I am an experienced shopper over many years on and off. I have done high paying shops that pay over $100-$200 and some 1/2 that and some $25 and 20 dollars ones and quick phone shops for $5.00 While we all appreciate the opportunity to make extra $, but I am seeing more and more companies try to use every trick in the book to pay you less or not pay at all. One told me that the I was identified as a shopper, one told me that docs were not properly submitted when they were. Clear proof and evidence of my work by saving it and spell checking. One turned an entire shop around on me telling me about all the vast mistakes and I had all the evidence to submit back to that person when I am thinking. "what the hell are you talking about", when I have proof that there are not as many issues about what they are addressing.

There is no protection for us at all and we take a risk shopping, spending time and gas and filling out forms with long narratives that take way more than an hour two or with revisions. Just frustrated when these issues occur and want to know if anyone else has these issues on more detailed shops they ahve done.

I've never had any experiences where a company tried to get out of paying me other than Franchise Compliance years ago when they started having financial problems and quit paying their shoppers. They eventually went out of business. Others had issues with Freeman, who also is no longer in business. For existing companies I do work for, I have never had a company try to get out of paying me or pay me less than what I originally agreed to do the work for. Could you please enlighten us as to who is trying to not pay you or give you less money?

@jennifer2016 wrote:

I am seeing more and more companies try to use every trick in the book to pay you less or not pay at all. One told me that the I was identified as a shopper, one told me that docs were not properly submitted when they were. Clear proof and evidence of my work by saving it and spell checking. One turned an entire shop around on me telling me about all the vast mistakes and I had all the evidence to submit back to that person when I am thinking. "what the hell are you talking about", when I have proof that there are not as many issues about what they are addressing.

There is no protection for us at all and we take a risk shopping, spending time and gas and filling out forms with long narratives that take way more than an hour two or with revisions. .

I've never had a company try to avoid paying me or pay me less than the full amount.

You are absolutely right about shoppers taking a risk - our best protection is in knowledge. Please share with us the names of companies that you have clear proof and evidence have attempted to not pay you.

Oh, and I have been identified as a shopper more than once, but the companies still paid me. I just wasn't allowed to shop that client anymore. You are saying that the company who said you were identified as the shopper refused to pay you for the shop? Who was it, and what other companies did not pay you? It's only fair that you let other shoppers know to avoid companies who are unethical and withhold payment from shoppers.

I too have been identified as the shopper, was paid and was removed from future shops for the client. I have had shops rejected for valid cause (though it was and even when it wasn't completely beyond my control) and been paid or not paid. I have had shops rejected for what I felt was not a valid cause and the next shop I performed for them required a bonus that more than paid what I 'lost' on the rejected shop. I was not paid for shops when Datatron went out of business. I have been denied bonuses from one editor who found fault while an almost identical shop in the hands of another editor got all bonuses and 'good job!'. To some extent this is an arbitrary business and when an editor or company makes me wonder if I will get paid for my work, I just don't work for them any more.

Once I get my payments from these companies I will reveal who they are. I don't get how they come to the conclusion that they felt your identity was revealed as a shopper?

Nothing was done in the shop to reveal it and I was never told as to why they thought that way. A lot of this is not true mystery shopping as the requested revisions that are made I see are slanted to what the client wants to hear. When you report the real deal and if they don't get what they want so they can get paid, they try to get you to revise the shop in a false way.

If the person you are shopping did not do something, how much more can you elaborate on it? They want you to test the words to make it seem like there is more to it that what really transpires. How many times can you go into such detail, especially when they are asking a simple question in their forms? Why twist it any more than it is? True mystery shopping tells the truth in a few words. Just because they want narratives that are long. does not prove any better the shop was not correct. Less is more when it is said to the point correctly. Stating I turned left at this door and right at this hallway is a total waste of time.

I hear your frustration. I don't know which company(ies) are getting you so upset and it really doesn't matter. There are a couple of companies that have asked for seemingly outrageous 'clarifications' and 'additional detail' because a shop has been challenged and they are looking for a leg to stand on with the client. It is hard to tell when that is what they are doing versus just being a PITA. If you find the working relationship doesn't work, don't work with them further.

