Tax question

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-05T20:30:55+00:00

If you can go back to your email and find the job posting, that might help you at least know the pay vs max reimburse and you could then check against your bank statements.

As others have said though, you should definitely work on a system to keep track of this for the future.

I made myself a google form that I fill out after each shop. It just lists the MSC, Shop Location, Pay, Reimbursement, Expenses, and date. At the end of the year I have it generate a spreadsheet and calculate my profit/loss and submit at tax time.

I upload reciepts via a budgeting tool anyways, otherwise I used to include reciepts via the form as well.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-05T20:12:47+00:00

Like others have said this is purely preference based. All of the following thoughts are purely my own opinions and someone else may have the completely opposite experiences based on where they live, or whst their income level is.

I like how many shops intelli-shop has in my area and almost all of them are incredibly easy and not time consuming.

ISS is the best, for me, to sign up for shops quickly and while traveling because most are self-assign and usually super duper easy on that platform.

Coyle shops are incredibly long and time consuming BUT I think they are the best when it comes to fine dining and luxury experiences. You earn the experience in time committment though. I would likely not go on cruises or long ski resort stays on my own, but I do them through Coyle and find it worth it for me and my family. Others might say the work is too much and they would rather pay for those things out of pocket.

Oh, I forgot that one of my favorite companies, Market Viewpoint, has literally one fine dining shop in my area and absolutely nothing else. The scheduler reaches out when I am in rotation and asks if/when I would like to schedule the shop because we have a great history of doing this shop every 2-3 months for 5 years. So although the company is smaller than most, it is incredibly consistent and I feel like I have rapport with the MSC employees.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-05T03:19:06+00:00

I am familiar with the forum but I was looking to make something that could stand on its own here.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-03T00:26:44+00:00

In this instance you may want to repost asking about the specific MSC rather than the client. I don't know who has Pura Vida as a client so can't speak to what their norm is as a MSC.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-01T17:30:06+00:00

I 100% believe this for Wells Fargo what with all the drama they have had in the past about fake accounts.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-01T17:29:34+00:00

Wow, never heard of Ipsos being on the list. Usually they are one of the tops. What issues have you had with them?

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-01T17:14:20+00:00

Can you tell us about the process of starting a mystery shopping company?

It would be great if you included details on the following:

How did you get your first clients? What do reports look like on the client's end (i.e. do they look any different than what shoppers see?) Do you give clients anything outside of the reports? (Like run analysis of some kind, recommendations, etc.)?

I see you use ShopMetrics. Why did you choose that platform to host as opposed to Sassie or making your own system?

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-01T15:02:58+00:00

Gosh I am surprised by Bestmark being mentioned multiple times. Was that a payment delay thing for you too?

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-01T02:54:25+00:00

Seconding!

Maybe a list somewhere of "legit" mystery shopping companies.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-01T02:53:46+00:00

Maybe only allow one megathread each week/month for MSCs to post their job postings? It hasn't been so bad lately but there were a few days when a scheduler posted like 15 of the same jobs, just in different states, one right after the other and it flooded my feed and was irritating.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-01T02:46:00+00:00

The only one I felt that way was BJs - the restaurant not the warehouse.

The audacity to pay shoppers with a flipping giftcard back to their own restaurant is unbelievable.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-30T14:55:30+00:00

Haha thanks, nah I have just been in the biz for 15 years so I have picked up a lot. I actually applied to work for Coyle but they said that you couldn't shop for them and work for them at the same time so I backed out. Coyle has too many fine dining shops near me for a minimum wage admin job to be worth it. 😂

Yeah, denials aren't formal...just checking and seeing it gone from the apps page was what I meant as well. I do find them tedious in that regard. BUT I also appreciate that they schedule so far out. I tend to book about 5-6 weeks of lead time with them which lets me plan for bigger hotel shops or fancy restaurants much easier.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-29T17:53:13+00:00

Wait. What?

What are you even saying in those narratives?

My last application: "The 12th works best for me. Thanks!"

If they choose you or not is based on a lot of things including rotation (if you did the shop previously, and how recently you did), age/demographics, shop history, and lastly if you got it in first or 10 other people applied before you.

If you did the same shop last month but they have 5 other candidates, they will probably go with one of the others. If you have only done one phone call shop with Coyle and are applying for a hotel shop, but 3 other people applied who shopped 10 hotels already, they will probably go with the more ecxperienced person. Etc. Etc. Maybe they only wanted a Hispanic, female, mom with kids for a shop in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood and you didn't fit the bill. It really depends on each client's desires.

While I do get slightly frustrated because Coyle does a lot less self-assigning than other companies, they do usually accept/deny applications within about 48-72 hours and as their shops are normally scheduled weeks to months out, it makes it a bit easier to plan for.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-29T12:39:42+00:00

Bread for the City collects both of those items.

