GFK Audits

Hey, has anybody done any of those all day audits that pay $85 to $95 and take 6-8 hrs? The ones where you have to pay $30 for a background and drug test, then do at least 2 audits in 3 months in order to get your money back?
I was just wondering if it's worth it....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2015 01:30AM by gocyndygo.

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Since the name of the MSC is in the subject line you should edit the client name out of your post. Posting guideline number 4 says do not reveal and most ICAs prohibit it as well.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

Nope, haven't done one, and have no interest in doing it. Too much work for too little pay. I'm wondering if anyone is really doing these.

putting my own money out up front is NOT happening with me

Paying for my own background check and drug testing, then getting reimbursed months later is not good business for me. Plus I can make that money on a few shops in 2-3 hours as opposed to standing on my feet for 6-8 hours.

all of you are right. It is too much and too hard work for too little and too late money. I did one audit. The project was badly organized and under funded. They make their communications sound as though shoppers are beating down their doors but I see they still have January jobs to do. They have some discretionary money so, if you are going to try it, ask for more money. They have it.

Not enough pay for the time involved. And I don't have a tablet, which has been listed as a requirement in the email messages I've received.

why would anyone work for less than 10 dollars an hour and have to provide
their own tablet. Is a company allowed to tell you how to enter your reports?
Seems like they are straddling the employer/employee line....which gfk is frequently
known to do.

= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
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When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody

I had a company tell me results had to be entered on site, but they did not specify tablet, laptop or phone. Another difference was they were paying $85 to $95 for audits taking three hours max, not six to eight hours.

Don't these audits also require you show up at 8 am on the dot? That struck me as pushing the employee envelope.

Well that lets me out. I do my best sleeping at 8am.

Kim

GFK day audits pay seems a little light. I might do one for around $120.00 which for 8 hrs would be 15.00 an hour.

I do not have a tablet, I have a laptop and smart phone but only get on the web with my phone if WiFi is available
I wonder if getting on line is a requirement to enter the info. Sounds like it, so if Wi Fi is not available at the audit location I than would probably pass on these.

I am just not interested in standing on my feet for 7 to 8 hours. I might be talked into doing a 3 -4 hour store for $15 an hour, but not if I have to put my money up front for testing only to find out I don't like it and wouldn't do another one. I seem to get these email several times a day. I'm about ready to create a filter for this particular shop. Haven't had much luck with great shops from this company.

Mystery Shopper since 1998; Author of Make Money Mystery Shopping available on Amazon in the Kindle Store.

I've never done these, but as some of you may know, Bestmark was doing these a year or so ago. They were paying the same amount, at least in my area. Best to look for one of those former auditors to see what they think.

I did however do a temp merchandising job for BB last year through SASR. It was simple work and paid around $11-15/hour for 8 hours, but I think I'd rather do the audit. Less labor involved.

I have done one audit. It took a long time, partly due to Telxon gun problems and just general delays, such as waiting for paperwork to print out at the store. They say you must have a tablet, but after you accept the job, they say you can use a smartphone, but they recommend a tablet. I do think it should pay more. But, I am willing to do it again and see if I can shave off some time and make it worthwhile.

Some of my auditors have been doing these since the program started and they complete them in a little over 5 hours. Like any process, it takes a couple of them to get a method figured out. I have one specific auditor in the NC area who has done these every weekday since 1/2/15 and he blazed through NC, SC and is on his way to FL this week. He is very happy with the money he makes.

I guess it all boils down to personal preference. My wife will be starting these this week, so I can give you a better opinion about them, or maybe have her share her experiences with the forum.

Arguing with fools is like playing chess with a pigeon...
...No matter how good you are, the pigeon will s@^t on the board and strut around like it won anyway.

Not scheduling for ANY company.

How on earth can he travel for $95 a day???????

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Put a 1 in front of that number and I'd still be asking the same question.

I had done an audit with the other company. Then it was split into different sections. The teflon gun was an issue! I could not complete the audit. The associate could not get the gun to work correctly either. Like it better broken up into smaller sections - not one huge audit that takes so much time.

And the other company paid faster, and did not ask for a background check or drug test. Too much cost up front for very little pay. I can make more than that with other shops I enjoy!

@bgriffin wrote:

How on earth can he travel for $95 a day???????

100% agree.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't do it for $95 from my couch.
Don't forget the time it takes to prep a route, emailing schedulers, etc.

ETA: gas is probably free, but tires and running your personal vehicle into the ground isn't. Sounds like he'd need a place to sleep too if it's a route.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2015 08:50PM by SoCalMama.

@pjaugustine wrote:

The teflon gun was an issue!

Maybe it was deflecting instead of scanning (just a little Teflon humor ).

The auditors in the states I assign are fine with the pay considering most experienced auditors finish these in 5 hours, which is the minimum time for these audits. The first couple may take a little longer, but most of auditors are quite happy with $85-95 per day, plus, the ability to plan a route of these, along with other assignments they can add in to make even more money.

Add that into being paid within 2-3 weeks and a lot of auditors enjoy the opportunity to complete these audits.

@LisaSTL wrote:

Put a 1 in front of that number and I'd still be asking the same question.

Arguing with fools is like playing chess with a pigeon...
...No matter how good you are, the pigeon will s@^t on the board and strut around like it won anyway.

Not scheduling for ANY company.

You missed my point. If someone is traveling out of town the fee for the audit would barely cover a hotel meaning vehicle expenses and profit would have to be made in the remaining time. So the addition of other assignments would not be to "make even more money," it would be just to make some money.

@LisaSTL wrote:

You missed my point. If someone is traveling out of town the fee for the audit would barely cover a hotel meaning vehicle expenses and profit would have to be made in the remaining time. So the addition of other assignments would not be to "make even more money," it would be just to make some money.

I know that you are talking to Dante, but I didn't miss your point. Sadly, this is basically just working for less than minimum wage, even if you can do these in 5 hours each if you include your expenses. Of course, you could just sleep in your car, but I believe that you are considered homeless if you are doing that on a regular basis (really, not joking here).

Don't forget you need to figure out taxes and of course, you aren't getting any benefits such as health insurance. My teenager makes more money babysitting, and she can't even drive.

Desperate people are easy to take advantage of. I can see doing one if you lived within a few miles of a store, but a route? That's ridiculous.

Lisa,

The fact is, some people are doing this. If one of them wants to share about why, they will. Most likely they have no motive to encourage others to do this and risk losing income.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

My question, and probably bgriffin's, was rhetorical. I just hope the person is making some money at the end of the day.

Go with your gut. I decided not to do these audits.

A few years back, Gfk had these same exact audits paying at $250 each store. Do they think shoppers have forgot about that, or they hoping for the newbies to pick them up and not realize how big of a program it is. I love both Gfk and the client, and am hoping that enough shoppers will pass on these shops until the fee is at least doubled.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2015 06:30PM by drdisney.

I have no intention of committing a day to doing this for the fee that they are offering. Plus if I only do one and decide that I don't want to do another, then I am out the fee for the drug test, further reducing the fee. No thanks.

I do lots of other shops for GfK, but I am going to pass on this one.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

It is hard to believe an auditor is traveling from NC to FL for a five hour audit at $95. Even if that auditor has a hotel shop while on the road and shops to cover meals.

If someone is taking an out-of-town route, it's likely that, not series of overnight trips up and down the interstate just for this one shop. Maybe they are working in hotel shops or staying with friends. When I do far routes I like to work in a few gas stations and have a plan for lunch and supper. These are likely savvy shoppers, not paying for hotels just to make $95/day.

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