I got a call from Market Force today wanting me to do a shop at a check-cashing business. I had never taken one because the pay is $12 and the description says you might have to be there for an hour. Plus, I don't need their services, so all I'd be getting out of the shop is the fee.

The fee has always been $12 out here, and gets bonused as the month wears on. I check availability of shops every day, and this morning some of the shops were up to $14.

The scheduler didn't mention the fee at first, but was telling me how easy the shop is, and that I would probably not need to be there for an hour. Then she told me the fee is $10, but she can add a $2 bonus!

I told her the fee online was $14, and she said she could ask her manager if she could offer $15. I said no thanks, that it wasn't right for her to have offered me the $10 and $12 fees in the first place.

I am insulted! Does Market Force think we're stupid? Do they think we don't remember the fees online? Isn't that what a mystery shopper is supposed to be - observant and good at remembering details?

" Does Market Force think we're stupid?"

You asked I will give you my two cents... Y E S they do!

Stupid, gullible and naive.

I just had that happen last month - they called and I asked what they were offering (it was for FF) and they told me the regular price -- I told them it was 14.00 online and if I wanted it for that I would have signed up for it online and if they call me I expect more. They did get back to me with a decent bonus so I took it but I find it hilarious the schedulers don't look to see what the shops are going for online before they call and offer less.

Liz

I'm new to this and just signed up with Market Force last night. Thanks for the heads up!
Dave

Dave- go back and read everything you can about MF. Think twice before you do a shop. Read three times before you do a shop. And keep your paperwork. And do not ever ever ever go without a receipt. EVER! Other than that you will be fine!

daveair Wrote:
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> I'm new to this and just signed up with Market
> Force last night. Thanks for the heads up!
> Dave


Dave, the forum represents angry reflections. Accounts from a handful of users represent the exception, not the rule. Also when a company gets large enough (like MF) they simply have more and more chances to piss people off. So take everything with a grain of salt.

I did not have this problem before, it could be blatant ignorance, denial, or just poor communication.

I can vouch for MF as one of the fastest direct-deposit paying companies that never let me down. I do the majority of my shops with them, about 10 burger shops a month and 10 grocery shops. It always goes without a hitch, and I've negotiated bonuses ranging from $3-$5.

Now, at times, you'll find these REALLY stingy clients that want to pay rates so low, that leave you (the shopper) with a fee like $8-$10. Somehow, comparable shops for other companies pay 3 times that. Just don't do it.

MF does like to call a little too much.

I have never had a problem with MF either. They sometimes call me and they always offer me a bonus when they do. They have always paid me promptly and in the correct amount. I like working for them.

This is not an angry reflection. Basically, after 8 years with them I rarely work for them anymore.

Fastest paying, hardly. There are several companies who process payments twice a month and at least one who processes once a week. So monthly is good, but on the high end. Bonuses of $3 to $5 are okay, but when the same shops paid $3 to $5 more just a couple of years ago it's not a real bonus in my book. For one client they introduced the shops in May of 2009, by June the fee had dropped by $2 and by August another $2.

Communication with them is fair at best. The same person does not answer your e-mail twice even if you are replying immediately. There are times when you can reach the help desk by phone, but reaching schedulers is extremely difficult.

They do offer things they call variances which is allowing a shop despite a small error. These are on a limited basis and when you go over you risk being deactivated. I once asked thinking it was most likely a percentage. The magic number is 3. Not 3 percent, just 3. I pointed out that 3 errors for a shopper who had performed 10 shops is 30% and a real problem. 3 errors for a shopper who had performed 500 plus shops is .6 percent. The answer, that's our policy. End of discussion.

They also regularly weed out shoppers and simply deactivate them somewhere around 1,000 shops or so. Again it doesn't matter if you have shopped with them for 15 years or 5.

LisaSTL is right on target. That doesn't mean you shouldn't shop with MF. But understand going in that they have a lot of shoppers and they don't tremendously value their shoppers. They regularly cut their shopper force by deactivating shoppers based on the parameters of a computer program. Shoppers are numbers to MF. Shop for your own reasons. Take jobs only if you want the shop for the product/reimbursement and/or the fee they pay is worth it to you. If you accept a bonused shop, take it because the bonus amount makes the shop worth it for you to do, not because you are trying to do a scheduler a favor.

And this also is not an angry reflection. MF was my training ground although I take few shops these days. Now that I'm trained I've moved on to better pay and more interesting assignments with other companies. MF does have shops I like and think are worthwhile to me. And their reports are fast and easy. Self-assign makes it easy to pick and choose the assignments I do want. But I have no belief that there is a personal relationship of any kind.

