One of my favourite companies is Intouch. Reports are not difficult and they have a few different jobs in my small city. Pay is average and I've never seen jobs get bonused.

I just looked again and found a contact page that has Canadian addresses on it. Do they have jobs in the United States? I wonder which nation his "nationwide" comment was directed at.

(from the In Touch website link above):

Contact Us

Email : mysteryshop@intouchinsight.com
Phone : 1-800-461-2873

Ottawa
400 March Rd.
Kanata, ON
K2K 3H4

Toronto
418 North Service Rd East, Suite 3C
Oakville, ON
L6H 5R2

so Im new here & dont know everyone wellbut I took the first post to mean "Im not giving you my list of decent mystery shopping companies so go out & get screwed on your own" Im sorry if thats not how it was meant. I dont think there is anything wrong with sharing your wisdom on shopping companies that actually pay or are in your area. I'm willing to put in the work but why? why should I get scammed by something that seems legit but is not? why should I spend a crap load of time registering for a company that has about 1 shop a year or nothing in canada? ya there are lists out there on the mystery shoping companies but they are useless to me if I cant trust them or they arent in canada. Again sorry if it wasnt meant to be taken like that.

If you read through the thread, or for that matter many of the threads here, you will find that it was not meant that way. You will also find most of us have gone through the work, share a hell of a lot of knowledge for free and still get called greedy and selfish because we won't give up every single detail of our businesses. Besides, there is a list of legitimate mystery shopping companies that can be accessed through any and every page of the forum, the "Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies." Not only is it all there, you can find links to discussions about things like payment terms and what they are like to work with in general. How much easier can we make it than that?

As I stated in another recent thread, try to start another business by approaching someone well established in that field and asking them for their business model and list of clients. Maybe if you see how far that gets you, you will understand how good it is here.

enrewen, My list of what I like and your list of what you like are just going to end up being completely different.
for example:
I like Market Force because they pay reliably and because where I live some 10.00 shops get bonused up to 50.00. When I get two of those I can go to a not too far town for groceries and earn a decent amount. If I lived in Edmonton, maybe I wouldn't care for Market Force.

And now one of those clients is advertising on Gapbuster instead of Market Force. Fortunately they also do bonuses. But, they don't have the other client so won't get those deals when they phone me to do the two jobs for the 100.00 worth of bonuses. My point here is it always changes.

I started with a on the list below. I searched this forum for comments on each company then proceeded to sign up.

Here is a list of companies from the list below that I found don't exist. This information is now 6 months old, so things could have changed. I don't have time right now to update, maybe you'll give me your feedback.

A Step Above Service Evaluations
Best Mark audits (BMA mystery shopping is now part of the Troy Doylan group)

BES
Channel Watch Mystery Shopping
Checkmark Inc
Checkup Marketing
Creative Image Associates
Customer Feedback
Direct Scheduling Services
Extra Eyes Nationwide Inc.
Focus on Service
Franchise Compliance
Freeman
Harris Teeter
Nation Wide Services Group
Nimble Support Services
Secret Shopping Services
Service Intelligence
Star Scheduling
Wireless Store Shopper

I use these companies and don't think they are on the list below.

[visionclient.shopmetrics.com]

www.spotcheckservices.com

[www.mysteryshoppingcanada.com]

[baseline3.performalogics.com]

Retailtrack mystery shopping and consulting

[shop4.intouchshoppers.com]

[www.crgms.com]

www.servicemetrics.ca
www.shoppersconfidential.com


enrewen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> so Im new here & dont know everyone wellbut I took
> the first post to mean "Im not giving you my list
> of decent mystery shopping companies so go out &
> get screwed on your own" Im sorry if thats not how
> it was meant. I dont think there is anything wrong
> with sharing your wisdom on shopping companies
> that actually pay or are in your area. I'm willing
> to put in the work but why? why should I get
> scammed by something that seems legit but is not?
> why should I spend a crap load of time registering
> for a company that has about 1 shop a year or
> nothing in canada? ya there are lists out there on
> the mystery shoping companies but they are useless
> to me if I cant trust them or they arent in
> canada. Again sorry if it wasnt meant to be taken
> like that.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2013 04:17PM by prince.

Correction! Clear Evaluations not only exists, but is also a leading company in the video shopping field, although they also do a ton of traditional shops. These are some of the very best folks in the business!! Check out the many positive comments about them.

I don't know where you got "Best Mark Audits." Bestmark is on the list and exists.

Hmmm, have I mixed up my lists? I had a list of companies that don't exist and a list of companies who have been kind enough to answer my e-mails to say they don't operate in Canada.
I shouldn't have put Best Mark
Best Mark audits (BMA mystery shopping is now part of the Troy Doylan group)

Clear Evaluations I am mistaken about, and can't find my note about if they got back to me about work in Canada or not. Any way editing now.
Thank you.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2013 04:18PM by prince.

Then where is your list of your best companies? Or how about one single post that actually tries to help or encourage another shopper? Is there one out of the 68 under this alias? Or how about the 8 you made as MobyDick or the 55 as SammySly or the unknown number as TruthSeeker or one of your other alter egos?

I've posted my favourite companies on several threads at various times. People have discussed good and less good experiences with all sorts of shops and with all sorts of companies. I'd like to hear some of your experiences with mystery shopping. I already know it's often a lot of work for a little money. My first mystery shop pointed that out very well. So, what is your favourite shop or company?

I want someone to PM me the list of the very best companies with the very best shops. I don't actually want this posted, because I'm not willing to share that information even if someone is good enough to give it to me. I would also like someone to come by weekly in the summer time and mow and weed eat my one acre yard, and if possible to mow the back pasture every month or so, being sure to clean out the fence rows.

I have some volunteer trees against an outbuilding I'd like to have taken out but I don't want to do that work so I'm waiting on a kindly person such as you to take care of that for me. Ironing seems to pile up around here and I don't see why I should have to do it since you probably iron all the time and know how to get it done promptly and efficiently. Or that not being possible, you can run my clothes back and forth to the cleaners and pick up the bill for me. Whatever works best for you.

Washing my car is a chore I don't enjoy and if I park it under the trees I have to wash it every time I drive. All that work seems unfair. If I park it in the garage I have to leave the sliding door open because the door is stuck and I can't get it shut. I hoping you can come by and fix that door for me; I got a quote of $200 but why should I spend my money when someone nice and helpful like you could do it for me free.

Another problem for me is vacuuming the house; it's split level, three steps up, and it's a good size house. That's taxing for me plus boring and I am waiting for you to come over and do it for me for free. It won't take much of your time and I'm sure you have plenty to spare. When you come by to vacuum, you can do the laundry at the same time, which wouldn't require much additional effort on your part.

I understand you don't want to waste a crap load of your time developing your own business; if you'll come by on a regular basis and take care of these chores for me free, I'll reciprocate by giving you some clues that may cut down on the crap load of time involved in doing this. On the other hand, since we may not share geographical territories, my clues might be useless to you but I'll still appreciate all you do for me, especially the long drive to get to my place if you live somewhere else.

prince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FREELANCEREPORTER: I've posted my favourite
> companies on several threads at various times.
> People have discussed good and less good
> experiences with all sorts of shops and with all
> sorts of companies. I'd like to hear some of your
> experiences with mystery shopping. I already know
> it's often a lot of work for a little money. My
> first mystery shop pointed that out very well.
> So, what is your favourite shop or company?



Market Force is my favorite company. They have 10 times more shops then any other MSC. You will never make a living off of MarketForce but they are good for a solid 300 to 500 dollars month in and month out. There is not even one single other MSC even in the same league as Market Force. If there were even 3 more MSC's of the caliber of Market Force then maybe people could make a living mystery shopping. I await the posts from this forums dozens of dimestore millionaires professing to making thousands and thousands a year mystery shopping right now!

I noticed Wireless Store Shopper is on prince's "defunct" list but I think they are still a valid company. I performed a couple of shops for them and got paid - last year - although I decided it was a lot of work for the money and haven't performed any more. But I still get e-mails from them for open assignments.

I can't profess any of that. Market force has 5 regular assignments where I live and another one that comes up every couple of months. Two are in a town I have no personal reason to go to and often get both for $100.00 bonus (total) But now I think one of those has left MF.

I've never made $300 from MF in one month.

I'm doing one of those today for 55.00 plus 9.00 useful to me reimbursement. But, accepted it on the phone hoping I'd find more jobs. Nope driving 150 km round trip for $64.00.
Luckily, some days are better.

