GFK>>>>> why must you complicate your reports???
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Yet another reason I've given up on GfK.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I've given up on them too. Too much time for poor pay and no or limited appreciation.
These shops were a huge disaster on their part. They didn't correct anything until it was pointed out that they didn't even understand their own guidelines. It's obvious they just copied guidelines from the previous msc and didn't properly update them for this round. There must be alot odd turmoil over there because everything is disorganized and a mess.
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There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
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When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
I just got removed from the cell phone audit because I got one question wrong on the test. It was the question regarding the audit verification and the managers. The guidelines in the video don't clearly state the answer, to me. But after watching the video, listening to the conference call and reading the guidelines I think I dodged a bullet.
anyone notice that the cell phone audits now require double the amount of pictures of previous rounds, but no increase in pay. 11 extra photos(minimum). Why this matters is I remember when these paid more than 15 dollars and the reason why they reduced it to 15 was there was less photos to take. Now that they increased the amount of photos again, why did the pay not go back up?
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There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
I have never worked for them even though I registered in the middle of last year.
Too many hurdles for too little pay.
I'm glad the other members here can confirm my conclusions.
Too many hurdles for too little pay.
I'm glad the other members here can confirm my conclusions.
Techman, are those additions to currently unassigned shops or were they added after being assigned? If it was after then GFK basically nullified the agreement with the shopper since the terms of a contract cannot be changed without agreement from all parties. The action would also leave shoppers open to either canceling without penalty or renegotiating fees.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I have pretty much put them on my ignore list too - and I used to do a lot of shops and some nicely bonused audits.
I would like to know who gets credit for those HORRIFIC guidelines/instructions they send out. I learned early on to scan the directions and just make a cheat sheet with the key points and a place to write the answers.
Literally there were usually just 4 or 5 questions and x number of photos and you were done. No need for 7 -9 pages of mish mashed, highlighted, multi-colored enlarged font, overwrought, badly written, out of sequence directions. OY !
I would like to know who gets credit for those HORRIFIC guidelines/instructions they send out. I learned early on to scan the directions and just make a cheat sheet with the key points and a place to write the answers.
Literally there were usually just 4 or 5 questions and x number of photos and you were done. No need for 7 -9 pages of mish mashed, highlighted, multi-colored enlarged font, overwrought, badly written, out of sequence directions. OY !
Too much work before you even work! Guidelines are 20 pages, quizzes, long and repetitive reports - all for the whopping sum of $14.
The guidelines and requirements changed for the July shops. They did not change after assignment, this is the way they were assigned but as usual, you can not see the guidelines or take the quiz until after your are assigned to an audit. Yes, there are additional photos required, but the need to ask questions has been eliminated. Some have claimed that in the past they never had to wait to ask an employee questions. I have. had to wait. So, I consider this to be a wash in terms of time. The first one I did in July took about 35 minutes. The second one was 25 minutes because I had to wait for the lone employee to be available. I have 3 scheduled for tomorrow and expect to get the time down to 15 to 20 minutes now that I know the new routine. Not great, but not horrible. I printed the entire 21 page questionnaire, but know I know that I can "recycle" all but 4 of them. If I had only one audit to do, the listening to the 15 minute video, reading the guidelines, and taking the test would be an inordinate burden. BTW, the conference call was valuable, despite the rude shopper on the call who did not mute their calls so that we heard them talking to other people and even heard their end of other calls. I am sure that they got nothing out of the call and will complain that it was worthless.
@LisaSTL wrote:
Techman, are those additions to currently unassigned shops or were they added after being assigned? If it was after then GFK basically nullified the agreement with the shopper since the terms of a contract cannot be changed without agreement from all parties. The action would also leave shoppers open to either canceling without penalty or renegotiating fees.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
@myst4au wrote:
The guidelines and requirements changed for the July shops. They did not change after assignment
you are wrong. The original new guidelines said we only needed to take 2 photos of the new wall that is required. They then changed it as we got closer to July 1st that every device on the wall needed a separate photo in addition to the wall photo. This was done after you could assign shops and take the quiz. That's in addition to the other new photos you need to take of overall displays. So it's a total of up to 11 additional photos. Not having to ask 3 questions anymore is nonsense in comparison. Those questions answers took 30 seconds and they never changed. I never have to wait when I do them. I walk in, say im here for the audit and do what I need to while they continue to help customers. When I'm done, they come over, sign look at the photos if they want to, and I leave. My issue is these use to pay more per a shop but they reduced the fee when less photos were required. Now that you need to take more photos...no increase back
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2015 07:28PM by techman01.
