mgoodreau's experience reminds us not to put too many eggs in one basket. Stuff happens, clients play musical chairs.

$5,000/year would be a sizeable loss of mystery shopping income for me. I do traditional shops and am signed with every MSC I have found. May be easier to replace that income if a shopper is willing to travel and do video shops.

Don't stress go sign up with other places.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2014 12:31AM by yawarakai.

Oddly, they agreed to reinstate me, but not for a few months. This is making the $5000 mark seem to make more sense. Is there some benefit a company is required to offer after making a certain amount?

I also find it VERY odd that they would let me keep the 20+ shops I had already signed up for. If I have made three mistakes and cannot work for them in fear I will make a fourth mistake, why am I allowed to do these shops?

This does not add up unless there is a benefit to them to keep me from making more in one year.

Mabe MarketForce sees anyone that is willing to subject themself to $5,000 worth of shops for them in one year no longer capable of describing how the bun was toasted, or how many times the fries were shaken without wanting to go postal.

They have seen so many buns and so many fries that they are just burned out and the "average" shopper will have lost any meaningfull value based on the computer model they use.

@mgoodreau: A congratulations is in order, since you and your persistence prevailed and you learned something very important about MF. Congratulations (and keep signing up with the other MSCs).

@scanman: I love your theory!

(heart)

Screw em. There's enough work out there with reasonable companies to fulfill 5000 dollars a year. I made a thousand dollars on sassie shop jobs alone in October. Theres not many companies I'd stress over getting removed from that run their business that way.

Thanks for the post. Not signed up with them, but now I know not to bother. Its their loss removing people that do good work.

Thanks for all the advice. I signed with a few more companies and have six shops lined up for tomorrow. Not even missing a beat!!!

Yay!

(heart)

To those who had asked me to come back and report - you were right! I am doing better with a few other companies. It takes a little longer to sign up as I have to check multiple companies, but I am really actually okay with this! Thank you all again for advice and support!

The day MF dropped me was the best day of my life. I signed up with many other MSC and now I do regular work for 10 MSC. I make more money now, eat healthier and do less shops.

Not too smart on MF end to remove good shoppers. If they didn't do this they would have had a huge shopper base and could get shops done for cheap as hell and make a ton of money. Now they have to pay bonuses as they don't have shoppers in areas they kicked shoppers out of.

Why would experienced shoppers from a huge shopper base work for the very low fees of a MF shop? They would want to wait for the fees to go up and receive a bonus. I've done a handful of shops for them over the years and unless there is a non-FF shop within walking distance of my house, their shops are not worth my time. By getting rid of the long time shoppers, they constantly have fresh eyes which many clients prefer.

I must admit that this conversation terrifies me. I do by far the bulk of my work through Market Force. I am still a new shopper (I've only been working for around 6 months now) and I know I have had 2 mistakes. Once I forgot to ask for a receipt at one of my locations, the second time I didn't take a proper photo (I took the photo but it didn't show as much as they wanted) so I had to go back and take another.
I live way out in the sticks so there isn't much to choose from out here. I would hate to loose them!!

Funny. I thought it was just me! I stopped getting calls shortly after I reported a horrific, grossly disturbing display in a seafood department in a <grocery store>. I had nightmares-can't imagine a child viewing what was on display. When I spoke with someone at the 925 area code location I was told I do not have access to the site, and he did not know why. Coincidence? I didn't get crazy about it- there are other companies with grocery shops, and other options, and shortly after that incident I had double foot surgery, so running around for lots of shops was out for a few months anyway . My husband signed up to MF and for several months it was like clockwork on a Sat or Sun. morning for him to get a call and accept 3-4 <grocery store>. He's on the road a great deal, and that worked for him. And then last weekend, one call, no message. Returning the call, no <grocery store> assignments. This weekend no call! And now he cannot "see" any <grocery store> on the site. It would be interesting to see if anyone from MF comments on this thread.



Mod note: That was fun, fixing so many repeated ICA violations in one post! But please, be more careful in the future -- I already have enough fun as it is.

What could have been so awful in a seafood department?

