In the last couple of weeks I've been getting a lot of Market Force Inquiry emails.

I've gotten them before, almost always when a FF shop had timing issues. But these are just weird emails. They say the client is questioning info in the report.

For a FF shop where we always have to check the restrooms now - was the non-functioning toilet the only toilet? Were other toilets functioning?

The client knows good and well these places are one-holers.

For a FF shop - how long exactly did it take for you to be acknowleged. How long exactly did it take for you to receive your order?

Well.....that would be exactly the numbers I put into the report, doncha think??

For a retail shop - what exactly did the associate say?

Exactly what I put in the origional report.

What do y'all think? Am I being paranoid about these emails? Is MF getting ready to break up with me? Should I put on my tinfoil hat to keep MF from stealing my thoughts?

"Am I being paranoid about these emails?" Maybe.

"Is MF getting ready to break up with me?" Probably.

"Should I put on my tinfoil hat to keep MF from stealing my thoughts?" Definitely.

I would lay low for awhile. You are on somebody's radar for sure. I grind out around 100 MFing shops per year and I might have gotten 2 follow up emails.

I do a lot of them, too.....and no follow up emails. I did once, about a year and a half ago, but is was to clarify...not question.

Michael C Wrote:
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> I would lay low for awhile. You are on somebody's
> radar for sure. I grind out around 100 MFing
> shops per year and I might have gotten 2 follow up
> emails.



I've done about the same, maybe more, in the last 2 years with maybe 2 to 3 follow up emails. These are in exactly the same format but I think they are asking weird questions!

Reminds of what color is the restroom trash can question?

CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
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> Reminds of what color is the restroom trash can
> question?


MSC is digging way too deep. What's next, "Was it a floater or a sinker?"

ive havent done any shops for marketforce in 2 years maybe longer
and they still call me every week to see if i want to do shops.

There are msc's that are paid to audit other reps. For instance if you are
doing a demo for one msc, there is another that sends an audit to see
how you do.

If you are doing exit surveys, there is another msc that sends someone to
check to see how you are doing.

If you represent some of the computer manufactures in stores on weekends
they are shopped as well.

I stopped doing shops for MF because of their stupid stuff like that. The last straw was for a quick serve place for which I gave two no's on the report. The way they asked me the follow up questions led me to believe that they wanted me to change my answers to those questions, which I had to because the way they were asking me those follow up questions only led to yes answers. The other one was a heavily bonused shop that they needed me to do in an emergency. A week after the shop they wrote me denying that what I said happened actually happened, and that they would reject the shop if I didn't show proof. Well, I send back a nasty email, and they had no choice but to pay me for it.


NumberNineteen Wrote:
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> In the last couple of weeks I've been getting a
> lot of Market Force Inquiry emails.
>
> I've gotten them before, almost always when a FF
> shop had timing issues. But these are just weird
> emails. They say the client is questioning info in
> the report.
>
> For a FF shop where we always have to check the
> restrooms now - was the non-functioning toilet the
> only toilet? Were other toilets functioning?
>
> The client knows good and well these
> places are one-holers.
>
> For a FF shop - how long exactly did it take for
> you to be acknowleged. How long exactly did it
> take for you to receive your order?
>
> Well.....that would be exactly the
> numbers I put into the report, doncha think??
>
> For a retail shop - what exactly did the associate
> say?
>
> Exactly what I put in the origional
> report.
>
> What do y'all think? Am I being paranoid about
> these emails? Is MF getting ready to break up with
> me? Should I put on my tinfoil hat to keep MF from
> stealing my thoughts?

NumberNineteen, I'm wondering if you're glad you asked, since the replies surely must have heightened your paranoia!? As a fellow paranoia, I might suggest asking MF directly, just to get "it" over with.

(heart)

And spoil the surprise?

Time to deactivate before they steal your soul.

cindy55 Wrote:
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> Time to deactivate before they steal your soul.

I don't think there is a way to deactivate on MF without sending email to the help desk.

And to everyone, if deactivating from MF is a realistic option for you and you choose to do that, that's great. But for me and for others it's a "bread and butter" MSC (at least some months). They have the most assignments that I'm actually willing to take and they pay by direct deposit. (And yes, it's entirely possible that some of my pay from MF will buy the gas that gets me to the bank to deposit the paper checks from the other MSCs.)

Maybe MF will save you the trouble of leaving. They are probably reading this thread and might figure out who you are by your post description.

Canuck Wrote:
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> Maybe MF will save you the trouble of leaving.
> They are probably reading this thread and might
> figure out who you are by your post description.
>


This should definitely help build more paranoia. Especially since it's probably true.
I wanted to gripe about a recently denied shop with a different MSC but decided not too since it would surely give away my identity.

