I've done many shops with Bestmark and have never had a problem with them. Only once did I get a "warning" from an editor to deduct $ the next time I made the mistake I (justly) made.

Bestmark was my very first company I shopped for and I've never had any problems with them.

I LIKED Bestmark's reply a LOT. I believe in corporate transparency! I thought it was a well-written, reasoned response. I also learned a LOT about the inner workings at MSCs!

BTW, I just did my first shop for them, just received my first paycheck (a week earlier than expected) and I MIGHT be just a little biased!

I once drove 50 miles east to do a shop...after I got home and looked at my receipts, I realized there was an hour time-change (I drove JUST over the line, like 2 miles, for the one-hour time change!). I went to and fro with myself for HOURS before submitting the shop....but fear of getting "caught" lying won out. My honesty cost me a $65 pay, but at least I didn't get fired!

Now I'm REALLY glad I didn't fudge the time.

cease

ceasesmith ~ Great decision! This business is based on many things, but trust tops the list.

Hello guys. I have been a MS for almost 4 years. Granted, I haven't done a ton of shops in that time and never before have I posted on a forum, but I just had to on this one. First is because everyone has the right to defend themselves and Bestmark did a fine job in the process, with style and grace. Maybe they were thinking that the next person who feels like they want to threaten them will think again. Secondly, I have only done oil change shops for this company (attempted web/phone but they don't work for me for any company) but not only do they pay well if you wait for them to go up, for a necessary service that they also pay for, they pay super fast. I have done several of them for Bestmark through the years and have never had a deduction except maybe a late report, even though I was cutting my teeth on them for awhile, and feel this company is tops on my list of companies. Just my 2 cents.

But why do they need ss number for $150 worth of shops. I do not trust them that is why I refuse to give them my ss number.

stones Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But why do they need ss number for $150 worth of
> shops. I do not trust them that is why I refuse
> to give them my ss number.



If you don't trust the company, that is a good reason to not work with them. However, IF you decide to work with them, or with any other mystery shopping company, they will need to have your SS# (or an EIN) in order to pay for even $1 worth of shops. This is because all mystery shopping earnings are taxable. The dollar amount of the shops is irrelevant.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/07/2013 08:56PM by AustinMom.

What does the amount have to do with anything? You are required to report all your earning and they are required to report all their contractor payments regardless of the amount. The only time the amount would apply is whether they are also required to send you a 1099.

Sorry, I cross posted with AM.

Stones, you won't get any legitimate job in the USA without a Social Security or an EIN number. If you won't give anyone your ID number, you won't get any shops.

stones, it is ingrained in us to protect our SSN, online and otherwise. Too much potential for identity theft. We have to be careful. It is also true that we cannot work as shoppers without providing our SSNs, or EINs. Most MSC sites are secure. For the sites that are not secure, other arrangements can be made to provide your SSN. There have been a few MSCs who have not had secured sites. I phoned them, and acceptable solutions were provided to me.

there are many shop companies that do not require SS to work for them so the comment about having to give one is not a true comment

And what companies would that be?

Like Lisa, I can't think of any MSCs that do not require a SS#. You've stated that you have been paid by Mintel, Monterrey, and Reality Based. All 3 require a SS#, so, since you've been paid, I'm assuming you provided it to them. Which mystery shopping companies have paid you without providing your SS#?

I am in Canada and I don't have to gave my SS# to the MSC so far. When I am asked for one on the application, I just entered XXX XXX XXX. CoRI, Trendsource, Lanla and many more all paid me without one.

Cherise, I don't think that works in Texas. In Canada, you're not dealing with the USA Internal Revenue Service, so it would be different. Every company I've signed up with has required a number of some kind before being paid.

My spouse worked for a Canadian company here in Texas. They did not take taxes off his cheque. I guess you have to live in the country to be taxed.

Stones or anyone else concerned about giving your social security number out I recommend getting one of the reputable fraud protection companies. I've had fraud protection alert (can't remember the company name right off) but every thing comes up. I bought a new car several months back and I have a list of every bank the dealer listed. Also, my son is away at college and I got a notice the next day after I got a joint card with him for airline miles. It is worth having for piece of mind. Also, something showed up on the report that wasn't me and within 3 days it was cleared from all 3 reporting agencies. Had I not had the alert service it could have sat there for years and hurt my rating.

Good advice, gogogirl.

For the past several years, I have been provided with free credit monitoring and reports, due to account, SSN, or state income tax breaches. The reports have been useful. I do not have LifeLock, which I have heard is a good service. However, I do have identity protection insurance through my homeowner's insurance. The cost is minimal.

