MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD XI ** New people make sure you read the first 2 Posts **

Mystery_Shopping_Ninja

cte1111 wrote: »

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm in this post? It seems to be that you are most likely a long term poster who is taking the mickey, but maybe I just have a suspicious mind.

I'm sure when I joined this forum I read guidelines somewhere on this site about being kind to fellow posters - something about there being no such thing as a stupid question etc etc.
Surely you can see from the number of posts I have made that I am hardly a long term poster (only joined a few days ago!). I have been mystery shopping full time for over five years but never been able to find fellow professionals to share the ups and downs with - I thought I might find them here. How on earth do you think I am taking the mickey? Whilst I have much experience of mystery shopping I have none whatsoever of forums, hence I simply sought some advice to avoid getting off on the wrong foot with anyone. Obviously it has backfired spectacularly since I have clearly got off on the wrong foot with you.

Mystery_Shopping_Ninja

Does anyone do MS jobs for Douglas Stafford? Am trying to find out if they have anything other than VW available these days.
Thanks

Mystery_Shopping_Ninja

mharzuk wrote: »

You'll find all kindS on here from thosE who can only take jobs that don't have a purchase requirment Because they can't afford the £3.50 outlay to those of uS that have to bE VAT registered Because we have gone over the £100,000 clear profit in their first year.
If you have a specific question, ask away and take your chances. HTH

Are you registered as a sole trader with the IR or are you a limited company? I went down the limited company route because the 40ppm allowance is so much more than I could claim if I just offset my car and petrol receipts. But the accountant's bill seems to get bigger each year so I am starting to wonder if it's still worth it. Would like to know what other full timers find works best for them.
Thanks

Becles

Sole traders can claim 40ppm rather than receipts. I do my own accounts. Have built a personal spreadsheet that works for me.

lily_the_pink

Becles wrote: »

Sole traders can claim 40ppm rather than receipts. I do my own accounts. Have built a personal spreadsheet that works for me.

I am now using a free app on my blackberry - apparently I can then export to excel. I track expenses, mileage and also time worked (on the app I am using I just put 1 hr for each job and whatever the fee is plus a note in the case of expense reimbursement etc).

The app is called ProOnGo Expense Beta and I downloaded from the main blackberry site (there is a receipt reader but my rubbish camera does not take good enough pictures for this but a newer blackberry might). It also links in with the calender (ie I put a MS into the calendar then immediately set up the time charge element).

vicz123

lily_the_pink wrote: »

I am now using a free app on my blackberry - apparently I can then export to excel. I track expenses, mileage and also time worked (on the app I am using I just put 1 hr for each job and whatever the fee is plus a note in the case of expense reimbursement etc).

The app is called ProOnGo Expense Beta and I downloaded from the main blackberry site (there is a receipt reader but my rubbish camera does not take good enough pictures for this but a newer blackberry might). It also links in with the calender (ie I put a MS into the calendar then immediately set up the time charge element).

that sounds really good, thanks for the tip! i will download that and have a play and see what my receipts come out as i have a bold and think the camera is quite good!

Mystery_Shopping_Ninja

Becles wrote: »

Sole traders can claim 40ppm rather than receipts. I do my own accounts. Have built a personal spreadsheet that works for me.

Thanks. I didn't realise sole traders could claim 40ppm too. As mileage expenses make me almost as much profit as the mystery shopping jobs themselves I didn't want to end up worse off if I changed from the limited company - I set it up years ago and just plodded on with it not realising there might be a better alternative.

P.S. Why do the words "Mystery Shopping" appear in red in my posts (I've just noticed it on previous ones too) ?

Rosy_Violet

Mystery_Shopping_Ninja wrote: »

Thanks. I didn't realise sole traders could claim 40ppm too. As mileage expenses make me almost as much profit as the mystery shopping jobs themselves I didn't want to end up worse off if I changed from the limited company - I set it up years ago and just plodded on with it not realising there might be a better alternative.

P.S. Why do the words "Mystery Shopping" appear in red in my posts (I've just noticed it on previous ones too) ?

When someone has quoted your post your name shows red so you can see someone has replied to you. Only you see it red.

J20BABY

Could somebody please give me an idea whether it will be worth me doing MS.
I have registerred with a couple of companies and been offered a questionaire where I will recieve £20, however, I am on Income support, i know I will have to let them know and also register as self employed. Will it be worth me doing this to just do a couple of MS jobs a month?

Thanks in advance for any help.

cte1111

Mystery_Shopping_Ninja wrote: »

I'm sure when I joined this forum I read guidelines somewhere on this site about being kind to fellow posters - something about there being no such thing as a stupid question etc etc.
Surely you can see from the number of posts I have made that I am hardly a long term poster (only joined a few days ago!). I have been mystery shopping full time for over five years but never been able to find fellow professionals to share the ups and downs with - I thought I might find them here. How on earth do you think I am taking the mickey? Whilst I have much experience of mystery shopping I have none whatsoever of forums, hence I simply sought some advice to avoid getting off on the wrong foot with anyone. Obviously it has backfired spectacularly since I have clearly got off on the wrong foot with you.

I don't think I was unkind, just asking a valid question in what was meant to be a humorous way, hence the smiley. Apologies for any offence and welcome to the forum. :beer: