For years now $5 mystery shopping assignments have been prevalent in the industry. They don’t pay enough for it to be worth anyone’s time…and yet they keep sticking around…
And the only reason is because some mystery shoppers are taking those assignments.That is why I am asking you to BOYCOTT those assignments.
And here is something that is surprising:
While it may be easy to blame the mystery shopping companies for these assignments, it is not that simple. The companies hate these asssignments as much as you do…but they take them because they have to compete with other companies for the same contract.
Read this comment from Pittburgh Shopper from my last blog post:
From the MSPA Conference – July 18-20, 2008
The owners of several of the MS companies did a panel discussion on the last day taking Q&A from the shoppers. They all had the same answer. The contracts were signed with the companies at the beginning of the year for set prices for shops. This was done before the cost of gas went over $4 a gallon. They all stated that nothing could be done at this time as they are all under contract. They did remind us that the IRS deduction for mileage went to fifty eight and a half cents per mile. And they all agreed that no one should accept the $4 and $5 shops.
We need to make it impossible for these $5 assignments to exist.
As shoppers we need to stand together and STOP this once and for all.
Please leave a comment below, declaring that you will NOT accept $5 assignments EVER AGAIN!
Thank you!
I Jacob Jans pledge to never take a $5 mystery shopping assignment…ever!
I never take $5 assigments ever! unless its a telephone shop! $5 is insulting for your time!!!!!
I have never taken a $5 shop and don’t intend to, ever!
That’s just so wrong…it would cost me more in gasoline to perform a shop…
With the price of gas, 5.00 is an insult to anyone with high enough standards to want to make a living doing jobs for companies.
How demeninng!
I Camilla Bragg pledge to never accept $5 mystery shopping assignments.
How demeaning for real!
no $5.00 shops here…when i first started, i did several to get some experience….now, unless it’s $20 or more, i don’t even look. sounds snooty, but with gas and my time, it’s just not worth it for less.
cheers…good idea to do this!
I see $5 and even some $10 shops and just laugh when they get taken. No shop + report is going to be worth your time and gas to complete for only $5 or $10, think about it.
I would never take a $5.00 assugnment. That is an insult. Not worth the time.
Sally
NEVER NEVER NEVER!!
Even $8.00 shops are a waste of time.
I have not taken a $5 shop in about 1 1/2 years and I will never take another!!!
I too, only take $5 shops if they are phone shops. With the rising price of gas, it does not PAY!
This is insulting
I Melanie pledge never to take a $5 mystery shop. I pay more in gas then what I get paid for.
It is outrageous to expect anyone to do it for $5!
Shame on the companies
When gas cost $4.00 a gallon it cost more to do the shop than you are making
With gas prices like they are I will never except a ms job for $5.00
Deanna L. Pinder
I have taken $5 shops when coupled with other shops within same mall or direction traveling. $5 shops are equivilent to $9 hour job dealing with a boss and public!
My time is quite valuable. I would only accept a $5 assignment if it were a phone shop that the conversation lasted no more than 2-3 minutes.
I pledge no $5 shops. Actually, a $10 shop is really not profitable considering the time and price of gas.
I cannot afford to leave my home for this low of a price.
Joseph miller
I will never work for $5 when I can make $15.
Hi- I only have taken the $5 shops when they were in my area and I was going to be that way. The reports were minimal,otherwise no thanks.
I started in March and took a couple of those $5 shops but then realized these aren’t even worth the gas. You have my pledge I stopped after the first 2!
I see them but never take them. Not worth my time or gas.
I pledge to never accept a $5 shop. I even laugh at $10 shops. I have always felt that companies who hire $5 shoppers get $5 reports. I get paid well for my time and trouble and my reports reflect this.
I’ve never taken a $5 in the 2 yrs I’ve been MSing, and I never will!!!
I pledge not to take a $5.00 assignment. It is not worth my time and gas to get $5.00 or even $8.00 unless it is around the corner from my home.
No $5 shops. However they won’t go away as long as shoppers continue to do them so pass the word. There are other shops available.
I put my foot down long time ago…living in New Mexico, we measure mileage by time not by miles. Now we measure by miles…cause we have no other choice. Now the companies are calling me asking me to set a price, and I do, caluate the mileage and my time…9 times out of ten, they meet my price.
Thanks Jacob for helping improve our community.
Kris
I agree with Jacob, you get what you pay for, $5 shoppers get $5 reports! I will never take a $5 shop.
Like Cynthia M. I never take $5 assigments unless its a telephone shop! $5 is insulting for my time and gas here is teetering at the $4.00 mark… What’s the point?!?!
I wouldn’t even consider a 4 or 5 dollar shop!! Contracts usually have clauses and exceptions that they may be altered to meet certain market changes.
I pledge to never accept a $5 shop. $10 shops are also a joke.
I will not take any $5 shops!
Never have done a $5 shop and will never do one. Heck, throw in the $10 shops too!
I, Mary, do hereby pledge to avoid these shops. I do not go out of my house for $5 shops, it is simply not worth it.
I have been completing shops for over 3 years. I have never taken $5 shops and do not plan to in the near future.
No $5.00 shops here. I consider that type of offer to be an insult to the profession of mystery shopping.
I have done shops for EVEN LESS, BUT pledge to NEVER AGAIN take a shop less than $5!
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT YET ACCEPTED ANY SHOPS, I’M WAITING FOR ONE THAT IS PROFITABLE, THAT IS WORTH MY TIME AND EFFORTS, AND GAS. I’ll MAKE THIS A PERSONAL PLEDGE NOT TO TAKE $5.00 SHOPS.
THANK YOU,
SARAH
i will not shop for five bucks that not even worth keeping my computer on earleen
I will not take $5.00 shops unless it is a phone shop. I’m with you all.
I jeanette Loch pledge not to take any $5 shops. It doesn’t pay and is an insult. It takes more to go to the shop than that not including your time and reporting.
NEVER!!!
I do not in any way support the $5 per shop.
I will not participate and ask others not to as well.
Ingrid
I pledge not to take any $5 shops. It is insulting. It costs more to go to the shop than that and yet your time and reporting.
That is absolutely insulting; $5.00 assignments. The time you read about the assignment, drive to the location, do the assignment, drive home and do the report, that’s degrading, not worth it. I do pledge never ever to accept a $5.00 shop. It needs to stop. Thanks for all your help.
No $5 shops.
5$ ??? Who are they kidding? I’m a professional mystery shopper, not a street walker!
I never have accepted a $5.00 assignment and I never will.
I will not accept a $5. shop, not worth my time!
Rebecca Hendrix
I accept this pledge and agree, $5 shops are an insult and not worth it with the price of gas (around $4.25+ a gallon here), unless they are phone shops of course.
I will not take any $5.00 shops. I informed one company of this and now they blocked me off their sight. (oh well none of the shops paid much anyway)
I will not shop for five bucks. It’s just not worth my time!
Ann
I accept this pledge and agree, $5 shops are an insult and not worth it with the price of gas (around $4.25+ a gallon here), unless they are phone shops of course.
I will never accept a $5.00 shop again. At this point, I do not take shops where I am reimbursed for purchase or meals only, partly or full. My time is worth more than that,and the price of gas makes it ridiculous to do.
Simply rediculous count me in! I will not do any shops for $5.
I accept this pledge and agree, $5 shops are not worth it with gas prices ($4.25+ a gallon here), unless they are phone shops.
I will not shop for five bucks!! It’s not worth the time or the
gas.
I have never done the $5 shops since they are just not worth the time, effort and now gas money. Yes, I will take the pledge. Keep up your good work.
I have taken $5.00 assignments in the past but I had to have more than one assignment in the same area in order for me to except it. Since gas prices are so high now I will not except any more $5.00 assignments.
Laurie
I do it for the fun and to pass time as a retiree. $5 or $10 is fine when grouped together in a mall. Most only have minimal questions and no receipt submission.
Ditto X 10!
I will not shop for $5. It is not worth my time driving off my street.
It costs more than $5 to print the neccessary materials to do these shops, nevermind the gas and time involved. No $5 shops, or $10 unless it is in my living room!
gas is expensiveas wel as time it is not worth it.
You have $5 street walkers? Where are you? LOL!!!
Exxon Mobile offers $4.00 a shop. They are making record breaking profits and want us to go evaluate their stations for $4.00 and one stinkin’ dollars worth of gas.(that’s barely a fume) They suggest you put in more. Yeah right. Their gas usually costs the hightest. I won’t do $5.00 shops but unfortunately it looks like there are too many who do.
I will not do $5.00 jobs it is not worth the gas anymore.Gas prices are too high to be making such a small amount. It’s is lower the mimum wadge.
Wait ubtil middle to end of month and same shops are $12-$15 each.
With the price of gas and the wear and tear on my car $5.00 is not worth me going out to start my car. It would burn $5.00 starting it up and I haven’t even pulled out of yard.
These companies are making hand over fist in profects, how would they like making that $5.00 as their profect.
Josie
I have never nor will I ever, accept $5.00 assignments!
I will not even do $10 shops-except if they pay for the dinner and $5 for the shop.
No $5.00 shops for me.
I took one once, but then cancelled it after reading the paperwork. Sometimes they call me and ask me if I will do one and I tell them it doesn’t pay enough. Their response sounds like they hear that all the time and are tired of hearing it. Well, raise your pay scale then if you want your jobs done!
I am not going to waste my time and haven’t taken any 5.00 dollar shops. It’s an insult and they need to upgrade for our experiance and time taking in the cost to go to the assignment. Get a grip, catch up with the times, and pay what everyone else is paying for our expertise, which I’ve heard is so important to the client.
HELLO!!!!
So cheaper gas justifies $5 shops? Lets grow up here!
I have never, nor will I ever accept a five dollar shop. I have even decided not to do anymore ten dollar shops for video games for my kids. I AM WORTH MORE, I WANT MORE, I DESERVE MORE, and if they want the job done correctly, they will PAY MORE.
$5.00 is not worth the time or the gas! If the shop is say 5 blocks from home, with the price of gas being $4.05 a gallon it’s just not worth it to shop!!!!!
I totally agree. As a new shopper I was surprised to find the $5 shops and have not accepted one and will not in the future.
Thanks for your information and supporting this type of sharing.
Sandy
I have not and will not take $5 shops. Recently I have really cut down the number of shops I do. I no longer even do $10 and $15 shops. Mostly I have just been doing shops that offer a good bonus. It’s simply not worth my time and gas to do anything less than $20.
Sue
Never again.
Sounds like Second to None hasn’t raised fees in years….
I have never taken $5 assignments and never will
In total agreement! I love seeing the 5.00 and 7.00 unclaimed shops gradually increase…..and if they reach ( and they most often do) 12.00 – 20.00 that is when I take em.
no way, gas is toooo high, plus the time it takes for the paper work, not for me
I think that $10.00 shops are not worth the time and money spent on gas. The $5.00 are insulting!! If you write a quality report, the TIME ADDS UP! I have not and will not accept $5.00 shops.
I never take $5.00 shops.
I have not and will not ever accept a $5 assignment.
I will not do a shop for $5.00, I get those offers, and I just delete them. No help here and we have got to stand together on this because this is ridiculous.
Never took
I never have taken a $5 shop, and I don’t plan on it ever. I keep trying to figure out why they still have them around, and who is crazy enough to take them!
I never take $5 assignments either. The price of gas is entirely too high to waste time with these type of assignments.
I did some at the beginning, because I di not know better, and I needed experience.
It’s outreagous, that they offer $3, $4, $5 jobs, where it costs you already that much in ink, paper and electricity to print the jobs, not counting gas, the time you shop and the time to input the job.
This is far below minimum wage.
I only take some, if it’s a phone job, or if I have to go on a 100+ mile job, and there are no other additional jobs available.
My first $5 job was a 1 hour job plus 2 hours input, crached website and several e-mail clarifications. It told me a lesson.
Never again.
I will NOT take a $5.00 shop. I have even seen $3.00 shops or none at all, only reimbursement. I agree with Vicki, it takes time to write a quality report and even $10.00 shops are not worth it.
no 5.00 mystery shops again too much gas cost
I too, will not not take $5.oo shops. I did in the past only if on my way and the reports were short. Ha ha to the ones that offer you $1.00 for getting gas, that ask for photos ,you must take training and a long report.
I won’t even look at $5.00 or $10.00 shops. It’s too insulting! I spend that much just in gas. Then I have to go home and write a report!!!! Are you kidding me?
I am fairly new to MSing, however the only $5 shop I’ve done was when an incentive of $20 was added. I live in BC and our gas prices are outrageous, so definitely NO $5 shops!!
I do not take $5.00 shops. I did take them when I first started mystery shopping. Now I wait for the pay to go up. If it goes to an amount I feel is good then I will accept the job.
I won’t take shops that are 5.00 even if they are phone shops. The report forms take longer than what 5 bucks is worth.
In fact I am also kicking several shops that are 8.00 and 10.00 to the curb because of the paper work both per-shop and post shop.
Some of those pre shop tests are insane and sometimes they do not provide the rght info in the so called briefing notes.Then of course filling out a questionnaire with a monologue for each yes or no answer is incredibly time consuming. And you need to be careful of the shops that do not actually pay but consider reimbursement sufficient for the job.
Sorry this got a little manic but I have been fighting a stupid test for 4 hours and it still isn’t right. All for a job that offers 12.00 and doesn’ reimberse for purchase.
fortune8one
It is actually a complicated issue. If one takes a few 5-10 dollar jobs, that leads to more jobs with that company. Also, bonuses come up at the end of every month. I did three jobs originally offered at 4 or 5 dollars at the end of June. They paid $140 dollars for three jobs that took about one hour to finish. Yesterday, I made $200 with 10 jobs that were originally offered at $7 each. Monday, I will make $200 again because of bonuses. The smart thing is to wait until the bonuses kick in. On the other hand, if all jobs were a minimum of $10 each, the jobs would be filled faster and cost the client less money in the long run. You have to admire how corporations are a penny wise and a pound foolish so often. No wonder so many of these stores are going broke.
Patti C.
With the price of gas, I only take $10 und up. Anything else is a waste of my time.
My time is very valuable; not counting the time it takes to enter online !!
I never take $5 dollar assignments. Especially since, where I live, the only ones close to me are about 30 mins. away. Not worth it when gas costs more than the shop assignment. If it was in town though, I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Just my two cents worth.
Don’t send me any myster shop assigment in the 3-10 dollar range. I won’t accept them.
N J Kraft
planesales@aol.com
I would never consider accepting an assignment for $5.00. With the price of gasoline, I can’t believe that anyone would even consider this low amount. I figure that my time and experience is worth so much more than this! I do my best on every assignment and expect to be paid accordingly. Perhaps some people are doing these $5.00 shops due to boredom, as they’re not doing them for profit. Whatever the motivation, we need to stop these companies from taking advantage of us!
I totally agree. $5.00 Mystery Shopping Assignments are not worth it. There is no way that I would accept an assignment for $5.00.
Susan, Canada
i agree that i will NEVER accept a $5 shop again…they are absolutely ridiculous…they barely even pay for gas (depending on what part of the country you are in).
I will not accept $5 assignments. With the price of gas and my time, I won’t accept anything less than $10; and even then, it depends on the location and whether it can be combined with other jobs. By the time, the report is completed, I’m operating at a loss!!
Absolutely…NO More $5.00 shops for me. I am glad we are sticking together and hopefully it will make a difference with NO MORE $5.00 shops to insult us.
Yes, I also find $5.00 shops are not worth the time. I agree with Kevin, not even a $10.00 shop is worth it when you figure gas, shop time and reporting time. I do not intend to take anything less than $20.00 in the future.
Do the math. Gas prices as they are and then figure in all the downloading of paperwork, ink prices, doing the report, etc. Even $10 shops, especially if there is a purchase and no reimbursement, isn’t worth your time. Hours of testing for some of these shops are ridiculous too. Starting out you may have to lower your standards, but it doesn’t take long to figure out that those low paying shops just aren’t worth it.
I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking that my time is worth more than $5 even for 15 minutes. And Karl, you do have a very valid point, that’s how I ended up doing the $5 shop – incentives!
I will never take a $5 job. I can’t believe anyone would even consider asking a shopper to work for so little, it’s far less than minimum wage!
Five dollars assignments are an insult, I never did or will consider taking one.
I pledge never to accept a $5 shop. With gss and the time and reports $5. is not the right payment. I never accept them and there is one web-site that seems to do it a lot I don’t want to mention the sane we all know who they are.
Thanks
Audrey P.
I DO NOT do any of these shops!! My time is worth more PLUS these shops are not worth the headache for only $5.00. Someone defiantly has not completed these shops and sat down to enter them or they would not insult us by only offering under $15.00 Unless I am heading to that area and can pick up at least 3 or more I wont take the shop if it is under $15.00. I am like someone else who said it may sound “snooty” but with gas and my time I take away from other things like my family it’s just not worth it for less.
I also say cheers to whoever started this and it’s good to see others feel the same!
Karl does have a point but I would LOVE to know what mystery shopping company he is working for to make that much $$$$
To be honest I don’t do any shops for less then $10.00. It’s disgusting to see Mystery Shopping companys offering 4.00 and 5.00 shops. It’s a slap in the face and I would never except them. I have several friends and family members that mystery shop and they will not take them as well. I keep spreading the word no more insulting shop fee’s!!
Thanks Jacob:
I have waited for you to publish something that I could get into with your site. I have been doing mystery shopping for the past year and when I first started, I was in need and grabbed at the first thing that I could get. After wearing my self out trying to make ends meet with the $5 shops, I stopped doing them. I have expanded my work with many more companies and I now see that there are jobs that pay much more than $5 and are worth my time to complete, so I do not do any $5 shops, even phone shops. I did an analysis of my time and concluded that some shops are not worth doing. I measured the time that it took me to read the pre-shop information, the time that it takes me to complete the shop, and the time that it takes me to complete the online forms, and I saw that some shops pay less $1 to $2 per hr to complete.
I think that this is the tragedy of the industry. The companies may say that the contracts are set at the beginning of the year but I know that there are contingencies and other stipulations in contracts that allow companies to make much more than they pay the shoppers. I also think that what is even more a tragedy is that a company wants a dissertation on your shop experience but the pay is meager in comparison to the writing skills and the pay to complete the online forms. I believe that there should also be a minimum pay for each written word required to complete each online form. Maybe a $0.05 or $0.10 per word minimum pay so that when you write a 2500 word essay of your experience that your pay would reflect the time and effort put into completing the shop. We, as writers of the mystery shopping industry, are providing valuable information to companies about the functions of their business and their staff. I beleive that our pay is a function of the companies that obtain the contracts and that our value is woefully under rated by the companies that hire us to do the trench work while they get the lions share of the benefits.
Jacob, I would very much like to see a mystery shopping contract and the compensation that a company gets paid to perform the scheduling of services that we perform. With such information, I can determine if I want to complete an Exxon shop, or a Chevron shop, or a Subway shop, or any shop for that matter. I beleive that when shoppers understand that they are being exploited by companies that offer low compensation for their work then they will not do those shops. There are tricks to the trade and we as shoppers get tricked all the time.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice how I feel on your site.
