Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys?

jobbingmusician

My view is no you don't. THis expenditure is incurred wholly and necessarily in carrying out the MS. It's no more a 'benefit' than using a company provided pen whilst at work is!

sanfourche

Thanks for this. Do you know if there is a part of the tax return form to state expenses? I have never filled out a tax return as of yet!!
Cheers

redcar_2

I guess I just wanted to say that I do sympathise with puddings's point about an influx of MSers resulting in fees declining. I am I'm afraid one of those 'immigrant' people jumping on the bandwagon of being able to earn a quick bit of cash in a lunch hour, evening etc with no previous experience or qualifications required. I do try to be careful in what I do so my reports take ages and when I work out my hourly rate it is well below minimum wage levels so sometimes I wonder why I do do it - my boyfriend certainly does.

Without MSE I wouldn't have found mystery shopping and I guess given the thousands of people this site targets who are probably similarly minded about making a bit of extra money on the side it is likely that MSE has probably accelerated the decline of the financial rewards of MS. Just doing a bit of hand wringing really as I don't know what the answer is other than not to take the jobs but then as pointed out other people would, but I wanted to say that if I was depending on the work for a wage I would be pretty miffed too.

wantmorejobs

Dazzieboo wrote:

How long have you been Mystery Shopping ?

I have been doing it almost 10 years, part time for the first 7, then full time for the past 3. .

I have been doing mystery shopping for about 4 months now and really enjoy it, it gives me a little of money with me being a student. although there are some badly paid jobs, there are some that are worthwhile simply for the reimbursement and useful purchases so i dont think anybody is in the position to critically analyse the decision of other people they do not even know as to whether they should accept the jobs.
What I was wondering was you mention that you now do it full-time, how did you go about being able to do that? is it down to the area that you live and the number of assignments? or do you become preference to certain companies? would you be able to message me if you have any details. thanks

Dazzieboo

wantmorejobs wrote:

What I was wondering was you mention that you now do it full-time, how did you go about being able to do that? is it down to the area that you live and the number of assignments? or do you become preference to certain companies? would you be able to message me if you have any details. thanks

I have had to widen out the Field Work. I am very lucky, that there are very few M/S in my area, but I have found over the last 18 months that M/S ing is not enough to keep me going, so I have stayed with the same companies but taken on Auditing and Merchandising, which is more regular work and a better fee. I am now a dab hand at assembling FSDU's !!

One thing you also have to bear in mind when I say I do it full time, I am a single Mum with 2 children, I have my upper limit which I can't go over or I will start to lose my Tax Credits, so although I may do the work on a full time basis, I am certainly not bringing in £1000 per month !!!

Becles

I've been doing MS work since 2002. Some of that time I was a single parent, so I counted on every penny I could earn.

Not naming companies or scenarios, but some examples of fee cutting that I have witnessed are:

A mobile phone store - was £25 per shop plus travel expenses. Currently paying £14 and no expenses for the same job.

I used to do all the shops in my area, but now I just do odd bits and bobs for them as most shops are too far away with no mileage.

A pub job - was £15 plus mileage, plus the cost of a meal and a drink each for 2. Now paying £10, no expenses and just a meal/drink for 1.

Don't do these at all now as I don't feel comfortable going into a pub as a single female and eating alone, and not keen on having to order an alcoholic drink when I can't drink it as I'm driving. Was better when hubby could come as he didn't object to drinking it!

A Travel Agent - original company £15 plus travel costs. Contract moved to another company who are now paying £6 and no expenses.

I don't bother with these at all, as the job itself is time consuming (at least 30 mins instore), so by the time you factor in travel time and costs, plus writing up the report, you're well under the minimum wage.

Luckily I've found other ways to supplement my income, as I wouldn't be able to survive on solely doing MS work now.

jobbingmusician

One company has at the end of one of its questionnaires 'I certify that this questionnaire has not taken any more than 20 minutes to complete'. Anyone knows why? My fantasy is that they are actually thinking about minimum wage, but it might be just that - a fantasy!

ilean

Hi

Looking for shoppers in the following areas

Male & female over 18 welcome for ongoing visits

You MUST have excel on your PC:


Wandsworth
Middlesbrough
Newquay
Durham
Salisbury
Havant
Gosport
Tiverton


Feel free to email me if you have any questions

Thanks
Eileen


Eflaherty1@yahoo.co.uk

aniseedball

Hi, could someone please tell me the links to the other 2 mystery shopping forums, tea rooms and the office 5? My computer has wiped all my favourites which is where they were stored and I can't find them anywhere on gooogle. If the sites cannot be posted on here, could someone pm me please? Thanks v much!

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

knitwit

PM sent