And they never seem to stop. They only get bigger and spread out.

I shop for several airlines, Las Vegas Casinos and grocery stores as well as dozens of others. It is a great way to make extra money. However, i am having some serious problems that may cause me to report them to their State.

EPMS has some very bad and destructive habits. They send you shops that cannot be completed and then hold that against you. Example... There are several condos here in Memphis where the call is transferred to a call center in Dallas. No one is in the condo in Memphis to answer the telephone much less open the door for a secret shopper. When instructed of this they place the shop in a negative column against you as if you were not able to get the job done. This is highly offensive for a company that is actively looking for others to assist them. They please for you to assist them, they ask you to "look, as you drink your coffee", and they are so difficult to impossible to deal with.

On an apartment shop it states the words "tax credit". There is no definition for this word. You are told to keep the income low, but not how low. This is subjective as low to a 200,000 year earner might be 100,000/ yr! Give a number. Even when they are not accurate and you document it to them, they are accurate. If you follow their directions when they are wrong they will not pay the shop and then make a bad mark against you in their ratings.

I am just really dissapointed with them and wonder what you would do in this situation?

Don, las vegas





I am extremely dissatisfied with EPMS and their low standards of conduct. I have directed them to remove my name and deactivate my account at once.

What I would do is drop them! Why put up with that kind of treatment again and again? There are so many MSC's out there, nobody needs to keep working for the ones that show the shopper little or no respect. Tell them why you're leaving and then LEAVE!

I am curious to know whether you contacted them to begin with and if so what they told you to do. Was it a targeted shop? From my experience EPMS are very easy to work with and I have not had any problems with them. I know other shoppers have had issues with targeted shops, but they usually will allow you to ask for the target after several attempts. Anytime I am unclear on the directions I always contact the MSC beforehand to get any clarifications before I do the shop.

Hi Spygirl,
I love your name, "spygirl".

I have dropped them and directed that my account be deactivated. It has.

EPMS is like a waiter that is surly, rude,impudent and pushy. However, he does bring the food, so he is fine. ? And <s>he still expects a tip. Their people that communicate with you are just plain rude. Old fashioned, mean. I have my own "spy" equipment. Having my own I do not need theirs as mine is superior to theirs.

I ask them to not send it, they ~do send it. So i communicate via email that it is coming back to them and i will use my equipment to complete and send in the shop. They still send it and then give me a negative remark because i sent it back to them. They remove the shop from my list,so when i send in the completed shop, it is not on my list...and the issue goes on and on downhill. Never, never have I seen a place screw up as much as these guys do. They screw up on shops, they screw up on money and they are NEVER wrong...they do not even bother to investigate the issue. To add, the shop had $5 extra on it because it was a rush. They screwed that up as well.

I do shops for several airlines, auto rental agencies, hotels/casinos, fast food(I LUV IT) and others, we all do. But these guys at EPMS never seen to miss an opportunity to screw it up.

I just do not trust them anymore.

Don, in Las vegas

I had a problem with a shop that I could not let the target close, because there were no apartments abvailable. I got an email that say s you have to let the target close please say what happened during the close. I e-mailed her back and explained there were no apartments available and that I knew and did the target. She said ok she would submit it. an hour later I got anoth er e-mail say the shop was cancelled do to me not letting her close. I called the MSC and explained it to the receptionist who then putme in contact with a higher up. I told her what had happened and she said thjere were no apartments availableI said there were none. She said she would accept it and I would get paid. The phone number to EPMS is 888-988-3167. Try calling and explain to some one what has hjappened and see what happens. Good Luck and Good Shopping.

plbell627 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had a problem with a shop that I could not let
> the target close, because there were no apartments
> abvailable. I got an email that say s you have to
> let the target close please say what happened
> during the close. I e-mailed her back and
> explained there were no apartments available and
> that I knew and did the target. She said ok she
> would submit it. an hour later I got anoth er
> e-mail say the shop was cancelled do to me not
> letting her close. I called the MSC and explained
> it to the receptionist who then putme in contact
> with a higher up. I told her what had happened and
> she said thjere were no apartments availableI said
> there were none. She said she would accept it and
> I would get paid. The phone number to EPMS is
>. Try calling and explain to some one
> what has hjappened and see what happens. Good Luck
> and Good Shopping.