I can relate to the intensive reports that aren’t worth $30, when it takes hours to complete and they want a running commentary.
I pledge never to accept a $5 shop. With gas and the time and reports $5 is not the right payment. I never accept them and there is one web-site that seems to offer them all the time. I won’t mention the name we all know who they are.
Thanks
Audrey P.
I’m down with EVERYONE….STOP TAKING $5 shops!!!!
I have a spelling error in the last sentence above. I put sane for name.
Make that also $7 assignments !!!!
I will not take any shops for $5.00 or less
I cannot afford to nor have I ever accepted $5 assigments!
I pledge never to accept the $5 shops. Anything offered to us at less than $20 is an insult to all of us trying to earn some extra money, while balancing our children’s schedules. Thank you for whoever started this.
Not only do I not do $5.00 shops, my absolute minimum is $15.00 and only within a 5 mile radius of where I live. And I don’t do shops for meals only or purchase/return shops since this is basically a double shop for a one shop price. If pictures are required, that is more. And if the report form is balony and nit picking nonsense as a few of them are, I don’t work for that company again. OK, so I don’t get many shops any more but that’s OK. There is no sense just trading dollars unless time is not worth anything. The fewer shops means I can concentrate on merchandising which , while not a get rich endeavor, beats shopping most of the time. But, as long as there are people whose time is not worth anything do these shops, they will stay on the boards.
I look at the $4.00 shops occasionally to see if the fee has gone to $10 or above. Otherwise, I don’t take them. My criteria is $15.00. I will take a $10-12 once in a while to fill a slot.
Mary
You have my pledge !!
I fully agree that the $5.00 job is not worth my time, if these companies what the shoppers to do their jobs and do them right then they need to up the price, for that a person can at least pay for the gas, that is used to complete their job. This is the only logiacal choice.
CAROL I never have taken a $5.00 job. Since I started doing this. Gas is to high, and the time to do the paper work. And then on top of it they usually have pretest also. You do double the work for getting paid less.
I agree with Jsolo. You have to consider the pre planning for the shop, the actual shop and the reporting time. Many of these shops are so picky on exactly what you have to do, say and not say, then you get to the shop, if you mess up, they won’t pay you for the shop. Then you get to the report, many of these reports are very extensive narratives and then some companies grade you on a score of 1 to 10. The editors don’t all agree on editing and if you ask questions, all the managers come back with is that they can’t see what the editor corrected. It’s a lot of work for the little pay we get.
I refuse to take $5 mystery shopping assignments – they are a waste of time and the requirements for the shop isn’t worth the measly $5! My minimum is $10.00
I agree with you. NOBODY should take $5 or even $10 jobs. Think about the time to go anywhere, finish the job, come back and do the report. All these functions take minimum of 30 minutes and sometimes as much as 2 hours. Also the gas money should be taken in consideration. When you add up you will realize that you are working for FREE and you are paying them for doing their job.
Yes, to Christina and whomever else mentioned the testing that some companies require. It’s ridiculous in my book. We are all adults here. We don’t need to be graded or have to take a test to do this job in my opinion.
I have never excepted a $5.00 assignment. And I will continue my holdout for more respect from the MS companies.
I cannot afford to do $5 shops. It cost me money. I need to make something for my time and effort.
I, Dixie, pledge never to take $5 assignments.
I pledge not to accept the $5 shop. It is a waste of time.
No way that can barely buy me a gallon of gas. What kind of fools do they take us for.
I refuse to take $5.00 mysttery shopping assignment,not even $10.00
$5 jobs are an insult as well as the $7 to $9 shops. It costs you more to do thses shops then its worth. If you figure it out you are clearing about $0 to .50 cents on thse shops. First you have to pay for gas at $4.33 a gallon, then spend time doing the shop, come home and write the repost takes time and some of these reports take 15 to 45 minutes to do. You have to pay for you computer, the electric to run it and the paper and ink to print out you paper work. After all is done you waite to see if the report is accepted or rejected my the editor to see if you are getting payed. Then at the end of the year you get your W-2 from thses companies you have to pay income tax on the. These companies have to keep up with the times and inflation so that we can make a living working for them.
Not Stephen. No way that can barely buy me a gallon of gas. What kind of fools do they take us for.
I agree who can afford to leave their home, when gasoline is four dollars and something, plus the other wear and tear on your car.
Thank you for this email concerning this issue
It’s not just the gas. It’s not worth my time to file a report for $5.00!!! I will not accept a $5.00 assignment again.
I pledge never to take a $5.00 mystery shopping job. It is now difficult for me to take $10.00 with the price of gas.
I will not accept $5 shops; even if I’m in the area. This is an insult to my professionalism. The companies should be ashamed. Contract or no contract; this needs to change! I am worth more than pennies!
I’m a single parent that cant afford to waste gas to go do a shop for $5. I wouldnt even make any money if I did that. I’m sorry, but I will no longer complete a shop for less than $10.
I have never signed up for a $5.00 assingment and will never! ” To me this paymt. is an insult, considering my planning time, the actual job duties, my commute and my clerical work to process, it’s not worth it.”
In addition,” many assignment’s pay scales need to be adjusted to a higher and suitiable rate that would truely reflect the economy.”
At last weekend’s MSPA Meeting in Pittsburgh, at least one of the mystery shopping company owners said he did not blame us for not taking $4.00 shops. He would not do a shop for $4.00 either. I take shops from his company and I have never seen one in that price range. He seemed a little surprised that companies were asking shoppers to work for such a pittance.
Right! The time it takes to do reports, if it includes scanning receipts, uploading photos, is worth more than that.
I too, pledge not to take any $5 jobs.
Five to ten dollar assignments should not only be dislawful, but it goes on to show us more about the so-called ‘mystery shopping’ companies that even permit this.
Not only is our time worth more money than this, but the gas price war should really be a clencher. It would be one thing for people who are just starting out and may not be sure of how they will perform, but when one considers the large amount of money that these companies actually bring in from the various clients that they deal with, it is just disrespectful for them to expect people to jump at these assignments. I even saw an assignment posted saying that they would offer $9’s, but that you would have to spend at least $2’s on a product and that this cost would not even be covered. “Right!”
Keep the faith!
I will never, under any circumstances, take a mystery shop that pays a mere $5.00. I can’t even dignify that amount with an excuse!
I agree with not taking $5.00 shops but sometimes you need to do these to get a foot in the door. I personally have not done any for a long time but as one person wrote that even $8.00 is not really great. I live in a small town and do not get offered much in the way of high paying shops so I really need to take what is out there. I have been in poor health but am now getting around to feeling better and will sign up for more companies which is the key to being able to pick and choose assignments.
If anyone can steer me to a company that assigns shops around the Muskegon ,Grand Haven area in Michigan I would like to hear from you thanks
Never even think about shops less than 10.00. In Nl. our gas is $150.2 a litre.
I have never taken a $5 shop and don’t intend to, ever!, I am not taking $8 shops either and $10 shops only if they are less than 2 miles from were I live.
I am not taking restaurant assignments either where they pay you with a $40.00 card to use at another restaurant.
I no longer take any job that pays less than $10.00. Thanks. LL
I took $5 shops to get started. NO MORE……
I NEVER TOOK A 5.00 JOB. IT IS NOT WORTH ANYONES TIME TO DO THIS. BY THE TIME YOU DRIVE THERE, DO THE SHOP, RETURN HOME AND PUT THE REPORT IN YOU HAVE SPENT UP TO 2 HOURS. THATS 2.50 PER HOUR. I’D RATHER STAY HOME FOR THAT SINCE I WOULD SEND A MINIMUM OF I GALLON OF GAS, THAT’S 4.00, SO YOU JUST DID THE SHOP AND PAID THEM TO DO SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would never consider a $5 SHOP. I have even seen shops for only $1.50 each. The only time I do a $10 shop is if it is easy, comes with a reimbursement fee as well , or if I am given a top of the line shop for doing the lesser shop. My time is worth more that a merely $5. I would never do a $5 shop.
I totally agree with you. The least amount I have taken is $6.00, but as of now I am boycotting those also. I think the minimum fee should be $10.00.
No $5.00 shps. How about the electronic shops for $1.75. Market force advertises them.
$5.00 is not worth it. No thank you.
Thank You, Jacob, for standing up for all of us who are constantly being insulted with such measly offers. I live in Massachusetts, and those of you who also perform financial shops here, must know of the one company who truly insults each and every one of us with the least amount of pay for all such shops, and continue to have the nerve to “offer” less than $4 for their phone shops. When I began MS-ing, I started with these, because I thought saving on gas made a big difference. Not much, considering the reports are ridiculously endless and take just as long to reach the targeted employee. I do find it unbelievable that the companies are locked into contracts where they say the prices cannot be raised, since they all offer bonuses when THEY need the shops performed by a deadline. I would think it is basic common sense for companies to give a little and get a lot. But, I am just one of those dedicated shoppers who truly does the legwork, while all those “higher ups” sit on their butts making the big decisions. Well, the important one we are voicing our opinions about today, is that insultingly low wages hurt the industry as a whole, and I, for one, will no longer help TPTB get their way!
Not worth my time to go. Gas or other.
I think 5 shops are a thing of the past with gas at $4 a gallon
$5.00 won’t buy a gallon 1/2 of gas..
I don’t think the company realizes how much time is put into a shop from start, printing off all of the documents, studying, doing the shop,using up my gas and putting milege on my car, and then typing it on a lengthy report. In the past I’ve worked 4 to 5 hours on a $5 job … but NO MORE.
With gas at 4.65 and simple questionaire having 1-2 pages of detailed answers, I pledge not to accept $5.00 assignments
doing phone surveys isn’t worth the $5.00 either because the reports themselves are tedious and not worth the time, but again there always be some desperate person.
pledge never to accept any $5.00 assignments. This does not cover gasoline, let alone the work requirements.
SERIOUSLY!? I’d like to see us pledge to boycotting shops that insult our intelligence by ‘permitting’ us to do a shop that pays a whopping $20.00. It ends up being a shop that takes an hour to do, with a thirty minute drive time, an audit form that is twenty pages long, takes an hour to complete because the software that the MS companies use performs like something out of the dark ages. Without better software, we could perform better with an abacus, a chisel and a stone. Not counting bidding on, reading and preparing for the shop, spending $8.00 on fuel and 2.5 hours of my time, I have a net earnings of $4.80 an hour. The last I checked, that’s considerably lower than the minimum wage. Yes, for now I will boycott $5.00 shops. I’d really like us to up the ante.
I don’t even plan to except a $5 shop. Even if I go to the shop anyway. I have been wondering why some companies don’t offer more incentive for the amount of work they want you to do?
I will not do a shop for under $10 (except some phone shops) or over 10 miles away from home.
I have been doing Mystery Shopping for over 2 years and enjoy the work and the extra income.
Juli
I have not accepted any $5 shops for a VERY long time. It is insulting. I will not accept any, I pledge.
Jennifer
Jacob, Thank you for doing the things you do for mystery shoppers. I will not take a $5.00 jobs. I agree Linda Anthony comments.
I pledge to never take a $5.00 assignment again.
I am with everyone else on the $5.00 shops. They not only don’t pay, but they usually want photos along with it. So that is an extra step with downloading and the form is usually pages. I will not do a Lowes shop because they only pay $5.00 and they wnat you to shop 2 departments, get names, write down everyone’s name, count registers, and cashiers and on and on.
I don’t do anything for less than $15.00. Anything else is insulting.
Prosper E/
I will never except a shop under $10.00. The MS companies can afford to pay more money. We should not accept any shop under $10.00, the MS company is making about 20 times our pay per assignment.
Pastor Ron
July 22 at 4:33 PM
We have never made any money because we live 15 miles from nerest merchants and the ones that were presented to us were over 50 miles from us and it costs more than $5.oo for gas just to get there and back home.
We are very dissapointed with the mystery shopping business!
Sandra
What are your skills worth ? My minimun is $25. Don’t let yourself be exploited. Those long reports for $15 are bogus. How about the ones where you stand for 1 1/2 hours and then do 10 redundant reports for $40 ? I cut that off some time ago and never missed a beat.
I took a $5 shop only once because it had a $10 reimbursement. However, it was time consuming and necessitated two short essays. I completely the work but wrote the account manager that it would be the last shop I would ever do for less than a $10 fee (not including a purchase reimbursement). Now I just laugh at these shops and delete them from me email.
I have not and never will accept a $5 assignment. They are a bad joke from the 60’s.
I do not and will not ever accept an assignment for $5 unless it is a phone assignment which can be done in the comfort of my own home.
I now, never take low paying mystery shopping jobs. By the time you write out the report and show up for an assignment, it’s just a waste of time. I get annoyed when companies expect you to fill out forms with alot of questions and then don’t pay you if they are not satisfied due to lack of pictures or something like that. In fact, Mystery shopping pays way less than minimum wages.
I pledge to never take a $5 assignments. I never have and never will. My time is worth more than that!
Watch out for the assignments that pay 12.00, but you are responsible for $5 gas and a $1-3 purchase which comes out of the $12.00. If you do not supply a receipt for those purchases you will not get paid $12.00. I boycott those assignments also.
I’m with you , this is crazy with the price of gas $5.00 is an insult!
Most of us here are experienced and professional shoppers. How can these high polluted companies insult our intelligence by offer us degrading low paying jobs? Get tough people,laugh and turn away from these $5 dollar jobs.
I wouldn’t waste my time doing $5 shops. My time is worth more than that.
I have never accepted a $5.00 shop. It is ridiculous and an insult to our intelligence. If you are going to shop for $5.00, you might as well just do it for free and not get paid.
I have never accepted a $5.00 shop. If you are going to shop for $5.00, you might as well just do it for free and not get paid.
I have never accepted a $5.00 shop. I pledge not to take one.
I have never, and will never accept a 5.00 fee for work.
I refuse to do any $5 shops as I live at lease 10 miles from closest shop that is offered in my area. I have complained to the company and the answer that I always get is our shop fees haven’t changed, but they have because when I started doing the shops for this company which used to be speedmark the shop fee for the particular shop that I am referring to was $9 and gas was $1.56 gallon. I told them I wouldn’t do anymore shops for their company unless they paid me more because of gas prices being so high.
I have never, and will never take a $5, or even flat fee$10 shop. it is insulting to you and a waste of time. CORPORATE RESEARCH is a big one for this. DONT believe the ‘you have to get a bunch of these crappy paying jobs under your belt before you qualify for the good ones’ It simply isn’t true. Just look for more companies, and spend the time on the computer, vs doign the $5 CRI shop thinking it is goin to get you somewhere. Because, has anyone else ever noticed that the lower paying jobs are always the ones that come back nitpicking somthing completely STUPID>>>?>?>>>>>
I am unhappy with most of the shop assignments these days.
Some pay low and give a small reimbursement with required purchase shops… some pay 10.00 or 15.00 and expect lengthy reports and then criticize you if you add one too many commas. They instruct us, the shoppers to not use all caps, use proper grammar and correct punctuations and then they write in all caps, and make the exact mistakes they rail about. Some of the companies think of us as an unintelligent/uneducated group that can’t find work elsewhere.
Repeat, I will not do a $5.00 shop and I am very discouraged with the overall situation. Expenses are up and appreciation is down.
I refuse to do any $5 shops as I live at lease 10 miles from closest shop that is offered in my area. I have complained to the company and the answer that I always get is our shop fees haven’t changed, but they have because when I started doing the shops for this company which used to be speedmark the shop fee for the particular shop that I am referring to was $9 and gas was $1.56 gallon. I told them I wouldn’t do anymore shops for their company unless they paid me more because of gas prices being so high. I boycott these assignments.
I use to take $5 shops when I began two years ago, and when they were grouped together, but I’m worth much more than that.
I’m a top notch auditor, my ratings reflect this, the shops I’m offered and the pay I receive reflect it also.
$5.00 shops like penny candy are a thing of the past.
I have never and will never take a five(5) dollar job.
I April Rogers, pledge to not accept $5 shops and to also stop accepting shops that aren’t worth my time, money, and energy.
I pledge to boycott these $5 assignments.
A $5.00 shop? I wont even do a shop that is $10.00 for a single shop.
I have no trouble making a pledge to not be insulted with being offered a $5.00 shop.
That is unless you heard of the old,old saying. Ass,Gas or grass. Nobody rides for free. Especially now.
I never taken any of those there street roberry
I pledge to not accept $5.00 assignments, assignments that have you spend more than you are paid in the hopes that you’ll be re-embursed for the expense once the shop is approved (after they have the information) Or any shop than makes me feel like my time is of no value – If I wanted to make $0.00 I’d just find a good organization and volunteer my time. Come on people we have to stick together or this will continue.
I never do any of those $5 there real robery.
I will not do $5.00 shops. Now with gas prices I don’t do many shops at all unless they pay decent. I agree some of the shops for $10.00 or $15.00 take you forever to finish. What do they want for so little.
$5.oo??? Folks, in TWO days the federal minimum wage will be increased to $6.55 per hour! Let’s review the mathematical concept of negative numbers, ok? If anyone takes a $5.oo assignment, they should first figure out the time spent to: drive to the location, stay there for however long is required by the client, do paperwork, drive home, complete a form filled with redundant questions, scan and attach receipt/s, click ’send’….how much per hour are they working for? When they then account for gas, wear and tear on the vehicle, intangible items like printer ink, time to print forms, and so on….this is negative money!!! I don’t care how much you can deduct on taxes, it’s not worth it, and it’s demeaning. If a shop isn’t at least worth a $15 fee, for a quick, easily reported shop, it’s just a losing proposition. If enough folks challenge the ’status quo’, just maybe the company that ‘dinged’ me (and has prohibited me from being able to accept shops) because I questioned their decreasing fees, will ‘reinstate’ me so I can be offered their $5 shops! LOLOLOL!
I will never take a $5 assignment. Good for all of us who boycott such nonsense.
You are losing money the moment you step out your door for one of these $5.00 shops. It doesn’t make sense.
I pledge to not take any assignments that pay only $5.00. The price of gas and the time invested in doing a decent report is worth more than $5.00.
I stand with all who feel demeaned by the rate of $5 – $8 shops. I shall support any efforts that will encourage companies to compensate fairly its representatives.
I don’t bother with the $5 shops. My time is worth much more.
I never take $5 shops. Matter of fact with todays gas prices I dont even take $10 shops. This is an insult in the least to every Mystery Shoppers intelligience.
I say NO to $5 shops!
I would never consider taking assignments that are paid $5.00. They are not worth my time, energy and gas. This is a great insult to all shoppers who provide a valuable service to all consumers.
$5.00 is an insult. To waste my gas and time for a report is shameful on their part.
I will not accept any $5.00 shops unless I do not have to leave my home for it. What a waste of time to consider doing these. With the price of gasoline and wear and tear of you car. You do not make anything at all. Guys and gals we need to stand together and hopefully they will go away with the insult of 5.00 shops.
