TrendSource Audits
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The only TrendSourece audits which I am familiar with are the business verification audits. Those are at least the only ones which I do. There is no mention of a tablet app for those. There is a long paper form to be printed, and the target has to sign it. I take photos with a camera (not even a cell phone, although I am tempted) and attach them to the report as required.
There are some unrevealed "audits" of printer ink at various drug stores and such and for those I use my cell phone. I can't imagine being inconspicuous if I were using a tablet in the store aisles with employees nearby.
There are some unrevealed "audits" of printer ink at various drug stores and such and for those I use my cell phone. I can't imagine being inconspicuous if I were using a tablet in the store aisles with employees nearby.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
In my experience, Trendsource isn't particularly picky about what you use to take pictures as long as the quality of the images you upload is good. I use an iPod Touch for all of the unrevealed audits I do for them. It's a lot easier to be discreet with something that small compared to using a tablet.
Generally speaking, though, Android and iOS tablets are about as easy to use as smartphones with those operating systems are. They just have bigger screens and in some cases better hardware.
Generally speaking, though, Android and iOS tablets are about as easy to use as smartphones with those operating systems are. They just have bigger screens and in some cases better hardware.
I do these all of the time and I use my iPhone - for revealed and non-revealed audits. It's never been a problem.
He who laughs last thinks slowest.
Silver Certified
Silver Certified
I did my first Trendsource business verification audit today. I really enjoyed it, but was turned off by the printed FIFTEEN PAGE form. For those of you who do these regularly, any tips or hacks you can share that would cut down on the amount of paper?
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
The first page definitely needs to be printed full size. If your eyes are good, you could try printing the remaining pages two to a page. But you definitely need to be able to read them, and the questions change from assignment to assignment. I did one yesterday that was 4 pages. One last week was 23 pages. And there is no way to tell before you schedule the visit how long the questionaire will be, or which questions will appear. Since you need to record information, I think you need the paper copies, although you might be able to read the questions from a large tablet and record the anwers on paper if you keep good track of questions and answer. Oh - the final page - your introduction page, needs to be printed full size also.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I use Evernote to stream the form from my desktop to my tablet. I only print the LOA page and the form the contact signs.@KathyG wrote:
I did my first Trendsource business verification audit today. I really enjoyed it, but was turned off by the printed FIFTEEN PAGE form. For those of you who do these regularly, any tips or hacks you can share that would cut down on the amount of paper?
"Three eighths" pictures doesn't sound familiar. For business inspections I use my phone. I only has a 5mp camera, but it is sufficient for taking these pictures. I did get a tablet for work with other companies that have electronic submission. I use Android on the phone and tablet.
I just started to apply for the business inspections, but they're always gone before I have a chance to accept them. Does anyone have any ideas about what I'm doing wrong, or are there just too many others out there faster than me?
Do enough other ones so that you are allowed to self-assign. If you really want one of these, make a low-ball bid on a business verification in an out-of-the-way location.
@cvb42jeb wrote:
I just started to apply for the business inspections, but they're always gone before I have a chance to accept them. Does anyone have any ideas about what I'm doing wrong, or are there just too many others out there faster than me?
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I love Trendsource, but I haven't done any of the property or business verification audits yet. Has anyone had any problems with these? I have almost signed up for a few of them as the money is great. I googled one of the addresses once and a photo came up, the home was run down and quite scary so I passed on the project. For some reason I feel like I shouldn't go alone. Maybe I just watch too much TV... 
I got approved on Friday night and there was one where the business was open over the weekend and I as going to see if I could do it, then I realized not a good idea. It is supposed to be a used car dealer, I drive by there every day on way to work and ummm NOT. Also the name of the business puts it in another town because it is a name specific to a certain town in our area. I just had the feeling the actual dealership is in the other town and I would end up having to drive there and then it would not be worth the trouble.
For the BV audits, you have to call the contact and make an appointment to visit. You can't justs show up. Even if the business is open on the weekend like a car dealer, the person you will be meeting with is likely an office staff person and works "normal" business hours on Monday through Friday. And you have to confirm that the address is correct. You can only go to the address shown, otherwise you have to report the "new" address and get permission to go there.
@Maiddaraya wrote:
I got approved on Friday night and there was one where the business was open over the weekend and I as going to see if I could do it, then I realized not a good idea. It is supposed to be a used car dealer, I drive by there every day on way to work and ummm NOT. Also the name of the business puts it in another town because it is a name specific to a certain town in our area. I just had the feeling the actual dealership is in the other town and I would end up having to drive there and then it would not be worth the trouble.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
@eveb wrote:
I use Evernote to stream the form from my desktop to my tablet. I only print the LOA page and the form the contact signs.@KathyG wrote:
I did my first Trendsource business verification audit today. I really enjoyed it, but was turned off by the printed FIFTEEN PAGE form. For those of you who do these regularly, any tips or hacks you can share that would cut down on the amount of paper?
Newbie ms here! Could you pls explain exactly how you use Evernote to stream the form? I'd love to use some of my existing computer software for MS. Thank you!
@Mags438 wrote:
@eveb wrote:
I use Evernote to stream the form from my desktop to my tablet. I only print the LOA page and the form the contact signs.
Newbie ms here! Could you pls explain exactly how you use Evernote to stream the form? I'd love to use some of my existing computer software for MS. Thank you!
