From Home Office

From Home Office:

Job Description:
Virtual call centers are work at home jobs in which people work for companies that either utilize their services themselves or contract to provide telephone support services for others.
Like agents in a traditional call center, virtual call center agents (or home-based agents) handle in-bound and/or out-bound telephone calls. The difference is that they work from their own home offices.

Companies either utilize virtual call center agents themselves (i.e. Hilton Hotels, 1-800 Flowers) or contract to provide virtual call center telephone support for others.

Virtual call center agents may do telemarketing, customer service, third-party verification or technical support for in-bound or out-bound calls. Depending on employers, agents may provide only one service or their workload may vary.
Typically the virtual call center agent provides and maintains all home office equipment and services required to do the job.
Learn more:

Experience/Skills/Education:
Previous experience in telephone customer service is highly desirable. Some companies will accept customer service experience in retail or other non-phone positions. Companies look for applicants who are self-motivated with good grammar and a professional phone presence.

Free Course Information. Study Medical Billing & Coding

Typically, basic math and writing skills as well as knowledge of word processing systems are expected. A high school diploma or GED is usually required. Many require proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. For more information see this Virtual Call Center FAQ

Type/Length of Employment:
Companies hire virtual call center agents as both telecommuting employees and independent contractors. Part-time and temporary arrangements are common; however full-time work is often available as well.

Compensation:

Pay ranges from minimum wage up to $30 for specialized positions. Typically most jobs pay closer to minimum wage. Those hired as independent contractors typically incur more costs than those hired as employees.

Payment Type and Frequency:

Virtual call center agents are paid on a per-hour, per-minute or per-call basis. For more details, see this article Call Center Pay Structures. Most are paid at bi-weekly or monthly intervals.Hiring Process:
Most companies hire work-at-home phone agents without a face-to-face interview. Typically online skill assessment tests and phone interviews are used. Background and credit checks are common. Some companies make applicants pay for these.

Geographical Requirements/Time Away From Home Office:

Virtual call center agents rarely need to work away from their home office. Even training is usually done from home. However, many companies have geographic requirements and only hire from certain U.S. states.Schedule Flexibility:
Among the many companies hiring virtual call centers, there is an array of schedules available. Some require agents work some weekend or evening hours, while others don't offer weekend and evening hours. Likewise, some require a minimum commitment of hours, while others make no guarantees about hours available. Most, particularly those that hire independent contractors, have no restrictions against agents working at a different company as well.
Child Care Arrangement:
Those with young children will need to make child care arrangements. Only children who are self-sufficient, except in an emergency, can be in the home without another adult supervising them. Since cordless phones are not allowed, an agent cannot move from her station to take care of a child.

GSF Mortgage has named Jessica Bassan

GSF Mortgage has named Jessica Bassan as a mortgage loan originator in Centennial, Colo. She joins TeamGO with three years of mortgage industry experience. She began her career in the real estate industry where she learned about mortgages. She started working with banks to modify mortgages as an underwriter before she decided to get her mortgage origination license.
Bassan chose to join GSF Mortgage due to its extensive number of excellent reviews, IT and software support and internal communication tools. She plans to grow her presence through networking, events and social media.
"I am so excited to have Jessica on the team! Her experience in assisting low-income families in obtaining the dream of homeownership will be a great asset,” said Jim Ahlin, Centennial branch manager.

Since the housing bust, renting has been in and owning a home has been out, especially among young adults who in earlier decades would have been first-time home buyers. As the rate of homeownership has declined, from a peak of nearly 70 percent in 2004 to a 20-year low of 64.3 percent recently, the number of owner-occupied homes has barely budged, while the number occupied by renters has increased by nearly 25 percent.

Those trends have led to questions about the future of homeownership. Would more and longer rentals be a bad thing? Are the benefits of homeownership overrated? The answer to the first question is yes; the answer to the second is no.

Homeownership long has been central to Americans’ ability to amass wealth; even with the substantial decline in wealth after the housing bust, the net worth of homeowners over time has significantly outpaced that of renters, who tend as a group to accumulate little if any wealth.

A recent study by researchers at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University analyzed the reasons for these differing outcomes. Paramount among them is that homeownership requires potential buyers to save for a down payment, and forces them to continue to save by paying down a portion of the mortgage principal each month.

Renting, in contrast, offers the potential for comparable wealth building only if renters invest an amount equal to a down payment plus any savings from renting. As a practical matter, most renters do not do that. Even in instances where renters have excess cash, saving a substantial amount is difficult without a near-term goal, like a down payment. It is also difficult to systematically invest each month in stocks, bonds or other assets without being compelled to do so.

The analysis does not downplay the risks of homeownership or the devastation of the housing bust. But the lesson of that debacle is not for individuals to avoid homeownership or for policy makers to devalue its importance. Rather, the lesson should be to foster conditions under which middle- and lower-income Americans can sustain homeownership and avoid the ruin of foreclosure.

For starters, legal and regulatory protections against practices that inflated the housing bubble need to take root. The Dodd-Frank financial reform law, for example, requires lenders to ensure that borrowers have the ability to repay their home loans and outlaws complex mortgage terms that enrich lenders but expose borrowers to payment shocks.