Over the years, I have noticed shoppers commenting about deactivation, especially connected to the FF shops. From what I have read, it seems like the more you do, the higher the chance of deactivation. It is uncertain whether a routine formula is used or if an editor flags you in some way. Many shoppers claim that they have been deactivated from these FF shops with no previous calls for edits.

Back to the original question, I think the answer is yes that some MSCs do. For example, think about the exit interview assignments. A few weeks ago, one MSC had an assignment to go take a picture of the auditor doing exit interviews. I also had one time when someone was parked in their car in the parking lot and when I arrived, got out, followed me around and left the same time I did without making a purchase. It was my first assignment for this MSC and I wonder if they were doing quality assurance on my work.

How would the MSC know when you planned to arrive to do your shop? Was there a very small window of time in which to do it? Did you have to specify exactly what time you were going? How would the other person know the shopper was you, and not one of the other customers arriving during that timeframe? Does the MSC have your photo or license plate?

Weird!

It was probably unlikely, but the more one thinks about it....the MSC often has your physical description, sometimes a photo, and the make and model of your car. In this case, I also had told the scheduler that I was completing an assignment right next door for another MSC that morning. So it could have been possible. Again, very unlikely, but it made me consider how identifiable we could be.

The morning could still be a three or four window. Don't you wonder how much they pay someone to sit around for several hours in order to catch the mystery shopper? Thirty pieces of silver maybe?

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> The morning could still be a three or four window.
> Don't you wonder how much they pay someone to sit
> around for several hours in order to catch the
> mystery shopper? Thirty pieces of silver maybe?

No thirty pieces of silver involved, unless we think that that's what we should get paid for any assignment where we report on the performance of a salesperson.

But, it's hard to believe that they'd do it, unless there were some really special circumstances.

I've been shopping for over 15 years, some years not more than maybe 20, but probably up close to 1000. I have had some follow up questions, but it all turned out ok, to the best of my knowledge. One time one deactivated me because I was supposed to call them as soon as I entered the theatre, I complained about not being able to get anyone to answer their phones, how could I call them, talk to someone, and then proceed to do the trailer check. I quit doing them and then 5 years later wondered why I couldn't get on the site. They activated me again. Another time I was asked details about a grocery shop 4 weeks after I had completed it, I wrote back and told them there is no way I would know the specifics a month later - similar to "what exact words did she say to you"? No problem, maybe I'm lucky.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/25/2013 05:10PM by doscuppy2000.

I know MF says to destroy everything after you get paid and I have been doing that in the past, but not now. You never know when you needs your notes and that.

beyoden Wrote:
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> Back to the original question, I think the answer
> is yes that some MSCs do. >>>>>>I
> also had one time when someone was parked in their
> car in the parking lot and when I arrived, got
> out, followed me around and left the same time I
> did without making a purchase. It was my first
> assignment for this MSC and I wonder if they were
> doing quality assurance on my work.


Perhaps this is the shop we should be doing---->"sitting in our car all day, waiting for the MS to arrive". I am sure the fee has to be more than $5. The MSC that are conducting these types of "quality assurances" have way too much time on their hands.

When we make a purchase of some sort, the client already know who we are---------->"We are the customer, who was waited on by Employee 345, at register 2 at Store XYZ, on August 4, 2013. We spent $12.50, with a Deli purchase of $2.59. We were in the line at 04:57 pm. The transaction was started 05:03pm. We left the store at 05:12pm. If we used our rewards card, then that too is on the receipt."

What does the MSC want too know------->If we were that customer? Were we within the shopping time perimeters and the right date? Did we make the purchase requirement? Did we speak with the required employees? Did all employees have on a nametag or company uniform? Did we check out the restroom? Was the store clean or open for business? Was the area conducive for shopping? Would we/family/friends shop at this store in the future? Did you get a receipt?

And there we have it-------->The expectations of the MShopper for the Client by the MSC.

If I am going to sit in a parking lot all day waiting for "SomeONE who is doing a MS, then I might as well --->"park in front of their house, waiting for them to get out of bed, leave their house, and follow them to the store, to make sure, they attempted the shop".

I am sure each MSC have there own QAs in place to keep us in check. If they are auditing us, then they have our reports/survey to make that decision. How many of us have heard the scheduler say or email back to you---->"okay, I will put that in your "FILE'? They audit us per shop, per survey, per flake, per assignment and anything else that gives them credence. (Sitting in the parking lot does not appear to be one. What happens when you take public transportation?)