I was called by someone from DSG asking me to take a job doing a pricing audit at a local grocery store, because I had done some $15 (make a deposit or withdrawal and fill out a very short form) credit union shops for them in the past. I said no, I wouldn't be interested in the grocery audit, and she told me that the pay is so good, premium pay! great paying shop! "HIGH PAYING VISITS AND SOME HAVE SOME PRETTY NICE BONUSES ADDED TO IT". She refused to give me the amount when I asked her via email a couple times. She ignored my question and said she had to talk to me over the phone.

So she called and said they would pay me a shop fee of $29 PLUS .30 for each price I collect and a $10 bonus. I clarified with her at least three times that amount, because of her inability to speak or understand much English, and she ASSURED me that was would I would get paid for the shop. So I reluctantly agreed because I didn't really want a shop that took that much time and effort, but because of the pay, I took it.

The shop took 3 and a half hours in a busy supermarket meat department, and they wanted me to go back and do it every week. I agreed ONLY because the pay was OK.

Well, after I did 7 visits, I received a check that was supposed to be for 3 of the visits and it was $117 short. No shop fee, no bonus. Only a lousy 30 cents per item scanned. For 3 and a half HOURS of work, on my feet, being jostled around by customers. I contacted her and found out why she refused to put the pay offer in writing. She claimed she never promised that. I have the paper I wrote down the info from the conversation on, and I scanned and emailed it to her and her boss, but they haven't answered me. They scammed me and took advantage of me. I even went to work the evening of the funeral of a close family member when I couldn't barely it together, because I needed that money. I did a very good job for them; in fact, they wanted me to do it permanently.

Now they are ignoring me and won't pay me. BEWARE of this company. Their scheduler Megan will promise you good pay so she can get you to do a shop, but won't put it in an email. She will insist it has to be discussed over the phone. Then you will NOT get paid for your work. She knows how to get those shops filled. By screwing the workers over. Now I guess I have to file a complaint with the BBB and other agencies to get something done about it.

So the information on the website, after the shop was assigned, did not include a fee or a bonus? The only payment you noted across all documentation, email, and job description was just the 30 cents per item?

IMHO, your contract is in writing, not verbal. I would have cancelled after the initial assignment was incorrect and limited my loses. I would not have performed a shop where the documented offer was not as promised.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/19/2016 01:43PM by isaiah58.

I have made verbal deals over the phone but after both sides have come to an agreement, I ask the scheduler/project manager to put it in writing and send by email. I explain that I like to keep a paper trail. If the other person starts hemming and hawing, I explain to them that I will not perform the shop if I have not received our agreement in writing by so-and-so date & time. It has worked every time for me.

That's an unfortunate situation. I sympathize with you. I also had a similar experience where i was verbally offered a bonus, but was not given it after completing the shop. So I promised myself, never again; always get a written offer. Always ask the scheduler to send a quick email offering the bonus. In this crazy world of mystery shopping, documentation is our only insurance.

Like Sybil, I will not perform an assignment unless any agreement the scheduler and I make is documented in writing.

Thirty years of experience in Mystery Shopping/??????? this sounds lie a newbie mistake Getting a agreement would be the first thing I would try to achieve while getting a price quote over the phone. Ask the non English so called speaking scheduler to send you the "contract" in an email, in its native language. We can always find someone to translate it.

Problems with DSG has been discussed in this forum for more than 5 years. And it always seem like the same one. "Accepting the non English speaker scheduler assignment" without written confirmation. Maybe Shoppers should begin the conversation over the phone with--------->Will you send me an email of this communication"

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2016 06:05AM by sojo917.

@sojo917 wrote:

Thirty years of experience in Mystery Shopping/??????? this sounds lie a newbie mistake

Where did you see 30 years? Just curious.

The OP says under About Me in her profile "Almost 30 years of mystery shopping experience."

@roflwofl, okay. I gotcha. Contrary to what some forum members think, I do not "research" people all the time.

If the scheduler does not email the negotiated amount, I always confirm a conversation with an email. That way the agreed price is clearly documented. I had learned my lesson after a scheduler made a fool of me.

