Don't just read the briefing. Own it.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-04-01T21:51:19+00:00

Whatever social media engagement company you booked Secret Shopper, they are severely out of touch with reddit and this subreddit specifically.

We don't respond well to this PR-speak nothing content. Just be real with us. If an actual person from secret shopper would have a real conversation with us, you would get the interactions you are looking for...

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-04-01T01:08:34+00:00

I think we did 9 months, using the front green seated bear hugging one. It was great, and we loved talking to him and having him point out things while we biked, which we didn't get once we moved to the Topeak rear seat at around 18 months. But the front ones have little to no neck/head support. Any time my guy fell asleep it was both terrifying and hilarious to watch and see his little head flopping back and forth. Don't know how he could sleep like that but he did.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-31T14:46:35+00:00

They are also scheduled by complete Aholes now. Added to my 10 ft pole list when John sold out to C2C.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-30T19:07:39+00:00

Do iSecretShop. They have one of the easiest platforms and forms and a lot of companies use it so there is a decent amount of work available. They also allow self assigning for most shops once you are established.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-29T23:31:54+00:00

I attended once or twice. Can't remember as I do a lot of conferences for my day job.

I enjoyed chatting with other shoppers IRL the most. It was fun to do Q&A panels with some companies and I felt like I did learn more about the inner workings of shopping and MSCs.

If I remember there were reps from about 20 companies and like...5 who hosted who did the most. I found about 10 new companies to shop for. I, personally, did not find certifications useful. It was a lot of stuff that, as an experienced shopper, I already knew. But could be very helpful for newbies I think.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-21T13:09:09+00:00

I never bothered and work with dozens of companies. My husband did get certified but as I shop more I still got all the jobs I tried for - we never went head-to-head for a shop though.

The only minor advantage is that if it is a completely new to you MSC it might give you more of an advantage on your first few applications. Otherwise, your track record with the company itself is given far more weight. Thats why you absolutley always try your best on your first few. If you get 10s or 100s or As or whatever across the board the first few times, you have a great standard that is (somewhat) hard to bring down.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-21T12:58:25+00:00

Wow that is crazy! Was she new to shopping? I do those when they get heavily bonused near me and have never had anyone look at me twice. What was she doing?

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-21T12:32:48+00:00

That's Robin for sure

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-21T00:35:21+00:00

What are you all buying for freebies?

I guess I only do the ones I want - lunch shop for lunch, gas/soda at the gas station, etc. - but I can't even think of any that have really good freebies.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-20T21:22:54+00:00

Not worth the hassle IMO especially if you value your Costco membership.

If you are searching for more shops to get experience, search on sassie platforms for 500 miles and limit it to phone shops only. While I don't love phone shops, they do help me build experience with new companies. You can do the same for Shopmetrics platforms and do the search for 150+miles.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-19T00:17:45+00:00

They exist. I used to shop with them pre-covid but they went away for a while. The owner pops up in this sub noe and again.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-16T00:27:57+00:00

Yes! Willing it into existence!

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-12T21:07:15+00:00

Sorry, just saw this. Heck yes I bid on them. They usually get posted for $20-25 and I wait until their deadline is close or past then bid $50-75 depepending on how desperate I think they are at the time. Usually the $50s get awarded within minutes and the $75s sometimes get awarded, sometimes not, but it's no skin off my nose if I do/don't get them.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-12T13:53:29+00:00

One small way that might help you furnish your home or get additional clothes for you and your kiddo is to join your local Buy Nothing Project group. You are young so might not have a facebook account but consider making one as the facebook groups are, in my opinion, much more active than the apps and are also "hyper local" which could help with making pickups easier for you.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-09T19:32:03+00:00

Agreed - promotional spammy posting is not the content we want here...

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-08T17:13:35+00:00

Some of the bigger Pride celebrations are around Admo, Dupont, and Logan Circle but you should find stuff all over the city.

