questions → can anyone suggest a good spy camera?

vote-for16vote-against +18 -2

Can anyone suggest a good spy camera?

So I recently became a secret shopper... (Shhhh don't tell anyone)... and it looks like spy cams are required for some shops that I may want to do in the future... Any suggestions? I'm looking for a generally low price range... Otherwise I'll probably just use my iPhone secretively.

by jsoko
asked 7 months ago

11 Answers answer

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vote-for6vote-against

Check eBay. They have numerous ones that are pretty cheap. I bought one a couple years ago that takes DVD quality video - it's the size of a pack of stick gum. and it has a clip that you could clip it onto a shirt pocket, and unless they're used to seeing these, nobody would suspect it was a camera. All for about $40 shipped I believe. I used it inside a model rocket and it worked great.

They also have ones that look like key fobs.

Here's a link to one similar (if not the same) to mine. Can't vouch for this seller though:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/8GB-Portable-USB-Gum-Mini-Hidden-Camera-Recorder-Webcam-Video-Home-DVR-Camcorder-/110751801476?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c9526084

And an example of the key fob:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spy-Car-Key-Fob-Camcorder-Camera-3-DVR-Video-keychain-720-480-30FPS-AVI-Sunplus-/230696405283?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b693c923

tsfisch
7 months ago

vote-for4vote-against

The key fob ones mentioned are very good, if you get the version 3 that has a slot for a memory card. Not sure about other versions. Video quality is very good.

ojulius
7 months ago

vote-for3vote-against

I should have mentioned - the secret shopper deal is usually a scam! Do some research.

ojulius
7 months ago

vote-for3vote-against

Seems that secret shopping is a popular career move for a lot of deal.wooters. Hmmmmmm

dmaz
7 months ago

vote-for3vote-against

@jsoko: How? I was looking at some of those links that got posted (by @w00tgurl I think) for WorkAtHome stuff..

Been meaning to check it out, just been kinda busy.. probably not going to make a career working the phone from home, but I'm still kinda curious about it :D

drchops
7 months ago

vote-for4vote-against

the key fob one looks very discreet, and it's plausible for you to have those in your hand when stopping in for an item or 2

@drchops: here's another legit mystery shopper place, this one's not for apartments like the other one was

http://www.marketforce.com/the-shopper-force/apply/

like someone mentioned in the other thread, you get a few dollars per "shop" and a free meal or so. each shop has different criteria. for example for Ledo's pizza you get a free pizza. another is for Five Guys burgers, you get food up to about $5 and then a few dollars of pay. these are examples, they're all different
for this stuff you get, you need to time the cashier, your wait times, food quality, etc. again, each shop wants you to rate different things. most require a stopwatch for timing
for any mystery shop place just search for the company name (of the company that hires you, not the individual customers). do your research!

w00tgurl
7 months ago

vote-for1vote-against

Ok guys I've never heard of this secret shopper business but it sounds ridic sketchy. I'm pretty completely uninterested in something like this, but still curious how you guys know something like this is legit?

meh3884
7 months ago

vote-for2vote-against

@meh3884: do your research high and low. i'm registered for the apartment mystery shopping and this Market Force mystery shopping. they don't charge you anything to apply, get info, or to start work. also there are a lot of work at home mom's blogs that give tons of details about working for these companies. if anyone isn't paying out, you should see lots of posts about the company warning other "moms".
there's a huge work at home community that helps each other out. also in another thread i posted some of the links for forums and some blogs that all have reviews. the forums have posts from hundreds or thousands of people, not 1 or 2 phony shills
if anyone is offering you a list of mystery shopping info for $29.99, run away! the info, links, and reviews are all free to find

@jsoko: any feedback on the shops you've done so far, if any? have you gotten a payment yet?

w00tgurl
7 months ago

vote-for2vote-against

@drchops: I was recommended by another wooter, in this questionL http://deals.woot.com/questions/details/5968e446-91f8-464b-9a19-229bd5c2463e/does-anyone-have-experience-being-a-secret-shopper#10 to go to http://mysteryshop.org/
So I did and have been registered to a few sites they have.

@w00tgurl: So far I have done 4 shops with another tomorrow. 3 were reviewed, all being good reviews. Only problem so far I've had is whether to write in 1st or 3rd person, but I'm getting used to each site. One said write in 3rd the others didn't specify so I wrote in 3rd, and was told not to for the next shops. As far as pay goes, since I have only done jobs in November, I'm expecting to get paid mid-December.

jsoko
7 months ago

vote-for0vote-against

Here’s a DIY tutorial to learn how to make your own pair of spy sunglasses, much cheaper this way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zcidJN69NY

myaplay
7 months ago

vote-for1vote-against

I like being a secret shopper! I get rebated for getting pizza twice a week. I also get a couple free sandwiches every week. And two or three free brand name restaurant meals each week.
If they ask you for any money up front- it's a scam. Some of these will pay you money- but you have to do extra work. It may turn out you're getting less than half of minimum wage, plus you pay your expenses. I used to do a bit more, but I realized my time and trouble was excessive in some cases. Tho I really haven't pursued the vocation.
One service got me in trouble because I didn't think enough about it. I hit four bank branches to check their service and expertise in setting up new accounts. At the fifth one ... I immediately got to talk to security. :( I've heard of folks getting "odd" references after using their IDs at the apartment gigs.
I'll settle for the free food.

gidgaf
5 months ago

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