I would never consider doing a shop for $5.00. The $5.00 payment is an insult to all shoppers.
Simmin Labell
I have never done $5 shops most of them are for gas amd it cost that much just to get the shop done. I will never do $5 shops.
i will not take a $5.00 shops, with gas at $4.00 and over it not worth it.
I will not accept any $5.00 shops. In fact, I never accept any shops unless I can clear $10.00 after expenses. We all know that we have expences. We buy gas, we print out manuals, we take photos and we have upkeep on our cars. Unless we can clear money over our expences we are losing money and allowing these companies to make fools of us.
I’m with all of you-the only $5 shops I have ever accepted were telephone calls to an 800 number. NEVER to drive to do one, that is just preposterous with gas at $4+ a gallon.
Good idea, I hope it helps bump up the pay for all assignments.
Well, Jacob, you saw the message that I sent to you earlier – I’ve just the other day turned down two job offers, from *** -one at a Sears store, and one at a Bed, Bath & Beyond – that offered only $5.00 for each ’shop’, and told the scheduler that I would continue to pass on any further such CHEAP offers!?!
I pledge to not take any assignments that are $5.00 to $10.00.
No shop + report is going to be worth my time and gas to complete for only $5 or $10, think about it.
Actually I have only done 1 $5 shop and it was my very first shop over a year ago. I found it to be out of the question because no matter what it will take an hour of my time and five bucks an hour is an insult to any professional.
My list of I don’t is getting longer than the list of I do. I will not do a $5 and the $5-$10 is getting shorter. I don’t do the print 26 pages even if it is $12 and I never liked the narritives.. That does not leave much around here. We don’t have many high dollar shops here either or I have just not found them. I am glad a lot of us are standing together.
Stop the insanity!! I won’t take any more $5 shops.
5 dollars is a joke!
No, Way I would except anything under $10.
That’s why I’m was very interested to become an mystery shopper. unti I found out about the $5 assignments, I just didn’t except it.
I will not accept or complete any 5 dollar assignments. Not only are they insulting, they are ridiculous. Corporate Research and Market Force are notorious for 5 dollar assignments. Shoppers beware….
I am in a wheel Chair and my husband drives me to do the shops but e said with gas the price it is he will not take me to do the shops of sure low price. He said that it is not worth his time and effort to go and do them. If they would pay more he might do them. But $5 no way! Cost more in gas then you get for the shop!
That is absolutely insulting; $5.00 assignments. The time you read about the assignment, drive to the location, do the assignment, drive home and do the report, that’s degrading, not worth it. I do pledge never ever to accept a $5.00 shop. It needs to stop.
Jacob, I would very much like to see a mystery shopping contract and the compensation that a company gets paid to perform the scheduling of services that we perform. With such information, I can determine if I want to complete an Exxon shop, or a Chevron shop, or a Subway shop, or any shop for that matter. I beleive that when shoppers understand that they are being exploited by companies that offer low compensation for their work then they will not do those shops. There are tricks to the trade and we as shoppers get tricked all the time.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice how I feel on your site and thank you to give us the opportunity to tell the companies that this is an insult in the least to every Mystery Shoppers intelligience.
I say NO to $5 shops
I PLEDGE NOT TO ACCEPT $5.00 ASSIGNMENTS.
Liz
I have never taken a $5.00 shop and pledge to continue that policy. As noted by others, even $10.00 is insufficient for the work required by most jobs.
I’ll take “the pledge” and join your club.
I pledge not to take $5.00 assignment. The average person invest too much time (reading the requirements, traveling to the site, and completing the evaluation) for just $5.00 I also have problems with companies that will only reimburse you for your expenses-not for performing the job.
No $5 shops for me, I would rather send them $5 bucks to do it their self. How about them $10 shops that that want you to do 3 shops in one. Thats only 3.33 per shop
I would like to know were and what companys offer bonuses I have never heard of that with the several companys I work for.
No mass porfavor!?!
I will never take a $5 shop. I never take anything under $10 (unless it’s a quick phone shop that pays $8.) Even the $10 shops I won’t touch unless I’m already in the area and I know the report is a short one.
I pledge to never take a five dollar job.
gas, plus time, plus electricity for computer, internet service, electricity for scanner, batteries for your digicam, insults from reviewers…they should set a minimum of $25 per easy shop and higher for more complex shops. shops that require photos should pay you per photo on top of the shop fee… we’re not slaves. You get what you pay for. I have been boycotting the secret shopper companies for months now. Anything less than $25 is slave pay.
I will never take a five dollar shop. It is not worth the gas or time. Miriam
I never accept $5.00 shops. It is an insult to our intelligence to expect us to put so much time and energy into these shops for so little pay. I do some $10.00 ones at an electronics store and I do not think that is enough for the amount of work involved. Visit two departments and evaluate the cashier, then answer 12 pages of questions and write a paragraph on each group of questions. It is very involved and takes me almost 2 hours to write the report. Considering todays prices, I think all shops should be paid more than we receive now.
Thank you Jacob for seeing that mystery shopping need a big boost in pay.
I think the ones that take $5 shops are brand new, have no idea what their time to do the shop and the report amounts to and think they’re getting experience. I think the only experience they get is how to get “yanked” around. I pledge not to take any shops under $10 and those had better be within walking distance! LOL!
I’ve only taken one $5.00, since I’ve been MSing. But, since the cost of gas has sky rocketed, I won’t take them anymore. There are some $8.00 shops I’ll take, but that’s only because these are just a couple of miles from my house. Other than that, I wait until they offer me a bonus. But, $5.00 is terrible. I believe that new shoppers take them to get experience.
I do not accept five dollar shops. I drive an SUV and five dollars doesn’t register in my tank, it’s an insult.
I don’t accept $5.00 assignments and I never wood unless that is on top of a meal or some other perk. It wouldn’t be worth the time, let alone the gas to go to and from it. I will not accept any assignments for a mere $5.00!
I will not waste my time with $5 or even $10 shops. The MS Companies (the owners) that were represented at the MSPA Conference are NOT the companies that offer these ridiculous shop fees. The only way for this to be effective is that NO ONE accepts these low paying shops. If you can afford to offer $15-$20 at the end of the month when you need the shop completed, then offer it at the beginning of the month.
I agree! Who would leave their home for a $5.00 shop??? Not me! Not now! Not EVER!!!
I pledge never to take a $5.00 shop
I am so happy that someone is doing this. What an insult to hard working shoppers. Gas is $5.00 a gallon so what exactly is it that they are giving us? They are making millions and treating us like we do not have sense enough to see what they are doing. Thank you so much for looking at it from out point of view. We give quality work and they are offering us peanuts. If enough shoppers refuse to take these assignments, they will have no other choice but to pay us a decent salary.
I have never taken a 5.00 job because its not worth my time or my gas. I will NEVER take one !!
I agree! NO $5.00 SHOPS! jessset
I agree,no more$5.00 shops. I just don’t do $5 shops.
N E V E R H A V E, N E V E R W I L L!!!!
I can’t believe anyone would take a $5.00 shop! I don’t know about you, but it takes me at least an hour to do most of the paperwork for certain shops. There is NO way anyone should do these shops!!!
Thank you Jacob for leading the pack on this!!
I, Deborah, pledge to not accept any $5.00 or $7.00 mystery shopping assignments.
OOPS, I Deborah, pleadge to not accept any $5 mystery shopping assignments; $7 ones either.
F = Forever
I = I
V = Vow
E = Ever
taking those shops!
I joined numerous mystery shopping stores, and have not been back to most because of the low pay. I have a strong management customer service / sales background, hiring training and managing. My time and appraisal is worth much more than what you people pay. If I really did an evaluation on a store it would be worth hundreds if not thousands to the owner.
You get what you pay for.
Vicki
I will never take a $5.oo assignment.
The most instulting aspect is when a company used to pay $10 for a shop, and now they pay $5 for the same shop.
I will never take a 5 dollar assignment again unless it is a 15 minute stay at home phone survey.
Not only is it a waste on gas, but also my time. I am with Ethylene, I also was a manager for over 20 years and my time is valuable. I do not except shops that pay %5.00. I have a few, but was then disappointed when I saw how long it took to fill out there rediculas long forms with every question needing a narrative.
Very demeaning……….
I am so sorry for using Walts name. This was the first time leaving an email and did not see that I was suppose to change the name. So the email left on 7-22-08 at 3:38pm was not from walt, it was from Pam.
Jacob,
Thanks for initiating this revolt. I request/recommend that you send the responses to the MS Companies so they can get the flavor of the attitude of the shoppers that they are trying to utilize. Maybe they can pass it on to the Companies who are probably unaware that they are getting a $5 product for their $5.
I live in a very small town. I only take $5.00 shops if it’s in walking distance. Other wise no more $5.00 shops. As most people have stated, they are insulting. I pledge from now on no more $5.00 shops
Pam,
Thanks for the correction although I do agree with your position. Walt
Jack I will never take a $5.00 shop.
Sorry – I don’t get in the car for less than $15 – $5.00 is a rip off of my time!
I will not take a $5.oo shop
I never even consider these and wonder who does these shops? Give me a break–I pledge never to do a $5 shop!!!!
I Gloria E. Morgan hereby pledge to pass on all $5.00 shops. I have figured out how to print my paperwork out two pages to one sheet so that saves a little on paper, and the shops I do often, like grocery, I read for any changes, make note of them, and don’t even print it out. I then print out a completed report, 2 pages per sheet. There are shortcuts you can come up with to save on time and still get in a good report. I have to do 3-4 shops on each outing or include them in with other plans I have for that area I will be in. Anytime I have plans to go someplace, I check for shops in that area. MS companies are like any company. They are in it for the profit, and to have a small out-pay..When we work at a regular job, If we don’t like the pay, we look else where…..If MS companies don’t want to pay a fair rate, we shop else where….Gloria
You have my pledge. Stop the madness.