The law also established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with the purpose of looking out for consumers’ interests in financial transactions. The C.F.P.B. has gotten off to a good start, but Republicans, who now control Congress, have consistently tried to weaken the agency and the provisions of Dodd-Frank generally. President Obama must be prepared to veto legislation to repeal or weaken mortgage-finance and consumer-protection reforms.

Equally important, larger economic forces that make homeownership less possible for working people need to be in the forefront of political debate — even if Republican control of Congress makes actions to address them unlikely. Long-term wage stagnation, for example, has made it increasingly difficult to accumulate enough for a down payment, and has led many homeowners to refinance their mortgages in order to pull out equity for consumer purchases.

The solution is to lift wages, not only with new policies like higher minimum wages and toughened labor standards, but also with approaches to managing the economy to ensure that a fair share of growth goes to wages and salaries, rather than going disproportionately to corporate profits.

Renting can make sense as a lifestyle choice or because of income constraints. As a means to building wealth, however, there is no practical substitute for homeownership.

HUD's Office of Public Affairs (OPA) strives to educate and keep the American people informed

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HUD's Office of Public Affairs (OPA) strives to educate and keep the American people informed about the Department's mission to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. By pursuing media outreach, OPA works to ensure homeowners, renters, and those living in subsidized housing hear directly from key officials about the Department's latest initiatives and goals. Using communications tools such as press releases, press conferences, the Internet, media interviews, New Media and community outreach, OPA provides Americans with information about housing policies and programs that are important to them.

3 Types of Mystery Shopper Bank Assignments

3 Types of Bank Assignments

As a mystery shopper, you know you can find assignments in all types of public places. From restaurants and retail stores to gas stations, movie theaters, health clubs, and so much more. Many assignments leave mystery shoppers feeling flustered and stressed out. Grocery stores, retail stores, and even many restaurants are often just plain crowded, and there is nothing relaxing about wheeling your shopping cart through crowded grocery store aisles or doing a restaurant assignment during peak lunch times. For many mystery shoppers, a bank assignment usually can provide you with a great change of pace. Here’s what you need to know:

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They find companies with assignments available, and send them straight to you.

Bank Teller Assignments. Often, bank assignments will have you deposit a check or cash into your account from the drive thru lanes. For this reason, this type of assignment is typically only available for people who already hold an account with the specified bank. When you perform this assignment, you don’t have to get out of your car, which makes it ideal to do on even the coldest days of winter. It’s also usually a fast assignment. Unless you hit the teller lanes at 5pm on a Friday afternoon or another peak payday time such as the 15^th or the last day of the month, you rarely have to wait behind more than a car or two at most banks. So you can be in and out of this site visit in a matter of minutes.
Open An Account. Some bank assignments will have you walk into a local bank branch and open a new account with a bank representative. With these assignments, sometimes you will be required to enter the bank without an appointment, and this can mean you have to wait quite some time for a representative to become available. Other assignments require you to make an appointment with a certain representative before your visit, and these assignments generally move pretty quickly. Keep in mind if you open a new checking or savings account, you typically have to have cash available to deposit into the account on that day. As a bonus, many banks offer free gifts for opening an account, such as cash, free movie tickets, or so forth, which is a great perk.
Question On An Account. As a variation of opening an account, another scenario that is common with bank assignments may involve you walking into a bank where you already have an account and asking a specific question about your accounts. You may be required to ask your question to the inside bank teller or to the bank representative. This type of assignment typically won’t take too much of your time unless you visit at a peak time for the bank.
These are just a few of the different types of bank assignments you may run across. Pay attention to the requirement for being a current account holder with the bank in question before you request the assignment. Typically, these assignments are a great change of pace from the norm because banks are often far less crowded than retail stores, restaurants, and so forth. In addition, you often have fewer requirements to fulfill on-site with this type of assignment, which makes them generally easier to do.

Market force Mystery Shopping

Market force Mystery Shopping Written by Tammy S: Market Force is one of the leading forces in the industry of mystery shopping. I have worked for this company for over 5 years. They offer a variety of jobs in a multitude of venues When you sign up with the company you will see that they are very fair and compensate nicely within a month. The range of pay that they offer is anywhere from $3.00 for a telephone shop or over $100.00 for audits.

If you go to their home website at: http://www.homejobslistings.com this will take you to their registration page and from there you can easily sign up and if you have any questions about their program.

When you sign up with Market Force you will be asked what “areas” you will want to work in and around such as a major city that you live near as well as the surrounding cities that you would be able to travel. It all depends on you and how far you want to go to obtain jobs.

I would have to say it is the best mystery shopping company I have ever worked for simply because they are comprehensive and thorough in their directions of how they want you to perform a job. It is one of the easiest websites to follow and you will not be disappointed with Market Force.

My Experience I enjoy working for Market Force. They send you an email every day to let you know which shops are available in your area(s). From these emails you can pick and choose the jobs you want to perform and the jobs that will go along with your schedule. You can also go to their website and search in other cities and states if you happen to be traveling and want to perform mystery shops in your spare time.

