I just saw gas station shops posted for $8.

I used to do gas station shops in 2009 and 2010 and I was getting paid $14-$16 for each shop on average and even then, it was barely doable. I'd make a route and negotiated mileage and that's the only way it made financial sense based on the area that I was working.

Seeing similar shops posted for even less pay +15 years later just makes me question the industry and how it can continue to skirt employment law like minimum wage.

"you don't have to accept it" isn't going to fix the issues in this industry and is a tired narrative imho. I don't think that mystery shop workers have an advocate, an entity or org that works on our behalf to improve pay, do we?

Rant over.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2025 06:39PM by jdyeah.

I see them in my area posted for $7 on the normal.

The market is now flooded with shoppers ! Too many just grabbing and not being concerned with the profit side.I know I know, "to each their own". But, if you drive 20 miles for $7 and an inside purchase (without remb.) WHY ? Covid really crashed the areas too ! Too many people sitting at home and finding this type of work on their computer. I use to travel to other cities and earn some nice cash (with doing a hotel to stay at, not a hotel shop) The money was great. I have not traveled since 2020. The cash is not there anymore. Few shops get bonused anymore !

While I am whining... In the past (5 years ago) I would drive 220 miles round trip. Day one 10 Exxon's $35 each. Get a hotel for $80 to $100 (all I needed was good wifi) Day two, more Exxon's or Shell, etc. at $35 to $45 each. The hotel was a write off and I could wake up 2 miles from my first stop (instead of driving 100 miles to it !) Things have changed so drastically !

Yeah, fees are still pretty low, and some companies want you to do quite a bit of work for low fees. I am not aware of any sort of advocacy group or union for the shoppers unfortunately.

Funny how we all knew which brand/MSC OP was referring to. And as poster David Hoppe had mentioned in a different thread, any shoppers' route offers for higher pay now go unacknowledged by schedulers. No reply at all. Unless my email's broken and it never got there.

yeah inquires--.........makes me question the industry and how it can continue to skirt employment law like minimum wage.

Bob replies--We are, thankfully, not employees.

yeah comments--"you don't have to accept it"

Bob agrees--I do understand YEAH was being facetious.

yeah concludes--I don't think that mystery shop workers have an advocate, an entity or org that works on our behalf to improve pay, do we?

Bob opines--No and I do not desire, need nor would I accept an advocate, entity or org. to become involved with my business. I departed my last period of employment in Oct. of 1963 and have not the slightest desire to return to being anyone's lackey. I do understand, though, that some folks would be well served with assistance. The problem is that someone in need will, understandably, snatch work as something beats nothing.

@jdyeah wrote:

"you don't have to accept it" isn't going to fix the issues in this industry and is a tired narrative imho. I don't think that mystery shop workers have an advocate, an entity or org that works on our behalf to improve pay, do we?

Rant over.

The mystery shopping industry isn't a big enough fish for shoppers to have their own independent advocate, IMHO. And even even we did, there are so many different types of shops and shoppers we would likely never agree on much, if anything.

We are left relying on advocates for indpenedent contractors.

Some want to reclassify ICs as employees when those ICs do the core work of their clients. This idea, though it has merit, isn't an exact fit for mystery shopping with its varied types of jobs and shoppers. Some want to just make independent contractors subject to regular labor laws, where they are guaranteed things such as minimum wage, workers comp, unemployment benefits, and Social Security matches.

But none of these things are guaranteed to improve pay. The only thing that will improve pay is the market. When we have the power to hold out for higher fees, they will pay them.

Things that might give us that power are things that bring everybody up and reduce the desperation that forces people to accept lower pay. Maybe a higher minimum wage will refuce people's need for side work. Maybe tariffs will bring back domestic jobs. (It could happen.) Maybe giving giant corporate tax breaks will spur investment and create jobs. (Just kidding there.) Maybe Trunps idea of capping credit card interest will help poeple get out of debt. Maybe rewriting the tax code to encourage higher wages rather than higher stockholder dividends. Who knows?

I've seen many a shopper post here whose business plan is to use their cars to generate income without factoring in repairs and maintenance, only to arrive at a day where their car dies and they have no way to continue shopping.

@whosear wrote:

I've seen many a shopper post here whose business plan is to use their cars to generate income without factoring in repairs and maintenance, only to arrive at a day where their car dies and they have no way to continue shopping.

I can definitely think of one.

I'm amazed at how many people continue to lament the $7 shops and how they seem to 'fly off the board." I do the majority of my shops for that company and frankly, I have never done a shop for them at $7. Just because YOU only see shops listed at $7, doesn't mean that the shops that have already been assigned were done for that price.

@HoomanShopper wrote:

I'm amazed at how many people continue to lament the $7 shops and how they seem to 'fly off the board." I do the majority of my shops for that company and frankly, I have never done a shop for them at $7. Just because YOU only see shops listed at $7, doesn't mean that the shops that have already been assigned were done for that price.

I think it also depends on location. Some location are more competitive meaning there's more demand than supply. Under those circumstances, it's either base or nothing.

Certain shops are a distance or out of the way. You can email a scheduler and negotiate a fee rate. Every round I get a couple of these the first week. I did them for $15 (only because other stations I was doing and basically I was going to drive by or be close). This past round, I gave myself a raise and asked for $17. Approved. It does not hurt to a have a good relationship with the company and schedulers for 14 years.