It is a no-brainer to review video and figure out who the shopper is if a client wants to discredit a shop. Do clients sometimes lie? Yes. Their rears are in a sling and if they goofed up with you, perhaps they can salvage it if another shopper is sent in. Shoppers know this, companies know it and I'm sure that clients know it. I find I am rarely questioned or asked for clarification even if the client royally messed up. Perhaps it comes from having worked with the company long enough they know my work, perhaps it is because I have already ditched the companies where the relationship didn't work.

On a regular basis, I get requests from a certain scheduler of an MSC to perform a mystery shop of their particular business.
Nope, not doing it!
Why?
It's not the bitchiness of the editor/scheduler of my report. Their review of my report was always with some obscure comment about some part of the report in which they felt the need to critically comment. I suspect they must in order to demonstrate their job performance and competence.
In the long run, of their various scores, I've only received an 8 as the lowest and often a 10. The minutiae of their complaints never bothered me either (as long as they accepted them).
No, it was the low pay versus amount of time to perform the shop and the lengthy subsequent report.
My clock starts when I leave my home and does not stop until the report is sent in. I'm not wasting my time for the lower than minimum wage payment (by my calculation) that arrives 60 days later. Nor do I wish to perform a Mystery Shop that warns me that I will be on video and it will be reviewed by store management.
Well then, it's not really a mystery shop is it?
So, I still get their E-mails and read them. Many times they bonus them, not enough, mind you, for me, as my figuring inserts the bonus into the equation and still find it wanting (for me anyway).
I could ask them to remove me from their list. But, I still enjoy getting their electronic correspondence. Deep down, I suppose their requests make me feel affirmed of my decision as well as the hope that someday, they'll up their pay (not holding my breath on that one).

That's how they run their business and that's how I run mine.

Jennifer, one of the times the location just "guessed" and got it right. Apparently the employees of this client occasionally run videotape and match who they think is the shopper with the name on the order, and if they get it right, they tell the MSC the name and the MSC has to ban the shopper from future shops with that client or location. Another time it was a check cashing shop, and again, my name was tied into the shop and they got it right when playing the guessing game. That client is now off limits for me forever. However, both times I was still paid, just not allowed to shop that client anymore. The only times I have been denied payment was when I screwed up...once I did not stay in the location for the required period of time (completely my fault). Another time I shopped the wrong time period. Other times where I made an error I rescheduled and reshopped, therefore doing two shops and only getting paid for one. Oh, once Marketforce tried to not pay me for a shop that I completed correctly--they kept insisting I did not, but after about 20 emails back and forth with helpdesk I finally got the right person who double checked my facts and agreed I had done the shop properly, so I got paid. They haven't put my head on the chopping block just yet...

@jennifer2016 wrote:

Once I get my payments from these companies I will reveal who they are. I don't get how they come to the conclusion that they felt your identity was revealed as a shopper?

OP, you stated at the beginning of your first post, "I am an experienced shopper over many years on and off." If that is indeed the case, you should not be surprised that over time, shoppers will be revealed as a shopper. With some of the required scenarios on some of these shops, they scream "mystery shopper here!"

Some clients/employees play a game called "spot the mystery shopper." They review videotapes and match up the time of the visit. They compare "notes" with their fellow employees. There have been photocopied pictures of the mystery shopper pinned up on a bulletin board in a back room for all employees to see. They match up names with debit/credit card receipts.

Yes, it sounds like some employees have too much time on their hands but it is a fact of mystery shopping life.

A few years ago when CORI/Steri had many more gas stations, I performed the mystery/reveal shop at one of their gas stations that was on a monthly audit. The first time i did the shop, I noted all of the Mystery Shop award sheets on the wall behind the counter.
Hmm, these guys are experienced in this business, I thought.
Not so!
I performed the mystery shop portion and then went to the counter with my purchase and then the LOA.
Upon presenting the LOA, the attendant was not only surprised, but nasty about it. She would not sign the LOA (as was required back then) and she would not allow me to perform the remainder of the shop. I know I was pleasant throughout the process and left as required. She was over the top terrible. I noted everything on my report and was paid.
Two months later, I did the shop again. The same attendant was there again, this time with another attendant. When I gave her the LOA, she showed it to the other attendant and then said she wouldn't sign it, nor allow me to finish the assignment. The other attendant nodded when she showed it to him and told her it was her decision.
I left, puzzled about how they ever got any of those awards. Once again, I reported the shop and was paid.
Since that time, I've performed the shop as part of a route and have never received that treatment. Both of those attendants are never there, now.

