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Shopping Platforms

July 21, 2019 12:19AM
I was wondering if there are other shopping platforms like Presto, iSecretshop and Prophet. I'm in the process of signing up for all the companies under them.

I made a terrible mistake in the beginning and signed up for a bunch of companies, didn't keep track and had no clue of the enormity of companies out there. Now I'm back tracking and trying to clean it up and I'm happy to see many of the companies I signed up for connected to a platform.

Thanks for all the wisdom on this board, I learn a lot by reading.
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July 21, 2019 12:32AM
There's msjobboard.com but no matter how you filter it, it shows an ungodly amount of international shops first so it takes forever to load.
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July 21, 2019 12:41AM
Thank you!
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July 21, 2019 12:44AM
Other than ISS I pay little attention to platforms. I just go straight to the companies' sites. I bookmark every company I sign up for, and put the bookmark in a MS bookmark folder. I created a text file, gave it a name that had nothing to do with shopping or passwords, and use it to record every company, user name, and password. I track shops using the spreadsheet found on this forum, although I've modified it. Use the list at the bottom of forum pages to find companies.
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July 21, 2019 12:58AM
Do the company sites have more job listings than through the platforms?
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July 21, 2019 01:02AM
Oh yeah.
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July 21, 2019 01:10AM
Oh...thanks for sharing that info.
I guess I'll have a bit more work to log these all in instead of relying on the platforms.
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July 21, 2019 02:01AM
Some companies only list opportunities on their site. Some only list selected opportunities on the available job boards. For example, several clients I like are with Sassie companies but the opportunities are not on Presto or Jobslinger.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2019 02:02AM by isaiah58.
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July 21, 2019 02:22AM
Nice to know that and thank you!
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July 21, 2019 04:12AM
@sestrahelena wrote:

There's msjobboard.com but no matter how you filter it, it shows an ungodly amount of international shops first so it takes forever to load.
Oh my goodness, I thought that was just me! Thanks for sharing that! It is so frustrating to have to go through that, so I don't use that platform very often, I just check with the individual job boards.
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July 21, 2019 06:20AM
Yeah. I don't like the platforms much. I'll check jobslinger, but I usually try to work with the individual MSC's site.
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July 21, 2019 11:36AM
Many of the jobs listed on those "platforms" are no longer available. Go directly to the sites of the MSCs and of the major scheduling companies if you want to see lists of actual, current, opportunities.

Moreover, once you establish yourself as a reliable, objective shopper you will start getting emails from schedulers offering jobs that will NEVER be on their open job boards or on the platform lists.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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July 21, 2019 01:55PM
@walesmaven Could you explain what you mean by major scheduling companies vs MSC's? I know the Msc is the company but who are the scheduling companies?

Thanks for all the help. When I started this, I was just dabbling but as we migrate away from our home business I might pick up more MSC jobs.

I was also wondering if there are any companies that would be fruitful to have my husband sign up for also. He does help with gathering details etc but there were a few shops I did that I wasn't eligible because of rotation and the scheduler asked if I could recommend someone.

Thanks.
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July 21, 2019 02:37PM
Many MSCs contract out some or all of their scheduling to firms that specialize in just scheduling the shops and communicating with the shopper up to the point where the shopper submits the report. KSS (Kern Scheduling Services) is the one that most readily comes to mind. I am sure that other members will chime in with others. It is important to understand that the scheduling service DOES NOT pay the shopper and is not the reviewer/editor/QC entity. The MSC does all of that. In some cases, shoppers report that if they go to the MSC job board first, they see the same shop as offered by the scheduling service, but at a somewhat higher fee. But that does not mean that you should skip the scheduling service shop boards. In the case of the MSCs that I shop for most often, there is seldom a difference in the published fee. If I am negotiating for a bonus, it is sometimes, but not always, quicker to get a resonse if I ask the MSC. BUT, a few are very clear that ALL communications about active shops MUST go through the scheduler (the scheduling company).

I will let forum members who are more familiar with which MSCs welcome shopper partners/team and which are hostile address that issue. It is not one that affects me.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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July 21, 2019 02:59PM
Thank you, I've worked through KSS so that helps me understand the difference. I'm glad to know this so I can make a note as I work on making my spreadsheet.

As for partner jobs (for those who might know the answer) I was thinking the quick small ones... Fast food, grocery, goodwill etc.
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July 21, 2019 03:10PM
My concern not how simple the shop is; is that it has been reported that a FEW MSCs will revoke the membership of people who sign-up from the same address (IP site, not email address). They think it is just one person trying to evade rotation requirements. Others here know which MSCs those are, but I do not remember, since it is not an issue for me.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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July 21, 2019 03:12PM
Sounds like I might not even mess around with the partner scenario, not really worth it from what I was thinking.

Thank you!
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July 21, 2019 03:30PM
Just having a partner to help with timings, descriptions, etc. is great for dining and hotel shops, especially. As long as that person is well versed in the rules, like "pictures of food before it is disturbed in any way," or "must order two different entrees."

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Reply
July 21, 2019 03:34PM
Oh yes I agree! My husband is great about remembering names and details but when it comes to food I have to remind him to wait for pictures:-). He also is good for being a 'cover', he stages his position just right so I can get pics without being seen.
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