy them, and if I could only do one type, it would be those.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2024 12:02AM by guysmom.

I am happy doing fine dining shops once or twice a month. Unlike Steve, my shops require reservations calls and bar observations. Not liking the latter but it's OK. Financial shops are great too

Grocery shops. My favourite type of item to shop for anyhow. I could do one or two a week. Sadly there are none close enough to my house to be worth doing after factoring in gas costs.

Revealed/Unrevealed gas station shops would be great. It would help if the northern states could just do revealed shops in the summer & unrevealed in the winter. Living in a multi season climate with winter temperatures dropping down to -20°F with the windchill, always freezes my phone and causes it to shut down while taking outdoor photos, so the shops end up taking forever with multiple trips to the car to warm up the phone with the heater on high.

Teller shops. I like getting paid to deposit my own money. Deposit 6 times, withdraw. Repeat.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Anything financial. Account openings, account closings, account inquiries, account complaints, teller shops, call center phone shops....I'd do those all day long if I could.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown

I love the grocery pickup shops. Easy shops but usually just reimbursement. Still a win for a couple minutes of work

it's kind of interesting how we're each so different....our preferences so unique. I suppose a lot of is also based on location.

@shopperbob If you don't mind sharing, what is the most you were ever paid for your services on a single shop/job during your illustrious career?

I have a lanyard thing that I put my phone on for revealed shops so I can take photos then just drop it to have my hands free... this might help if you use this and put it inside your coat between pictures. Keep it a bit warmer. (I'm in a place where we get ALL 4 seasons too & my competition for revealed large gas station locations goes WAAAAAY down in the winter, lol)

@misspocos75 wrote:

Revealed/Unrevealed gas station shops would be great. It would help if the northern states could just do revealed shops in the summer & unrevealed in the winter. Living in a multi season climate with winter temperatures dropping down to -20°F with the windchill, always freezes my phone and causes it to shut down while taking outdoor photos, so the shops end up taking forever with multiple trips to the car to warm up the phone with the heater on high.

When I was younger I did lots of gas station audits. Now that I'm older I do lots of grocery stores. So I would say grocery stores.

Okie inquires--..........what is the most you were ever paid for your services on a single shop/job..............

Bob replies--A bank account opening paid me $165 and a cluster of online rate inquires, approx. 2 hrs. time, was $280. My best day was 12/31/2012 for $917, but I was not able to submit the reports until the following day.

Although this info was not requested, the following is what reversed my failure as a shopper into a successful side gig. It encompasses separate reasons I will accept a shop:

1-Money
2-Leisure activity
3-Travel expense defrayment

Unfortunately, in the past few yrs. #3 heads the list and I do not envision that changing. Due to some folks being needy, I encounter work that pays less today than 2 decades ago.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

it's kind of interesting how we're each so different....our preferences so unique. I suppose a lot of is also based on location.

I was thinking the same thing....but it's also lifestyle. I have little need to go anywhere near a gas station anymore, no matter what it pays. I also have not been inside of a bank in over a year.

I'm really surprised at the so many grocery store answers. I hate that many interactions and detail. I want easy, quick, painless shops. i am willing to do longer shop (like timeshares) because the pay is significantly higher. Plus i'm getting other benefits.

Just like with my Panda Express shops, I will always opt for drive-thru first, then online order. I don't want to be bothered with the extra questions and extra time expected for a dine-in with Panda. The extra fiddy cent is not an enticement.

I could do just my travel shops forever. It’s all fully reimbursed (I pay to upgrade to business class or first class if I want it). I’ve been all over the world to places that I never would have chosen to visit had I not been fully reimbursed.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I'm really surprised at the so many grocery store answers. I hate that many interactions and detail. I want easy, quick, painless shops. i am willing to do longer shop (like timeshares) because the pay is significantly higher. Plus i'm getting other benefits.

Just like with my Panda Express shops, I will always opt for drive-thru first, then online order. I don't want to be bothered with the extra questions and extra time expected for a dine-in with Panda. The extra fiddy cent is not an enticement.

As one of those who enjoy grocery stores, I suppose one of my reasons is that I enjoy talking with the associates and learning stuff from them. For instance, on separate grocery store visits in a chain I shop weekly anyway, I learned that in the Meat dept they will cut up a whole chicken for free (cheaper than buying the bird already cut-up) and will also remove that white membrane along the baby back ribs for free. Anyhow, that's just me!

I'd have to go with the Phillips 66 programs. The flexible reimbursement is the key.

One's gas tank capacity (and gas cans... haven't gone that route, yet) makes for a ceiling when performing gas station shops.

I love me some Chevron Customer First shops, but if I can't fit at least a gallon in my tank, I can't do one. Exxons currently require over a half-gallon, so same story.

My MO for the Phillips visits is to use the Fuel Forward app when I need to minimize my gas purchase, and then I use my Verizon Visa card (paying 4% back on gas stations) for the in-store purchase.

So far my low gas purchase is 25¢. Next round I'll probably go 15¢ or maybe lower.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2024 12:28PM by CoolMusic.

@viv0412 wrote:

Part of the reason I shop is so that every day isn't redundant. So I would not pick just one.

Thanks for not playing?

Have synthesizers, will travel...

@myst4au wrote:

Teller shops. I like getting paid to deposit my own money. Deposit 6 times, withdraw. Repeat.

Those would be my #2. I do them where I have my car loan, so I book as many as possible and move money around until the payment is due.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

I could do dining shops any day. Steak and red wine are my weakness. Still staying away from 5 guys though!

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