Just an FYI, the check cashing shop was very easy for me. I was in and out in under 5 minutes (I did the money order scenerio). Also, hate to hear you have issues with MF. I have shopped for them for 7 years with no problems.

I'm one of the dummys that took a shop after a phone call. MF had already raised the fee twice on this FF. So i didn't think to ask for a bonus, what a dope. Thanks for the heads up.

I completely agree with AustinMom - MF pay is not typically stellar, but you can sometime snag some sweet jobs for really good fees (there was a tire company photo audit and gas station photo audit that paid $30 in December), so it's worth it for me to keep a random eye on the lists, but overall I'd say MF and a few others were excellent "training grounds" for me before moving on to better and more challenging shops.

ymmv

MF called 7 times on Monday to offer a $1 bonus on a FF shop. Really?!? You are that desperate and you can't offer more? They can keep that.

Did you tell them how much it would take to do the shop, I had a call from MF recently wanting me to do a FF shop 20 miles away and I didn't really want to do it so I told them I would need $35 plus reimbursement. He put me on hold and came back and said that would be fine and then offered another FF shop that was less than 10 miles from that for the same fee. Sometimes they can be more than reasonable if you ask.

Brak, do they email you the new fees as well? I answered another call today from them and the guy was only willing to offer $2 on a shop that's 15 miles away. I wish they would offer me a $35 bonus :/ Welp! Maybe next time.

whenever i see a (518) on my phone i know its them... and no i wont take the jobs that they offer...

the first two calls this week were about the stupid audit at a pharmacy... $20 fee for checking covertly checking 60 items... no thanks... find some other sucker...

yesterday it was about a cardboard install... the last one i did lasted 2 1/2 hours and i ripped my pants... i would have just left if one of the employees wasnt helping me... not anymore...

i will take the casual dine and the trailer checks... im trying out the pharmacy shop and gas station this week to see... the rest they can keep...

Market Force BLUE Portal: Ok.

Market Force PURPLE Portal: Beware.

The BLUE is mostly all mystery-shops, and while they generally don't pay very well, they do so quickly, and the reports are mostly so easy you could do them in your sleep. So that's ok.

But the PURPLE (the former CFA, before they merged), that's a different story. They're you're mostly expected to show up somewhere and do stuff some employee should be doing, like setting up & stocking displays. The pay is still pitiful, and it's patently obvious they are low-balling the time requirements. I wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole. I've worked plenty of retail and set up plenty of displays. I can tell you, it's NEVER as easy or quick as they describe. The movie-theater checks might be the only worthwhile thing to come out of the MF Purple portal.

Just my opinion of course.

Dagosto Wrote:
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> Market Force BLUE Portal: Ok.
>
> Market Force PURPLE Portal: Beware.
>
> The BLUE is mostly all mystery-shops, and while
> they generally don't pay very well, they do so
> quickly, and the reports are mostly so easy you
> could do them in your sleep. So that's ok.
>
> But the PURPLE (the former CFA, before they
> merged), that's a different story. They're you're
> mostly expected to show up somewhere and do stuff
> some employee should be doing, like setting up &
> stocking displays. The pay is still pitiful, and
> it's patently obvious they are low-balling the
> time requirements. I wouldn't touch them with a
> ten-foot pole. I've worked plenty of retail and
> set up plenty of displays. I can tell you, it's
> NEVER as easy or quick as they describe. The
> movie-theater checks might be the only worthwhile
> thing to come out of the MF Purple portal.
>
> Just my opinion of course.

I agree fully. CFA is something else. I did the standee and it was one of the most difficult. They kept on offering more standees with bonus. I told them, sorry, my partner does not want to do it anymore. Once is more than enough.

I did not like the price check at all but I completed it in the middle of winter. When they gave me another one, I refused. That was when they deactivated my account. I would have left it at that but they called to reactivate my account. They have paid me for each and every assignment which were iffy as they were rush and too disorganized on their part. So now, I am very choosy about what I do for them. And I voice out! I even sent them a handwritten letter with my report.

The trailer checks are fine if you are going to the movies anyway. However, watch out because they have a very bad habit of changing the rates or cancelling the assignment even barely two hours of execution. But as long as they communicate with me, I am a very forgiving person. Contrary to someone's comment about MS not for anyone wanting 'handholding', that's never my policy. I told Purple that mutual respect is very important to me and they could remove me from their database.

