Anybody work for them? I did until this week. I shopped at [burger joint] for them many times. Pays around $10. If the location is close all the better. Shop wants you to purchase one entree, a side and a drink. You can order something extra but they wont pay. This week I decided to order the infamous cheese cake balls. That will be my first and last time. I reported online as always. Next thing I know - I am told I wont be paid because I ordered something extra. Once I pointed out the gudeline state I can - then MF (how appropriate) stated I should have gotten two separate receipts. EXCUSE ME? MF claimed their client demands it. I doubt very seriously their client has an inkling of their actions. That's gonna stop. Nowhere does it state I have to get two separate receipts and why can't MF just deduct the $1.99. Cant they perform simple math? What a crock and shame on them for trying to cheat me out of $10.

Umm...technically, having mentioned Market Force in the header of this thread, you have violated your confidentiality agreement by naming the client, which I will hereafter refer to as the Hedgehog.

I cannot speak for those MF people of course. I have only done one Hedgehog shop for them, and the food was so awful it was not worth the pay to eat it. However, I routinely do the Fistful of Fellows shops for them, and I routinely exceed the allotted reimbursement, by about 80 cents. MF has never had a problem with this, and I've done it since Day One. So....if they claim the Hedgehog client won't accept the report for this reason, you've little choice but to take their word for it.

I'd advise, just take your lumps and go on. If they're gonna be that way with the Hedgehog, either stop doing those, or follow the "new" rules precisely.

Market Force lives by the "Golden Rule". They figure they have the gold so they can make an change the rule on the fly. That means you do not get a guarantee that you will get the fee they originally offered and they can cancel anytime they like without an apology. If you try that they call it "flaking.

Their movie assignments are a joke. You get the paperwork at the last moment or they can cancel at the last moment. You can not stay and see the picture. Staying to watch the picture might be an extra perk that will encourage people to take the assignment. We can not make the shop enjoyable can we? Most of the time it is just I and one or two real customers and a lot of empty seats.

Add a positive contribution to the community? It seems when I write about Market Force there is not much that is positive. MF figures they have an unlimited amount of desperate people that will take the jobs in this economy and the people who take the assignments do not read this forum. I am preaching to the Choir.

Amen to that.

Every time I see the unemployment figure take a tick down, I make a little wish that Market Force gets a little closer to losing their desperate pool of (mostly female) shoppers to exploit.

They lowered my fees repeatedly - altering my CPI after the fact (F-R-A-U-D), cancelled several shops on me at the last minute, and just stressed me out with their outsourced Philipino call center.

It's a positive contribution to warn new shoppers about MF. Jacob certainly did take them on, didn't he?

Apologists for Market Force's unethical behavior can go pound sand.

I have to agree with Dagasto. You really need to edit your post because you can't mention the client and MSC together - serious violation. It is one that many of us have either accidentaly done before or came close.

I've been shopping for them for several years and haven't had any problems with pay or with accepting my report. I have gotten burnt out on some of their FF restaurants. And like Piled Hip Deep said, I won't do their movie checks because I think as a minimum they should buy me a ticket to see the movie. Sadly someone in the area must be doing them or they would change their ways.

As far as Hedgehog goes, my instructions are very specific what I can order, a sandwich, a side item like fries and a drink. Nothing about ordering desserts. It also says that if I do have an additional purchase it must be on a separate receipt. I agree, you would think they could adjust it but it is in the RULES. And that is where they are coming from.

Actually the guidelines do not say I have to have a separate receipt. The FF shop is so far removed from reality they really dont know what is going on. I have no doubt they would not like this silly and spiteful behavior. I learned a friend of mine's former husband mystery shopped for this particular ff restaurant. He had to go to the hospital and could not perfom the task. Once he was released he contacted the company as to his reason for not shopping but they wrote him the same type of letter I got - cutting him off. They need to be held accountable for their savage actions.

I no longer do these shops because the reimbursement doesn't cover the cheapest qualified purchase in my area. If I must order a meal without being able to remove condiments to my liking, I sure don't want to be out money too!

It seems to me, when I was doing those shops, that the instructions said that if you wanted to order something extra, do it in a separate transaction after receiving the required meal. that way, you have a receipt just for your report that meets the requirements.