If the job takes less than a minute, like phone shops, it’s still $5.00 made where you’ve got a moment of boredom. Otherwise, no way! They want quality reports submitted on or before the due date and some of those forms take an hour to complete! Not worth the time by any means at $5.00.
$5.00 shops aren’t worth the time and gas! If I can’t make about $10 or more an hour on a mystery shop, including the paperwork when I get home, I don’t take them.
I will not accept 5.00 assignments,, heck, I dont even accept the 12.00 assignements.
I HAVE NEVER TAKEN ANY SHOPPING JOB FOR YOU OR FOR ANY ONE ELSE. AND I SHELL NOT START NOW. NOR SHELL I TAKE A $5.00 0R ANY OTHER ONE PAYING MORE.
THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.
Jacob,Thank you for doing this….Long time coming for all those companies that pay $5 for jobs that are a waste of your time and you make no money on,in fact you are in the red….Negative income….A Big loss on these jobs. I pledge I did not and will not do these shops.
I, G. Hudson, pledge to never take a $5 assignments again!
I haven”t done a 5 dollar job sents last year they never gave me my money and I really didn’t like the way the bussiness is ran if you ask me.
I pledge to never take $5 assignments.
I Steve will never ever take a five or six dollar shop. So help me God.
I will NEVER do a $5 shop ! That is just CRAZY !
I, Faimetta pledge never to take $5 assignments again. Thanks Jacob for doing this for us. I use to take these assignment when I first started and it use to be in my area only, but never again.
I will never do another $5 shop. I have not done one for more than 2 years now.
I NEVER DID & I NEVER WILL. PERIOD. END OF STORY…TOMMY
I pledge to never take another $5 assignment. Thank you so much for doing this for us. I stopped taking these assignments because it is not worth my time.
I have not accepted shopping jobs because they were not as represented. I certainly will never take a $5.00 job. I dress professionally, drive a nice car, use correct grammar and write exceptionally well. Mystery shopping was going to be an interesting way for this retired teacher to get out and earn a few dollars. It did not materialize. After training… all I ever recieved were offers to pay various sites to be added to teir lists. How riduculous!!!
i am sorry that I was so incredibly gullible.
As a lot you have pointed out, the high price of gas makes $5 and even $10 shops not worth the time and trouble. I pledge to not accept any $5 shops.
I pledge to never accept $5.00 assignments. I never accept any that pay less then 20.00!!! Are they kidding?
I have the Tampa Bay Mystery Shoppers group and I have preached to my shoppers not to take these $5.00 assignments. They aren’t worth the travel expenses and time to perform them. If shoppers would not take them, the companies would not be able to fulfill the contract and then the rates would have to go up if these companies are truly sold on the value of Mystery Shopping.
I have never done any $5 shops and never will.
Time is very valuable, and now with the rising gas cost it is hard to take 5 dollar assingments, heck with 12 dollar assingments from gfk its hard with out bonus to take the shops. Soi try and get bonus oridont take them.
When I see a $5.00 shop, I will not except, it it not worst the time or expense to except them.
a $5 shop? what’s that equate to with travel and time involved? $2 an hour. What a joke I’d rather watch tv and stay at home.
CAN’T POSSIBLY ACCEPT ANYTHING FOR 5.00 AND THEN PAY TO BUY SOMETHING BESIDES!!!
I pledge not to accept $5.oo shops
Many years ago I used to accept $5 shops, but that was only if they were in the same area that I was already completing other shops. But over the past several years, I don’t even acknowledge them, because they always expect you to do so much for that $5. I have also noticed that there are companies that will let you sign up for a shop, give you all the details and then you don’t know how much the pay is, until after you agree to do the shop, which results in cancellations.
I pledge to never again accept a $5.00 shop!
My time is worth more than $5.00 for the shop and make a report. Just to make a report is worth more than $5.00 of my time.
I pledge never to accept any assignments for $5.00. It is not worth it and very insulting, esp. with the gas prices.
I will never take a 5.00 assignment unless they will give 25.00 to buy an item.
I will not accept $5 shops. It is a waste of time. We are worth more than that to a company.
I will not take a $5.00 shop unless there is a gas allowance and it is grouped with a series of 5 or more, within a 2 mile radius.
Barry
I will not take a $5.00 shop…unless it has a gas allowance and is grouped 5 or more within a 2 mile radius.
I have only started being a mystery shopper a little more
than a month ago and I immediately pass by those $5.00 ones.
I would never waste my time on them.
I have never done a $5 shop and I never will. I rarely do $10 shops, only if they are close to home or where i need to be and are convenient for me. I am quickly stopping doing shops that require me to purchase with NO reimbursement.
But $5 shops? That just insulting to my time and intelligence.
I will never again be a fool for 5.00!!
I will not take a $5.00 shop unless the shop fee is at least $15.00 or $18.00 and no more than 4 mile radius of where i live. I use public bus, On shop that paid $9.00 usely wait for a higher pay.
Thank you
Stacey
I will not take a $5.00 shop unless the shop fee is at least $15.00 or $18.00 and no more than 4 mile radius of where i live. I use public bus and at $5.00 I can’t buy jack with that!! On shop that paid $9.00 I usely wait for a higher shop fee
Thank you
Stacey
I pledge to never complete a five dollar shop. Too many of these companies are expecting this of us. Most of us are only a number to them while they sit and collect the big bucks for our meticulous work.
My time and skills are worth more than a piddley $5.00!
Just say NO…to $5 shops!
Kat
My time and skills are worth more than a piddley $5.00!
Just say NO…to $5 shops!
Kat
I’ve never taken a $5 job, nor do I plan to. It’s not worth my time.
Rhonda
I will not take any 5 dollar shops nor any 8 dollar shops anywhere. Let them go and find cretens to do their shops.
Bruce
After my earlier comment and reading some of these posts, I got all fired up and hit the job boards. I just signed up for two teller shops on the same street, and told the scheduler I was only available if both were accepted (each pays less than $10). The locations are already along my shop route for the day, BUT this particular company may soon be completely dropped by me for numerous recent issues. If they want me to exceed my 200 shops with them, it is time they remember who helps them get paid. Another shopper commented on printing shortcuts she had learned, and I wanted to add my l’il tidbit…Since I perform primarily bank shops, I simply use all of the printouts they hand me on representative shops, and use the reverse side for my paper stock
Yes, saving $ is important, but thanks to Jacob’s efforts, maybe our genuine concerns will make a difference, and we can soon earn more money for the important job we do! “No more underpaid shops!!!”
$5.00 will not even get me out the door to do a mystery shop.
I don’t think it’s worth it to take a five dollar shop unless it happens to be a phone call that only takes you five minutes to do. That is if you have a phone service that you can get a flat rate for.
I’m actually not taking very many shopping jobs anymore because of the pay. It doesn’t pay enough to even buy the gas to travel to the jobs.
What most of you are missing is that the five dollar rate is the minimum rate for the shop. As the month moves on, the rates go up because the companies want to get the shops in. I made $200 yesterday and will make $200 on Monday because of $7 shops that were not filled, that need to be filled, and have bonuses at this point in the month. If you are foolish enough to take a job that pays $5 in the early part of the month and $30 dollars in the later part of the month, you should be broke.
Shoppers, you are independent business people. You have to THINK the business. These people will pay significantly more than the early in the month rate to complete the shops by the last day of the month.
The fact is that I NEED the FOUR or FIVE dollar jobs. When the rates are increased, I make money. I hope all of you read this carefully and remember to WAIT until the “Commissions have been increased” E Mail. Coming to a local mailbox near you.
My time is worth more than $5.00, so unless I get a call requesting help, with a nice bonus, I won’t accept the $5.00 shops either.
No thanks to $5.00 shops. Great job you are doing, Jacob.
I have been mystery shopping for over a year and a half. I,too, took the $5 dollar shops to build my reputation, and get experience. I will only do them now if I can do 3 or more and they are on my way to another higher paying shop or audit.
I, too, have started waiting until the end of the month to check shops I like to see what the bonus is like. I am currently studying to become a certified merchandiser and auditor. I may leave mystery shopping to only the occassional fine dining or theatre check just because I like doing them and its fully reimburseable.
If you are a newbie, don’t pass up the experience if it is on your way. But, don’t go out of your way to do a $5 or any other shop unless you just want to.
I, Phyllis, pledge to not take any $5 dollar shops unless a bonus is attached or several are grouped and profitable.
Phyllis, the company some have spoken so negatively about the company that does the Exxon-Mobile audits gave me $100 last month because they had to get rid of TWO locations. Both paid $50. Not bad for 45 minutes of work (including driving).
I pledge to not take a $5.00 shop again. I cannot afford the gas to drive there and back for this pittance. I hope the companies hear our voice.
Karl- I think it is terrific if you can afford to wait all month and have great business for one entire week. It is commendable that you found a system which benefits you. Some companies pay every two months, and others are more efficient, reliable, and have better customer service. True, we are independent contractors, and freely volunteer to perform the shops that work better for our own needs. The issue is, those companies who have respectable paying shops from the beginning of the month are the types we need more of. I have two upcoming bank shops each worth $25, in the same town, with brief visits and easy reports. There’s no reason for the ridiculous rates to ever be as low as they are. If more companies truly believe positive customer service matters, then they should literally pay for it. Best luck to everyone…
I’ve been mystery shopping for 16 months, and thoroughly enjoy it. But I stopped doing the $5. jobs a few months ago. They just aren’t worth it unless you do as Phyllis does, and only do them if they’re on the way to another better paying job.