That location I shopped I had never been to and never been to any association of any of their businesses. In this case I know it was an excuse to l cut my fee in 1/2

@jennifer2016 - Why would a MSC accuse the shopper of being identified only to pay them half the fee and not be able to use them for future shops with that client? If a shopper does a good job and provides an accurate report, it would be to the MSC's advantage to keep using that same shopper when the rotation is right. Now they have to take a chance on a new shopper possibly messing up or flaking on the job. Or risk overexposure of a seasoned shopper.

I've been mystery shopping for a little over 2 years. I have not been identified as a shopper. I have had one report rejected, due to an error on my part. Several times I've had editors ask me to clarify some details, but my pay was not cut as a result of this.
I've found in higher paying, detailed shops, editors and schedulers are more inclined to work with me when issues arise, rather than less, because it's in their best interest as well as mine to be able to use my shop.
I've only had one MSC refuse to pay me what I was owed for a shop, through no fault of my own. The MSC was BestMark, and it was my second shop ever, and first shop with them. They assigned me the shop at a fee of $20.00. (I recorded the fee amount on my spreadsheet as soon as I was assigned) I performed the shop, they accepted it, and when I was paid, I was only paid $15.00. When I emailed their payment dept to bring the discrepancy to their attention, the response was "Why do you think you should be paid $20?"
I was very new, and also utterly appalled at the gall these people had to pretend they didn't owe me another $5.00. The way I handled it was to deactivate myself and never work for them again. I also do not hold back on my opinion of BestMark due to this experience. Lots of shoppers love BestMark and that's great for them. I think they're dogs***.

A Closer Look isn't going to accept my shop because I didn't put my time with seconds. They are disgusting! I will never do a damn thing for them again.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2016 06:29PM by rosaestanli.

Did the guidelines say the time needed to be in seconds? If so, why didn't you? It doesn't make them disgusting for expecting work to be done according to specifications.

I remember being identified in one of the upscale restaurants during my rookie days. That was the only shop ever, where I was told I was identified. I was banned from doing that shop, but only for that location. However, I can recall I was paid for it. And I can do the shop again because another MSC is offering it, but I am no longer interested.

Cause I didn't have seconds on a cell phone

I obviously don't know about your phone, mine does show seconds. Regardless, if a shop requires timing to the seconds, you have to provide timing to the seconds or risk not being paid. We are no different than any other contractor. If you hired a contractor to paint your house yellow and he or she painted it pink, would you pay him or her?

@rosaestanli wrote:

A Closer Look isn't going to accept my shop because I didn't put my time with seconds. They are disgusting! I will never do a damn thing for them again.

Welcome to the forum, rosa. By your previous posts, it appears you have only been mystery shopping for two weeks and you so far have worked only for TrendSource and A Closer Look. These are two relatively good companies for new shoppers because their instructions are usually pretty good, they are "easy graders" on reports, and they bend over backwards to work with the shopper and approve reports. Both companies have not accepted your reports? Did you follow all guidelines exactly?

As for timings, almost every company will want timings to be exact and to capture minutes and seconds. If you plan to continue mystery shopping, and if your cell phone does not have a stopwatch feature, buy an inexpensive stopwatch. In order to get paid, all companies require that their guidelines be followed. If you read in the guidelines that timings must be exact, minutes/seconds, then it means if you are not able to provide that, your report will not be accepted.

Another good company for a newbie is Market Force. But before performing shops for them, be sure you can provide minutes and seconds on all timings or your reports will not be accepted.

@rosaestanli wrote:

Cause I didn't have seconds on a cell phone

Time to invest in a new cell phone. Or buy a new watch with a seconds hand . Or buy an inexpensive stopwatch. Exact timings are critical to many mystery shops. It is not just ACL.

If you have a smartphone, download the ShopIt app. It allows you to time interactions with minutes and seconds. I use it for all my restaurant shops. Timing down to minutes and seconds are common requirements for many mystery shops.