I have completed a wide variety of jobs for Market Force. I started out doing cell phonejobs where I would go undercover and pretend I was interested in obtaining a new cell phone. These were the perfect jobs for me to start mystery shopping because they are very easy and I could perform many of them in one day which makes it quite worth it when the day is complete! I also perform telephone mystery shops, mainly to banks, and I will call and get a name and determine if the customer service rep was doing their job correctly.

Another type of job I perform is with the bigger companies such as tire manufacturers and book stores that may need auditing, which means you would contact the manager of the store to help you count merchandise on shelves and let the company know what is out of stock. This type of job is very easy and you get to interact with the managers of some major companies. You get the respect of the managers and a job that can be repeated throughout the year.

Working with the schedulers of Market Force is a breeze. If you have any questions you would contact the scheduler for the specific job and they will get back to you in a reasonable amount of time. They really are very helpful and can steer you in the right direction if you get stuck with anything, such as printing paperwork, or a question about the specific job you are performing. They respond quickly and efficiently.

I have a high regard for Market Force. They have worked with me over the years and if I make mistakes I correct them quickly and they take this into great consideration since no one is perfect! So you won’t have to worry if you happen to make a mistake, unless it is quite major, then this company will work with you to correct your mistake. It may mean that you would be with held from future jobs until a period of time goes by, but this is not an issue since they have so many other jobs to choose from on their web site.

I encourage you all to sign up with Market Force. Happy Mystery Shopping!

Save on Gas with Mystery Shopping

Mystery shoppers have been watching gas prices creep back upward for months with much dismay. The higher gas prices climb, the more money mystery shoppers have to pay to travel to do assignment site visits. With gas prices up almost $1.00 per gallon in many locations in just the last few months, if not more, many mystery shoppers are really starting to feel some pain at the pump each time they fill up.

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They find companies with assignments available, and send them straight to you.

There are some steps you can take, however, to help take the sting out of those painful fill-ups. Here are some ideas:

Gas Station Assignments. There is nothing that will put a smile on  your face faster while you are standing there filling up your tank than knowing  you are getting reimbursed for your gas purchase! Now most gas station assignments will reimburse you for only a portion of your purchase, so don’t expect to walk away with $50 or $100 in gas for free! However, if you make an effort to pick up a few of these assignments each week on a regular basis, you will find that this really will make quite a difference in your overall gas expense for mystery shopping.

Top It Off. While most gas station assignments offer you a reimbursement on a portion of a fill up, there aren’t many that will reimburse you for the cost of a full tank of gas. It’s fairly common to see a $5 or $10 reimbursement, plus a small fee for your assignment pay.

Be sure not to “leave money on the table”, so to speak. Don’t show up at the gas station assignment with almost a full tank of gas and unable to get your full reimbursement on your purchase. If you are bone dry the day or two before your assignment, only fill up a quarter or a half of a tank to leave room for the gas purchase you will be reimbursed for.

Tie A String Around Your Finger! Whether you simply don’t like the extra clutter in your car or you are trying to be more “green”, many people these days opt to not print out the receipt at the gas pump. Keep in mind that you will need to print out the receipt to get reimbursed for your gas purchase. So avoid the urge to go into auto-mode at the gas pump and click “no receipt.” If you need to literally tie a string around your finger to remember to print your receipt, do it!

Say Cheese! Most gas station assignments will require you to snap a few photos of the exterior of the store from different angles. Many mystery shoppers prefer to do this at busier times of the day to  avoid being seen. This can seem fairly illogical, as with many cars and drivers at the gas station, you stand a better chance of being seen. Yet it is far easier to blend into the crowd and not be singled out when the gas station is packed with motorists. You also stand a less likely chance of the gas station clerk glancing out the window and catching you snapping photos if he is busy helping other customers.

The time of day you choose to shop will be up to the assignment requirements as well as your discretion. Just keep in mind that you will likely need to snap photos incognito and think through if you’ll be more comfortable in a crowded or uncrowded environment.

Skip The Goodies! Many gas station assignments also require you to make a small purchase inside the store and interact briefly with the gas station clerk. It may be tempting to buy that candy bar or a soda, but if you are strapped for cash, you may want to make your reimbursed purchase towards a necessity like milk, eggs, or even fruit that are sold in many gas stations these days.

Double-booking It. If you have to be out on the road and burning gas, you might as well make that trip worth your while. With gas prices so high right now, it absolutely makes sense to schedule mystery shopping assignments with location in mind. A great idea is to look for several assignments in the same shopping mall, outlet mall, or retail center so you can drive to one location and complete several site visits. Another idea is to pick up assignments that you can complete en route to places you already need to travel, such as on your way to work or to your daughter’s ballet lesson. You can also try to find assignments that serve a double purpose for you, such as a grocery store assignment where you can pick up your groceries for the week while you are also working on an assignment, too.

When gas prices get as high as they currently are, and especially given the fact that they are only expected to go higher yet, you really have to make some adjustments to your mystery shopping habits so that you can avoid pain at the pump. When you take steps to follow some of these tips, you will find that you can continue to make great money as a mystery shopper without spending quite so much in gas, and this means increasing your overall profits!

