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WHY Are Some Companies SECRET About PAYMENT?

September 27, 2013 12:58PM
Hi folks. I'm a new shopper, 2 months in. I was recently trying to apply with some new companies when I realized that more than a few don't list anywhere on their sites HOW and WHEN shoppers will be PAID. They have (seemingly) legitimate shops that were sent to me via email by MSJobBoard and others, but NO pay info. Finally, I contacted one via email, a Cirrus Marketing, and get this- she said payment is sent 3-4 MONTHS (yes, 3-4 MONTHS) after the end of the month you complete the assignment. I couldn't help but laugh! I deactivated my account. I don't care that one seemed like a really cool retail shop for $80, and that I got the assignment.

Any other experiences? Was this a legit company? What companies pay the NEXT month? Does anyone pay the SAME month? Thanks!
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More About Payment
September 27, 2013 01:18PM
In my experience most companies pay the next month and there's a few that pay the same month. There's a couple that pay after 60 days and I avoid working for them. If you're looking for companies that pay the same month you can check out Corporate Research, Bestmark (not always), Trendsource, Onsource and sometimes Harland Clarke (about three weeks as I recall). The rest pay the next month with the exception of Confero who pay 2 month after (and I'm sure there are others but I don't work with them.) I could be wrong but I seem to recall that intellishop can be 2 months after the shop too....

I think Cirrus Marketing is a legitimate company but again I don't work with them.
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September 27, 2013 01:33PM
Hi there, I haven't heard from this company before but it might be legit. I work for a few that pay 2 months after the month you complete the shop but most of them pay the month after. It is because they have to be sure our report is accepted by the client before they go ahead and pay us. Some of them that are not too big also wait until the client pays them before they go ahead and pay the shoppers. Out of the 20 or so companies I have dealt with before only 1 or 2 pay the same month. Hope this helps.
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September 27, 2013 09:58PM
It sounds like that company is still paying by check. I have most companies that pay 2 weeks after the job, to next month, 45 days and sixty days. I sign up for all of them that way there is a constant flow of money coming in. If it's going to be that long before payment I weigh the amount out of pocket until reimbursement. If I don't want to be out the money that long I simply don't sign up for the shope. You prime the pump and watch it flow. Of course I prefer the ones that pay out the next month but I'll take all the money they want to pay me.
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September 28, 2013 01:30AM
Cirrus is a legit company. You have to send them an invoice for your shops and then you may get paid 60 days after the last day of the month you did the shop or some such nonsense.. I did a few shops for them a long time ago, and called and emailed and finally after at least 90 days, I did get paid. You should do a search for them on this forum and you can see what others have to say about them.
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September 28, 2013 04:27AM
GFK also pays in 2 weeks. Retail Outsource (also called The Consumer Insight) and Research Services Group are twice a month.

About the 2-3 months later, Service Sleuth is also in this category. They are good for their money but it will take a while.

Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
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September 28, 2013 01:39PM
Many companies tell you their payment terms in their Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) which you sign as part of the registration process. Others have a Frequently Asked Questions section where they list payment information. Other companies include in the guidelines for each shop relevant payment information. A couple - the only one I can think of offhand is Goodwin - have a link on their homepage to "How will you get paid?" that you can view before signing up.
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October 04, 2013 05:54PM
When does Goodwin pay? I've done a couple of shops with them. After about 45 days I inquired about my payments and they immediately paid one shop but, have yet to pay for the other.
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October 07, 2013 03:15AM
Goodwin?

Cutiebear, that's an excellent question that has been is a running topic on this forum. Please search the forum for "Goodwin" and you will have many responses to your questions.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
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October 14, 2013 08:03PM
Hi,

Thus far, most of the companies have been paying the end of the following month, with a 30-60 day turn-around average. Sometimes the information about when they pay and how they pay is sort of tucked away in the FAQ portion of their web sites. Once I know the golden time line and payment method, I list it on my Excel spreadsheet so that I can anticipate monies due and when they will be coming in.

It's funny, everyone thinks I am crazy since I started doing Secret Shopping back at the start of the year, but in my "spare" time I have thus far had over $1,050 in cash come in with more pending. Some of the shops do not pay well, but I catch myself taking a few here and there if they are from new companies so that I can get my foot in the door and up my ratings.

It is a lot of work, but anytime I get an oil change reimbursed, or reimbursed groceries, I know that I am bettering my personal state beyond what I can earn on my normal day job. I wish you the very best of luck.

-- Sheila
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