For me, mystery shopping is useful, when I pick up the occasional job somewhere I go for my own reasons.

But, I am trying to do more due to commitments that make me want to avoid a scheduled "job" right now. That means travel and finding enough jobs for a trip. Finding that pretty time consuming, but we'll see.

Freelancereporter,
No wonder you cannot imagine anyone making good money at MSing, if the only good company you can name is MF. That solves a lot of mysteries about you and your attitudes toward serious fulltime shoppers who make a living at this. You have worn out this particular screen name, restating the same things that you have said under prior screen names, before they were deactivated by the forum owner for offensive posts. Isn't it time for another change when no one is taking anything you say under your current name seriously?

Do you have a link to their website. When I click on the one on the forum's list, I end up at a GoDaddy add.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I noticed Wireless Store Shopper is on prince's
> "defunct" list but I think they are still a valid
> company. I performed a couple of shops for them
> and got paid - last year - although I decided it
> was a lot of work for the money and haven't
> performed any more. But I still get e-mails from
> them for open assignments.

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Freelancereporter,
> No wonder you cannot imagine anyone making good
> money at MSing, if the only good company you can
> name is MF. That solves a lot of mysteries about
> you and your attitudes toward serious fulltime
> shoppers who make a living at this. You have worn
> out this particular screen name, restating the
> same things that you have said under prior screen
> names, before they were deactivated by the forum
> owner for offensive posts. Isn't it time for
> another change when no one is taking anything you
> say under your current name seriously?


So along with your dilusions that I am every other poster you have never liked in this forum and your dilusions that you hold in your hand s some magical mystery shopping company list, you are going to tell me that there is even one other MSC half as good as Market Force?

FREELANCEREPORTER Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------are
> going to tell me that there is even one other MSC
> half as good as Market Force?


For me as I've said above MF isn't my best company. For Example I enjoy the jobs from Intouch better than the jobs from MF. They have more jobs available for me.
So, while I haven't seen In touch do bonuses, I make more from them. And they do direct deposit for me while MF doesn't.

I want to thank you for making my point for me. I have often posted my list of favourite companies and included the comment my list of favourite companies isn't going to help anyone else. Unless they live way out here in the countryside near me. Even then my list wouldn't match theirs completely.

I do not believe there is a magic list.

Any way pouring my coffee, climbing in the car and driving my 75 km. to get to my shop. TTYL

prince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> FREELANCEREPORTER Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----are
> > going to tell me that there is even one other
> MSC
> > half as good as Market Force?
>
>
> For me as I've said above MF isn't my best
> company. For Example I enjoy the jobs from
> Intouch better than the jobs from MF. They have
> more jobs available for me.
> So, while I haven't seen In touch do bonuses, I
> make more from them. And they do direct deposit
> for me while MF doesn't.
>
> I want to thank you for making my point for me. I
> have often posted my list of favourite companies
> and included the comment my list of favourite
> companies isn't going to help anyone else. Unless
> they live way out here in the countryside near me.
> Even then my list wouldn't match theirs
> completely.
>
> I do not believe there is a magic list.
>
> Any way pouring my coffee, climbing in the car and
> driving my 75 km. to get to my shop. TTYL


I live in Kansas City and "InTouch" is worthless here. In 2013 I think Ive done about 15 gas station shops for them for about $25 to $30 a piece this year. I knocked out those 15 stations in a day and a half and there were no pics needed or reveal nonsense. So Ive made around $300 dollars off them this whole year. I make that off Market Force every month year in and year out.

prince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do you have a link to their website. When I click
> on the one on the forum's list, I end up at a
> GoDaddy add.
>
> AustinMom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I noticed Wireless Store Shopper is on prince's
> > "defunct" list but I think they are still a
> valid
> > company. I performed a couple of shops for
> them
> > and got paid - last year - although I decided
> it
> > was a lot of work for the money and haven't
> > performed any more. But I still get e-mails
> from
> > them for open assignments.

I have my login page bookmarked although I haven't used them lately - they paid $14 for cell visits - the form seemed very detailed. Here is a link to the Sassie sign up page - [www.sassieshop.com]

They operate as Technology Store and here is the info they provide as contact info

WIRELESS STORE SHOPPER, INC
yrodriguez@retailingwireless.com
954-302-7800

They seem to have few jobs in my area although I continue to sometimes get e-mail notifications.