Mystery Shopper Magazine

A Basic Mystery Shopping Business Plan

Having retired from my 30+ years as an independent manufacturer’s representative, I was seeking an alternate source of income and a way to keep physically and mentally fit. After exploring several options my research led to mystery shopping and I decided to go in that direction. Since then, I have set specific goals with my mystery shopping, organized a basic business plan, and achieved my first set of goals.
This article walks you through my basic business plan as a mystery shopper.

Advantages

1. Be you own boss
2. Set your own hours
3. Acceptance to the many mystery shopping companies is relatively easy
4. Select the types of businesses to be called on
5. Choose from the many types of mystery shopping available
6. Earn an income based on time and effort

Disadvantages

1. Income and growth is limited
2. Mystery shopping will remain a single person operation
3. Income is earned during the shop/interview but reports of various complexity are then required

Equipment needed

1. Vehicle
2. Computer
3. Printer/fax/scanner
4. Land telephone line
5. Cell phone
6. GPS
7. Micro voice recorder
8. Digital camera

Starting my business
I possessed all of the above equipment from my previous occupation as well as an office in the home so there was little initial outlay. The cell phone and digital camera were upgraded. My approach is that this is a business not a hobby and my objective is to earn an income, not a way to get food or product compensation.
When I started mystery shopping, I researched and choose 12 to 15 companies that seemed to offer the types of shops that I would enjoy, concentrated on 5 of them and proceeded to set and meet my goals.
My objectives
At this junction in my life, I have no desire to work 5 or 6 days a week and 8 to 10 hours a day. Instead I choose to work within a 30 mile radius of my home and average 4 to 5 hours a day. I regularly take Friday and the weekend off. My income per job and per day is based on a strict income/expense ratio and I rarely leave the house for less than a 2 to 1 ratio. It is a very profitable day when the ratio reaches 3 to 1 or 4 to 1, which usually occurs when I am able to negotiate bonused shops.
Setting goals
My original goal was to earn more than I could as a skilled or semi-skilled part time retail employee in a local store. I actually went for an interview in the local Home Depot and decided that was not an option I desired. My first goal was easily surpassed in the first month. There are two directions you can go when a goal is reached. The first is to pat yourself on the back, relax and start coasting. The second is to re-set your goals and work harder and smarter.
Procedure
This is not a business where I feel I can “wing it” so I generally plan a month out and put my appointments and potential visits in an appointment book. The end of the month sometimes brings bonused shops so I try to leave a couple of days open at that time. I am able to do the shops I enjoy and stay away from the ones that I do not.
My business is based on careful preparation which includes logical routing, one page worksheets for the various shops and detailed spreadsheets of my visits.
Conclusion
Because of changing demographics and needs of the mystery shopping companies and clients, I am ready to expand my base and will do so slowly with careful research much as I did when I first started. The information is available and with careful searching I will find companies that suit my needs and likes. Mystery Shop Forum and Mystery Shopper Magazine are both excellent sources of research for finding new mystery shopping companies.

Latest Articles

• QSI Specialists (Mystery Shopping In Nevada) The special circumstances of mystery shopping in Nevada.
• A Basic Mystery Shopping Business Plan For new and established mystery shoppers.
• Featured Shopper: Storm Cloud Storm Cloud shares her tips, pet peeves, anecdotes, and mystery shopping adventures.
• My 7 Most Memorable Mystery Shopping Experiences Ever The most humbling, upsetting, heartwarming, irritating, weird, rewarding, disgusting, and frustrating experiences of one mystery shopper...

It always seemed like such a romantic idea. But in real life, today, 2015, how far would you actually walk for a dream?

3 women set out to deliver a package. On foot. 250 miles away. Here's why. Remember those stories you heard as a kid about people walking a really long time for something they believed in?

It always seemed like such a romantic idea. But in real life, today, 2015, how far would you actually walk for a dream? For a vision of a better life and world?

How about 250 miles? That's what these three phenomenal women just did. 

Take a good look at this picture. On April 13, Linda Sarsour, Carmen Perez, and Tamika Mallory left Staten Island to start a nine-day, 250-mile walk from NYC to Washington, D.C.
Why?
They were fed up with years of police brutality and injustice toward people of color all across America, especially after the non-indictment of Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold death of Eric Garner in December 2014, right in their backyard of New York City.

They had reached their limit. The three had been activists for most of their lives but knew it was time for something out of the ordinary. They wanted to do something disruptive and epic and a little crazy.

So they decided to walk; And they weren't alone. Nearly 100 marchers took the trek with them. 

Passionate walkers of all ages and ethnicity walked side by side for 250 miles.

I march for my son. Because I

“I march because Michael Brown can't

I am marching for ALL my Sisters

And while they had their personal reasons for going, together they had one clear goal:

Bringing a “Justice Package" of legislation proposals to Congress.

The package includes three proposed pieces of federal legislation:

• The End Racial Profiling Act that would do exactly what its name suggests: prohibit law enforcement from profiling based on race, nationality, ethnicity, or religion.
• The Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act would amend the current law that allows the Department of Defense to transfer its excess equipment (like the military-grade vehicles and weapons that were used to police peaceful civilians in the streets of Ferguson, Missouri) to federal and state law enforcement.
• The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act would create a federal-state partnership to support prevention programs that give young people alternatives to incarceration. 

