Have you ever been asked to put down a deposit to be assigned a job?

This is from an MSC that I've done 60+ jobs for and I have a shopper rating of 10 out of 10. I accepted a job, and THEN the scheduler told me that it would require a $50 deposit. I e-mailed asking if this was a requirement by the client or by the MSC, and stating that I would have to respectfully decline the job if this deposit was non-negotiable. I have not heard back from the scheduler and the job (technically 3 jobs -- same assignment on 3 different dates) does not appear in my shop log. I know the scheduler has since been online because I've received other mass-mailing scheduling requests from her in the interim.

So I assumed it was the client or the MSC making this request, but now I'm wondering if the scheduler took it upon herself to ask for this deposit. I don't know to whom I would have paid it. Should I contact the MSC and ask them? I'll need to find a way to contact them directly, because their online contact form is limited to inquiring about specific shops and I don't want this directed to a scheduler, but rather to a manager or owner.

Thoughts?

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

I saw this shop also and questioned about the deposit. Just doesn't sit well with me. I think they are requiring this cause they are buying the tickets and want to make sure the shop is done and done correctly.

I would never put down a deposit unless it was in writing that I would get it back regardless of whether the shop got approved or not. But if it was me I would not put down a deposit unless it was something I absolutely had to have through the shop.

Intellishop routinely requires a deposit for tickets for sporting events or concerts. It is returned after shop completion. They don't want to be stiffed for the provided tickets which I presume must have happened because it wasn't always required back in the day.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

I saw that this morning for an event in NJ in August, required a $100 deposit for tickets. It doesn't even say what event it is, just where it is. I don't have an extra $100 to use for a deposit, especially for that long amount of time.

Shopping the South Jersey Shore

I remember there was a shop doing surveys for Pokemon and you were supposed to offer participants $10 for taking the survey. Guess who was supposed to front the money...That was a real joke.

Many MSCs will require a deposit when tickets are provided.

This came about when shoppers took off with the tickets and never did the jobs.

It’s not a big deal at all.

@daveclark5 wrote:

I remember there was a shop doing surveys for Pokemon and you were supposed to offer participants $10 for taking the survey. Guess who was supposed to front the money...That was a real joke.

The Subway shops were the same way, except the employees could win a cash prize. Shopper paid out the prize and the MSC reimbursed it.

I too have seen deposits on shops where tickets are pre purchased. If you have a great track record with the particular msc and have not had a history of rejected shops you should be okay unless you do not have the $$ to put up for the tickets. You already know the msc is good for the money. I see this as no different than going to a restaurant for a $$$ meal and fronting the money and then waiting a few months to get reimbursed.

How long did those stay on the boards.

@daveclark5 wrote:

I remember there was a shop doing surveys for Pokemon and you were supposed to offer participants $10 for taking the survey. Guess who was supposed to front the money...That was a real joke.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Thanks, everyone, it's useful to know that some MSCs do this.

I do feel it's a little different than having me buy the ticket and reimbursing me for it. In that case, they're asking me to do it either because it's convenient, or they want the ticket purchase process assessed, or both.

In asking for a deposit, though, they're telling me they don't trust me in spite of my track record with them. I know it's not directed at me personally, but I'm just not interested in doing business that way.

No harm, no foul, then.

@amyann2 wrote:

Thanks, everyone, it's useful to know that some MSCs do this.

I do feel it's a little different than having me buy the ticket and reimbursing me for it. In that case, they're asking me to do it either because it's convenient, or they want the ticket purchase process assessed, or both.

In asking for a deposit, though, they're telling me they don't trust me in spite of my track record with them. I know it's not directed at me personally, but I'm just not interested in doing business that way.

No harm, no foul, then.

In the case of one I've done multiple times, the tickets I've gotten were valued way above what the deposit was. The team provides the tickets so no one is actually paying for them, they are just house seats they either give to a mystery shopper or one of the hundreds of other reasons they give away free tickets to a game. If they let you pay and then reimburse you, they would be out money for the potential sale that could have gone to a fan. This way, they are just paying the food/drink reimbursement and the shop fee.

@sandyf I thought the same thing, but the one I was looking at had to have a $100 deposit within a day of request being accepted, but the shop isn't until August. That's just too long to be out that money (for me)

Shopping the South Jersey Shore

Yep, that is a very long time to wait, both for the job and for the money.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Have you ever been asked to put down a deposit to be assigned a job?

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine