Just a heads up, this company is now raising up from the dead and going by the name TNG. Do an internet search before you accept anything.

Funny,I just did a recent job for them and they were pretty quick with the payment...maybe I just got in on a good week;

I hope they have turned their practices around along with the new name. Did you get anything odd about working on Sundays? Most of the complaints filed were related to working on Sundays. They have contacted me about some weekly work in a city south of me, however, when I read up on their legal problems when they were SMS, I just couldn't take another chance on not getting paid. I'm already in legal action with my former boss about owed wages, not looking to have to sue anyone else to get my money. Ever. When in doubt, I'm out. I think I have read every single posting about every single company on this forum and have made my choices carefully about who to apply with and who to bypass. There are diamonds out there, you just have to dig hard to find them.

I have been working for TNG doing book and magazine weekly visits for about 3 months now. I've been paid exactly on time and in full every 2 weeks, as agreed. They also pay mileage in between stores.

NIce information thanks.. guys..

Anyone have anymore current feedback on TNG? Current merchandisers, what are you finding? Are the expectations reasonable- are you getting paid on time? There seems to be the same locations being relisted every few weeks. Are people just flaking or is there still some problems with the Co.? I was hoping that the new name reflected a new way of doing things.

Cindy55- are you talking about TNG- The News Group? I AM a current merchandiser and posted above on July 1st positive feedback. I like my Gm very much and like doing the stores I do. Please clarify if this is the group you're asking about. They have a very strict pay schedule and I've been paid on time, every time.

Wow! I'm getting concerned, I just accepted a job with them (TNG) I did an interview and got a call with the job offer 4 days later, met again with supervisor to fill out legal paperwork, I start training in 2 days. He said training would be about 2 weeks, and he checks in every couple weeks after. Nothing mentioned about doing work on Sundays, though he did ask if I might be available to fill in on a local route Friday or Saturday mornings if needed. I didn't see anything shady. The problem is, I've been doing mystery shopping jobs, too many companies where you have to wait weeks or months to get paid, I need something coming in on a more steady basis, not a lot of jobs around here. But I won't work for any company that takes advantage of me!

I have not done any work for them. The same job (route) keeps reappearing every 2 or 3 weeks, so either the stores are a horror to work in or there is some other problem. Either way, I'm just not interested in another job that I may hate enough to quit in two weeks. Sometimes I just don't have the energy for a new "challenge". Sorry I can't give you any personal experience with them. Some people here do work for them and haven't had problems, so, hope for the best.

Hi there! i guess everyone who asks questions is ignoring my answers! I WORK FOR TNG. I am paid on time, every time, and I love my GM. I am down to one store of my own choice, and because they cut pay, company wide. They are a really nice and fair company to work for.

My husband recently started working with them. A more than reasonable amount of hours are allocated for each store and although the hourly pay is not the best, it's appropriate for the level of work/decision-making required. They also pay for travel time between stores.

He works Thursday, Friday and a little on Mondays, doing pull-ups, and has been paid as agreed.

Don't be afraid cindy55, it's a good gig. I promise.

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they are shipping to some of the old HDA stores, wondering if they are taking over??

Yes, TNG has taken up the magazine side for HDA. Not sure about the books yet. I worked for HDA for almost eight years. Was a good company to work for. Sad to se them go.

wildblue3961 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, TNG has taken up the magazine side for HDA.
> Not sure about the books yet. I worked for HDA for
> almost eight years. Was a good company to work
> for. Sad to se them go.


Some books.

What does some books mean?

Think of the books like home improvement, cooking, some kids, limited best sellers. Lots of misc. titles. If you have a Home Improvement store near you, they are the ones there. I only did home improvement stores for HDA, so that is the only place I know about first hand.

I saw them at the local Publix recently and they were having a hard time getting magazines placed in the checkout areas, maybe because it was around 5pm on a weekday and all the checkouts were jammed with shoppers.
I did have a weird experience with this company a couple of years ago, they advertised on Narms and after applying I received a call for an interview and then was offered the job in short order. I was then called by a manager who wanted to meet me at McDonalds to fill out paperwork, only problem was he didn't show and all my phone messages and e-mails went unanswered. Guess they didn't want me after all.

They are recruiting like crazy, three of the neighboring towns all have open routes. They are only paying $9.63 for what used to be a $11 job. Doesn't seem like they are able to fill these beasts. ( Mega mart type stores)

I have submitted an app and so has a few other people and they say they need workers but its been 3 weeks

and still no call whats up with that

Any recent experience with this company? I filled out the application today and they already called and left a message and sent an email regarding the positions available. It would be in a major big box store. Any feedback would be appreciated!

