I am with Bliss. I have completed two stations in two yrs., with each paying $28+ gas & store. One was two blocks out of my way and the other a few miles. As the old adage goes, "To each his/her own." If a shopper decides that, as an example, Shell, a company with a 1/5th trillion $ market cap, is worth $12.50+ gas & store to snap a minimum of 25 pics, have at it.

@CoolMusic wrote:

Gas station job *fees* seem to have been pretty stable: Chevron Customer Firsts @ $8.50, Phillips 66 and Exxon @ $12, Shell @ $14. I'm banned from Sinclair, so I don't see their shops, and it's been years, so I don't remember what their base fee was.

FWIS, only Chevron and Phillips are worth doing at base pay. I might do an Exxon at base if I am out on a route and have 20 minutes in the schedule, now that only a single pump picture is required. Only way I would consider a Shell at base would be if it was a 4-pumper and convenient to my route. Even then I still might pass... the pictures/dollar ratio is high for those.

So a couple of clients are starting out chintzy. Not sure whether the MSC is to blame.

*Reimbursements* have been reduced, but those have little or no impact on the bottom line.

But... Shell reimburses 2 gallons, which is not, "income" come tax time and that is a huge consideration for some, including me. For a variety of reasons, many people need or want to stay under a certain income threshold. Just sayin'...

This was funny: " i will allow my husband to get an outside job".

I used to do all of the route shopping, high-end dining, hotels, golf clubs, banks, long day, long narrative shops, etc. Now that I have a steady retirement income and am one of the dreaded "hobby" shoppers who takes jobs for the reimbursement if it's something I buy anyways (like groceries) or a fast food shop with full reimbursement that takes 15 minutes and is nearby. There are more of us than you think. I don't see very many bonussed shops in my area of Southern California. If there is a bonus, there is usually a good reason.

I came to this forum because I took a Bestmark job in response to an email blast. I had no idea they were in financial trouble. I came here when researching the delayed pay.

I feel for anyone needing to make a living by mystery shopping.

I got a low paying offer and then they offered a $3 bonus, I just started laughing. Wow $3!!! I confess it wasn't a route shop.

In my area, sometimes it's difficult to find a shopper, so there are bonuses. It makes me not want to do shops until there is a bonus. But there are also fewer shops. When I first started mystery shopping, I made about $30K bc there were so many shops. It's really not been as good as it was before the 2008 crash.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2024 11:38PM by cherubino3.

Re: the ‘let my husband’ comment: This couple may be sharing C Store shops where it makes more economical sense to have 2 people tackle them. They’re obviously working in tandem with possibly 1 car, in which case both have to be on board. If one wants to jump ship, the other has the choice to ‘let them go’ or not. I would hate to see what the ‘not’ looks like. It’s a ‘no win’ any way you slice it.

As this is an OP ED, and I have never been averse to OPing, below is my Saturday thought.

We shoppers are so diverse that the old adage of "To each his/her own definitely applies. Steve enjoys triple digit meals, while Bob is happy with Captain Ds. Okie shuns H Brands, but they are on Bob's preferred list. Morled is an Ipsolite; Bob fired that MSC. Finally, Cool is embarking on a route I would not consider for twice the money. As my French grandmother would and did say to me in several occasions, "Viva la difference."

@shopperbob wrote:

As my French grandmother would and did say to me in several occasions, "Viva la difference."

We need a "Love" button on here for some responses!

And that said, there is still something to learn from each other, despite our differences.

When I was recently considering taking on a group of shops to make an east coast trip work, I channeled a bit of Bob's mentality into the equation and decided to look at it from an earnings vs. work perspective. I then took a single shop to cover the expense of the hotel + agreed to another job far outside of the MSing world that would give me the $$ to enjoy the trip like a real vacation.

We are keeping is simple for this trip. Pizza last night. Hot dogs tonight. My only required meal is room service breakfast in the AM and this shop should be all written up before my flight touches down at LAX.

I haven't completely changed my stripes. It's only the best pizza and hot dogs, and the hotel room is 4 figures, but the workload is 20% of what I am used to.

@shopperbob wrote:

Okie shuns H Brands, but they are on Bob's preferred list.