Well, my involvement with Market Force is now over. They kept changing fees, telling me I hadn't sent receipts and CPI's when the screen showed that I had, and finally they sent me an email denying me payment of a shop because they accused me of having someone else do it for me! I am so angry! They are attacking my integrity.

They also have severed my shopper contract citing that I have an 'association' with another shopper.

So, for anyone new to shopping out there....I have been a shopper since the 1990's and NEVER have I had to deal with a company like this!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/15/2012 02:23PM by maggiemarie.

Yes, it was the constant "WTF?" moments when my CPI amounts were a few dollars less than I had contracted for that drove me to the edge and over last winter. And the 9:30 pm calls from the Phillippines. And the cancellations. And... On and on.

For 13 months, I worked for them and never had a problem. I would look at the posters on this board and V-board, and wonder, "What are they whining about?" and then... It started happening to me.

So, they can go suck it. Go and do fabulous work for one of their competitors. Wait for the day when they fold, then pop open the bubbly. I will celebrate along with many others.

Okay guys there are several violations of the guidelines. Anyone going to edit?

Pas moi.

Some of you are discussing the "other portal." As to the drive in restaurant shop, you cannot order anything outside of the guidelines due to timing issues. That being said, this company has a history of being problematic for shoppers. The good thing about this industry is that you CAN take it or leave it!! If you are not happy working with this company, then don't!

Market Force Purple has become almost impossible to work for. Blue has been my highest payer for several years with out a problem. Why can't purple get it's crap together> I signed up to do 3 jobs for a major merchandiser. I still have not received the shipment to my home. These 3 jobs are part of a grouplng of jobs I set up. With out the assignments I will have to cancel all 6 non MF jobs as they will not cover expenses. I am told the the shipping is handled by the customer and MHP has no way to check on the shipping. Am I alone in this problem? Another gripe is they expect me to call a merchandiser to see if they have helium to blow up ballons. If it is not available I must file a report, a total of about 35 min. work for no pay free labor. thanks for listening to my gripes .

Blue? Purple? I've done 3 shops for MF, how can I tell if mine is blue or purple?

D - Chances are you're working the blue portal. Purple is mostly merchandising, theatre checks, etc. When I log in to Market Force, I get a page with a gal with orange hair and an orange blouse. Is that what you see? Mystery shopping is on the left, and when you log in there you're in the blue portal. Everything else is on the right, and that's the purple portal.

Blue. Thanks! I was worried there for a minute, but they've already paid me for all three shops I did so far so I guess it's okay for now. I'll steer clear of the movies though.

It could be that the directions txmedia has from MF are different from mine. Having done the shop, I remembered the guidelines stating that only a sandwich, side item and drink could be ordered or the shop would be invalid. It did state that I could order other items in a separate transaction. There was no requirement for me to have a separate receipt but the receipt presented to MF could show only the sandwich, side and drink. I just went back and looked at my guidelines (I keep everything backed up on flash drive) and my guidelines do state that ordering additional items will invalidate the shop. The guidelines also do state that additional items can be ordered as a separate transaction. There is no mention of a second receipt .... but if you have 2 separate transactions, you will have 2 receipts. If you order an additional item with your meal, which my guidelines say invalidates the shop, you would only have one receipt. My guidelines may be different from txmedia's, but according to the guidelines I have for the shop, it would not surprise me to have the shop disallowed. So I would say in the future order only what is allowed. If you want additional items, go back and purchase them after you eat. The receipt must show only the required purchase. MF will not subtract the amount of an additional item from the receipt and pay you. They will disallow the shop.

I thought it might be more clear if I posted the relevant instructions from MF for this assignment:

"Order one entrée, one side order and one drink ONLY.
Do not order any additional items or add-ons even if suggested. AFTER you have received and paid for your order, you may place a separate order for additional items if you wish. You will not be reimbursed for
additional items. DO NOT evaluate additional items or include them in your amount spent."

So, it is correct that you are allowed to order additional items. It is also correct that MF does not require you to have another receipt (they quite frankly don't care whether you get a receipt for additional items purchased or not) but if you do order additional items, you must order them separately AFTER you have RECEIVED AND PAID FOR your order so if there is anything additional on your receipt it invalidates your shop.

I have done 450 shops with MF and they have ALWAYS paid me for every shop.

HOW does that happen? By following the rules, reading the instructions, not LEAVING your house until you understand them, keep your receipt, scan it and your report, as soon as you can that day and don't wait around until late evening to do it.

