Is Bestmark known for low pay and inconsistency?
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I know their guidelines and correspondence can come off as curt, but I'm a professional so I ignore it. I have had no problems with them. If you're judicious with the jobs you choose, you can make just as much money with them as any other MSC - especially the bonused jobs.
Good luck.
There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Good luck.
If you are waiting for bonuses all the time, then it shows they underprice their shops.
Overall, they are low-paying. The threatening language they use in their guidelines is a telltale sign of what they think of their shoppers.
Overall, they are low-paying. The threatening language they use in their guidelines is a telltale sign of what they think of their shoppers.
They are a good company. Don't like the fee? Don't do it. Find their instruction a bit much? Don't do it.
@marklewis wrote:
If you are waiting for bonuses all the time, then it shows they underprice their shops.
Overall, they are low-paying. The threatening language they use in their guidelines is a telltale sign of what they think of their shoppers.
Comparing your first message to your second, it sounds like you already had your mind made up, so I don't understand why you are bothering with your question. Unless you just have an axe to grind.
I'm with the others. If you don't like something about that MSC, then don't work for them. Lots of other fish in the sea for you. More shops with Bestmark for me.
Shops out here are rarely bonused in any significant way by any mystery company. If you wait for a serious bonus of more than $10 for most shops you will never shop.
One man's trash is another man's treasure. If you don't like them, don't shop for them.
They are our customer. We reserve the right to refuse service to them, and they have the right to refuse to use our services. one of the nice things about being an independent contractor.
They are our customer. We reserve the right to refuse service to them, and they have the right to refuse to use our services. one of the nice things about being an independent contractor.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
marklewis - You have made 4 posts in the past year, all negative MSC bashing. Do you have anything positive to add to this forum?
I have no issues with them, I realize im still in the new stage of shopping but they actually worked very well with me today. I did 2 shops for them this month one yesterday and one the first week of the month. Well I accidentally uploaded my receipt from the beginning of the month on yesterdays report and received the email saying they would be deducting 2$ from my shop due to late report/ wrong receipt. I fixed it right away they totally understood the mix up and they gave me the 2$ back with no issue. The gentleman I spoke with on the phonewas great and agreed mistakes happen. I have nothing bad to say about them at all so far 
www.Facebook.com/oatsandgrins
They tried to bribe me into signing a settlement. Totally wrong.
I have had good experiences with BestMark. Yes, like many other MSCs, they rarley bonus local shops beyond a few dollars. Those I now just ignore, except for the free oil changes that come with a shopper fee. But they are also good at offering decent travel bonuses on their job board that even a newbie can self-assign. When I started out, their bonused shops created the basis for my first routes, and their super quick payments kept me from going completely broke.
I've never had any negative issues with them. Once I had to contact them, and they were quick to respond.
The only issue I have is that in my area all they have are auto service shops for a specific make and model that I don't own. That's mostly all I ever see in my area. I used to do their auto internet shops for $3 but haven't seen those in quite some time.
The only issue I have is that in my area all they have are auto service shops for a specific make and model that I don't own. That's mostly all I ever see in my area. I used to do their auto internet shops for $3 but haven't seen those in quite some time.
I love BestMark. They were the first MSC to hire me and take a chance with a newbie. I've never had an issue.
I can provide a copy of the offer of settlement from Best Mark which I refused to sign.
What were they trying to "settle" over? Did one of you sue the other? I wouldn't advise providing a copy of it; it probably violates your ICA to do that.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
Wiseshopper -
I would be curious to know the issue that required them to offer you a settlement.
You don't have to give all the details. As independent contractors, it's good to know which companies are honest and which ones we shouldn't trust.
I would be curious to know the issue that required them to offer you a settlement.
You don't have to give all the details. As independent contractors, it's good to know which companies are honest and which ones we shouldn't trust.
Hardly any violation since I no longer work for them. The settlement was due to a client who had treated me badly and Best Mark knew it. That was the offer of settlement. I responded I made more than the offer more than once during a 30 day period. The settlement states there was no wrong doing.
