I did few shops for them without any bonuses, as I was a newbie. Then I soon realised that the shops I had completed were being offered a bonus of $25+!! They did not give me any bonus though. Now I wait till they offer bonuses, and then take it.(because as someone here said, they do require 2 ppl, if u r female, and u cannot buy much, so first few times I ended up paying out of pocket)

Coming to the point, I am not sure if i can write the names her, but their old scheduler was very nice, and I could get few shops done, but recently this one scheduler keeps sending me emails saying BONUS, and once I say I can do it, I get a reply saying: "someone who doesn't want bonus is doing it"

What the hell then? Why are you sending me emails with BONUS?? This has happened to me few times with same person , and so I decided to share it here.

She also wrote to me that , best way to get a shop is without bonus! Is she paying from her pockets? I did do some when I paid out of my pockets, but I'd like to make some money too!!

This is GFK, so people please be aware, and wait for her to give you bonus, instead of paying out of your pockets!

Go ahead and name her. That violates nothing. It may help your fellow shoppers...

Wow, that does sound off. To say 'I'm giving it to someone else who will do it without the bonus' after emailing with the offer to bonus is just..well, weird.

Even if that's what schedulers do behind the scenes when they decide to assign shoppers, it's not for her to say to YOU. Very unprofessional....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2012 02:44AM by hudge95.

How silly is the shopper who took the job sans bonus after a blast e-mail announcing they were willing to pay more? Just like any other company, if it's on your route and you want to take it at the stated fee, go for it. If it is out of your way then you should be compensated accordingly.

Sounds like she's messing with you for some reason.

I think she's full of it, too. Sounds like she's being petty and spiteful for no reason. She better get used to having to do bonuses and not playing games with the shoppers RIGHT QUICK or find herself unable to get shops filled. I can't say I'd try to apply again after that kind of b.s. comment.

If she pulls attitude again, let her know that the last company paid more WITHOUT BONUS and didn't require a male companion in order for a woman to go. It's NOT freakin' Hooters. What's that about? And you don't work out of the kindness of your heart but to get paid, especially when she offers a bonus. Nah, I think I'd go over her head and complain to her supervisor. Don't know if it'd do any good but I think I'd try that route. Or both. I've got a big mouth. And those shops aren't worth it without a bonus because it covers ONE person without the bonus. The other used to pay $30, I believe it was. Whatever, we'd go and eat and it'd cover the tip, too.

So she can bite me if she pulls that on me! I don't want them that badly. I haven't done them once since GfK has taken over, though I did apply once when I was missing them. The addiction has been mellowed when I found out I can buy the sauces and make the wings at home with the restaurant's sauces. Tastes just as good. So tell her to stick it and buy the sauce for $5 a bottle. Probably cheaper in the long run since it only takes a tiny bit of sauce on the wings.

I am getting the emails offering the $25 bonus as well but on the job board they are listed at a $5 shopper fee and $15 reimbursement-to take a male with you. I guess you must respond to the email to get the bonus. The poor shopper who signs up through the site never even knows a bonus was offered.

Any comments on GFK as a company to work with? Speed of payments, etc?

I have never had any issues with GFK. I think they pay every 2 weeks. I know my payments come quickly from them.

Pay is quick, system problems which were rampant have been alleviated by the switch to Sassie, although they still require an insane number of tests. That part of the program is actually a bigger PITA now because you can't see a test is required until you use the submit link. I've found schedulers to be hit and miss. If you have a scheduler that responds to e-mails and answer the phone then they can be great. Unfortunately, way more of them do neither.

Wow- when the pros here blast the company - something's wrong.

OP , Pleae name, FULL name of the scheduler who is playing "Bait n Switch"

It will help all of us.

Maybe even help us make a change, either in her or out of the company.

As this forum is to help our fellow mystery shoppers, I am going to post my emails here, so that u get an idea of the "tone" used in it.
Needless to say, I am not going to shop for this company, even if they pay me more, because its principles, and I do these shops to have some fun.
This is not my mode of income. So I am not going to let these companies treat me like this!

Also I hope that those people who are signing up for these shops without bonuses, think twice. Because as someone here pointed, they write about bonuses only in the emails, and that too just the subject line, never in the actual email, plus they don't update on their site. That should raise a red flag about this company.


Anyway, here are the emails:

Mine---I'LL take***** shop. What r the dates and time? Thanks

GFK--It must be completed tomorrow between 11am-2pm

Mine--Ok I can do that. Will it be shown in my profile?

GFK---Sorry the emails had been going out to the wrong group so 99% of the people would have taken this at the $5 bonus and so someone swiped this $15 bonus up quickly. The shop has already been taken.


Mine--What you are saying is unclear to me. But I do notice that I am having problem scheduling shops with you. I keep getting emails and when I take shop, they seem to be gone.

GFK---Yes, if there are bonuses put on any of these shops then they go fast. If you really want to do a shop it’s best to take them before a bonus is added as then you can be assured you will get the shop.

Mine--- I still don't get what you are trying to say in your previous email below?
Someone swiped $15 bonus for $5??!! So someone wants to get paid less for this shop?
You also say that emails went to wrong people, 99% people?? What does that mean?

I really need to speak with a manager here, because communication with you is obviously not making any sense to me. Please provide me with an email who might be able to clear this situation.

GFK---Your emails are hard to understand as well. I’m sorry that we don’t seem to be understanding each other. I am the manager so you are stuck with me unfortunately. I am sorry that it’s been so hard to get shops. Hopefully you will get one soon. The July shops are on the job board now so you might want to see if any of those interest you.


As you can see, when I said I don't understand her emails, she got defensive and said that she cannot understand mine either!!
All i wanted was try to figure out , why did she swipe me , when she had already given me the time, and I had planned accordingly in my schedule.
She never once said sorry for the confusion etc. I still don't know the 99% thing?!
On the other hand , it's like go schedule now when no bonus is offered, or else u 'll not get the shop!!

She is the manager and her name is Donna Goodwin.

How a bad manager can make a company look bad, perfect example.

That name speaks volumes. This is the reason I run like hell from them.

Cettie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That name speaks volumes. This is the reason I
> run like hell from them

too bad i didn't know this , and had to experience! i hope this helps those who check this site.

The last shop I did for them, they didn't reimburse for the tip, even though it was included in the allowed amount and was only 15%. CHEAPSKATES. I won't do restaurant shops for companies that don't reimburse the gratuity.

I dropped GFK last year due to ongoing problems, with their pre-SASSIE interface, but worse was how they dealt with --and didn't deal with-- me! They had a scheduler who is an aging shopper-rock-star veteran, Dianne Phillips who I thought was the best at first, until I picked up the manipulations, and upon confronting her, lies.

I found misrepresentations in their shop ads, confusing guidelines with no available clarification, and what appeared to be great paying shops that were not as described. And it seems they are willing to look the other way for shoppers to cheat to make their shops work! Yikes, I ran from them.