I only accept $5 shops if I am in the area anyway, reimbursement for a purchase or comes with a bonus. I too have been gbanned from a site because I complained about the low rate.
I Chris Rivera pledge NOT to take anymore $5 mystery shops. Is it really worth the paperwork? Even though most of work is done on the computer. I once had to print out 18 pages of instructions and such for one $5 shop and reimbursement of up to $2. Geesh!!!
I will not take any $5.00 shops. I think it’s crazy to take $5.00 with gas almost $4.00 a gallon. Also, I don’t think that it is right that you have to wait a month to get paid. They want you enter your information online within 48 hours, but you have to wait a month or more to get paid. I would like to know if there is any shops that pay you in less than a month.
I Fontella (Jane) Pursifull Pledge NOT to take any $5.00 mystery shops.. With the price of gas today it is not worth it. The only way that I would take the $5.00 shop would be if I had several in the same area or had one that paid a good bonus.
I will never take a $5 shop because it is not worth the time and travel.
I say no to $5 shops
Absolutely, you have my pledge to NEVER accept a $5 shop. Fuel prices are outrageous and supplies are costly. I take pride in my work, and my time and effort are worth far more than that.
I’ve been mystery shopping for 18 months now, and decided about a month ago that I would no longer do $5 shops. I did them in the beginning because 1) I was a newb and wanted to get my foot in the door, and 2) gas was only $2.38 a gallon. Since then, I’ve come to appreciate the value of my writing skills, time, and observations. They’re certainly worth more than $5 a shop!! Some of those shops can take an hour to complete, and that’s not counting the transportation time or the time required to input the report. I WILL NOT do anymore $5 shops!
I pledge never never to accept a $5 shop. I not worth my time nor gas.
I have never accepted any shops below $10. I feel like my time and fuel is worth at least $10.
I will not do shops that pay this low as it is not worth my time and I will not make any money this way I am out there to make money not my health so they need to up the fees or they are going to loose alot of their better and experienced shoppers.
I pledge not to do any more $5.00 shops.
Yes, I pledge I will never accept a $5.00 mystery shop assignment!
I have done a few in the past when I first started, but realized it certainly was not worth my while. It is such an insult.
I wonder if any employee of any mystery shopping company would work for $5 which would mean 2 hours going to the shop and then filling out reports and then waiting a month for their $5. Some reports are 50 to 100 questions and for what $5.
We deserve to be paid for the work and time we put into each individual job. Must have more than five bucks to even justify leaving home.
I would never accept a job for just $5.00. It is ridiculous! It takes two or more hours to do a job, so it turns out being a job for $2.50 an hour???? Who would do a job for this much, would you???
I will not accept anything under $8 and I only take those if I can walk to them. Some of these companies will pay more if you ask.
I pledge to never take a $5 mystery shopping assignment…ever!
I have not done a shop and after reading all of your coments I do’nt know if I’am going to
i will never take a $5 shop. Gas is $4 so why make the effort. let get real.
With the cost of living mounting up daily, $5.00 is not financially realistic. Let’s be real!!
I too, pledge to never take a $5 shop, although in the beginning I did, to gain experience. Unless you are extremely desperate for the money or have multiple ones for that day, it is ok. But to do one shop? There are gas stations going for $4 here, but if you hold out, keeping your eyes open, they increase the pay. I usually catch them at $10 to $50, that is when they are good to do. Always hold out for the higher pay. I get distance pay up to $20 for shops that are out of my way, always request distance pay. But yes, I will uphold my pledge.
I skip over any shops that pay less than $12 and only take the $12 ones that are in my neighborhood. I won’t even take the fast food restaurant reimbursement shops unless it is someplace I would go to on my own. I can eat cheaper and not use any gas if I stay home.
Ditto to just about all of the above. When I first started and had a lot of time on my hands, I did low-paying jobs because it was fun and I got the experience. And felt like I was making a difference. But now my time is much more limited and much more valuable – so nothing under $10 for me anymore, and if I have to drive more than 5 miles, it has to be even more than that.
I won’t take $5.00 shops. If the companies would pay more they
would get better quality work. It is difficult to want to work
for five dollars when you know they are getting paid a lot more!
I will never do a 5.00 shop it is just not worth to me even if you need the experince.
More than the $5 shops are the convenience store shops that pay $10 but want you to buy $5 gas and something from the store too. Get real… I will do a $5 shop if it is a short telephone shop only. I understand that some companies want to test the shopper and will only assign $5 shops first but the ones that get me are the companies that say do a few $5 shops and then you have a chance at one larger pay shop. It is annoying and I just quit using that company. Some shops are pages long and impossible to track properly and pay $10. Maybe they should start something where you get $10 a shop and a $.50 extra for each question over 15. Nice to dream…
I HAVE NEVER TAKEN A $5.00 SHOP. IT IS INSULTING.! OUR TIME, PERFORMANCE AND GAS, IS A LOT MORE WORTH THAN THAT.
I TOTALLY PLEDGE TO NEVER EVER TAKE A $5.00 ASSIGNMENT.
THANK YOU JACOBS SO MUCH…
I don’t pay attention to 5.00 shop, never done them and never will.
I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW INSULTING IT IS TO BE ASKED TO PERFORM A PROFFESIONAL JOB FOR $5.00. NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL TAKE AN ASSIGNMENT FOR $5.00.
Telephone shops for $5 okay, cheap but I don’t have to drive anywhere. I will not accept $5 shops that require me to leave my home. As a matter of fact shops that require that you do audits that take 1 hour and 2 hours to download all the pictures for $12, I do not do either. Let thenm sit till the end of the month when they offer $25 and PAD.
$5.00 for an assignment is not worth my time, it cost more for gas!
I do not do $5.00 assignments.
Who would take a five-dollar shop? I assume you mean that this is ALL you get…without any reimbursement for goods? Nope. In fact, ten-dollar shops aren’t worth my while, either, unless I was already planning to go to the store anyway, or I’m trying to become acquainted with a new scheduler. We are all desperately busy. With the cost of gas, the the value of our limited time, this would be absurd. I’ve seen 7 dollar shops (in total) but I’ve never even SEEN a sawbuck shop. What an insult!
I AM FOREVER RECIEVING ARTICLES ON MYSTERY SHOPPING, HOWEVER I DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY WORK. I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IN MICHIGAN, I AM RETIRED AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT MYSTERY SHOPPING. HOW THEY ARE ASSIGNED,WHAT THE JOB CONSISTS OF AND HOW THE PAY WORKS. THANK YOU.
BOB
I haven’t and will not ever take on another $5 mystery shopping job. Now if they can’t pay me more than $10 I won’t even bother. These companies should get with the current time. Would they go and waste thier time and gas for $5???? That’s the question.
You can get more more working for min wage.
One of the companies want you to take 4-6 pictures and offer $4 for the shop. What a joke!!!! I no longer check their site for assignments.
I do not take $5 shops, they are not worth the time. I have only been doing this for about 2 months now and most of the shops that come to me are not worth it. I am actually getting a little discourage by it.
I pledge to never take a $5.00 shop ever (unless it was via phone). The quality of my reports and my time spent are worht much more than that! I rarely take any shop jobs that are under $15.00 anyway unless they are within 2 or 3 miles from my home.
I do not take shops that are under 12$, and even than they have to be in my normal travel route. If I get a call about taking a shop for less than that I respectfully tell the assigner my min. fee.
I have never taken a $5 shop and usually don’t take anything less than $12. It’s just not worth the time and effort. I might consider a telephone shop.
I never take $5 assigments,ever, unless its a telephone shop! $5 is insulting for your time to complete and time to submit!!!!!
not worth it
I never have and never will do a shop for $5.00. I’m sick of these offers out there and the dummy shoppers that take them!!!! How about the $4.00 shops?? ARE THEY FOR REAL? And shoppers in my town grab them. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I will never take a shop unless I can make a profit. It’s not worth my time and effort.
No way would I accept $5.00 shops. Gas is $4.00 a gallon and most shops take at least this much.
Gas is too expensive to accept a $5 shop. Another thing I am tired of is companies that expect you to pay to buy something to do the shop and either take 2 months to repay you or if they don’t like your report don’t repay you at all. I don’t do mystery shops to fund other people’s companies!
Hello fellow shoppers,
I have never taken a shop paying only $5. It not worth my time when there are better shops paying much more. I notice the less the shops pay the more work they require. It irked me to take shop paying seven and eight dollars.
What is $5.00 going to buy. If I completed seven of the $5.00 shops in one day. I would only be able to buy a 1/4 tank of gas. If I was lucky. I am glad to see us a shoppers. Standing together to make a HUGE statement!!!!!!!!!!!
This is for the shopper who have never taken a shop and don’t know if she want to after reading all our comments. You missing a lots of fun and easy money. I can do shops now paying $15 to 30 dollars now.
I am so glad that I am not the only one who thinks it’s a waste of time. I know these companies get paid a whole lot to get mystery shoppers, why can’t we get more of it…we are doing most of the work required…especially the driving! I definately join the ban for this one!
I quit $5.00 shops awhile ago. Too much paperwork, gas and time. They not worth my effort even if along the way.
Most certainly you can have my pledge never to accept assignments such as those you have detailed above.
Most of us Mystery Shoppers are independent contractors. By the time we deduct for est. taxes, fuel to get to and from the job site, computer time, printer cartidges and paper, we may as well work for free even for a $10.00 job. It’s time the guys at the top give a little and share their profits with us. I don’t even look at a $10.00 job unless it is a telephone job.