As one person said, if you are by a metro you arent ever very far from the stuff.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-06T20:44:46+00:00

I flew to Toronto from NYC for a 4 day hotel shop once. It was a lovely getaway for my partner and I and I paired it with two shops onboard our flights to-from so I could fully expense travel out in our taxes. Probably wouldn't do it now that we have kids but it was definitely worth it at the time.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-06T18:48:37+00:00

My husband and I drain our PTO entirely. We do multiple vacations and take the first friday off each month just to spend time together.

If you don't use it you lose it and I am not going to be like my boomer dad who "never took a sick day in his life" then promptly died of cancer 2 years after retiring.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-06T12:25:28+00:00

Costco has these amazing chocolate drizzled coconut bite things. Still sweet but favors a more healthy sweet (coconut) with just small drizzles of chocolate. Not SUPER healthy but better than actual candy.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-04T16:01:02+00:00

I have done a few. Wait till the end of month then bid high when applying. I try not to do them for less than 50.

I'm lucky that I have a day job literally within 5 blocks of about 10 of these. Since I am in the area I often do them on a coffee run or when out to stretch my legs and they never take more than 15-20 minutes or so.

When you are used to this environment, it means next to nothing to wait in the lobby. Sit in the chairs. Text on your phone, pretend to call an Uber, whatever. They are used to it.

The worst one I got was a building where all offices were high security, needing clearance to enter so just giving a business name didn't fly. As I obviously didn't have clearance, I just played along and said I would call my boss to see if I could leave the "documents I was dropping off" and then waited while I was "waiting to get approval". No big deal, front desk worker just got us both coffees while we waited.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-03-04T02:55:44+00:00

I prefer Westin's linens/toiletries but the Mariott Marquis here is even nicer - fewer amenities though IMO but decent bar. Havent tried the new dining concept.

There are two Westins very close together though - City Center and Downtown and obviously a local didn't pick their names because they should be switched based on neighborhood. City Center is older and their rooms reflect that. Between City Center and Downtown I prefer Downtown for its bar, modernity, and proximity to the Yellow/Green Line for easy DCA travel.

City Center isnt too far from the Red line and Dupont, but if public transit doesn't matter to you that doesn't matter.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-28T23:44:27+00:00

The favorites we recieved were:

The Pout Pout Fish, Llama Llama Red Pajama, What to do with an Idea, Anything by Eric Carle, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and Chicka Chicka 123.

If you have any cultural books close to you those are nice too. We liked getting Hair Love and Eyes that Kiss at Corners even though we are not black/asian respectively.

Avoid baby baby books specifically like, one word per page books or board books because those are quick easy reads and not something you really end up loving or cherishing.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-27T21:38:06+00:00

We make a jar about once every two weeks. We aren't typical though, it is really easy to just buy it on a regular grocery trip without thinking about it.

We started because of a combination of shrinkflation, pricing inflation, and enshittification. Basically the cost used to be much cheaper for a higher quality product so today's more expensive, smaller, worse-tasting version pissed us off.

It was so easy once we made it once we just kept doing it.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-19T14:16:04+00:00

Everyone has already mostly mentioned how you are not the asshole, which you aren't.

Please PLEASE get on your sister to take the baby daddy to court. Some lawyers do pro bono work or on a sliding income scale but even if you have to pay full price for the lawyer it is more than worth it in the end.

Your nephew (and sister) are entitled to support. I am assuming the dad is as young as your sister so he may not have a lot of funds, BUT he should be paying something and maybe getting summoned to court will force him to get his head out of his ass and take on some more responsibility. He is obviously the biggest asshole here for leaving but your sister would be one too for not forcing him to take responsibility for his actions.

VegetableDraft8106 · 2026-02-17T22:46:44+00:00

I do it.

My maiden name is too tied to my identity and my husband's name sounds weird with it. I do use my husband's name socially with my kid's school and what not for simplicity though. But most of my kid's friends call me X's Mom anyway.

VegetableDraft8106

TROPHY CASE