There were gigantic ( like a foot long ) bloody fish heads looking like they had been torn apart from the body while alive-faces were contorted , mouths gaping open -not to mention the bloody, entrail- splattered apron on the attendant. I guess you had to be there. I literally had to run to the bathroom, where I threw up. Am now vegetarian, as of that minute.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2014 06:52PM by triciabb.

Sounds like a typical fish market to me. Fish always look like that and had probably been in fishy heaven long before they reached the market.

From your description I thought maybe the fishmonger had lost a finger in the case or the lobsters were displayed in pornographic poses

Lobster porn. Cool.

Again, as I said , you had to be there. I used to eat organic salmon, and have seen and shopped fish counters. This was like nothing I have ever seen. I did not find it at all usual, or amusing, but everyone has their own values. It redefined my life in a good way, and perhaps that was my lesson.

Triciabb, some are much more sensitive to things of that nature than others. I'm able to get past just about anything as I spent my childhood on a farm and was exposed to my first hog killing at the age of five. I'll do everyone a favor and not describe a country hog killing. Our fluffy little chicks grew up to be chicken and dumplings. Something we knew well was always dying to end up on the kitchen table at meal time. That sounds hard, but it was a way of life we didn't question. I understand the fish display upset you, but did you not already know something had to die for you to eat something that had been alive?

You're probably better off over the long run going vegetarian as long as you're careful to get enough protein, but I believe over time you'll get recover from what you saw and starting eating your life long diet again. Although the super market could have been more careful about the fish case or table or whatever you saw, for them that's just everyday work and they thought nothing of it.

You are right about sensitivities- I could never have lived as you did, even when I was consuming differently. Somehow when you (the generic you) choose that diet, you can separate the food from the animal, and obviously, I did, although for several years prior, I could not cook a turkey or chicken, or watch live lobsters become dinner, so this step was inevitable. For me it was an awakening that I doubt I will abandon. I wrestle with wearing the leather items I still have in my wardrobe, that I cannot go out and totally replace to line up with how I now feel, but I no longer buy that way.

My husband and my two rescue ShihTzus are carnivorous, so I am still housing these products for them, although my husband has cut down a bit.
I just can no longer consume them. I do eggs, yogurt, milk, cheese for protein- organic and humanely produced- plus beans, nuts, other legumes, protein powders and supplements. My annual physical was better than last year's, and last year's was very good, all of which turned out to be a bonus to what has been a moral decision for me.

As for that supermarket, my husband has said the seafood department no longer displays what I saw, or anything remotely like it, and that the department personnel are not covered in their actions. I steer clear of all seafood counters.

And as you may have guessed, I am an animal advocate wherever and however I can. Somehow, when you know the rest of the story, the decision is easy. I haven't regretted it for a millisecond.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2014 11:37PM by triciabb.

I can only speak for myself but I never separated the food from the animal. I always understood the concept of the food chain and in childhood I was taught where I was in the chain. For example, I was taught to keep my distance from the pig pen because the pigs considered small children food. No slam against the pigs, that's just the way it was. I was taught that cows would step on me, the bull would kill me on purpose, dogs I didn't know would bite and chew, and snakes would strike. Our dogs were kept as hunting companions and they were expected to do their jobs. Cats were kept as barn mousers. I've evolved somewhat and now feed six fat lazy yard cats that hang around the place and wait on the north porch every morning for breakfast. They're fuzzy and lovable but if they were hungry and they could, they'd eat me in a heartbeat. The food chain is real, no matter how far back we push it. I understand it takes about four days without food for any of us to turn feral.

What exactly is organic salmon?

Watching the Wheels Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What exactly is organic salmon?