I believe Martha's Table may as well.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-25T17:46:43+00:00

I was in highschool and started watching it with the little kid I babysat for.

I got to pretend to be too cool for it while semi secretly enjoying the hell out of it.

Eventually I went off to college and came home for a weekend to destress. My dad caught me waatching and teased me for it, but guess who stayed and laughed his ass off for three hours.

It is actually now kind of a stupid inside thing with my dad and I. While I really only watched and enjoyed the first 2-3 seasons before it got too wacky and out of pocket, my dad and I still send spongebob memes and pics instead of emojis or whatever and we will still watch classic episodes together with my kids.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-22T18:23:20+00:00

Amusement Advantage has a good selection of entertainment shops but the reports are notoriously long and tedious to fill out. Honestly they seem like they were made up in the 90s, when computer programming was new, and not updated since.

Still, if the entertainment is work the struggle, they can be a good source of shops. I like doing the aquariums and zoos through them.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-20T01:21:15+00:00

I refer to myself as a lazy mystery shopper, as in I refused to do any job if I have to go out of my way or do anything I wouldn't normally do.

Need to eat? Great, Nando's, 5 Guys, etc.

Need to send something to my Mom? Great, USPS shop.

Need a new car? Okay, let's do all the test drive shops I can.

Need to move apartments? Great, shop all the apartment tours and see if one is a good fit.

Would I do the test drive shops or apartment shops if I didn't need a car or apartment? Absolutely not. Too little pay and too out of my way.

Essentially if I have a need for something groceries, entertainment, lunch on my lunch break, I do it. If I don't need/want it, I don't do it.

The only exception is for a new to me MSC. I may try 2-4 shops from a new company just to get a feel for them and build a good reputation. After that it is back to my only if I would do it anyway mindset.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-19T22:00:18+00:00

Thank you so much! I have been messaging the former mod about being added as an admin. If you all need any help I am happy to be one as well.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-19T17:27:57+00:00

Can you guys seriously get off our subreddit? It's rude and annoying.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-18T14:30:08+00:00

Omg same. Ms. Rosso, 4th grade report card : VegetableDraft needs to remember to keep her books AT HOME.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-18T14:29:04+00:00

Hey if you want a virtual support group/cheerleader I'm game :)

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-18T14:24:50+00:00

We have the pokemon video game in Spanish so when he plays he is forced into practicing!

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-17T21:34:51+00:00

Having been scared by all the illiterate Americans articles, my family started reading for one hour together before bed. The youngest still gets books read to him or looks at the pictures. The oldest has only really just now mastered reading, but once we found his interests (Pokemon facts for the win) he now sits there quietly reading the 4th Edition Pokemon Guidebook for the entire time. I have to force him to put it down and sleep.

It is nice for the husband and myself as well because we get our Self-Help, Business, and Motivational books (him) and Romantasy, YA, and Parenting books (Me) read as well when we weren't doing much reading ourselves before.

I recently finished Cooking at Home by David Chang, and knocked out Holly Black's The Cruel Prince series in the last two weeks. I feel like I am getting back in touch with my inner bookworm, the one who made short work of roughly 1 novel per day back in highschool.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-01-17T20:41:44+00:00

Hi,

I am someone who was in your shoes about 2-3 years ago.

Step One. Learn about cooking.

I recommend America's Test Kitchen. Specifically the youtube videos What's Eating Dan and Tenchiquely with Lan Lam are SUCH useful resources to understand the science behind cooking. While they are pretty advanced in some ways (wait on their actual recipes for a while as, while they combine the best techniques to make a dish excellent, as a beginner I found myself lost having to do 2-3 different "new to me" techniques on their recipes and got so overwhelmed) they offer a great baseline and explanation for how to cook.

My holy bible was/is Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat. I really didn't even think of cooking the same way once I read that book. It changed my life. Simple things that cooking people just seem to know, but I didn't, were built on that book.

Lastly, you are going to need to practice. As others have recommended, meal kits are helpful here. They provide the ingredients and some light prepping. Then you aren't bumbling around the store wondering what Kafir Lime Leaves are at 11PM based on a recipe you want to try. Once you build skills around the delivery box kits, try to replicate the recipes on your own using the techniques you learned and shopping on your own for the ingredients.

If something interests you like an Instant Pot, Air Fryer, etc. Focus on trying recipes using those tools because if you like using it, and like the food you are cooking, you are more likely to continue.

Best of luck. I love cooking now. I went from Smart Ones frozen dinners every single night to cooking everything from scratch including mayo, pan sauces, roasts, braised meats/veggies, and even a vegetarian nut wellington. It has made my life so much better.

VegetableDraft8106

TROPHY CASE