I would never take a $5 shop.. nothing less than $15 – $20 for me.. its not worth the effort for less.. thats not even minimum wage.. think about it..
I took a couple because they were close but I would never do it again. Rediculous!! It takes a good 45 minutes to do the report, never mind the time it takes to do the shop itself. I will never do another $5 shop, EVER! I never take shops less than $20 now.
I have never taken a $5 shop and don’t intend to, ever!
I have never and will never accept a $5 mystery shop. Right on Jacob!
I agree with gas as high as it is it is an insult to expect someone to think $5.00 is a good payment for an assignment.
gas prices are to high, that is why i will not do any more 5dollar shop or none that is not worth my time or gas. because that is all you get is part of gas money back, but not your time; it is not worth the headace.when the big wigs get 100.00 for us doing it; so they give us 5 dollar wow, what a profit.
I don’t like doing five dollar shops, unless it is on my home. It is not really worth it to do them with price of gas.
Companies need to realize that EVERYTHING has gone up – everything but our pay. I hope that we can get the word out to all shoppers – 1 gallon of gas @ 4.00 – and a $5 – $7 pay is outrageous. How can we get this across to them?
No wonder some assignments are not filed until they offer more. It would be interesting to know what people who issue these assignments get paid.
I have never accepted a $5.00 shop and do not intend to!
Hmmm, yes what an insult! Their employee’s don’t work for a measly $5.00 an hour, let alone the cost of the employer to employ one employee averages to much more than just $5.00 an hour, but they think they can contract a mystery shopper for $5.00? Nope, I don’t think so! How much more insulting can someone be? Maybe we should start to sign up for these shops and then cancel them at the last minute. Do ya think they would get tired of posting them at $5.00?
I know minimum wage is more than $5.00 per hour in all states. I just did a $6.00 job that took much more than an hour’s time and they wanted me to redo the entire writeup.
Many of these low pay jobs feel a lot like lost leaders to me. I’m glad many are as tired of this as I am. If I were driving at today’s gas prices I’d be even more upset with these garbage offers.
Thanks for organizing us!
These $5.00 shops only cause me to wonder how much the schedulers are making????? Anyone know????
It’s not worth it to me to do $5.00 shops. Doesn’t pay for gas nor my time spent filling out the paperwork and doing the shop itself.
First, I want to say to Karl – I’m not sure I believe you. I’ve gone to the site that offers those jobs and they offer a bonus of $10, maybe. I’ve been called and said I needed more to make it worth it and was told no. Karl, if you have a compnay that pays like that and are going to throw it in other MSer’s faces as to how stupid we are not to wait, prove it. Tell us were. I think you’re full of . .
I just did a shop that paid $350 with reimbursements. I spent a day at the place and then over 5 hours filling out 500 questions and a narrative. It was a lot of work but worth it. The first big shop I’ve ever had. First big shop I’ve ever seen.
I was told to get the silver MSPA and I would get more shop offers and higher pay. Didn’t happen. MSPA conferrences never come near me so I am taking the DVD gold course instead. Even though I am not sure it will be worth it. I may spend $99 and never see another big shop. I don’t think they care if you are silver or gold. It’s who you know – which makes the conferences impportant.
I have never taken a five dollar shop and no longer take any under $20 unless grouped together. Even then I won’t go below $15. One scheduler called and wanted to know why I needed more for a shop. I said expensees, mainly gas, gotten too high. She said “It’s that way everywhere.” What is that suppose to mean, other than the scheduler should then understand our position. Plus, she was snotty when I still wouldn’t do the shop. I won’t work for her and cut out any company that does not treat met fairly and with respect. So far, I’ve let only 2 companies go.
This is a great way to make money with the right companies. If we all avoid those companies that pay like we are a dime-a-dozen (not everyone MSer is very good), our reputation as a whole will increase. To those who aren’t doing a top notch job, increase your game and your worth. Learn and avoid those cheapo companies. MS is not hard, treat it like a real home business. Can you run a business on $5 shops? Who can? Neither can those companies. They are making a lot more than that $5 or they wouldn’t take the contract. Msers shouldn’t either.
I pledge to continue to never take a $5 shop and will not take anything under $20 without the right incentives.
I am going to go over to a site that helps write petitions and will start one there. I will let everyone know when it’s ready to sign. Our voices mean nothing on this site unless a copy goes out or it is organized as a petition. Right now this is no more than a community board with upset people letting loose.
**Jacob – no offense. I admire and greatly appreciate these efforts of yours. I just think this isn’t going far enough unless the industry gets a hold of our pledges.
I pledge never to accept a $5.00 shop. Nor do I do any for under $15.00. We work for under the minimum wage, gas costs have gone up
& they refuse to give you any additional payment.
I pledge never to perform a $5.00 shop. I have been passing up the $5.00 shops ever since I began MSing eight months ago.
Sue M,
I applaud you for your efforts. I agree that these companies will continue to pay little when shoppers take them. I, too, do not take smaller-paid shops anymore. The companies are making more money than you think. The better shops will add an incentive. Sometimes you have to ask them.
I will never take a $5.00 shop or a $7.00 shop either unless there is a significant bonus. My time is worth something, too!
There is a particular shop I stopped performing that paid $10.00 because they required you to make a purchase to get a receipt, but then they weren’t willing to reimburse. By the time you performed that shop and filled out the paperwork, it wasn’t worth it.
Jacob, I applaud your efforts, too, but like Sue said, make sure a copy goes to the right people.
Thank You.
I will not do any shops for $5!!!!!!!
20 year mystery shopping veteran here. I agree with all that’s been said. I really don’t think these companies appreciate what they have out here in the field.
I did a $5 shop once. The report was short & sweet and I was going to be in that exact store anyway. I have a few comments on what I’ve read.
For the “newbies” who want to know @ bonuses..just ask. Sometimes you don’t even have to wait until the end of the mo. But don’t take those cheap ones! Stand your ground.
I used to do the Lowes shops for $15 in my area. Now another company has them and pays $5-7! You’ve got to be kidding. They are Labor Intensive!
I worked for one company mentioned here for almost 20 years. Have always been dependable. They used to pay $9 + $5 for food purchase, they got bought out and now pay $5 + actual costs. I told them I wouldn’t do their shops anymore for less than $12 + costs.
I have gotten “bonuses” from particular schedulers of theirs but most will not pay more. So they let a long-time shopper go for the $7 difference. Oh well…
Come on…with everything else going up..why would they think we will work for LOWER pay?
I pass on many assignments now and never leave the house for less than $10. That’s if it’s VERY close and has a short report.
And I agree with some on the fact that if they can offer those high bonuses or pay for mileage at the end of the month, then why not do that from the start rather than insulting so many people they will NEVER get their quotas completed on time! Thus, this boycott.
As everyone knows in the business world (or should) you treat your “employees” right and they will do a good job. If you don’t, your business won’t last long.
No problem getting my pledge…I’ll never do a $5 shop!
AND I hope someone makes sure they all get to read these!!!!!!!
I will not grab the $5 assignment as it’s just a waste of time and effort. I just ignored all previous opportunities…
In the time that I have been mystery,I haven’t done a $5.00 shop. The chances of my doing one is slim to none.
Keep up the good work. I thoroughly enjoy reading the newletters you put out.
I do not and will not do any $5 shops, period.I always wait until the end of the month and the commission always goes way up!!! And I think we all know what company I am referring to.!!!!!
$5 shops are a joke. Never have and never will. Like someone else said… even the $10 ones are getting to the point where they aren’t worth it.
Elois
It is not worth it. I promise i will not do $5.00 shoppers
again a total of $11.oo but when you spending $6.00 to $8.00
against a total of $11.00 you really haven’t made anything.
Elois
Please remove the one comment printed at 10:48 incorrect
wording.
Thank you.
I agree wholeheartedly .
I contacted one of these companies to get an explanation as to why
they would pay such a low (understatement) compensation !
I am glad to hear that this is something that everyone else thought as a bit worthless. Everytime I have seen these $5 shoppes I have been turned away. Not to count the price of gas but also the time put into being exact on what you need to have for your report. All is worth more than $5!!!
Thanks for this boycott…. I hope our concerns are heard…I will never take a $5… mystery shop
I wholeheartedly advise you to get your Gold MSPA CERTIFICATION. i HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SHOPS AVAILABLE TO ME. For those of you who have not been successful at mystery shopping as of yet. Do not give up. There are some great shops out there ,but you have to keep digging through the rubbish, be discerning and find the treasure within.
I wouldn’t take a $5 shop if I could do it while lying in my bed and watching TV.
Once I began accepting $5 shops,no others came in. I live in a rural area and less than a mile from the shop so I said why not.
I no longer do mystery shopping due to bad experiences with these cases.
I have never taken a $5 job. I am insulted by such offers. I live 20 miles from any city so I don’t take any job that is less than $10.
I Beth pledge to not take any $5 shops. These companies have to be kidding!!
I’m so glad we’re getting together to do something about this!
I stopped doing mystery shopping because it cost me more then I get paid for, and all the hoops you have to jumb through are just not worth it.
I’m with you! As a trucker, we couldn’t get together for anything. Everyone was too afraid to lose their job, or some money. I say, let’s show them that we are not going to be taken for granted any more! NO MORE $5 shops!
I promise to NEVER EVER EVER take another $5.00 mystery shop…. It insults me and my fellow shoppers …. How many schedulers out there would take a $5.00 shop… NOT ONE WOULD … That is barely a tank of gas …. It’s barely a gallon of milk …. It’s barely a pack of smokes(I quit 8 months ago) ….. I know that I have been insulted with being offered these shops and so have many others … *** NO