I don't want to deal with them anymore. there are to many companies to shop with that are credable and know what they are doing. I cannot abide egos and screw upps with them any more than they could with me. They are fired. No desire to lick their boots.

I dropped EPMS after three shops, years ago. I refuse to be treated like an idiot and talked down to. We are partners in getting a job accomplished for a client. If you want me to work for you, treat me like one.

Classy Shopper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I dropped EPMS after three shops, years ago. I
> refuse to be treated like an idiot and talked down
> to. We are partners in getting a job accomplished
> for a client. If you want me to work for you,
> treat me like one.

I agree with your view of the customer / shopper relationship. In order for us to make the extra money (that we wait and wait for) we must have clearly defined instructions. We have to do a great job, each time and every time, no exceptions.

EPMS "later" shared that what was earlier described as a Tax Property was actually "Government Subsidized" apartments after we went back and forth in emails. They said that you must not make "to much"...describe "to much" with a number please. You cannot define with an ethereal term like "to much" as it is way to subjective to have any actual meaning. Define it with a number.

They hid behind words and did not explain anything in their description. It has been my experience that they do not actually look at the information that they send you. They just slap it on and "some will stick". Out of three apartment shops two were not at the addresses given, did not exist and were a fluke. If you return the information to them,.... they make a black mark against your name. If you do not complete shops that are not completeable, you get whacked on your score card. The freakin place does not exist and these egotistical guys want to ding me! You cannot even do that to people that work for you. The employer must be more responsible and send us correct information.
I will never deal with EPMS ever again as they are just to much.

Further more, I accepted a rush shop with a $5 bonus...they conveniently forgot to pay it and never did. To me, they are a scam and not a place that i choose to shop for.

I completed my 1st assignment for Ellis during the summer of 2006; my current total is approaching 200 shops. While I realize my situation could be an exception, I haven't experienced any of the above problems, as I've found all with whom I've had contact to be assistive and commerce oriented. There have been a few bumps, but each was quickly eliminated; that's all I require in business.

Strevel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
<snip>
> EPMS "later" shared that what was earlier
> described as a Tax Property was actually
> "Government Subsidized" apartments after we went
> back and forth in emails. They said that you must
> not make "to much"...describe "to much" with a
> number please. You cannot define with an ethereal
> term like "to much" as it is way to subjective to
> have any actual meaning. Define it with a number.

A funny aside, this reminded me of an old bit on Saturday Night Live. Ed Asner played the old, veteran employee at a nuclear power plant. They were having a retirement party and he was about ready to walk out the door when he gives his final piece of advice, "Just remember, you can't fill the tanks up too much". He leaves, then all of a sudden there's a problem and warning bells go off. One employee says they need to lower the tank levels because the retired guy said, "You CAN'T fill the tanks up too much". Another one stops him and says, "No, no, he told us 'You can't FILL the tanks up too much", we need to fill them more! Arguments back and forth, etc. etc. One of my favorite bits, sorry for the aside.

Strevel, it seems like you've already cut ties. I have found the subsidized amounts on the property's website. Information will indicate the highest amount of income allowed to qualify for the rent. Regarding call centers, I have experienced clear shop instructions regarding how-to.

I have had a few 'issues' with EPMS. Back and forth, and resolved. I have also called them while sitting in the parking lot of a community, when something is amiss. A real person answers the phone, and lends support and instruction that will help me complete the assignment in such a way that I get paid.

Strevel,
It sounds like you were doing on site audio and/or video recordings, since you mention having your own equipment. Robert, who handles all audio and video recorded shops for EPMS is just about the easiest person that I have worked with in this industry. I have never had a problem dealing firectly with him. There is a scheduler who works with him who is not as "up" on shop details as he is, but experienced shoppers all know that Robert can, and will, sort out any problems for them

I am not happy with their "written only" shops, which are handled by different staff. So, I don't do them. I think that in the past 18 months I have done every EPMS video and audio shop between Richmond and Northern NJ, plus a few in the Carolinas and florida, without a hitch.