They stopped in Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, and were joined by supporters in every city. They were welcomed at churches, mosques, schools, and community centers with dinners, rallies, prayer circles, and vigils.
There was music, food, poetry, press, deep conversation, and lots and lots of tears. Especially when they were joined by the parents of victims, elders of the community, and children. 

By day, they walked in the hot sun and pouring rain. By night, they slept on air mattresses and rested their bruised and swollen feet.
They popped off knee braces and ankle wraps and hoped that their legs would make it just a few more days. One walker, Malik Hubbard, even injured his Achilles tendon on the trip.
But every morning, he and everyone else got up and kept walking. City by city, the same thing.

Until they got to Baltimore. 

On the seventh day of the march, the group arrived in Baltimore just as horrific news was breaking: Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who was rushed to the hospital with a severed spinal cord after being chased and tackled by officers, had died.
The local community was outraged and emotional, and intense protests ensued, right in the presence of the marchers. Then, according to marcher Alida Garcia, this happened:

"We happened to be marching through the very neighborhood of the police precinct so we marched there and met up with Freddie's family and friends. Tensions were high, young men wanted answers, simple answers to questions like 'what happened?' that have gone unanswered for over a week as he was put in a coma. People saw an officer who was on the [scene] and walked over to ask questions. Things were getting a bit impassioned and little, 5-foot-something Tamika courageously pushed her way in between the police and the protestors reminding them that we're fighting a system, not individual people and that being organized can get us the answers."

It was a painful, real-time reminder of exactly why they were marching.
So they kept going.

Now, back to that picture.

This photo was taken as Linda, Carmen, Tamika, and the rest of the marchers finally crossed the line into Washington, D.C.

That's the look of victory.

They made it to Washington just in time for a series of planned events. The final march from Howard University to Capitol Hill, a concert and a rally that included celebrities like Jussie Smollett from Fox's hit TV show "Empire," the fabulous "Grey's Anatomy" actor and activist Jesse Williams, and legendary actor Danny Glover.
Then, they went on to hand-deliver the Justice Package that they walked so far to share with members of Congress. And so ended the epic #March2Justice.

But it's really just the beginning.

Sure, the marchers will all go back home and continue their work. The news cameras will disappear and the hashtag will die a quiet, peaceful death like all other fleeting, trending topics. 

But imagine just how many people were inspired by seeing a new generation of marchers take a stand for what they believe. Or how many little girls will grow up to be powerful leaders because they saw three humble young women turn the vision and a dream of a march — that no one thought they could pull off — into reality, all in the name of justice?

Maybe one day, theirs will be the long-walk story that is told alongside the fairy tales and Bible stories and history lessons.

Can you really make money doing Mystery Shopping

“Did you enjoy the meal?” asks Patricia as she drives out of the parking lot.
“It was awesome,” says Alice. “Especially because it was free. Thank you for inviting me.”
“It was my pleasure,” responds Patricia. “I needed a guest after my friend canceled.”
Alice inquires, “Can you tell me more about mystery shopping?”
“Sure,” Patricia replies. “What do you want to know?”
Quickly, she says, “Can you really make money doing this? Can anyone do this? What places are shopped?”
Patricia chuckles as she replies, “You want to know everything, don’t you?”
Alice pauses and says tentatively, “Well, I just found out you are doing this and would like to know a little more about it.”
“Of course,” Patricia responds. “With some effort, anyone can do it and make money. I’ve been doing this for a few years and love it. I like to think of it like a job that has some perks, like a good meal.”
Alice points to a fast food restaurant they are passing. “For example, is that place shopped?”
“Yes, it is,” answers Patricia as she stops at a traffic light.
Alice then indicates a gas station across the intersection. “How about that gas station? We have them where I live.”
Patricia smiles slightly as she replies, “Yes, that one is also shopped. I’ll tell you what. There are a lot of stores on the road home. I’ll point out all the places that are shopped along the way and you can count them.”
Alice perks up as she replies, “Sure. I can do that. Two places are on the list already.”
“That’s right,” says Patricia as she accelerates from the light.
A few minutes later as the car turns onto a highway entrance, Alice exclaims, “Wow! Forty-four stores in just a three or four mile stretch! That’s a lot of places. All sorts of places are mystery shopped. Even the post office!”
“Yes. That’s right,” says Patricia. “That was an area with lots of strip malls and retail stores. It isn’t like that everywhere. Typically, the more built up the area, the more mystery shops there are.”
Alice says, “There are plenty of stores where I live. Tell me where to sign up.”
“Sure,” replies Patricia. “But it isn’t quite that simple. There are more than one hundred mystery shopping companies (MSCs) that operate in this country alone.”
Alice says, “Can you tell me which companies shop a few of my favorite stores?”
“I wish I could,” sighs Patricia as she responds. “You see, when I signed up for the companies they had me sign an agreement that prohibits me from disclosing what stores, we call them clients, are shopped by which MSC.”
“OMG!” exclaims Alice. “I had no idea. Why would they possibly do that?”
Patricia responds, “I think it has to do with reducing fraud. Keeping that information secret tries to prevent employees from having their friends sign up and give falsely positive evaluations.”
“Hmmm. I get it,” says Alice as she slumps in her seat. “But you had to get a start somewhere. How did you do it?”