For HS Brands, just to be clear, I was not wronged in anyway. From that standpoint, I don't want anyone to think it was an issue of the MSC not paying, in my case. I only did one shop for them, a bar compliance shop. To me, the report was too detailed and thorough versus what the scenario required and paid. (I know you can make this argument with other MSCs.) For this shop to be favorable, in my opinion, one would really have to enjoy the food. Picking up other types of shops in my area with this MSC, taking a look at the guidelines and full report, it was the same trend for me personally. I decided to let the scheduler know right after to cancel these shops, and the scheduler did without any issues. More so, I thought that it wasn't a good fit because for some clients that they had acquired within the year, the shops had the pay decreased by more than half the amount, compared to the previous MSC. I can only really speak on my experience, and lay out why this wouldn't work for me personally.

I do agree how we are all different. We all can pick up shops for a variety of factors and circumstances. There are some key points to this thread, that I agree with. The remainder, I don't really have an opinion on. But I do appreciate you dropping nuggets and sharing your earlier experiences with MS when needed. When you share how you had to re-evaluate and re-assess your approach MS and the differences from then to now. It's always a good refresher. Also, we can all have different experiences with MSCs. The bigger the MSC, I think some negative experiences can pertain to specific clients and the nature of the work. While other clients and projects don't have the same issues to that degree. Not all MSCs, just something I've observed from the posts and feedback on the forums over time.

Okie, as it applies to the bar shop, the client switched MSCs, but the report is identical. Two slight shop changes are the requirement to pay with cash was dropped and the tip MUST be exactly 20%. I was 33 cents off and was docked two points. That was irrelevant to me, but there are some shoppers for whom that would be a problem. Finally, the shop I completed last week paid $25 + $30, with the only ordering requirement being a single alcoholic beverage.

Give the above some thought. I have a philosophy that I would rather try and fail than to wonder "what if?"

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/28/2024 04:47PM by ddbk.

For the bar compliance shop I completed earlier this year, I don't have a point of reference with the previous MSC. This specific shop was $10 pay, $25 reimbursement (food + beverage). This client is no longer with HS Brands and moved to another MSC. With the other MSC, the shop is currently $10 pay, $30 reimbursement (food + beverage).

If I do see shops with similar parameters that you shared with HS Brands or other MSCs, I'll think it over and consider trying it out.

Thanks, I think I'll apply your philosophy to some new MSCs and shops over time. Sometimes it's bit me, most times it's worked out. Over a long enough time period though, this will be a good approach.

Ok, so alot of ground has been covered. First, those of you that have seen me post for years should know that I am disabled. I can not just up and get a job. I found a medium that i am able to do. If my husband gets a job and we no longer work in tandem then my options are limited. Number 1 i can do reception or dispatch but without any connections or recent experience that is a imited opportunity. Also, i greatly like making my schedule and working for myself and not dealing with jerk bosses who talk down to people when I've been a company OWNER for 7 years. I do have "concepts" (yes, I'm being funny...) which includes YouTube *digital creator" i bought the tripod and ringlight but my computer is down. i need another more up to date one and i have to train myself how to edit and stitch videos. This new computer would also enable me to do closed captioning. But i don't need the extra bill right now.
My ol man doesn't have these physical limitations that i do. However, if we just up and make this move before I am properly set up with gigs then the job would have to pay enough to take two people's income and combine it into one person's income. I would no longer want to do out of town routes over an hour away with all the driving on me alone. It will be harder on me mentally and physically, not to mention the car situation.
But my real dream is real estate. I've only been able to buy 1 house and since COVID I haven't even been able to finish that one house so right now it's more of a liability than an asset.
I am very familiar with "bidding " on assignments. However, since the majority of gas stations shifted companies there is no bidding now its wait and see what's left when the bonuses finally do get added.
Since both vehicles now have over 200k miles on them with miscellaneous minor issues-I cut Tennessee and Helen GA, Trenton GA out. I felt the mountains might put too much pressure on the transmissions. The computer issue removed apartments and essay style reports i hate typing on a phone when I'm a qwerty gjrl. Maybe i am being a whiny a$$ about the contract changing hands. But going from a base of 6-900 a week minimum to the garbage fees in GA right now and knowing that the petroleum industry is making record profits, in the billions, maybe I'm just feeling a little short changed.
As for being flexible in this position for 7 years i do consider myself flexible. I make most of the routes for us and if an unexpected bonused shop pops up then I have to flip flop the routes around. That takes flexibility. Being willing to try a new shop and see how that works out takes flexibility. And my husband doesn't like trying new jobs, so i am definitely more flexible than he is.
As for "allow" or come to a mutual decision...hmmm when it means i can't work anymore then i throw a hissy fit...Scorpio woman who is as stubborn and hard headed (as a rock) i can and will usually get my way...need i say more?? I am not a very good "stay at home" wifey...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/2024 09:21AM by F and L TeleComm.