Hello,
I did my very first shop with marketforce on Sunday, June 10th. I made an error, in that I went to the register before the ten minute time-frame was up (had to be in the store from between ten and 15 minutes). While at the register, I recognized my mistake, but this was after having purchased my item. I immediately returned to the department. While there, I browsed and chose a different item related to my assignment, so that when I uploaded my receipt there would be the proper time stamped on it. After purchasing that second item, I went home and wrote a really good write up, and had it checked by a veteran secret shopper.
Before entering the info into the marketforce system, I emailed the "help desk" (as we are told to do if there are any issues). I let them know what happened in detail. After waiting 6 hours for a reply from them, I decided to enter the information, as at least that way, I'd have a chance of being paid.
I received a reply email from them on Monday which stated the following: "I’m not sure of the shop outcome at this time, but our Help Desk will e-mail notification to you if there is a problem with the shop. In the meantime, I have entered notes from your message in the shop file."
On the very Sunday that I did my shop, I received a phone call. While I was saying "Hello...Hello, who am I speaking to, etc.?" there was a woman singing on the other end. She sang, in a sort of drunken manner, for about 30 seconds before i hung up. I repeatedly tried to ask who she was, but all that I got was mumled song. I decided to call the number back out of sheer curiosity, and it turns out it was in fact Marketforce. I explained about the call but the woman who answered stated that she did not know who called me, and proceeded to ask me if I was interested in a fast food shop. I told her maybe, and she agreed to call me on Monday (didn't happen).
Now, my sister, (the veteran shopper) is stating that she's heard of Marketforce simply not paying their shoppers. I think she read about it on a forum.
Honestly? I don't think that this is the way for me to make extra money. I may stick to eBay. I have yet to get a response as to whether my shop is valid. I just emailed them to remind them to please let me know if it was/is valid. How long could it take-- and who does it take- to decide if a shop is valid for crying out loud??
Since this was my first shop, I spent hours memorizing the questions, and all that I needed to remember (apparently not long enough, as I hit the register too soon
) And then another 1.5 hrs writing up and entering the info.
I would love some feedback from anyone out there, if you've got any. I realize that it's totally their call as to whether I get paid, due to my mistake, but why the wait in letting me know?

There are good things and bad things about MarketForce. On the good side, I've never heard about them just not paying their shoppers. If you are not going to get paid for the shop, you will get the infamous "we're sorry but we can't pay you" e-mail. If you hear nothing, you are getting paid. Another good thing is that MF is not one of the shopping companies where you will spend an hour and a half writing up a report....their reports are fast and easy. Their reports usually take just a few minutes. MF is pretty fast to review shops, unlike some other companies who might take a couple of weeks. Sunday 6/10-Tuesday 6/12 is really not a tremendously long wait for a shop to be reviewed. But I think MF probably has reviewed it by now and if you haven't heard a NO yet you are probably safe. If you are getting paid, they will likely NOT notify you. You will only hear from them if they have questions or disallow the shop. No news is good news.

As for whether MSing is worth it or not, it's your call. It depends on your personal circumstances, your likes and dislikes, what you are good at....
It does get easier after you've done a few shops.

I agree with AustinMom. If a shop is disallowed by MF, you should hear from them pretty quickly via e-mail.

MS'ing gets easier the longer you've been doing it. You instinctively know what to look for and do and some things just become second nature (especially if you shop the same chains over and over). Don't worry, I am sure you will be paid.

If timing was your only error and you covered that by spending more time in the store and getting a receipt in the acceptable time frame (good thinking, by the way) you should be fine. In a situation such as that, I would not even have contacted the Help Desk as you got your potential blooper straightened out yourself.

I have had Market Force reject one shop--I did not do one of the requirements for what I felt was a good reason and they did not agree. I have had one shop where the error was in their instructions and I got no fee but I was reimbursed. After hundreds of shops with them, that is not a bad track record on their part or mine. I have ALWAYS been paid for accepted work and most frequently in a day or two less than their stated pay cycle.

vicstah,

Hang in there!

It will get easier with time.

Market Force is surprisingly reasonable with "oops" moments.

I had one recently where I was suffering from a terrible case of food poisoning - had to leave a shop after 14 minutes (instead of 20).

I entered the correct times on my report, then waited for the email to question me.

Sure enough - there it was, 8 hours later.

I told them the truth - that I had to find a restroom ASAP.

Got paid. And got a thank-you in return for doing the shop.

(I LOVE the part of your post about the drunken woman singing. That's a classic!)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2012 04:38PM by MissyH71.

Reading my thought was the same as Flash. If the error was corrected before leaving the store and you then fulfilled the requirements there is really no need to let them know. No doubt many of us have done something similar and the bottom line was the shop was completed correctly. It was good to catch it before you had left the store. How many of us have only realized our error after we were on down the road and had to turn around a go back, LOL!

Lisa, you are so right. On two occasions I forgot to get a receipt (you know the ones I'm talking about, where you have to pay in cash and you almost always pay for everything by credit card so you don't have to think about the receipt). On both occasions I went back and made a second purchase. One I had left the store, but the time window was long enough where I could go back a couple of hours later, and the other I realized before I left. It's hard committing it all to memory!

My experiences with Marketforce have been less than stellar. Particularly when they claimed that I was the cousin of the bank branch manager to get out of paying me a nicely bonused $65 for the shop. It didn't seem to matter that I'm not from anywhere near here and have no family at all.

I have performed several shops for MF and have never had a problem with payment. We just have to remember: they are paying us to do a specific job. If we fail and it is not accepted, they must send another shopper to do it.

I am new at this too and have made a few mistakes. Take your time and review your assignments just before you go into the shop. Know what they are going to require on the report before you make the shop and you will be fine.

David Hall
Newbie