Patricia responds, “I signed up with lots of MSCs from a list I found online.”
Alice exclaims, “Oh my! That sounds like a lot of work.”
“It was,” replies Patricia. “It took a lot of time, but it really is the best way.”
Alice says, “How did you know which ones to sign up for? How did you know if they have work where you live?”
“Those are excellent questions. Let me think about it for a moment,” replies Patricia as she passes another slow moving car.


After a few minutes, Patricia resumes the conversation. “Alice, I’ll tell you what I can do. I can give you five MSCs to get you started. They all have lots of shops around the country and anyone can apply. When we get home, I’ll enter the restaurant report and you can fire up your laptop and sign up for these companies.”
“Great!” says Alice. “Can I get some shops scheduled for next week when I go home?”
Patricia replies, “There’s a great chance you can do that because these companies have lots of shops around the country. I know for sure you can get some for tomorrow around here. You can borrow the car and go.”
“Awesome!” replies Alice. She looks at her lipstick in the mirror and asks thoughtfully, “Only five? What makes these so special?”
Patricia says, “These are probably the five largest MSCs in the country. Their clients are lots of chain restaurants, gas stations, cellphone stores, etc.. So they have lots of shops nationwide.”
Alice slowly and thoughtfully says, “That makes sense.”
Patricia continues, “In addition, you can self-assign many of their shops.”
“Self-assign?” Alice interjects, “What’s that?”
Patricia replies, “This is the ability to simply pick a shop from the job board for yourself instead of asking a scheduler to award you the shop. That way you don’t have to wait for an answer and possibly be denied because an experienced shopper also applied and was chosen over you.”
Alice says, “That sounds good, but as a beginner, I might need some training. It’s hard to remember all the stuff you had to do in the restaurant.”
Smiling, Patricia replies, “You’re right. Training is important. One of the five uses a sort of interactive virtual reality that visually takes you through the steps of a shop. I think it is terrific training for a beginner.”
“That sounds great,” says Alice. “So you think that with just these five I can get started?”
“Absolutely,” answers Patricia. “Let’s review. With these five you get lots of shops, locations that are probably all over the country, the ability to self-assign for many of them, and you can sign up and get shops for as soon as tomorrow in this area. I think that about covers it. Oh, and you can also check to see what is in your city to line up some for when you go home.”
“Awesome!” Alice says. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“Well, we are just about home now.” Patricia smiles as she pulls into the driveway. “I’ll tell you the names inside.”
List of Five Mystery Shopping Companies (MSCs) for beginners

Work From Home Jobs

It might not seem like a big decision, but buying the right office chair could improve your quality of life

The average office worker spends 40 hours a week at their desk, for 49 weeks out of the year. That works out to nearly 2000 hours per year that you spend on the job! And the majority of that office time is spent sitting in the same chair, day in and day out. Sitting in a quality office chair can improve your posture and alleviate physical discomfort. It only makes sense to invest in the best.

• Get The Support You Need. You know the feeling at the end of a long day when you get home and settle down for the night? Popping, cracking, and creaking bones indicate body stress. Don’t let pain or stiffness affect how well you perform on the job, or limit your energy levels.
• How Can I Be So Tired When I Spend All Day Sitting Down? Keeping your body in the same position for hours at a time creates stiffness. Many people don’t even fully recognize the more subtle discomforts that accumulate in their neck and back throughout the day. Investing in an office chair is not a luxury! Look for quality, support, comfort, and space efficiency.

Replacement Canon Ink Cartridges: Finding One that Suits Your Printer

In any workplace, it is often necessary to churn out hard copies of important files such as business performance reports or company memorandum. However, in an article for Chron.com, Shea Laverty points out the various limitations printer users must keep in mind:

"A printer is one of a business' many office workhorses -- any number of important documents may need to be printed at any given time. Keeping your printer topped off on ink or toner can prevent productivity losses when the machine runs out, but only if you can find the correct cartridge. With a myriad of color types, form factors and other issues to consider, finding the right ink cartridge can be a hassle without the right tools for the job."

Ensuring an adequate supply of printer ink becomes even more crucial when you have an important project in the pipeline that requires timely and accurate documentation. In case you are loyal to a particularly brand—such as Canon, for instance—you can acquire compatible replacement Canon ink cartridges for your inkjet printer from a trusted online supplier such as Concord Supplies.
If you are totally clueless about the specific cartridge model your printer needs, Laverty suggests reviewing the owner’s manual. The section of the manual that deals with replacing or troubleshooting cartridges should list your printer’s specifications and the ink cartridges it can accept.
Printer models are often categorized by number and the series. For example, if you’re using either a Canon imagePROGRAF, BP, or even PIXMA series printer, all three lines will have a wide variety of cartridges, with the PIXMA family having at least 30 cartridge models. Things can also work the other way around, as a cartridge itself may have its own list of supported printers.
A retailer of original Canon inkjet cartridges like Concord Supplies can work around this problem by providing its own listings. Laverty says any such site should have a search function that allows you to input printer or cartridge specifics to find which items are in stock. If you’ve placed your trust in Canon printers, then you need to link them up with compatible cartridges to prevent costly mistakes and permanent printer damage.
(Article Information and Image from How to Find the Correct Printer Ink, Chron.com)

Mystery Shopping

Get Paid to Shop and Dine with
Paid Shopping Providers
Retail Jobs for Secret Shoppers
Secret Shopping & Dining Assignments

Secret shoppers are needed to visit and rate various retail stores, restaurants and services throughout the United States of America and Canada.

