Cotton Patch SCAMish BEWARE

I did one shop and it was a "scammy". Somewhere in 2 point font it must have specified not to order steak, so they disqualified the shop, also because I numbered issues within the review, they said they wouldn't reimburse me. Seemed like this was set up so they can claim that they aren't responsible, for payment, but I'm guessing that they still got paid by Cotton Patch, but I didn't. I"m curious to know if anyone else had similar experiences. The only reason that I haven't contacted the Cotton Patch is that somewhere in the 2 point font I'm sure there is a confidentiality clause.

(Mod note: Name of MSC removed from Subject Heading. Please read the Forum guidelines found on the upper right of every page which state in part: "Do not reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies."

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Wow! Welcome to the forum, Corash. What an intro. You were around a whole seven minutes before bashing a company. No, in answer to your question, I have not had an experience even remotely similar to yours while working with this company. I have done this particular shop several times. The instructions are clear and it is in no way "scammy." If you ordered steak, you definitely did not do the shop correctly and should not be paid. How about taking responsibility because you made a mistake rather than bashing a company becaue you screwed up?

There is a confidentiality clause in the Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) that you signed, and it would be a violation of that agreement to contact the client. It is also a violation to reveal the name of the company's client on an internet forum, so it might be wise to edit your post. Or not. I've notified the moderator, who will probably edit it for you because it violates not only the ICA you signed but our forum guidelines as well.

I must defend (the MSC) (not that they need it). I really don't know what Cotton Patch is, maybe who you evaluated, which is an ICA breach in itself. I've worked monthly for this company for years, they are the best, and would never scam anyone...you may be the scam. Their sample reports are on the money, they tell you what they want, are clear and concise. Telling you want or what not to order is called "Following instructions", so why didn't you? Coming on this forum and bashing them and not admitting you either didn't read instructions, or chose you wanted to take your changes and have the steak you desired, shows me who is in the wrong, face it!!!!

Mod note: It appears that Cotton Patch is a client and therefore the MSC's name has been removed to prevent an ICA violation

Live consciously....

The name listed by the OP is the client name, the name of a casual dining restaurant, so the OP has named both the MSC and the client. Irene, you have also named both the MSC and the client. Please edit your post.

@roflwofl wrote:

The name listed by the OP is the client name, the name of a casual dining restaurant, so the OP has named both the MSC and the client. Irene, you have also named both the MSC and the client. Please edit your post.

Sorry, didn't know...it's edited.

Live consciously....

Hello Corash!

I am the VP of Operations at Customer Impact, the company to which you are referring. Within our guidelines for this shop, there is a clear bullet point, even with some text in bold, stating that steak is not allowed. It then states that if you do order steak, our client will reject your shop. To be clear, the text of this information is the same size as the surrounding guidelines. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Adrienne Dobson
VP of Operations
Customer Impact
adobson@customerimpactinfo.com

I had never heard of Cotton Patch before. Searched it and it is in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and coming soon to Arkansas. Menu looks almost like Applebee's.

Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.

Well until this is edited further, we know the MSC and the client. I guess it's not an ICA violation if it is revealed, inadvertently perhaps, by the MSC themselves.

I was called out for saying the name...one I had never heard of, and is not in my area CA. I quickly deleted name....

Live consciously....

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I was called out for saying the name...one I had never heard of, and is not in my area CA. I quickly deleted name....

I was referring to the post by the MSC themselves. That and the subject of the thread.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2016 12:48AM by kenasch.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I was called out for saying the name...one I had never heard of, and is not in my area CA. I quickly deleted name....

"Called out?" Give me a break. After all the years you have been shopping, what a clueless post. Irene, if a shopper discloses the name of a MSC's client, it is an ICA violation. That's why you were "called out" if you want to call it that. I call it "reminded" because you either did not read my post so you did not understand it was the client name OR you just forgot that you should not mention the MSC and client in the same thread.

If a MSC chooses to advertise its own clients, that would not be an ICA violation.

The MSC is allowed to post anything that they want with respect to their clients. We as shoppers are not.

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

How was she supposed to know that X was the client? Client names are usually mentioned in this section. I also have never heard of the client because I don't live in that area.

It's not very nice on your part to call someones post "clueless" because they made a simple mistake, regardless of how long they have been shopping.

@roflwofl wrote:

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I was called out for saying the name...one I had never heard of, and is not in my area CA. I quickly deleted name....

"Called out?" Give me a break. After all the years you have been shopping, what a clueless post. Irene, if a shopper discloses the name of a MSC's client, it is an ICA violation. That's why you were "called out" if you want to call it that. I call it "reminded" because you either did not read my post so you did not understand it was the client name OR you just forgot that you should not mention the MSC and client in the same thread.

If a MSC chooses to advertise its own clients, that would not be an ICA violation.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

@HonnyBrown wrote:

How was she supposed to know that X was the client? Client names are usually mentioned in this section. I also have never heard of the client because I don't live in that area.

It's not very nice on your part to call someones post "clueless" because they made a simple mistake, regardless of how long they have been shopping.
]

Aw, I'm sorry you think I'm "not nice." I'll have to try to be nicer. I think my post, which followed the OP's post, made it clear that Cotton Patch was the client and that the OP had named the Msc also. If Irene had read my post before posting, she should have known that Cotton Patch was the client of the MSC that the OP named (the moderator subsequently removed the name of the MSC).. Although, perhaps Irene read my post and didn't realize she shouldn't name both the MSC and the client. That would not surprise me. I reminded her because she has made a number of posts in recent months in which she had ICA violations because she named both MSC and client. Some of her ICA violations were edited by a moderator and some she edited herself when she was reminded.

Mistakes not allowed, will get called out in a nasty way...name calling which is very immature....the difference between us is I'm not perfect, although close. I admit I make a mistake and guess what, it may happen again...it's called being human. The forum gives you and another a chance to use your "power", enjoy, doesn't change my life style in the slightest. My suggestion for the future, when one posts, and it needs to be addressed, just say, please remove name, has a better effect, and perhaps, the forum won't lose members.

Live consciously....

@Corash wrote:

I did one shop and it was a "scammy". Somewhere in 2 point font it must have specified not to order steak, so they disqualified the shop, also because I numbered issues within the review, they said they wouldn't reimburse me. Seemed like this was set up so they can claim that they aren't responsible, for payment, but I'm guessing that they still got paid by Cotton Patch, but I didn't. I"m curious to know if anyone else had similar experiences. The only reason that I haven't contacted the Cotton Patch is that somewhere in the 2 point font I'm sure there is a confidentiality clause.

(Mod note: Name of MSC removed from Subject Heading. Please read the Forum guidelines found on the upper right of every page which state in part: "Do not reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies."

I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!

Nope. It's as clear as day in the instructions that you can't order a steak. If you missed it, don't whine, it's your fault. They have instructions for a reason.

Corash, if the client doesn't want you to order steak and you order steak, the MSC cannot use your report. It causes a huge waste of time and resources when a shopper doesn't complete a shop properly. The MSC doesn't get paid, the scheduler doesn't get paid (and has to reschedule the shop), and the editor doesn't get paid, either.

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