I like Bestmark. Pay is not great, but shops are well explained and fairly easy. Never had a problem with them at all.
I have completed 72 shops with them in the last 12 months. I've never had an issue, the instructions are good, the editors and schedulers are good, they pay on time. I think they are great to work with.
From what people have written me, Bestmark will dump you you if there is any problem, even if it isn't your fault.
So, you might say, I've had no issues. The problem is that if and when you do have an issue, then you're likely to be thrown under the bus.
So, you might say, I've had no issues. The problem is that if and when you do have an issue, then you're likely to be thrown under the bus.
I liked them because they paid on time. I did not like the long narratives and low fees but some of the shops were fun. Nothing like a free tan in the middle of winter. One day i got so frustrated with their narratives that I asked to be deactivated. I was tired and burnt out at the time. Two years later I asked to be reinstated and was refused. Now I try to not burn too many bridges.
Bestmark is one of my favorite companies.@guanadu wrote:
I have completed 72 shops with them in the last 12 months. I've never had an issue, the instructions are good, the editors and schedulers are good, they pay on time. I think they are great to work with.
They did not act in a professional manner with me and despite more than 500 shops in a two year span - I was thrown under the bus but offered a few pennies as an expression of how sorry they were. I agree - sorry is a good term.
In a one month period I had the following things happen:
1. Coffee was spilled into my lap top. I went through three loaners before I found a working one while waiting for repairs
2. My business email was hacked
3. My photo server went down
4. My Internet upgrade was screwed up by ATT - twice! So I suddenly had no Internet access
5. The power in our neighborhood went out three times for multiple days at a time.
I think there was even another thing that happened during that time but I can't remember what as it was as that month was too painful for words.
Any one of those things could throw you off your schedule. More than one could cause real scheduling or reporting problems, especially when you shop for multiple mystery shopping companies. And it was in a month where I had over 30 shops scheduled with Bestmark with shops scheduled for consecutive days in a row for about three weeks.
They were very sympathetic. They worked with me on report timing and on a couple of reschedules. I couldn't have asked for better support from them.
1. Coffee was spilled into my lap top. I went through three loaners before I found a working one while waiting for repairs
2. My business email was hacked
3. My photo server went down
4. My Internet upgrade was screwed up by ATT - twice! So I suddenly had no Internet access
5. The power in our neighborhood went out three times for multiple days at a time.
I think there was even another thing that happened during that time but I can't remember what as it was as that month was too painful for words.
Any one of those things could throw you off your schedule. More than one could cause real scheduling or reporting problems, especially when you shop for multiple mystery shopping companies. And it was in a month where I had over 30 shops scheduled with Bestmark with shops scheduled for consecutive days in a row for about three weeks.
They were very sympathetic. They worked with me on report timing and on a couple of reschedules. I couldn't have asked for better support from them.
Perhaps it's because you had so many shops scheduled in a short time frame that they "worked with you."
Better to hold your hand and get you through your temporary disaster than re-schedule all those shops.
Better to hold your hand and get you through your temporary disaster than re-schedule all those shops.
They were the first company to hire me many years ago and I am grateful. They pay in two weeks by check - nice. They do have rather low pay and a little heavy on the narrative, but in a pinch I know I can get some assignment from them. I haven't needed to, and thank God because I hated their reports for some reason. They were tolerant of my screwups when I was new. I had to cancel a bunch for a trip to the ER and they didn't drop me. So for me, good feeling about them, hate most of their assignments. The two I really actually liked a lot I did too much and I had to stay away or be outed as a shopper. (I actually had a security guard follow me around last time I was at one of them - LOL. I think he thought I was trying to steal cuz I went over to another section and jotted some notes on a notepad from my purse and then quick shoved it back in. Three visits in one month and then I always buy only a candy bar. Looks odd).
Where are we going... and why are we in a hand basket?
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