Tax Time
Whether we like it or not, tax time rolls around each April. As an independent contractor, you are able to take certain expenses as deductions on your taxes. In this article we share some timely tips. We always like to remind our shoppers to talk to their tax accountants to be sure they are in compliance with the IRS.
If you earned more than $600 with us in 2017, you would have received a 1099 at the end of January. Your reimbursed expenses do not count toward the $600. If you believe you should have received one and did not, please contact Elaine O’Reilly at elaine@marketviepoint.com.
Purge Time
A lot of people use tax time as a way to get their office files organized. Today this means a lot of virtual files too! Never mind the deluge of email in your box.
While it won’t solve your overload of email issues, we found this infographic about email facts to be interesting. We thought you might too!
New Schedule for Emails to You!
Market Viewpoint is trying to help to keep your inbox less cluttered.
Starting early this year, we started sending out one blog post each month (the first Wednesday), instead of one a week.
We renamed our Point of View newsletter. It is now called Jane Bond’s Mystery Shopping Secrets – a short newsletter delivered on the last Saturday of the month. It will be a short read with a mystery shopping tip or two, some inspiration, and important mystery shopping news.
On a quarterly basis, we will send this post – an update about what is going on at Market Viewpoint and in the industry.
If all of that still seems to be too much, there is an unsubscribe option at the bottom of the email. Click on it if you no longer want to receive our blog and monthly newsletter.
You’ll still be signed on as a mystery shopper and you will only receive solicits for assignments and this quarterly email.
But, of course, if you do enjoy our blog post and monthly newsletter – Thank you! We love writing it for you! Share with others and comment often! We love to hear from you!
We Need You! (and your friends)
Do you love mystery shopping? If so, please share our website with others! Due to the scams that are advertised about our industry, many people are reluctant to sign up with mystery shopping companies. We need our dedicated shoppers to spread the word.
We continue to bring on new clients who want their customer service experiences to be evaluated! And we can’t always send the same people back into the same location.
This Spring we need shoppers in the following areas:
Pittsburgh PA – Early Childhood Education – Females, ages 22-42, looking to enroll children in Jewish faith-based daycare/preschools.
Mid-Atlantic (MD, VA, DE, PA) – Restaurant (bar and dining room). Ages 30-40 preferred for a special project.
New Jersey/Pennsylvania/Virginia/Michigan– Early Childhood Education – Females ages 22-42 looking to enroll children in daycare/preschool.
Washington/Minnesota/Illinois/Pennsylvania – Energy Services Provider – Homeowners to evaluate solar energy provider.
Further details for all these shops can be found at our job board! If you can’t help, please share with your social circle! We need to fill these shops!
MSPA News
MSPA-NA, the trade organization of the mystery shopping industry, is now known as MSPA-Americas. Offering support to both mystery shopping providers and mystery shoppers, MSPA-Americas, sets the standards for mystery shopping.
Independent contractors, or mystery shoppers, can become members of MSPA. There are two levels of membership – Basic and Plus.
A Basic Membership, which is free, provides:
- A listing in the MSPA Independent Contractor database (where schedulers find shoppers0
- Access to the MSPA Americas IC Members Only Facebook Group
- The MSPA Insider, a quarterly electronic newsletter
- Ability to purchase the Intro to Mystery shopping course
- Training opportunities at the standard rate at ShopperFest, MSPA Americas University, and Regional Training conferences
- Access to Opportunity Board Postings
A Plus Membership ($25 annually) provides the first three bullets above, plus:
- Complimentary Intro to Mystery shopping course
- Training opportunities at a discounted rate at ShopperFest, MSPA Americas University, and Regional Training Conferences.
- Access to Opportunity Board postings 24 hours before other members.
- Enrollment in the Abenity discount program, an elite collection of over $4,500 in perks and discounts
- Free Webinar Opportunities
For more information on MSPA-Americas membership and certification opportunities, please visit http://www.mspa-americas.org/evaluator
And check out their Shopperfest page! It will be held in Texas June 15 -17 this year! I hope y’all can make it!
Ways to Find Mystery Shopping Assignments
Presto Insta Shops – This app allows you to see a map of all opportunities from any mystery shopping company who uses Sassie software. So even if you are out of your typical shopping area, you will be able to see if there are shops near you. Vacationing or visiting a friend in another city? Just tap on your app and you will find out where you can grab lunch and complete a shop! Look in the App Store for Presto InstaShopper.
MSPA-America’s Opportunity Board – With over 140 mystery shopping providers as members, MSPA’s Opportunity Board is always filled with new assignments. (must be a member)
You can still find Market Viewpoint’s new mystery shopping assignments online at our job board.
And on our Facebook page. Or Twitter feed.
*** EARN MONEY WITHOUT SHOPPING***
Also, don’t forget that we pay you $10 for referrals. Payment is made after your referral successfully completes their first assignment. Send referral names, phone and email addresses to elaine@marketviewpoint.com
Don’t delay in downloading the app, bookmarking opportunity and job board pages, and connecting with us on social media. We want to be sure that you have the shops you want when you need them!
Happy Shopping!
Angela
P.S. If you have other ways you know of where you hang out online, please do let me know. We want to be sure we are reaching you so you have the best opportunity to work!