99% of shopping is following the rules.

The other 1% is common sense.

OP, you have way too many issues with MF, that at least a "few" of them must have some truth in basis. They stopped their association with you because things were too problematic.

When someone cries "foul" you have to take a deeper look at the situation. You ask yourself is it "me" or that horrible company?

Well, it's just like the "Traveler" hotel ratings site, If 86 reviewers loved the hotel and 2 did not, you have to wonder if it's the "horrible hotel" or a grumbling customer?....

If this is the same burger place, it clearly states to purchase YOUR food first. Then purchase have/your guests food paid for. Obviously you would have a seperate receipt because they are TIMING your cashier, cook and YOUR food delivery to counter. The other guests food is second, only to analyzing how yours gets to the counter.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 09:08PM by CAscotch.

CAscotch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How does market force give you feedback? I finally
> completed a shop for them. But besides my receipt
> status turning from "Submitted" to "Verified," I
> don't know where to look for feedback from the
> editors.


They don't. With them, no news is good news. If you do get feedback, something went wrong and that will be in an email. (I have only had 1 problem and that is how it was, in an email.).

So verified is GOOD!

SecretAgentMom is very correct. Either they accept the shop and pay you or NOT. They review quickly and if there is a problem you likely get an e-mail from the Help Desk questioning something or the "Sorry, we can't pay you ......" If they accept the shop you won't hear a thing. That's my favorite - I like to totally fly under the radar with them.

Chocmom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have to agree with Dagasto. You really need to
> edit your post because you can't mention the
> client and MSC together - serious violation. It is
> one that many of us have either accidentaly done
> before or came close.
>
> I've been shopping for them for several years and
> haven't had any problems with pay or with
> accepting my report. I have gotten burnt out on
> some of their FF restaurants. And like Piled Hip
> Deep said, I won't do their movie checks because I
> think as a minimum they should buy me a ticket to
> see the movie. Sadly someone in the area must be
> doing them or they would change their ways.
>
> As far as Hedgehog goes, my instructions are very
> specific what I can order, a sandwich, a side item
> like fries and a drink. Nothing about ordering
> desserts. It also says that if I do have an
> additional purchase it must be on a separate
> receipt. I agree, you would think they could
> adjust it but it is in the RULES. And that is
> where they are coming from.


I have been shopping since March of this year. I hate to admit: I do not know what "MSC" stands for. I just made a post about a company and I directly identified them for the benefit of the forum. Have I violated a rule too?

Assuredd Wrote:
>
> I have been shopping since March of this year. I
> hate to admit: I do not know what "MSC" stands
> for. I just made a post about a company and I
> directly identified them for the benefit of the
> forum. Have I violated a rule too?


MSC = Mystery Shopping Company. As long as the MSC and the client are not mentioned in the same thread, you are okay.

CAscotch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How does market force give you feedback? I finally
> completed a shop for them. But besides my receipt
> status turning from "Submitted" to "Verified," I
> don't know where to look for feedback from the
> editors.

The only feedback I care about receiving from them is delivered to my checking account once a month.

Burgers and a bonus, its a good thing.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/13/2013 09:08PM by CAscotch.

They are not a bad company to work for when you follow the guidelines. The reports are easy and fast. I have had times when receipts that I know I uploaded did not show up in their system. I always check back for the next 2 days after uploading to make sure they are verified.

I have completed over 1200 shops for them and never had one rejected but have gotten questions from them from time to time. They pay consistently 10 to 13 days into the following month and I have never had a fee changed (reduced) in all the shops I have done for them. I keep every e-mail they send when it has a bonus attached and make sure its in the CPI. If not I contact them right away, before I do the shop, to have the CPI corrected and if they dont then I tell them directly that I wont do the shop because the listed pay is not correct. They have never balked at this with me.

I can say they have never changed a fee on me, but I know about the time they did just that to dozens and dozens of shoppers. When individual shoppers contacted them, all MF would do was to remove the shop without penalty. They never once offered to honor the original CPI and seemed to find nothing wrong with altering a legal document rather than treating it as a binding contract. The very public outcry on social media had them changing their tune and it was a beautiful thing to behold.

I wish I'd read this thread a week ago. I had a store audit for them today. Everything went fine but now I'm wondering if it's going to be wasted time. Guess I'll find out in a month or so.