Maximising income - Mystery Shopping? Surveys? (Part Two)

System

rachelandgromit wrote: »

I've been mystery shopping for over 12 months but rarely see a fee of more than £10, unless a company is desperate for someone to complete the visit, in which case I have been offered anything from £30-£180, but this is a one off.

I am registered with every site mentioned on here and a few that are not. Yes, you are right, GAP and Retail Eyes pay minimal amounts and unless I'm getting something for free and it's not out of my way I don't mind, but I still can't see how someone can make that sort of money! That said, I just made £70 in one week doing certain clothing stores, it was a pain taking everything back after and they pay in vouchers, oh well, Xmas and Birthdays sorted!

Just exactly who are the well paying companies? Can you PM me if you can't post here, I think I am registered with them, just nothing in my areas.

Thanks Becles

I think it just takes time and building up a reputation like Becles said. I said I earned £100/week on a very good week, this is no means regular. And it does mean doing the horrible assignments (being credit checked increases the fee, returning items such as mobile phones, negotiating fees with companies etc!).
What I did was start going through the long list of ms shops that Becles posted, applied to them and went from there. (has someone got the link?). It just takes time and perseverance. I have only done two jobs for RE and only do GAP when going to the town anyway.
On the other hand I don't have a regular full time job so this frees me up to be very flexible too........and there are weeks where I have no work whatsoever, but I like that too! Then I can catch up on other stuff.

onthecase

Hi there

I'm ready to do my tax return, just waiting for some figures from my "real" job.

I was just wondering .... I have accrued a large box full of paperwork (job notes/receipts). Do I need to keep these for the five years as stated by the inland revenue or do they just want me to keep my records of visits/payments/expenses etc that I have on around 6 sheets of paper for five years? I know you have to keep the notes for 6 months as per the MS company, but just not sure which paperwork the IR means.

If we have to keep all the notes my house is going to collapse under paper in five years!

Thank you!

jobbingmusician

I'm working on the assumption that if I were audited by the IR they would do a thorough job and check with the MS company that they were happy with my reports.

Otherwise my tax returns would show a VERY large bill for storage, as I agree, this paperwork could take over the world!

rachelandgromit

Becles wrote: »

The main companies I work for are not mentioned often on here. They mainly offer jobs personally by phone/email, rather than advertise or have "fastest finger first" systems. I'd rather not say who they are as they would get masses of applications from shoppers on here which would reduce the work available for the existing workers. This has happened with the likes of Gap. I used to get approx £100 a month from them when jobs were allocated personally over the phone and paperwork sent by post, but I rarely get anything since they took on loads of shoppers and put everything on the web first.

I managed to get where I am today by sheer hard work and trying different companies, then settling with the ones that pay well and treat me well. I take time with jobs and reports. I admit I do make occasional mistakes, but usually the jobs are carried out accurately. My reports are written to a good standard of English, with correct spellings, punctuation and grammar. From talking to company employees, the written standard of some reports is shocking. Take time when writing things up, and make sure you have done everything you were supposed to do.

If you research hard enough and try enough companies, you'll find the decent ones

I spend most of my full-time job doing reports for the Criminal Justice System so I would hope my reports are good enough

I am registered with some websites not on here that only offer assignments by phone. These do tend to be higher paid assignments but then I do avoid banks/building society/mobile phone enquiries so perhaps I am losing a large part of the market. I also work full-time so only complete mystery shops in the evenings, weekends and lunch breaks.

Oh well, I'll stick with the freebies and nice meals! It's never going to make me rich but 'every little helps'.

Thanks for your replies.

Rachel

Becles

Sorry if that report writing came over as a dig at you

It was just general advice aimed at anyone who was reading this thread.

The finance jobs do pay well, but I only take on ones where I don't get credit checked. I don't think it's worth getting credit checked for no reason, especially if you have credit lines of your own to consider.

I don't have another job, so do mystery shopping full time, along with some merchandising and audting work.

I meant to say on the other post that video shopping pays much more than normal jobs. If anyone offers you video work, it's worth trying to see if it is for you. Try with a company who will loan you the kit though, rather than going out and buying your own.

ViksB

Could you either list here or PM me the companies that will hire you the equipment for video work, as it is something I would like to try.

Thanks
Viks

josie

I tend to agree with Rachel, I mainly do it for nice meals or buying something for free that I'd normally have to pay for like euros or stamps, as I have a full time job.

I prefer not to do ones like auditing or places where you don't buy something as you're more likely to face a tax bill, because there are fewer costs.

Ooh, I also quite like places where you can have a free go on the Irish Lottery or a flutter on the horses too!

I usually find with most of the above the "expenses" then neutralise the earnings which is exactly how I like it.;)

romi_2

wensie wrote: »

Romi, try this link - http://online.tns-global.com/wix/p56523701.aspx

thanks wensie.
Free lunch for me and hubby today thanks to RE :beer:

hey can someone tell me whats the highest score i can get on RE please.

thanks in advance.

aniseedball

romi wrote: »

thanks wensie.
Free lunch for me and hubby today thanks to RE :beer:

hey can someone tell me whats the highest score i can get on RE please.

thanks in advance.

My score is 331, but I've hardly had any work from them in the last month.

Jo4

Becles wrote: »

I don't have another job, so do mystery shopping full time, along with some merchandising and audting work.

Can I ask what merchandising and auditing work entails?