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Referrals

October 17, 2015 02:00PM
Hello,
I was accepted by one of the MSCs, and on the dashboard, I noticed I had three referrals. I went to see what they were, and a man's name from over 2,000 miles away was listed. Is this the person who processed my account? The referral fee is $50. Is there a post in the forum about referrals and what they are, and how they work?
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October 18, 2015 02:16AM
Is this TrendSource? If so, were the three referrals in Alaska? The man's name is actually the name of the client, a grocery store. TrendSource is actively trying to encourage referrals in Alaska so they can shop this client. I wish I knew a shopper in Alaska to refer to them.

When you ask a question like this, it helps if you tell us the name of the MSC. Because each MSC is different, it can be very difficult for anyone to know what you are talking about if you are not very specific about your question and if you do not name the MSC.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2015 02:18AM by AustinMom.
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October 18, 2015 04:01AM
Different companies handle referral fees differently. With one company I need to let them the know the name of the person I am referring and that person needs to put my name on their application. Several other companies want you to send a name and email address and if the person signs up I will get credit for it. In most cases the person who refers will get paid only if the person referred successfully completes at least one job. I am perfectly happy to recommend a particular shopper register with a particular company because I think they would be a good match and stay away from the referral fees. There have been shoppers who seemed to want to supplement their shop income by doing lots of referrals.

Then there are the referral links. We currently have a 'shopper' happyfun who keeps spamming us with links on the job board to a 'company' that does phone shops. Each of those links would appear to have happyfun's referral number attached so he/she will get paid for the body count. Most recently happyfun is identifying in the job board as 'our company' while in the rest of the forum he/she was 'a fellow shopper'. BS.
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October 18, 2015 07:46PM
Yes, AustinMom, it is TrendSource. I am new to using the forum, and I am trying to learn when it is alright or not alright to include the MSC's name in a post. Thanks, for your answer, I am glad it is a company. Personally, if I can avoid using an MSC’s name, I would prefer that.

Otherwise, I was concerned about people trying to get your real name without letting you know, through a forum, as Flash explained. Having somebody refer you to a company can have its advantages for both parties involved. Although, people probably take advantage of the privilege.

Are there people who refer their significant others? I was wondering if an MSC would like that, or discourage it?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2015 07:47PM by breestjon.
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October 18, 2015 08:49PM
My significant other is not particularly interested in mystery shopping. There are times when a scheduler was desperate for a shop I was out of rotation for that, with the scheduler's knowledge and consent, we registered him, I explained to him what was needed and I waited in the car to double check he had everything before we drove away. I did have to send him back in because he forgot a restroom check and his description of the associate was that she was a 'young girl' . . . Try again: name or description with height hair color style, glasses or not, outfit, age. He also found that he loved to do some of the Medicare shops after he accompanied me on a few. There was no $$ in referring him but rather the assurance that he would be accepted and would be coached.
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October 20, 2015 11:32AM
Flash. I am a mystery shopper. I have completed apartment shops, banks, technology, web shops, telephone shops, retail, fast food and fine dining. I have been lucky to avoid the dreaded Ikea because of advise on this forum. I have referred people to different companies, and I have also helped people through their first shops.
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October 20, 2015 04:01PM
Then PLEASE stop loading our job board with referral links. You are neither a scheduler nor a company that directly is providing jobs. We all could slam referral links all over the forum such that most of what was here was not content but affinity links. The help you were given was with no strings attached and with no intent for personal profit. Please treat us with the same respect.
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October 22, 2015 03:31PM
To Flash and others. I have respect for all that mystery shop. It is not easy. But I am not content with just one type of revenue stream. I also work part time to full time at another job, depending on the week. I sell on Ebay and Etsy. I mystery shop, location, phone or by web. This morning I did six telephone mystery shopping calls at $5.00 each and finished within 45 minutes with all six reports submitted. I also use other sites to advertise on. So please treat me with the same respect that you expect. Thank you.
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October 22, 2015 04:04PM
I think you will find that we all have multiple revenue streams, havingfun. I am just asking that you not advertise here with referral links. I see that several folks have indicated they registered and we look forward to hearing their experience as well.
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