My husband just resigned. They have posted his stores for 34¢ an hour more, but, from what he has said, you do a lot more than $9.00/hr. worth of work. On the other hand, if your major concerns are steady employment, flexible hours, a regular paycheck and job security, it's a good place to be.

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PS
He was offered a permanent merchandising position with Hallmark for more money, more enjoyable work and steady employment, flexible hours, a regular paycheck and job security.

I am a merchandiser with Hallmark now but was looking to pick up a few extra hours with another merchandising company!!!

It is not easy work.

Yep, it involves a lot of heavy lifting and a lot of walking. It's similar to going to the health club, except in this case, they pay you.

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I quit on August 14th, and am finally working my last day tomorrow. It makes me mad they cut my pay, then raised it back to where it was, and are now advertising the job at 50 cents more an hour than I make, after massive loyalty for the last 2 years and my store super happy with me and the 40% increase in book/magazine sales. I took 2 other merchandising jobs that are not so hard on my body and pay $3 an hour more. My answer is: if you like getting filthy, killing your back and knees lifting, all for a little over minimum wage- go for it.

A note to all the folks who have posted here - thank you, thank you for your honest feedback - both positive and negative - especially with your actual experiences. I am finding that the more I read on this forum the more I feel empowered to make decisions based on something factual rather than "fluff". Sometimes I seem so busy being busy ... doing shops that require out-of-pocket expenditures then waiting 2 months or more for reimbursement and pay. And, driving all over creation ... in the Los Angeles traffic - for a shop that pays mimimally then spending so much time reporting the shop that I end up loosing money! Especially after I factor in my travel costs. Not exactly like a chicken with my head cut off ... but there has to be something better than being registered with 30 MSC's, checking boards all the time, getting emails that are for shops in other states, etc.

Suggestions? I've been a very active shopper for 3 years - doing an average of 30 shops a month.

DN, merchandising might be the answer for you. Perhaps, you should start by making a list of the criteria that is important to you, like close proximity, no out-of-pocket expenses, regular paycheck, etc. and look for a job that meets your requirements.

For example, as I've posted previously, my husband has worked for TNG and for Hallmark, simultaneously, as a merchandiser. At both companies, he was an employee.

The benefits for TNG were that he was assigned four nearby stores and he could count on a set number of hours per week. They paid like clockwork, every two weeks. The downside was that the work was exhausting, due to the amount of walking in the big box stores and the amount of heavy lifting.

The pluses and minuses for Hallmark are higher pay, although he was initially in installation and I believe that pays more than merchandising, so I'm not sure if that's a fair comparison. Installation involves a lot of driving and the schedule is erratic. For example, you can go a month or two, with no assignments and then bang, bang, bang, your head is spinning.

He somehow ended up helping a merchandiser at a nearby big box that carries Hallmark. For about a year, his hours were minimal to very minimal, based on the (greeting card) season. Just recently, he was awarded the store as his own and he resigned from TNG, since the hours he once shared are now all his.

The Hallmark minuses would include fluctuating hours, throughout the year.The benefits are the toll on his body is significantly less and they, too, pay like clockwork, every two weeks.

Both companies pay for drive time, over a certain amount, and for admin, which is minimal for both.

DN, this is just two examples meant to assure you that if you decide exactly what you want, there's a company out there to meet your needs.

Hope this helps.

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I currently work for tng(going on about a month), got paid on time the first time 13 days ago, and I probably will tomorrow. training was and is ok. I do both the books and magazines at a department store. To me figuring out your own schedule that coinsides with when product comes in and figuring out how to do surveys(which I just edit them in adobe and email them to my superviser). and if you do your surveys on time you get paid a lil for it. I DO NOT waste ink and paper. Like for the books I need to Read picture planograms(POGs) So I get on my computer at home, go to reader link, find them save them and email them to myself. Boom I can open them from my cell phone. If you are computer savy and get the hang of it it only takes a few minutes. just make sure you have a pdf reader downloaded on your smart phone. You have to log in and out of work on the stores phone or your cell phone, but there is an app called pocket tracker that I have downloaded that you can log in and out with I believe but I am afraid to try it just yet. Overall so far I like this company. Maybe I have a good supervisor(I ask questions and he answers them mostly by email)and dont be afraid to ask questions. You have independance with this company.

Dont be afraid of pocket tracker-it is easy and, so far, hasn't done my phone any harm.

Yep I used it this week. I like it.