Fun and easy part-time work in retail and restaurants. Flexible hours. No previous experience required. All you need is an eye for detail and a love of shopping and eating out!


New Shoppers & Visitors Enter

Members Log In

NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!

REGISTER BEFORE MIDNIGHT Monday, May 18, 2015.

If you'd like to get paid for shopping and dining out in , and earn good money (plus keep the things you buy for free!), then you need to join our site and get access to the 175+ companies that are hiring Mystery Shoppers! If you want a flexible work schedule, the freedom to pick the jobs that interest you, and very competitive hourly rates, you'll love the resources you find in our Members' Area.

• Instantly print out and read our 10-part online course "How to Earn Money as a Mystery Shopper".
• Instant access our list of over 175 companies that are hiring Mystery Shoppers in .
• Get our expert tips on how to get Mystery Shopper jobs.
• How to pick the right Mystery Jobs for your personality.

• How to get repeat business as a Mystery Shopper.
• Pitfalls and scams to avoid.
• Mystery Shopping jobs you can do over the phone - in your pajamas!
• Mystery Shopping experts tell you in their own words how to start and be successful in this exciting industry.
  

Earn Money as a Mystery Shopper! Get Started Today!

Have you ever dreamed of working the hours you choose, the days you choose, and getting paid well for work that is actually fun? Are you able to go into a store and have interactions with employees, take note of the cleanliness (or lack thereof), and write up a brief report detailing your shopping experience? If so, continue reading on, because those are the exact traits we look for in new Mystery Shoppers.
Major companies spend millions of dollars every year keeping track of their customer service abilities and their general appearance, because they know that customers will not return to their stores if the employees are rude, or the floors dirty, or the shopping experience is in any way unpleasant. That's where you come in. Mystery Shoppers are a highly valuable resource for major brands to rely on, to keep up their awareness of how they are perceived by customers.
No prior experience is required. All you need to work as a well-paid Mystery Shopper is a pleasant people-friendly personality, the sincere desire to be helpful, the ability to recognize and remember details, and persistence. You can get paid to eat in restaurants, shop in stores, visit spas, malls, banks, and more. And the pay is great, too! Some Mystery Shoppers work several times a week, doing these fun and exciting jobs.
You're probably asking, if Mystery Shopping is so fun and easy, why isn't everyone doing it? Well, for starters, not that many people know how to get access to Mystery Shopping jobs. Although there have been news stories featuring Mystery Shoppers in the major media such as NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, Time Magazine, Yahoo, and more, very few people actually go and do the hard work it takes to research the good companies who are hiring Mystery Shoppers today.
That's where we come in. Our editorial staff has been involved in the Mystery Shopping industry since 2004. We know who the "good guys" are, and who to avoid. The bottom line is, if you are serious about getting paid to shop, you really have two choices: 1) Go it alone and try to figure it all out yourself (not recommended); or, 2) Join a membership site such as Elite Mystery Shopper where we've already done the hard work and you can instantly learn what you need to know and start registering for Mystery Shopper jobs with the major Mystery Shopping companies right away.
So, yes, you could go to the "School of Hard Knocks" and figure the industry all out all by yourself, slowly over a period of time (possibly months), or you can have all the important information at your fingertips right now.
Staying on top of the latest trends and opportunities in the Mystery Shopping industry takes time and effort.

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Throw out all of your preconceived notions about working the traditional nine-to-five job to be successful.

I am seeking motivated people looking to build their own business. Your income and success will be driven by an easy-to-follow system that you can operate from your home, working 1 to 4 hours a day, 4 to 5 days per week. It's that simple!

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The results speak for themselves! I've helped thousands of people find their path to success with my system.

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Call Center Pay Structures

Job Description:
Virtual call centers are work at home jobs in which people work for companies that either utilize their services themselves or contract to provide telephone support services for others.
Like agents in a traditional call center, virtual call center agents (or home-based agents) handle in-bound and/or out-bound telephone calls. The difference is that they work from their own home offices.

Companies either utilize virtual call center agents themselves (i.e. Hilton Hotels, 1-800 Flowers) or contract to provide virtual call center telephone support for others.

Virtual call center agents may do telemarketing, customer service, third-party verification or technical support for in-bound or out-bound calls. Depending on employers, agents may provide only one service or their workload may vary.
Typically the virtual call center agent provides and maintains all home office equipment and services required to do the job.
Learn more:

Experience/Skills/Education:
Previous experience in telephone customer service is highly desirable. Some companies will accept customer service experience in retail or other non-phone positions. Companies look for applicants who are self-motivated with good grammar and a professional phone presence.

