This job is looking for signage, probably for Visa service fee minimum amount or service fee upcharge. The jobs are on Presto so no real information about the scope of the job before you request. From the email, "small purchase may be required". Anyone know what how much is the reimbursement for "small purchase" is since the fee is only $10?

It looks like it's $6 for the purchase, but if they don't charge a fee, you don't make a purchase...awkward.

Up to $6 reimbursement.
However, if you ask about a fee/minimum and the employee says there is no fee/minimum, you're supposed to drop everything and leave. Awkward, as stated above.

Not only is that awkward, but some of the places being shopped are shady.

The info on the shop was odd It is titled Visa Debit Credit Card Research, and then when you read further down it says Visa Debit card only, but then further down it reads Ask directly – “Is there a fee, surcharge, or minimum for using a Visa debit or credit card.”

What is the trigger for the Visa debit?

@MsJudi @boridi The guideline says if the employee responds there is NO fee, but you saw signs in the store that specifically mentioned a discount for cash purchases OR a charge for using a DEBIT CARD, make your purchase.

One of the places in my area is a quick serve restaurant. What if there is a sign that mentions a discount for cash purchase or surcharge for using a debit card, the employee confirms it, but then they don't add the surcharge for whatever reason. Are you still going to get reimbursed even though there is no proof of it on the receipt? I guess you would since you have proof of the photo.

Would like to hear from those that have done it. I would've tried, but I only have Mastercard Debit cards and Visa credit.

Am I reading it right that there are 74 questions? WTF is that? I've looked at the places around me. None of them make sense to just walk in and try to buy something for $5.

I have not seen this job but I have done a similar job in past years for Visa Debit cards where you made a purchase whether or not there was a fee. I probably went to at least 20 different locations over the years and I never came across a store with a fee. For me it is not worth it to go and then leave my purchase on the counter if there is no fee. A lot more comfortable to leave your purchase without buying it if there is a fee. Pre pandemic it was $10 reimbursement. Since I have not seen this shop I do not know if it is still with the same msc.

Answers to a couple of questions...
1) must have, and if necessary use Visa DEBIT card only
2) the "trigger" is the usage of that debit card in a way that will cause the surcharge for using it... Some establishments will add 3% extra if you use a debit card........ Some establishments will charge you extra if you don't spend a certain minimum amount. In that case, you spend less than the minimum to "trigger" the fee.

I have done couple, and would have done more but I waited too late and locations became unavailable. I am comfortable in almost any setting or situation, so for most of the assignments I don't have a problem walking in and walking out without a purchase. By the way, those are the quickest, the no purchase shops. However, you never know which one will require a purchase or not. You only purchase something if there is confirmation that there is a surcharge for using a debit card. If there is signage, you are required to take a picture of all signage that indicates a surcharge. Typically, that signage will be at the counter next to the register. WARNING.... what the guidelines don't mention, at least I haven't seen it, is that you need to take a picture of the counter where the register is located at all locations, debit surcharge or not. I learned that doing the evaluation. Some situations could be awkward, and nearly impossible to covertly snap pictures of counters and signs. For example, one location was for a barber shop. What the heck! I don't mind going in and walking out without getting a cut, but I don't want to try to covertly take pictures of the counter/register in a little establishment like that. Furthermore, $5 haircuts died in the 1960's. I prefer markets and restaurants. I just look at the menu in the restaurant and leave, or get a bite or drink if there is a surcharge. The visitation is usually 1 to 3 minutes, and the evaluation takes about 5 minutes.

@1forum1 Thanks. I know that using a Visa Debit is a requirement. I was simply saying that it wasn't clear initially.

The title of the job read Debit/Credit Card Research. You are supposed to ask an employee is there a charge/fee to use a Visa debit or credit card. I was curious what is so different from a Visa debit vs Visa credit card that you need to use a Visa debit.

Last time it the requirement was contactless symbol Visa to test the machines, so I get why it had that stipulation.