To FREELANCE, I will say what I have said many other times; Each person has to find their own relationship with MSing.

I cannot imagine a more horrifying existence than having to rely on MF as my main income provider, or any company structured in that manner. You would probably have no interest in my list of companies I like if I were to hand it to you, so there's no use in arguing with you.

If quantity of shops is the only qualifier in what makes a great MSC, you are going to be seriously bummed when you hit that magic number of shops and MF drop you like a hot potato!

Grass Roots is not listed on the forum's official list either and they are known to be reputable.

lbw1000 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Grass Roots is not listed on the forum's official
> list either and they are known to be reputable.

Grass Roots is still listed under their old name, Mystery Guest.

Prince, MF does pay by direct deposit. That is the only way I have ever been paid by them, I think you just need to sign up for it. I used them a lot as a newbie, but now I only take the heavily bonused shops. There is one shop in particular they pay me $40 each twice a month to do because they can't get anyone else to go there. It's about 30 miles from me, so not so bad. I also do a golden arches for $50 in a town about 50 miles away, in which I pick up other shops along the way.

> FREELANCEREPORTER Wrote:

> I live in Kansas City and "InTouch" is worthless
> here. In 2013 I think Ive done about 15 gas
> station shops for them for about $25 to $30 a
> piece this year. I knocked out those 15 stations
> in a day and a half and there were no pics needed
> or reveal nonsense. So Ive made around $300
> dollars off them this whole year. I make that off
> Market Force every month year in and year out.

Agreed. Market Force sound much better than InTouch for you.

The one grocery store shop they have a month for me in the town I go to for my own errands isn't going to cut it for me. And if the 2 FF clients aren't with them any longer, what I can count on MF for will be pretty pitiful.

The one I did today, in the farther town I really need to just leave unless I can combine it with other shops.

But, I'll keep doing that grocery store.

Ok. I guess I was just being a bit sensitive I do understand not giving out the clients of the companies.

I gotta say right now I like premier service. I just did 2 shops for them (one was bonused) & the feedback was really quick. They also do a lot in the area that I can actually do & are very regular about it
I'm not a big fan of lanla. I'm just not ready to allow a company to have my banking info for direct deposit. I prefer PayPal

Honestly you also wouldn't know the context of the original post. It was during a time when the requests were rampant including demands from a poster who became known as @#$%&. Regardless of any help provided, she continued to come back and demand more and more. I'm glad you were able to understand what a difficult question it can be.

We are not telling you to go out and get scammed, but the legwork is a part of the job. If you want to find out about a company before applying you can use the search feature on the site and will find quite a bit of info. In fact, if you go through the official list, it will link you to discussions about the company. If you can't find anything, you can then ask about the specific company and you are likely to give feedback.

I know personally I struggle to get near as many shops as I would like because there isn't much here. I know I already have competition in the area and to hand out too much info makes it likely to come out of my pocket.

Even if you are no where near me, it doesn't mean that someone else reading this will come along in two weeks and be in my area.

enrewen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> so Im new here & dont know everyone wellbut I took
> the first post to mean "Im not giving you my list
> of decent mystery shopping companies so go out &
> get screwed on your own" Im sorry if thats not how
> it was meant. I dont think there is anything wrong
> with sharing your wisdom on shopping companies
> that actually pay or are in your area. I'm willing
> to put in the work but why? why should I get
> scammed by something that seems legit but is not?
> why should I spend a crap load of time registering
> for a company that has about 1 shop a year or
> nothing in canada? ya there are lists out there on
> the mystery shoping companies but they are useless
> to me if I cant trust them or they arent in
> canada. Again sorry if it wasnt meant to be taken
> like that.

Shelly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I know I already have competition in the
> area and to hand out too much info makes it likely
> to come out of my pocket.
>
> Even if you are no where near me, it doesn't mean
> that someone else reading this will come along in
> two weeks and be in my area.


That just sounds so paranoid. You are completely ruling out the thought that maybe if those mystery shopping jobs you covet so much were really worth anything someone would of taken them before you ever showed up? If those mystery shopping jobs of yours were so desirable 10 men and a dog couldnt hide them from the public. The public would find out. Supply and demand is not just some concept they teach us in school to bore us to death.