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Strevel,
> It sounds like you were doing on site audio and/or
> video recordings, since you mention having your
> own equipment. Robert, who handles all audio and
> video recorded shops for EPMS is just about the
> easiest person that I have worked with in this
> industry. I have never had a problem dealing
> firectly with him. There is a scheduler who works
> with him who is not as "up" on shop details as he
> is, but experienced shoppers all know that Robert
> can, and will, sort out any problems for them
>
> I am not happy with their "written only" shops,
> which are handled by different staff. So, I don't
> do them. I think that in the past 18 months I
> have done every EPMS video and audio shop between
> Richmond and Northern NJ, plus a few in the
> Carolinas and florida, without a hitch.

I am happy to hear of your successes with EPMS. I, for one, have had very bad experiences with them from their end. Failure to communicate, feeling like they are never wrong, NOT sharing material information, ... and it goes on. I am elated for you that you have the good view of them. I do not have the good experiences you have had.
Person A tells you something, person B says no do not do that. You have a directive and a countermand... You cannot follow two reuqestes that disagree. It costs shops / $. No one is here for the fun and excitement.

I shops not just for apartments, but for airlines, casinos, travel agencies, and others. Never have I seen a group like EPMS that countermands themself, then ~dings me for not doing what they cannot agree and communicate on. YOU CAN TELL WHEN THEY SEE THAT THEY AR AT FAULT BECAUSE THE EMAILS ON ISSUES RELATED STOP. I do not have to deal with that low level of communication and education.
Sincerely, I am elated with the happy relationship that you have with them, sincerely. I have fired them and will never use them, or have anything productive to say regarding them because of them not attending properly to their end of the relationship.

Perhaps I am just getting tired of companies that are not good at what they do. Yesterday I did a shop for a company in a restaurant. In advance I shared that I am diabetic and will not be ordering desert. ...being fiduciary. if this works for them I will complete the shop. This A.M. I got where they will deduct $5 from the pay because I did no it order desert...... I just forwarded them the email where not ordering desert was authorized by them. Furthermore, there was no "pay" for the meal, it was just free food at a great restaurant. How do you deduct some ethereal amount from pay that does not exist. Some of these companies are like herding cats.

Bottom line, I fired EPMS. They are not worth the problems for a small shop, some paying only $5 when others are out there that pay so much more. It is a simple business decision. I do not have time for their silliness, possibly them with me for asking questions.

I have a route set up today for six shops that will pay pretty good. I have my envelopes ready for the related paperwork, the computer and the portable scanner are in the truck and ready to go. After it is all ready to go I pull into Office Depot and send it all in over their wifi, then go home having accomplished my daily objectives. Then I have some coffee, having eaten already doing shops ...... I watch "Leave it to Beaver". Life is good!!

Have a great day everyone.

Don, in Vegas

I have done shops for them in the Chicago and West Palm Beach, FL areas and have had no problems. They have always been easy and flexible to work with. I only do the phone/onsite shops and, though the reports can be long, have never had a problem with them being accepted.

I actually like them. I just discovered them two weeks ago and am working on my submitting my 12th shop right now. I was able to reach my first four targets on the first day of calling and had 3 of the shops done that day.

SpyGirl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What I would do is drop them! Why put up with that
> kind of treatment again and again? There are so
> many MSC's out there, nobody needs to keep working
> for the ones that show the shopper little or no
> respect. Tell them why you're leaving and then
> LEAVE!


I did drop them. The shops I found for apartments and condos are great and pay a little better than EPMS. I'm glad I dropped them.

Don

I'm still trying to get into their fracking site. I signed up nearly a month ago and accidentally marked that I was a felon :-) I emailed their helpdesk to let them know and I'm up to my second follow up today, two weeks after the first. Keep getting "we'll get to it when we can". Ugh.

I have not had any problems with them per se. The tax credit shops may not give information, but I always ask on site how much a person has to make to qualify, and then I pick an income somewhere in the middle with a story to back it up. I get emails asking why I haven't made a phone call yet, so I don't care for the targeted shops. I have other assignments. I visit the big city certain days of the week and I call just before I go so I will know if the target is there. Because of the problems reaching the target, right now I am doing only untargeted shops. I have had unusual questions come up about my answers to certain sections. I consider this educational even though it is annoying when it happens.