Nowhere in the posting, guidelines or instructions does it state that you will be reimbursed for any purchases, even if they are necessary. Another Shady practice.

I looked at a partial list and it doesn't make sense. One place is a Collection Services company. If they have a sign about a surcharge for using a card, then how am I supposed to make a purchase for up to $6? Am I supposed to say, I will pay $6 of someone's bill - "you choose." This makes no sense!

Did 8 of these today. No signage or fees at any location. Under 10 questions & 2 pictures. Completed each one in less then five minutes.

A lot of times shops require "debit", because they do not want you to be able to have your financial institution charge it back, or go through a refund process per your request. A debit gets deducted right away. But I do not know why they only accept VISA debit and not MasterCard debit.

I did similar shops with another MSC a while ago. The fee they pays will not cover the entire purchase..

Debit cards are processed differently than credit cards, and incur different fees to the merchant. The interchange rate merchants are charged for debit card transactions is substantially less than those for credit cards, so it is odd that there would be a fee for debit cards and not for credit cards. But I am sure that it all comes down to fees in some manner, a.k.a, money!

Seems like a lot of sleuthing and being "inconspicuous" taking photos right in front of a clerk. Not worth it.

not exacltly. Now everyone is texting and taking pictures..did it many times.

This just sounds awful.

It feels like the kind of setup that's asking for inaccuracy. If they do charge a fee, but it's not posted and the clerk doesn't know, then the lack of a purchase means you walk out reporting that there isn't one.

They should have just built in a $6 purchase every time. Less revealing for us, less annoying for the store, and better results.

I saw some of these - I'm in a rural area, one location mapped to the middle of a cornfield. With it being October, I had weird visions of children of the corn....not worth the fee. lol

Maybe its a corn maze that takes visa?

@joanna81 wrote:

I saw some of these - I'm in a rural area, one location mapped to the middle of a cornfield. With it being October, I had weird visions of children of the corn....not worth the fee. lol

@Amarsir The details for the job are lacking. Like I mentioned before, one place in my area is a debt recovery service, so how am I going to make a $6 purchase? Another place I went to was a custom glass company? They don't have sell custom jobs for $6 bucks.

I didn't see that either. The way it is posted there isn't a way to see if there is any reimbursement. So I just moved on. If there is one I may look into it again.

@joanna81 wrote:

I saw some of these - I'm in a rural area, one location mapped to the middle of a cornfield. With it being October, I had weird visions of children of the corn....not worth the fee. lol

One of the locations in my town is on my street, 5 blocks down. It's a residential street with no commerical buildings.

I did a few of these today. Some were super awkward, like the RV location where I got stuck talking to a salesperson for way too long, and a few were private residences. There was one pin that went nowhere too. None of these places had any fees so I never had to make a purchase. I'm pretty sure the reimbursement is $6 but I'm not seeing it anywhere.

That was my question/concern about these. Is there a reimbursement for the $6? I don't see anything that says one way or the other. Anyone who has done these have any insight?

You can take that location, go there, check in on the app, take a picture of the exterior showing its not a business, and submit it as an "Unable to Complete". You still get the full $10 fee. I found this out strangely on the last round of these shops.

@tstewart3 wrote:

@joanna81 wrote:

I saw some of these - I'm in a rural area, one location mapped to the middle of a cornfield. With it being October, I had weird visions of children of the corn....not worth the fee. lol

One of the locations in my town is on my street, 5 blocks down. It's a residential street with no commerical buildings.

You can take that location, go there, check in on the app, take a picture of the exterior showing its not a business, and submit it as an "Unable to Complete". You still get the full $10 fee. I found this out strangely on the last round of these shops.

Has anyone else noticed that more pins (new merchants) for this assignment show up and then disappear only to pop up again? I clicked on one new pin and then the rest from this new group disappeared.

I wonder if they are able to tell from the TransID, which they ask you for if you do make a purchase, that a Visa debit card was used. I don't see "Visa debit card" listed on the receipt.

Reimbursement..... I was reimbursed for purchases.