Then:
1) Don't accept a shop requires timing in seconds
2) Install a free app on your phone which does show seconds
3) Buy a watch with a seconds-hand or a digital display
4) Buy a stop watch
5) Repeat #1 until you do at least one of 2, 3, or 4

@rosaestanli wrote:

Cause I didn't have seconds on a cell phone

@AustinMom wrote:

@rosaestanli wrote:

A Closer Look isn't going to accept my shop because I didn't put my time with seconds. They are disgusting! I will never do a damn thing for them again.

Welcome to the forum, rosa. By your previous posts, it appears you have only been mystery shopping for two weeks and you so far have worked only for TrendSource and A Closer Look. These are two relatively good companies for new shoppers because their instructions are usually pretty good, they are "easy graders" on reports, and they bend over backwards to work with the shopper and approve reports. Both companies have not accepted your reports? Did you follow all guidelines exactly?

As for timings, almost every company will want timings to be exact and to capture minutes and seconds. If you plan to continue mystery shopping, and if your cell phone does not have a stopwatch feature, buy an inexpensive stopwatch. In order to get paid, all companies require that their guidelines be followed. If you read in the guidelines that timings must be exact, minutes/seconds, then it means if you are not able to provide that, your report will not be accepted.

Another good company for a newbie is Market Force. But before performing shops for them, be sure you can provide minutes and seconds on all timings or your reports will not be accepted.

Hi,

No, I never stated TrendSource never accepted my shops. A Closer Look did not and I am no longer with them. That being said I really like TrendSource. I am no longer able to comment on the company A Closer Look.

I have not done any shops with TrendSource that required me to record timing in seconds. Anyway, with counting time with seconds, memorizing names to details on how a person look are not shops I can perform due to memory. It's not an excuse, just a fact. It's easier to be able to record my conversations, write notes in private. So TrendSource allows me to become a better mystery shopper with time. I'll get better...my days are so occupied I really don't need shops that in depth. :/

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2016 05:54PM by rosaestanli.

Sentry does that whole thing where they try to "punish" shoppers -- (Payment Reduction Fees and Late Fees). Because they separate the communication between shoppers/schedulers and their accounting departments, their payroll people never hear from their schedulers when something legitimate comes up that prevents a fully complete or on time submission. So, the shopper gets dinged.
To be fair, Sentry is fairly responsive if one takes the time to write about $1 here and $2 there in deductions, but the time involved in that process hardly seems worth the effort. I just wish they would pay sooner...waiting 70+ days to get paid for simple, straightforward, (clearly accepted by the client) shops is way too long. I know that makes (for me) that I only take their better assignments or 'work' them for incentives/bonuses.

What is most alarming is when companies pay late (The MSC "says" they will pay at a certain time and are anywhere from a few days to a few months late). Effectively, that hurts shoppers worse; cashflow get stopped. For most shoppers, the accompanying anxiety is painful. Some MSC's pay months after the fact and require nagging...some have a policy to pay in what I would call a "late fashion". Some MSC's pay like clockwork.

It is up to the shopper to choose to work for those companies that have a payroll reputation and policy that is comfortable for the shopper.

Sometimes we get identified because of some of the shop requirements. Like the drive in shop where you have to park close to the door so you can watch what's going on - which I get. But, then I'm supposed to take a pic of my entree before eating it - while still parked right at the door - and those places are all windows. And then there are the "Bar Integrity" shops... Might as well paste a sign across my forehead...

I have probably been identified before, but only the dumb customers will report it to the MSC. If a shopper is ID'ed, then they can make sure to do all the right things - like put on their skates, turn on the music, put on their nametags, etc... Just my 2 cents.

wow

Unbelievable stories...... I didn't know they could refuse to pay you in full if you did the whole job according to the directions.

Years ago I did a Lazy Boy shop for a particular scheduler. Supposed to get paid the next month; when the payment didn't appear I started nagging the scheduler who finally got my payment 4 months later. The next year she talked me into doing it again and I got paid, but only after six months of nagging. I've never worked for her again. I get paid within a month for most shops, and two months for some, but those terms are spelled out when I accept the shop.

A lot of shops require timing in seconds, particularly food shops. I bought an inexpensive wrist watch with stopwatch function and use it. I've also use an audio recording device which I give audible cues - "Hi!" to start the transaction, "Thanks" to end it, etc. It helps me to catch the exact words used by the person I'm shopping too. This may not be legal in all states, but it is here.