Hey all;

I’ve been getting a number of e-mails that pay $25 for placing a tracking device... before they assign you a shop, you need to send them $50 as a deposit which they will refund once the shop is finalized. This is a major MSP who pays on time, so I don’t doubt the validity — but does anyone find this sort of thing a bit insulting? Especially since the deposit is for double the pay?

I get that they want to ensure the devices go out — but I feel like you should trust your shoppers a bit more — eg. You need to send the deposit if you’ve done less than 5-10 shops (I’ve done hundreds and hundreds). I’d even feel OK with it if the shop paid $100 — you get the first $50 once the report is processed, and the second 50 once they know the device has been returned and everything went smoothly.

It just feels... insulting. Sort of like the time a certain MSC decided (after not requiring it for around 6 months) that you needed to send them $100 for a gift card to use at a fine dining shop that paid $10 — and then would get the $110 back once everything was all paid. They claimed it was because “people were abusing it”.

Maybe I’ve just been doing this long enough that I’m starting to be more jaded — but isn’t the general idea that you should trust your decent shoppers — and just delete the account of anyone who would blatantly steal? If it’s someone with few shops under their belt and you have an item like this that they need first, maybe you just wouldn’t assign them and give it to someone who has been reliable? I would seriously help them out and do these — if they weren’t demanding I send them *double the ultimate pay* for them to hang onto for up to 60 days first lol

What do you think?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2020 09:22PM by ngbmediashop.

There are so many different ways to get the same end result that I just don't do shops where the MSC needs to send me something of value so that I can perform the shop and then return or return the unused. I can understand the sports events perhaps where they want a deposit on the tickets just in case you flake on them, but otherwise I can print certificates for due endorsement for targets to send in to claim their rewards rather than handing them gift cards. I can dine out and be reimbursed. I can purchase items that I am allowed to return, etc.

I get it. The MSC wants to be sure the device is going to be used as expected, as opposed to getting lost or used for other purposes.

I saw this listed too. It had to be sent cash, not credit card which was annoying. I'd be fine if it was a credit card hold like a hotel or gas pump. The whole reason I MS is for extra money, not to send you what's in my checking account.

This IS business! When any company, shopping or otherwise, has a stipulation of which I have no interest, I pass on the opportunity. In my 17+ years in this profession, if I were to ever feel insulted, it would be the Trendsource 1/2 dollar phone shops of some years in the past.

I saw that and I clicked the link to see what the stores were, and they were a coffee shop. At most of these locations, the dumpster is probably behind a locked fence, so how could I get to it? And if I could get to it, and I placed the device inside, what if an employee saw it, takes it out and throws it behind the dumpster. Would I get my deposit back? The risk it too high. BTW, all of them in my area were scheduled.

Not insulted. Business is business. But also not interested. Too much hassle for $25.

It seemed fussy, so I will wait until I have less to do. Then, it might be interesting and not so bad to provide a deposit for their equipment.

You were right to bail on this shop. I took it because I happened to be on a route in that area (45 minutes from my home) and there was not a dumpster around (or even an alley where you could reasonably say the dumpster would be) and the geo-locating app they required you to use does not work (after an hour he stamp is still "processing.". I explained to the scheduler and asked how I can send back the tracker to get my deposit back and they refuse.

Now, now. Good things (or at least odd stamp apps) come to those who wait. Two such apps that supplemented what my phone could do for this gig finally showed up on my phone a week or so after I explained that I was interested but unable to download the apps...

@AFPhilineLehmann wrote:

You were right to bail on this shop. I took it because I happened to be on a route in that area (45 minutes from my home) and there was not a dumpster around (or even an alley where you could reasonably say the dumpster would be) and the geo-locating app they required you to use does not work (after an hour he stamp is still "processing.". I explained to the scheduler and asked how I can send back the tracker to get my deposit back and they refuse.

I don't find it insulting. I find it to be an automatic email delete.

Send no money to anybody, I will not be insulted just delete the request.