$12.99 a pound

Triciabb, I wouldn't worry too much about wearing the leather that you already have. I understand that you may feel like a hippocrit telling someone you're a vegetarian while wearing a leather skirt, but really, throwing it out won't bring the cow back to life!

triciabb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You are right about sensitivities- I could never
> have lived as you did, even when I was consuming
> differently. Somehow when you (the generic you)
> choose that diet, you can separate the food from
> the animal, and obviously, I did, although for
> several years prior, I could not cook a turkey or
> chicken, or watch live lobsters become dinner, so
> this step was inevitable. For me it was an
> awakening that I doubt I will abandon. I wrestle
> with wearing the leather items I still have in my
> wardrobe, that I cannot go out and totally replace
> to line up with how I now feel, but I no longer
> buy that way.
>
My annual physical was better than last year's, and
> last year's was very good, all of which turned out
> to be a bonus to what has been a moral decision
> for me.
>
> And as you may have guessed, I am an animal
> advocate wherever and however I can. Somehow, when
> you know the rest of the story, the decision is
> easy. I haven't regretted it for a millisecond.


triciabb, I applaud your awakening and your new convictions. I don't agree, but I have many friends who are vegetarians and speak against the wearing of fur and leather and I completely respect their chosen lifestyle and beliefs. I completely understand why, given your convictions and your choice to speak out, you wrestle with wearing leather items. In your place, I would feel like a hypocrite every time I looked at one of the leather items hanging in my closet......and when wearing one, I would feel guilty and I would be expecting someone to ask me if I felt like a hypocrite. I could never again allow myself to wear leather and would not want them in my closet. I would take the leather items and donate them to a worthwhile charity. Or, perhaps if money is an issue, there are consignment shops which would allow me to get a little money for the leather that I could then use to replace them with items I felt more comfortable about, perhaps at the same consignment shop. For me, it's "Walk the Talk."

Hi. The "three-mistake" form letter appears to be generated automatically as a result of some sort of glitch in their system. If you simply ignore it, you will find that there will be no changes in your status and you will continue to have full access to everything.

I was almost dropped from MF but I wrote them a note saying the error I made was just a mix up and not a deliberate attempt to cheat them and they reinstated me. I think being polite goes a long ways in those situations.

But yeah I always try to do the best shops for me. Time is money sure, but nobody will ever get rich doing $7 fast food shops. In the long run time can prove to be more valuable than that. I know you can just eat a bite of the food and do the report but if you find yourself ruining your diet over $7 jobs you really have to think about what it is worth to you. Factor in gas, factor in the free food (scored $10 in free food OK but what that costs them practically nothing) and did you really want that food to begin with? Also, with the occasional failed shop....if you lose ten bucks on food that you did not want, it might take you more than one mystery shop to recover that. Not trying to be negative here just throwing out some considerations.

1. Time 2. Health 3. Money. Which is of these is most important to you? Maybe all three are important to a degree, but being less stressed and healthy is a quality to possess, however having a few more fast food shops under your belt is not something that will leave an impression on anybody when they meet you.

Like the one guy said his heart rate dropped when he stopped doing fast food shops! Wow, I'm usually pretty skeptical but I actually believe that. Did you know that blood donor nurses can tell when someone had a donut before donating blood? We are what we eat. Lots of smart ideas on this board (give it to friends, homeless people, will power, etc).

Good luck, and I hope you all live the life you want to live. You deserve that, and nobody can make that happen for you but yourself. Follow your intuition.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you can get them to tell you what the alleged
> errors were AND you have some type of proof no
> errors were made, they often will reverse the
> decision. It happened to me.

Same thing happened to me. Marketforce made the mistake, and I was able to prove to them it was their mistake, not mine. I wasn't able to shop for them for three weeks during the investigation, and was out several dollars in certified mailing fees, but my account was reinstated once I proved I had correctly performed the shop in question.

Fortunately, I knew exactly what was being questioned (it was easy to figure out, they didn't precisely tell me). I would look more favorably on Marketforce if they were consistently candid so that we, as their shopper partners, had the opportunity to dispute errors that their editors make.

I had the exact same situation happen to me at about the same time earnings wise and shop wise as you. I didn't get anywhere through email but when I called the help desk they reinstated me.

In some areas the fees are really high. There are a few ff shops I do regularly for $80- it's a bit of a drive but well worth it if I get all three shops for the month. Another few locations I do most months for 25-40 and those drives are not so far away. Plus the shear volume of shops avaliable and the fact that I have to do very little work to find them since they call me multiple times a day is really convenient.