This is not a do or die job. If they are treating you as if you are stupid, let them know you do not appreciate it. My impression is that some higher ups care if they value you. Of course, that is only my opinion, based on my experience.

About the Blue Portal, I have no issue with them. But if they ask you why you are not accepting the same type of job, tell them that the rates are too low and explain. You will be surprised. The next time, there would be a "changed fees" on the list.

Hey don't be offended just pat yourself on the back continue to stay alert and TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never had any problems with this company

The only problem with the movie trailers is that it is $7 first screen then $2 the second. sometimes it is more than 2 hours before you complete 3 screens for $11
Easy work but very low pay.

niteowl Wrote:
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> I got a call from Market Force today wanting me to
> do a shop at a check-cashing business. I had never
> taken one because the pay is $12 and the
> description says you might have to be there for an
> hour. Plus, I don't need their services, so all
> I'd be getting out of the shop is the fee.
>
> The fee has always been $12 out here, and gets
> bonused as the month wears on. I check
> availability of shops every day, and this morning
> some of the shops were up to $14.
>
> The scheduler didn't mention the fee at first, but
> was telling me how easy the shop is, and that I
> would probably not need to be there for an hour.
> Then she told me the fee is $10, but she can add a
> $2 bonus!
>
> I told her the fee online was $14, and she said
> she could ask her manager if she could offer $15.
> I said no thanks, that it wasn't right for her to
> have offered me the $10 and $12 fees in the first
> place.
>
> I am insulted! Does Market Force think we're
> stupid? Do they think we don't remember the fees
> online? Isn't that what a mystery shopper is
> supposed to be - observant and good at remembering
> details?

No, they are not stupid. They are playing you. You are a Human resource. They will hang up the phone and dial another number. "But don't you know who I am?, I helped you so many times before. I know you can afford more! DOES NOT WORK, They are Market Force. They can say "Next", someone more desperate thay you will pick it up. They just do not want to take the time to dial another number and try to get you for the least possible fee.

jenjones3 Wrote:
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> I have never had any problems with this company


I have never had any problems with them too. In fact I did 3 airport shops in December (when I was travelling) and they extended the report submission by 72 hours since I was flying international. The pay was reasonable too - $30 each plus reimbursement.

I have worked for MF for 8yrs and I've only had 2 problems with them. They are less than considerate when it comes to a family or health situation. 2 yrs ago after the death of a family member and found out I had cancer and had surgery which took 7 months to heal had to cancel all scheduled shops and they removed me as a shopper, they called me back and reinstated after 9 months. Currently I have been battling broncitis and pnemonia for over a month, doctor has me on restriction with letters stating I am not allowed to work. After explaining this they took all shops and rescheduled them for 1 day to complete 21 shops! I have replied and replied to always get a reply from someone else, and the emails getting unfriendly as I state its an imposible task especially when I'm ill. I was to be released feb 15th for a return to work date, but after seeing him this morning I was givin a No return to work or tenitive return to work date. I just emailed them and said please cancel the 21 shops you piled on me for one day to complete as I'm still ill and unable to complete and there is plenty of time for others to pick them up and they usually go quickly anyway. I'm waiting to see if I'll be removed once again.

Terri

gigishopper Wrote:
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> Just an FYI, the check cashing shop was very easy
> for me. I was in and out in under 5 minutes (I did
> the money order scenerio).

I have done four of these, and used the same scenario. Once, I was in and out in under five minutes, and actually had to explain on the form how I was able to complete the shop so quickly. I made sure to check out the brochures the next time, so I would be there over that five minute red-flag threshold. The two times after that, I did the shops on a Saturday, and there was quite a line, so it took me about 20 minutes to get through the shop -- but 18 of those 20 minutes were waiting in line reading texts on my phone. The forms for these were quite simple, too. I could see it taking an hour if the shopper went during a busy time and used -- either by force or by choice -- a more complicated scenario, though.

I've been a shopper for 18 years and put them in the same category as I put green bean casserole and poison ivy.

Hey! I like green bean casserole.

I have had problems with other companies who advertise a shop for one price and pay a lower one, claiming that was the price all along. One for $15 that paid $10, one for $18 that paid $15. Live and learn. I now take a "photo" on my computer of every job I've accepted showing the fee it was offered at. I'm documenting everything I can think of now, knowing the MSCs will shaft you if they can.

Has anyone had an experience with a MSC which has treated them with integrity every time? Any companies that have proven they are trustworthy?

I've had way more companies act with integrity than the other way around. If they don't I exercise my option to stop working for them.