MSC Paydates
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You shouldn't have to guess when you get paid. Each MSC states in their ICA when you will get paid. They just do it differently. What I do is have a spreadsheet where I track the jobs I do and when I got paid, among other things, and I just research the ones that get old. It seems 30-45 days is a good standard to go by so if one goes over 45 days, I research it if I don't happen to remember that MSC's pay policy.
Not all MSCs are on the Sassie format. Other platforms are ISS, Prophet and Shopmetrics. Not to mention companies using their own proprietary software such as Bestmark, Trendsource, Market Force, Stericycle and several others.
Standardizing a pay schedule is not realistic. We are independent contractors working with as many as 200 unique mystery shopping companies. Expecting them to somehow get together and decide to pay on the same schedule would be like herding cats. Some are members of the MSPA so it's conceivable they could get together to make that call. Not all are members so nothing would change for the other 50 or so companies.
Let's say the MSPA members decide to standardize. Then we have another issue, whose payment terms will be used across the board? Some pay in as little as a couple of weeks while others take three to four months. You think it is more likely to shorten terms or make them all much, much longer? In all likelihood, we would end up waiting 90 days or more. With faster pay no longer a carrot to lure in shoppers to take assignments why wouldn't the MSCs go for keeping the money in their own bank accounts as long as possible.
Standardizing a pay schedule is not realistic. We are independent contractors working with as many as 200 unique mystery shopping companies. Expecting them to somehow get together and decide to pay on the same schedule would be like herding cats. Some are members of the MSPA so it's conceivable they could get together to make that call. Not all are members so nothing would change for the other 50 or so companies.
Let's say the MSPA members decide to standardize. Then we have another issue, whose payment terms will be used across the board? Some pay in as little as a couple of weeks while others take three to four months. You think it is more likely to shorten terms or make them all much, much longer? In all likelihood, we would end up waiting 90 days or more. With faster pay no longer a carrot to lure in shoppers to take assignments why wouldn't the MSCs go for keeping the money in their own bank accounts as long as possible.
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.
"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.
It COULD be standardized, but it would probably take some kind of legislation. It doesn't seem necessary to me. Plus I kind of like that little bonus feeling of getting some money on a random Tuesday or whatever.
But even if it was standardized, like say they always paid you in 30 days, you would still be getting payments all over the place because you would do shops on different days.
But even if it was standardized, like say they always paid you in 30 days, you would still be getting payments all over the place because you would do shops on different days.
@aspar, if you aren't sure when your payment is expected, you can check this awesome thread:
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
If you know when the payment is expected and were just complaining that the MSCs don't all have a consistent payment policy, then disregard.
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
If you know when the payment is expected and were just complaining that the MSCs don't all have a consistent payment policy, then disregard.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
@aspar wrote:
All of the MSC's seem to have the same Sassie format. It's hard to put out funds for shop expenses and the have to wait so long to get paid.
When I started doing this back in August, there was a period about three or four weeks in where I was beginning to wonder why I was doing this. A couple of small shops paid quickly, but alot of shops where I was getting reimbursed eventually still had not been paid yet. It helped the motivation to keep shopping just to look at my shop history and think, "ok, eventually by this date, I'll have this amount." Eventually I did. So far I still have not had to chase payment for any of the now over 200 shops I have completed. They pay when they say they are going to pay (or within a week or two of it), and once you get the ball rolling and checks and deposits regularly going, you can see the value in it.
I wonder from the tone of your message if this is what you are going through now. You do have to spend some money going into the venture, but once the checks start coming, it will become worthwhile.
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