I have had pay docked, once because I gave the wrong reason for showing up. It seems more mechanical than vindictive, so I still get assignments. There is a lot of narrative on the paper assignments but I am good at narrative. The pay comes once a month, always near the same date. I even get emails asking me to do a few more assignments before a certain date so they'll show up on the next paycheck.

As to one person saying one thing and another saying something else, I have worked several jobs with bosses who contradict each other and have learned to either clarify or just go with the flow. On any mystery shopping assignment, there can be misinterpretations and miscommunication. Some companies are more responsive than others. I usually just send an email saying, "Remember you said. . . ? This is why. . . . " I have found some unresponsive. The "coaching" that Trendsource does is weird. Recently, I was told it would count against me because my report was late when I told them as soon as my computer was up again what the problem was. I have done numerous assignments for them and always did the work. As to EPMS, I am not aware of any dings.

I too have my equipment. I had some problems with defective equipment in the beginning, so I have used the time to get familiar with the various MSPs that require video. They all have their methods of operation and it is best to memorize their business structure. The familiarity will assist me later when I do get more video assignments from them and the stakes are higher. Now I can practice more with the equipment and send out more notices to companies that I am ready to go.

EPMS is one of my favorite companies to work with. I have had no problems with them and I have done well over a 100 shops for them. They do not have much work in my area for me because I have shopped them out. The video shops are great. I would recommend the company to anyone who wants to make some money with no output of personal funds. The paperwork on the regular shops is boring but you get use to it. I have had to contact them about shops and always was given polite and courteous service on their part.

Very good and informative post!

I can understand issues. But if I have the same issues EMPS wants to dock me (take away money). I have shopped for years and make a full time income with it. I just find them to be a bit much. So, I don't deal with their attitudes, miss-communications and holier than thou issues.

I fullly understand that others experiences may be different. However, I make my decisions based upon my experiences. They'd do, as their checks clear the bank . I just do not want to fool with them anymore, they are fired.

Don, in Vegas


Sandra Sue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have not had any problems with them per se. The
> tax credit shops may not give information, but I
> always ask on site how much a person has to make
> to qualify, and then I pick an income somewhere in
> the middle with a story to back it up. I get
> emails asking why I haven't made a phone call yet,
> so I don't care for the targeted shops. I have
> other assignments. I visit the big city certain
> days of the week and I call just before I go so I
> will know if the target is there. Because of the
> problems reaching the target, right now I am doing
> only untargeted shops. I have had unusual
> questions come up about my answers to certain
> sections. I consider this educational even though
> it is annoying when it happens.
>
> I have had pay docked, once because I gave the
> wrong reason for showing up. It seems more
> mechanical than vindictive, so I still get
> assignments. There is a lot of narrative on the
> paper assignments but I am good at narrative. The
> pay comes once a month, always near the same date.
> I even get emails asking me to do a few more
> assignments before a certain date so they'll show
> up on the next paycheck.
>
> As to one person saying one thing and another
> saying something else, I have worked several jobs
> with bosses who contradict each other and have
> learned to either clarify or just go with the
> flow. On any mystery shopping assignment, there
> can be misinterpretations and miscommunication.
> Some companies are more responsive than others. I
> usually just send an email saying, "Remember you
> said. . . ? This is why. . . . " I have found
> some unresponsive. The "coaching" that
> Trendsource does is weird. Recently, I was told
> it would count against me because my report was
> late when I told them as soon as my computer was
> up again what the problem was. I have done
> numerous assignments for them and always did the
> work. As to EPMS, I am not aware of any dings.
>
> I too have my equipment. I had some problems with
> defective equipment in the beginning, so I have
> used the time to get familiar with the various
> MSPs that require video. They all have their
> methods of operation and it is best to memorize
> their business structure. The familiarity will
> assist me later when I do get more video
> assignments from them and the stakes are higher.
> Now I can practice more with the equipment and
> send out more notices to companies that I am ready
> to go.

