MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD 18 - please don't mention client names or fees on here!!

yonk

ukmonkey wrote: »

I'm not really prepared to disclose details of my pricing methodology, but I'm more than happy to give you some "food for thought":

1. Look at the fee's you'd receive as a Myster Shopper for an agency; I don't mean the likes of Retail Eyes, as they exploit their shoppers in my opinion, but some of the better agencies.

2. Factor in the costs that an agency would incur; staff time in uploading/allocating/chasing work, chasing results, querying results(!), collating the results into various reports etc. You'll not have to do these things, other than of course putting your results into a format that your client would like to see them, which you could probably do as you're going along, so again, very little time.

3. How experienced are you, and how good at the job are you? Be honest with yourself. Think of the level of work you've done before.

4. Think about your client. Can the little country pub afford to pay you £200 for each report? Probably not. You need to price appropriately and then convince them why they can't afford NOT to contract your services.

5. What level of support are you willing to give them? Are you prepared to sit down and research/read whitepapers to backup your suggestions?

Whatever you decide, don't sell yourself short, but don't price yourself out either.

If you're looking to work for a small chain, consider agreeing to a pilot where you'll MS one of their pubs/shops for free (except reimbursement). Ok, might cost you some time, but could win you some lucrative work.

That's very helpful as I'm expanding what I do and who for and I was asked for my fees and had no idea as I usually do jobs for people who set the fees in advance. I still really don't have any idea what to charge but it gives me things to think about. Still think it's very job dependent.

startingtosave

Oh my goodness - just had a phone call asking me to do a mystery shop! I had an interview with the company a few weeks ago but this is my first job and it's a test drive. Nervous! I have a meeting with the mystery shopping company beforehand and have been told that I will wear a camera! In my excitement about actually getting a job though I forgot to ask how much I would be paid - i'll sort this out at the meeting but in the meantime can anyone give me any pointers or an idea of how much I might get paid for a test drive for a luxury car brand? Many Thanks!

yonk

That's quite interesting for your 1st job...who is the company? Not the client, the ms firm.

Sure it will be fine. Won't be able to discuss fees on the forum tho...

startingtosave

Ah right ok - sorry I didn't realise that I wasn't meant to discuss fees - sorry!

jen_br

pENDING on the company I do a lot of camera work and im kinda shocked they are just giving you equipment are you sure you are not GOING WITH someone who is a video shopper?

Video shopping is not easy and i would think very poorly of a company that just lets you go out there iwth a camera and NO training or skill, its hard and if you dont get good framing, goods ound etc you don't get paid.

jen_br

As for fees some video work pays high others pay low... range of 15-200+ a visit just pending.

yonk

jen_br wrote: »

pENDING on the company I do a lot of camera work and im kinda shocked they are just giving you equipment are you sure you are not GOING WITH someone who is a video shopper?

Video shopping is not easy and i would think very poorly of a company that just lets you go out there iwth a camera and NO training or skill, its hard and if you dont get good framing, goods ound etc you don't get paid.

This was what I was thinking but I was mincing around not asking. -

Mind you, I've had no video training but then I've been MSing for a while before giving the vid stuff a go.

Ha, perhaps I should be asking for tips too!

yonk

startingtosave wrote: »

Ah right ok - sorry I didn't realise that I wasn't meant to discuss fees - sorry!

Don't worry, it's just in case you posted the fee. It's a very competitive business & you'll probably sign an agreement not to discuss fees.

jen_br

yonk wrote: »

This was what I was thinking but I was mincing around not asking. -

Mind you, I've had no video training but then I've been MSing for a while before giving the vid stuff a go.

Ha, perhaps I should be asking for tips too!

ya but at least you went to a training day and have had some practice with the camera plus have asked good questions to get an educated background.. imagine getting the camera from ed at 10:00am and at 10:30am going to do your first visit?

yonk

jen_br wrote: »

ya but at least you went to a training day and have had some practice with the camera plus have asked good questions to get an educated background.. imagine getting the camera from ed at 10:00am and at 10:30am going to do your first visit?

Good point.

And sorry, OP, even then my 1st proper assignment (yesterday) was quite exciting! Was in the toilet for the 15 mins before fiddling about!

This is why I'm asking about the company. Automotive Insight? Whoever it is must be really needing some shoppers to throw someone in at the deepend. Or you did the interview of all time, OP??