Free Course Information. Study Medical Billing & Coding

Typically, basic math and writing skills as well as knowledge of word processing systems are expected. A high school diploma or GED is usually required. Many require proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. For more information see this Virtual Call Center FAQ

Type/Length of Employment:
Companies hire virtual call center agents as both telecommuting employees and independent contractors. Part-time and temporary arrangements are common; however full-time work is often available as well.

Compensation:

Pay ranges from minimum wage up to $30 for specialized positions. Typically most jobs pay closer to minimum wage. Those hired as independent contractors typically incur more costs than those hired as employees.

Payment Type and Frequency:

Virtual call center agents are paid on a per-hour, per-minute or per-call basis. For more details, see this article Call Center Pay Structures. Most are paid at bi-weekly or monthly intervals.Hiring Process:
Most companies hire work-at-home phone agents without a face-to-face interview. Typically online skill assessment tests and phone interviews are used. Background and credit checks are common. Some companies make applicants pay for these.

Geographical Requirements/Time Away From Home Office:

Virtual call center agents rarely need to work away from their home office. Even training is usually done from home. However, many companies have geographic requirements and only hire from certain U.S. states.Schedule Flexibility:
Among the many companies hiring virtual call centers, there is an array of schedules available. Some require agents work some weekend or evening hours, while others don't offer weekend and evening hours. Likewise, some require a minimum commitment of hours, while others make no guarantees about hours available. Most, particularly those that hire independent contractors, have no restrictions against agents working at a different company as well.
Child Care Arrangement:
Those with young children will need to make child care arrangements. Only children who are self-sufficient, except in an emergency, can be in the home without another adult supervising them. Since cordless phones are not allowed, an agent cannot move from her station to take care of a child.

Part-Time Call Center Jobs

Call centers are places where telephone operators (or call center agents) field incoming calls and/or make outgoing calls to customers and sales leads. But there are several types of call centers.

• Virtual Call Centers - also known as home call centers, these types of call centers are one-person operations inside someone's home. Learn more on starting a virtual call center.
• Inbound Call Centers - Some call centers only take inbound calls; these call centers tend to focus on customer service. However, sales can still be an important part of an inbound call center agent's job.

• Outbound Call Centers - Some call centers (sometimes called telemarketing centers) make outgoing calls only; these tend to be sales-oriented operations.
• Bilingual Call Center Jobs - Bilingual agents are often needed. These jobs typically pay more than the single-language positions.
• Part-Time Call Center Jobs - Both full- and part-time positions are available at call centers. Some companies may require full-time commitment while others don't make any commitment to any specific number of hours.

Looking for a part-time, work at home job in a call center? These companies hire home-based call center agents on a part-time basis. Some also may hire full-time agents. However, part time does not necessarily equal flexible hours. Many of the companies that hire people for part-time work at home jobs do so because they have specific hours that must be covered (weekends, evenings, days, etc.).

Browse these companies that offer part-time, work-at-home call center jobs.

Scroll down to see both employment and independent contractor, part-time positions. Or, if you're interested in a job with benefits (which many of these part-time jobs don't have) check out this list of employment call center jobs. For more about finding a telephone customer service job--either at home on in an office--see this article All About Call Center Work. 

AdviseTech

This IT solutions BPO hires for work-from-home call center positions for tech support. Offers part-time work of 2-6 hours per week.

SYKES at Home/Alpine Access

Call center agents handle in-bound, customer service and sales calls. The hourly rate is in the $9 range. Part-time hours are a minimum of 20 hours per week.  Only after a position is offered, applicants pay $45 for a background check. Bilingual skills a plus; languages include Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese. More Bilingual Call Center Jobs More »

Amazon.com

Amazon.com employees (minimum of 20 hours per week) work in home call centers in certain states. During November and December part-timers may have to work full time. Search "work from home" in Amazon's job database. Jobs pay $10-12/hour. 

Apple at Home

This work-at-home call center program is part of the Apple Care division. Use the keyword "home" in the company's job database. 

Asurion

This device insurance provider has full- and part-time remote positions for call center agents. Pay is $10-11 an hour 

Cloud 10

Employees work a minimum of 32 hours (5 days a week) up to full time. The company hires telephone customer service reps, sales agents and technical support people for work at jobs. Paid training.

Extended Presence

This firm offers B2B telephone sales to clients. Home agents do cold calling sales and appointment setting in both full- and part-time positions. Call center jobs are paid an hourly base rate plus incentives.

GE Retail Finance

GE hires in the U. S. and Canada to review and analyze credit applications, communicate credit decisions and provide support for customer application issues. Bilingual French and Spanish CSRs needed. Benefits include health, vision and disability. 

Hilton Hotels

Hotel chain's Hilton@Home program hires (through the company's Dallas and Tampa offices) full- and part-time, work-from-home sales agent employees to perform customer care and make reservations. New hires receive in-depth brand and technical training and support. Agents bilingual in Spanish or Portuguese earn $1 per hour more in some positions.