.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/08/2011 11:42PM by raisitup.

Hear hear (or is it "here here"? dunno...) to voting with your wallet. I wish there were more shoppers like you (and a select few here)

To a large extent, this business is luck of the draw. Which MSPs, schedulers and shops are available in a given area? Those that work for me may not be available or appeal to others. What we each have in common though is the ability to pick and choose what works for us, and ignore the rest.

Kinda surprised to read some of the negative comments regarding EPMS. I've done a few shops for them without any issues, and the one consistent thing of EPMS that is memorable is that if you stay in constant contact with your scheduler either through email or phone call, they are very understanding. I had an issue with reaching a target agent for almost a week, yet EPMS worked with me by rescheduling the due date multiple times. By the time I reached the target agent, set the appointment and completed the shop + report, the work was accepted the next day and payment was issued on time within their pay cycle.

Can't say enough good things about this company. Robert R. is indeed among the easiest to work with, and their guidelines regarding video equipment plus the shop requirements are very straightforward and uncomplicated.

I have had nothing but good experiences with EPMS. I only do video shops and that may be where the difference lies. I always communicate directly with the Director of Video, Robert Asher, and he has bent over backwards trying to help me in certain situations.

I hate the long reports with any written shop, so I only do video shops for any company I work with.

Yes, Don I had a similar problem to yours with a manager there, not a scheduler, about 2 1/2 years ago. She was rude and unprofessional over the phone. I basically had to threaten to go to the client due to a petty dispute over a shopper fee with them.

I finally got paid and was deactivated which was a blessing! I also see many solicitations to shop for them lately so it seems like they have burned more than a few bridges.

Management seems to have an attitude that they are the only game in town which has brought down more than a few companies. But I do hope they learn before it's too late!

I called their office for the first time on Thursday and the woman I spoke with was not pleasant at all. I felt that she didn't want to be bothered with answering any questions. Other than that, I haven't had any problems. It's possible that they have a problem with their office staff, it could also be that it's a one person shop and the person is overwhelmed. Either way, there's no excuse for unprofessional and rude behavior.

avitoots Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I called their office for the first time on
> Thursday and the woman I spoke with was not
> pleasant at all. I felt that she didn't want to
> be bothered with answering any questions. Other
> than that, I haven't had any problems. It's
> possible that they have a problem with their
> office staff, it could also be that it's a one
> person shop and the person is overwhelmed. Either
> way, there's no excuse for unprofessional and rude
> behavior.

The issues Ihave had may be uniquely my own, but I think not. They have some internal issues that spill over to us as shoppers that are just uncalled for. Why should I get a negative mark against my name just because a place is not accessable and no one is in the office. How do you go to a plave to shop wen there is no one there. Do I break into the building and throw a chair through the window!!!?? I think not.

EPMS is not for me at all. Rude, pushy, shorted me on $ and when informed of it they tried to re-route the conversation. So, I fired them.

Don in Vegas

Strevel,
Since you have left EPMS and have impressed us with your feelings about them, perhaps we could wind up this thread? I am beginning to think that this is a vendetta wherein every time anyone says anything positive about their EPMS experience, you want yet another negative vote. You only get one vote. We know what it is. Please just let others make their votes, pro and con, without trying to vote yet again.

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Strevel,
> Since you have left EPMS and have impressed us
> with your feelings about them, perhaps we could
> wind up this thread? I am beginning to think that
> this is a vendetta wherein every time anyone says
> anything positive about their EPMS experience, you
> want yet another negative vote. You only get one
> vote. We know what it is. Please just let others
> make their votes, pro and con, without trying to
> vote yet again.


No vendetta, just open expression of an experience in a free forum. Please, tell me what you feel so that I can agree with you and you will feel comfortable

If you do not agree you can voice your view as you did. However, you cannot squash an idea you seem to disagree with. That is not appropriate for a forum and does not serve any forums purpose. The admin can close the topic for further comments from all if they wish. Is there anything that I have shared that is not accurate? If, per chance the information is not accurate please assist me. If you dissagree then please continue to enjoy free speech.

Politely, but open to be better understood,
Don