I know with some companies you can NOT shop the same location with in a certain amount of time, usually one year. They do this to avoid seeing the same people who may think you are a " shopper". Maybe this was the case. I would contact them again a nicely ask them to clerify. At least you may be aware of guidelines that may apply elsewhere too. Be very nice...that shows professionalism.

Same thing here, have done shops for them put up with al the BS, waited weeks to get paid and now last shop was deducted for something that was not my fault, have had it with this company, BEWARE they will screw you every chance they get

hdrider63 Wrote:
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> Same thing here, have done shops for them put up
> with al the BS, waited weeks to get paid and now
> last shop was deducted for something that was not
> my fault, have had it with this company, BEWARE
> they will screw you every chance they get


Hello, hd and thank you for posting. Could you make your post a little more helpful, by explaining specifically how much was deducted and for what it was deducted? As a first time poster, it would increase your credibility. Otherwise, some of us might think you're a troll, which is not a good thing.

(heart)

stilllearning, you mark posters as trolls, except maybe they're not. Let's not scare newcomers away.

I have shopped for BestMark. I have never had any problems with that mystery shopping company. I recommend each shopper work with with all of the various companies to determine for themselves. Everyone is different, and each scenario, and each report, and the various editors...

I do want to thank Best Mark for their well thought, comprehensive reply. I don't believe I've ever seen a MSC do that before.

One last thing, and this is only my opinion...but if a shopper has recently shopped the same location (within 6 months or so) they should be certain to at least evaluate a different sales person. If that isn't possible, they ought to exclude themselves from that assignment altogether. For one, they have outed themselves as a shopper. Secondly, the reports will be too much the same ~ not giving the client the diversity they are seeking from the MSC. I would be surprised that repeat, duplicate or too similar evaluations would even be accepted.

The first time I a detailed response from a MSC, I cringed. Now that I've seen so many posts like this from shoppers, I appreciate hearing as much detail on the response as I saw on the initial post.

I had to laugh when Bestmark stated that they only deactivate a shopper for fraud. I was deactivated because I reported them to the BBB when they delayed payment on a shop for several months. The payroll lady was nasty and rude and told me she just forgot to process my payment not to mention it was my fault for turning the receipt in "late" (one day). She forgot to process my payment more than once. I had done a restaurant shop for which I was out of pocket about $70 which was a lot to me at the time.
I liked working for them, and the scheduler was a great guy, but when the payroll lady was rude to me and didn't take responsibility for her errors, I was done.

frodosdojo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had to laugh when Bestmark stated that they only
> deactivate a shopper for fraud. I was deactivated
> because I reported them to the BBB when they
> delayed payment on a shop for several months. The
> payroll lady was nasty and rude and told me she
> just forgot to process my payment not to mention
> it was my fault for turning the receipt in "late"
> (one day). She forgot to process my payment more
> than once. I had done a restaurant shop for which
> I was out of pocket about $70 which was a lot to
> me at the time.
> I liked working for them, and the scheduler was a
> great guy, but when the payroll lady was rude to
> me and didn't take responsibility for her errors,
> I was done.

Did you monitor the status on the website? I find Bestmark's website quite user-friendly, more so than most sites. I am able to see the date when my receipt is verified, the date when my report is verified, as well as the date when I should expect to receive my check (although the column reads "check processed" I find this is often the date I receive the check in the mail).

I just want to be sure Bestmark is fairly represented on this board. Payroll seems to be an automated process, so I wonder if the whole story is being told. I'm sure things can go wrong, but I have completed more than 200 shops for them and have always been paid on time. In fact, their payment terms are faster than most companies. They normally pay twice monthly, but sometimes they pay faster than that. In December they are paying weekly. Some of the shops I did earlier this week are scheduled for payment next Friday. That's meaningful to me.

Ok, so I thought this part of the forum was for MS not the companies? So, if I have a ? about a company or whatever, they can come and read what I say or ask? I thought this was private where a newer less experienced MS could get guidance from another? Am I all wrong?? It appears that way.

Anything can be read without signing in, but in order to post you need to register. Company representatives can see and comment on what you post. Most of the time, they identify themselves, but not always.

The only way this could truly be a private forum would be if everyone provided proof of who they were, which is difficult for mystery shopping. I would not post anything where you are openly bashing a company unless you don't care whether you work for the company again.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/26/2013 04:21PM by Shelly.

I agree, Shelly about openly bashing a company......I believe if you have an issue with a company, speak to THEM about it. Don't be bashing them here. That is very unprofessional.

I haven't done many shops with Bestmark (maybe 40 or so) but they've always paid on time. They are a no nonsense company IMHO. Maybe their fee isn't as high as others, but they are a good company if you choose to do their shops at the fee offered.