Sign up for an Evernote account. I have the Evernote extension applied to my Chrome Browser (not sure how it works with other browsers) and the Evernote app on my iPhone and iPad. In Chrome there will be a little elephant face in the upper right hand corner. When you have an article, page or document you want to put into Evernote you click on the elephant face, a pop up screen will appear and you can choose several formats (screen shot, full page, simplified article etc.). You can name the file and select a folder (if you have created them) for the document to go into. Note it doesn't get along well with PDF files, it will stream them but as a full document but you can't edit them, for those I use a PDF reader app.
At the inspection, audit or after the shop, I fill out the form in Evernote, use it to complete the form online, then email myself a copy.
Also you can search CNET and PCMag for articles on 'things you didn't know you could to do with Evernote' or the like.
@eveb, thank you! Aaahhh, sounds like it's an extension for desktop/laptop vs. the mobile apps. Is the 'elephant' available on your phone or iPad? I haven't been on a desktop, prolly since the inception of mobile devices. I'm finding in MS you must use a desktop/laptop for reports. I hate being tied down to a desktop in the house since I often multi-task around the house. Recently bought one of those $699 windows-based laptops for MS. I'll look for the elephant (screen scraper?)
Another Evernote question? Is there a way that you can pull these reports forms into Evernote and complete the input fields in Evernote? It would make life so much easier. I used to have an iPad pdf app that would allow one to do that, but when I updated their app, it became a 'paid' feature. When completing reports, it gets frustrating trying to remember to 'save' every 30minutes.
Another Evernote question? Is there a way that you can pull these reports forms into Evernote and complete the input fields in Evernote? It would make life so much easier. I used to have an iPad pdf app that would allow one to do that, but when I updated their app, it became a 'paid' feature. When completing reports, it gets frustrating trying to remember to 'save' every 30minutes.
@Mags438 wrote:
sounds like it's an extension for desktop/laptop vs. the mobile apps. Is the 'elephant' available on your phone or iPad? I haven't been on a desktop, prolly since the inception of mobile devices. I'm finding in MS you must use a desktop/laptop for reports. I hate being tied down to a desktop in the house since I often multi-task around the house. Recently bought one of those $699 windows-based laptops for MS. I'll look for the elephant (screen scraper?)
Another Evernote question? Is there a way that you can pull these reports forms into Evernote and complete the input fields in Evernote? It would make life so much easier. I used to have an iPad pdf app that would allow one to do that, but when I updated their app, it became a 'paid' feature. When completing reports, it gets frustrating trying to remember to 'save' every 30minutes.
Yes it is an extension for a desktop, but you can also "send to" Evernote from a mobile device.
No the elepahant is not on the mobile (phone or tablet) device, it is a stand alone app (it's a green square with an E), but it would be in the browser if done from a laptop (I'm pretty sure).
Yes, the reports in Evernote can be completed, edited (like a word program) in Evernote in the field and without an internet connection. I had a PDF reader that was apparently free for a limited number of uses, but I have found another that's free and easy to use, FoxitPDF
Many on the forum use voice recognition for dictating reports. I found the free version of Dragon to be good, I found no training necessary, but there is a learning curve to think, dictate, and punctuate at the same time!
Mags438 -
Evernote is an extension to the Chrome browser. If you go to [evernote.com] you will see that it is available in both the App Store and Google Play. It can also be installed on a Windows computer, which is why this becomes valuable. You can "import" it to Evernote on your laptop, then open it on your smartphone.
The "forms" which Trendsource uses for audits are web sites. You are able to download the forms (they are printable, afterall), but I can't see any way that would make it possible to upload the information from the fields you complete into the web pages used for the reports. The same thing for "forms" on the Sassie platform. You could download them, but the actual web pages often use skip logic, and even if they don't, other than copy and paste, I can't see how to get the information to flow up on the web pages.
There are some "rare" instances were the report is an Excel file and they are meant to be downloaded and then uploaded.
Evernote is an extension to the Chrome browser. If you go to [evernote.com] you will see that it is available in both the App Store and Google Play. It can also be installed on a Windows computer, which is why this becomes valuable. You can "import" it to Evernote on your laptop, then open it on your smartphone.
The "forms" which Trendsource uses for audits are web sites. You are able to download the forms (they are printable, afterall), but I can't see any way that would make it possible to upload the information from the fields you complete into the web pages used for the reports. The same thing for "forms" on the Sassie platform. You could download them, but the actual web pages often use skip logic, and even if they don't, other than copy and paste, I can't see how to get the information to flow up on the web pages.
There are some "rare" instances were the report is an Excel file and they are meant to be downloaded and then uploaded.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Thanks so much eveb and myst4au. I use foxitPdf as a replacement to PDFexpert but foxitPdf is not really an adequate substitution but better than (free)Adobe and foxitPdf is free, IIRC.
I'm hoping to get a full process in place to track everything (besides money payments) regarding MS before I get too far into it. Thanks so much for taking the time to educate this newbie.
I'm hoping to get a full process in place to track everything (besides money payments) regarding MS before I get too far into it. Thanks so much for taking the time to educate this newbie.
@cvb42jeb: Yes, in some areas they do tend to go quickly. If you want to be alerted the instant one is posted, use the "Build a personalized RSS feed", located in the upper right hand corner of the "Request Project" page.
Good luck! Enjoy!
(heart)
Good luck! Enjoy!
(heart)
@cvb42jeb wrote:
I just started to apply for the business inspections, but they're always gone before I have a chance to accept them. Does anyone have any ideas about what I'm doing wrong, or are there just too many others out there faster than me?
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
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