I used to do work for DSG a few years back before they were sold off. The initials are for the old owner Donna Sue Guido. I miss working and building a personal relationship with several of the schedulers like Scott, Sally and Norma. Bonuses were always put in writing. From my understanding, their call center is now based in the Philippines when it used to be based out of Santa Ana, Ca.

So,hopefully you learned unless the pay is in writing on your shop log - ignore what is verbally stated!

The OP did not say anything about 30 years of mystery shopping in her post. And one of the things I NEVER do is look at a forum member's profile before I talk to them. In fact, I think it makes me a little uncomfortable about posting here.

But she did have a bad experience with an MSC that has a history of saying one thing and paying another. Someone has called me and offered big $$ for minimal work, but it's always someone who speaks little English and doesn't answer direct questions. So I tell them to get someone who speaks and understands English on the phone or I can't talk to them.

I do this simply because I have enough trouble understanding people on the phone, add an accent and poor communications skills and I simply cannot grasp what they are trying to say. I can communicate with just about anyone if I can see their faces while they are talking, and I know enough linguistics to be able to figure out the rest, but on the phone it's impossible for me.

I just received a payment in my Paypal for DSG for an upscale job.

@Morledzep wrote:

The OP did not say anything about 30 years of mystery shopping in her post. And one of the things I NEVER do is look at a forum member's profile before I talk to them. In fact, I think it makes me a little uncomfortable about posting here.

A Postor who NEVER is more likely a profile to lookup. Most of us are not Hay-sueoos Kristoff, so I tend to want to know something about people before offering an opinion. 85% of the postors here are cyber connected. If one was to meet in person, they might not be what have suspected. I like you even though you are uncomfortable. So be it.

You are operating your own business. Get everything in writing, and remember, agreements prevent disagreements.

If a promised bonus is not in my log by the time I am ready to shop I email the scheduler and state if it's not in my log I will not do the job. Works for me always!

Nope, not a newbie mistake. I did my first mystery shop for the Big Boy chain of restaurants in 1985. Have been shopping ever since. Actually that was 32 years ago

UPDATE: The top person in charge of DSG called me and I explained what happened and asked him if the calls were recorded so he could check the conversations. He said he would be back in touch. He called back after a few days and said that he could see what happened from listening to the calls which WERE recorded and he was very nice about it and sent me a check for the money I was owed. I brought it to his attention that a lot of people have issues with the DSG schedulers not being able to speak or understand English. I'm not sure if he was already aware of that or not.

Wow they admitted they record..... interesting... thanks for the update...

@cherie1960 wrote:

UPDATE: The top person in charge of DSG called me and I explained what happened and asked him if the calls were recorded so he could check the conversations. He said he would be back in touch. He called back after a few days and said that he could see what happened from listening to the calls which WERE recorded and he was very nice about it and sent me a check for the money I was owed. I brought it to his attention that a lot of people have issues with the DSG schedulers not being able to speak or understand English. I'm not sure if he was already aware of that or not.

I got a call from this company to do a high end shop. I accepted it but then the scheduler starting calling me 5 to 15 times a day before the shop was due. The shop paid 25 but the time involved would have been hours so I declined and am still getting 4-6 calls a day, which I don't answer any more. I got a bad feeling after the first call. They act like they own you.

@Sybil2 wrote:

I have made verbal deals over the phone but after both sides have come to an agreement, I ask the scheduler/project manager to put it in writing and send by email. I explain that I like to keep a paper trail. If the other person starts hemming and hawing, I explain to them that I will not perform the shop if I have not received our agreement in writing by so-and-so date & time. It has worked every time for me.

I do the exact same thing Sybil. When a shop is assigned to me the very first thing I do is to confirm that the agreed amount is noted exactly as we had agreed on. If it's a different, I contact the scheduler immediately to let them know of the discrepancy. I let them know that I am not committed to the shop until the correct pay is corrected. I have never had a problem and the correction is always done, if not right away, by the end of the same day.