I stand corrected. I guess by waiting until near the day to start the assignment, that I missed seeing the earlier version of the guidelines.
@techman01 wrote:
@myst4au wrote:
The guidelines and requirements changed for the July shops. They did not change after assignment
you are wrong. The original new guidelines said we only needed to take 2 photos of the new wall that is required. They then changed it as we got closer to July 1st that every device on the wall needed a separate photo in addition to the wall photo. This was done after you could assign shops and take the quiz. That's in addition to the other new photos you need to take of overall displays. So it's a total of up to 11 additional photos. Not having to ask 3 questions anymore is nonsense in comparison. Those questions answers took 30 seconds and they never changed. I never have to wait when I do them. I walk in, say im here for the audit and do what I need to while they continue to help customers. When I'm done, they come over, sign look at the photos if they want to, and I leave. My issue is these use to pay more per a shop but they reduced the fee when less photos were required. Now that you need to take more photos...no increase back
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Direct quote from GFK cellphone store audit reporting form...
"Your form must be filled out accurately and correctly. We expect nothing less than flawless reports. We are now monitoring the number of clarifications, and may temporarily removing auditors who have multiple audits that
require clarifications".
In the last 3 days i've received 2 detailed emails from GFK changing their instructions and/or guidelines with corporate doublespeak such as "factors beyond our control" and "we've made a minor adjustment" in addition to their cock-up disaster of their cellphone app to send reports.
Their "minor adjustment" requires an additional pic (that they forgot to include in their guidelines) with, of course, no additional $$$ for us.
Edited to add the # of pics required for their cell-phone shops = 21 (that is not a typo...21 actual pics)
How about..."GFK, WE EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN FLAWLESS INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES INSTEAD OF YOUR CONTINUAL DYSFUNCTION.
and while i'm at it..."GFK, HOW ABOUT COMPENSATING US IN DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE THAT YOU EXPECT?"
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2015 03:58PM by parkcitybrian.
"Your form must be filled out accurately and correctly. We expect nothing less than flawless reports. We are now monitoring the number of clarifications, and may temporarily removing auditors who have multiple audits that
require clarifications".
In the last 3 days i've received 2 detailed emails from GFK changing their instructions and/or guidelines with corporate doublespeak such as "factors beyond our control" and "we've made a minor adjustment" in addition to their cock-up disaster of their cellphone app to send reports.
Their "minor adjustment" requires an additional pic (that they forgot to include in their guidelines) with, of course, no additional $$$ for us.
Edited to add the # of pics required for their cell-phone shops = 21 (that is not a typo...21 actual pics)
How about..."GFK, WE EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN FLAWLESS INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES INSTEAD OF YOUR CONTINUAL DYSFUNCTION.
and while i'm at it..."GFK, HOW ABOUT COMPENSATING US IN DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE THAT YOU EXPECT?"
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2015 03:58PM by parkcitybrian.
In this business the level of perfection expected is always in direct correlation to the lowest of fees. Think about who the least forgiving MSCs are, Intellishop, Market Force and GFK, and then think about how they have each lowered fees regularly for the last five years. And before anyone says MF has worked with them on issues, bear in mind you never know your internal rating and could easily be one mistake away from deactivation.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Wow. GfK has quickly become one of the most vilified MSC's on here.
And rightfully earned, too.
And rightfully earned, too.
______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
@parkcitybrian what is the additional pic required? I didnt see that email. I saw the one allowing additional model.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
@techman01 wrote:
@parkcitybrian what is the additional pic required? I didnt see that email. I saw the one allowing additional model.
I got an email,directed to me, that said that I needed to disregard a couple of windows operating system phones that they wanted details on (a pic wasn't required because the stores no longer carry them) but to report and take a pic of the model that the stores are now carrying.
And,on top of it all,they wanted me to check mark the cellphone that wasn't there as if it was, and to strip in the pic for the phone that I actually did as if it were the phone that wasn't there. Confused yet? I understand what they wanted me to do but don't you think they could have changed their report form to delete the phones (there were 2 of them) that the stores no longer carry and to include the phone that the stores are now carrying?
Jeez...GFK reminds me of the circus and the clown car, for some weird reason.
okay, as the Author of this topic, I announce, I will no longer shops for GFK. I am learning not to be a Glutton for Punishment in my Prime, turning 40 years old this year, and I am personally trying to live as simple as possible. No stress, as I could not afford botox, and a lift. So, I must avoid high blood pressure prone, Mystery Shopping Companies that are stickler for anal narratives. Time for yoga.....
You can't make everyone happy, you're not pizza!!!
I listened in on the conference call today and they denied every persons complaint actually existed. Typical gfk. Lets see what people complained about today: Poorly constructed guidelines, long question form for no reason(They actually said they want you to print the 20 page photos for each shop, not just one for all your shops. One for each), lousy editors at wordsmith(that was a big one), delayed payments, editing not being done in 24 hours like promised, incorrect phone models on forms.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/2015 05:45PM by techman01.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/2015 05:45PM by techman01.
So what was the value of that conference call on your own time, with no compensation, other than an hour of your life you will never get back
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@techman01 wrote:
I listened in on the conference call today and they denied every persons complaint actually existed. Typical gfk. Lets see what people complained about today: Poorly constructed guidelines, long question form for no reason(They actually said they want you to print the 20 page photos for each shop, not just one for all your shops. One for each), lousy editors at wordsmith(that was a big one), delayed payments, editing not being done in 24 hours like promised, incorrect phone models on forms.
What was the conference call for? just curious, as none of the shops that I've done for them required one.
i actually agree on delayed payments and the editing. they should just simply add time to each because I had a shop rejected once due to them contacting me three days after the fact and me not having touch with the outside world due to being in the middle of the woods.
@techman01 wrote:
I listened in on the conference call today and they denied every persons complaint actually existed. Typical gfk. Lets see what people complained about today: Poorly constructed guidelines, long question form for no reason(They actually said they want you to print the 20 page photos for each shop, not just one for all your shops. One for each), lousy editors at wordsmith(that was a big one), delayed payments, editing not being done in 24 hours like promised, incorrect phone models on forms.
the issue here (imo) is all of the many, many complaints/dissatisfaction with GFK are being/have been met with stonewalling and they fail to heed the advice of "damage control" specialists which is to confront negative issues and try to make amends and vow to do a better job. that would go a long way to earn back the trust and mollify those of us who would like to continue shopping for GFK. Ignoring the negativity instead of reaching out in a positive way does nothing to instill confidence. GFK seems to be tone-deaf and ignorant to the groundswell of negative comments that seem to be inundating this site. The one positive thing they have done is in reining in the schedulers who added fuel to the fire by their self-serving and insulting comments.
BEWARE the kitchen appliance shops- 200 questions..... yes 200.....
Some of those have GOT to be repeat questions!
For $15???
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2015 01:59AM by Hoju.
For $15???
______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2015 01:59AM by Hoju.
YES AND yes!
Still a nuisance not to know a warning ahead of time super lengthy.
Still a nuisance not to know a warning ahead of time super lengthy.
@Hoju wrote:
Some of those have GOT to be repeat questions!
For $15???
That's the kind of situation where I feel totally justified canceling a job shortly after accepting it. If I can't see the guidelines before accepting it, there is no reasonable expectation of commitment after I accept it.
______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
@Hoju wrote:
That's the kind of situation where I feel totally justified canceling a job shortly after accepting it. If I can't see the guidelines before accepting it, there is no reasonable expectation of commitment after I accept it.
that makes sense to me and it's beyond my comprehension that GFK cannot understand why someone would cancel an assignment after viewing/deciding that the requirements/instructions/guidelines (that should have been explained prior in the initial offering) are not consistent with either the work required or, maybe more importantly, the $$$ offered is not commensurate for the amount of time involved to complete the assignment. These are among the reasons why GFK cannot attract and keep the professional shoppers that they are seeking and those that have been on-board (myself included) are fleeing like rats deserting a sinking ship.
"Many of your comments are copied and pasted throughout the report. Please modify your comments so they are unique to each unit shown.", from GFK.
I did the appliance shop and have never put in so much time for $15! I ran out of new things to say in the many, many comment boxes. Then I had the shop returned for changes, and like a GOOD SHOPPER, I did make changes. Signed, Night Owl at 2:44 pm.
Lots of love to all hard-working Shoppers!
I did the appliance shop and have never put in so much time for $15! I ran out of new things to say in the many, many comment boxes. Then I had the shop returned for changes, and like a GOOD SHOPPER, I did make changes. Signed, Night Owl at 2:44 pm.
Lots of love to all hard-working Shoppers!
I recently did a shop for them but when I went over the guidelines they were so so extensive and confusing for a really simple shop. There were also a lot of things that anyone with an ounce of common sense would not do but the guidelines are for a child saying don't touch the cars without the dealers permission that includes the doors, don't do... don't do..... and it just got more ridiculous. I just hope I get paid promptly.
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