I put it in one of the four boxes I taped and sent together and wrote "paperwork" on that box.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2023 03:01AM by MissChele.

i received the $20 per store advance by mail yesterday. When i checked my bank account this morning I saw total reimbursement for my Day 1 expenses!!

@Angelbug wrote:

i received the $20 per store advance by mail yesterday. When i checked my bank account this morning I saw total reimbursement for my Day 1 expenses!!

Same with me....the FedEx truck pulled up yesterday about 3:30 pm while I was outside with the dog. I had forgotten about the $20 advance, but there it was! And then this morning, the remainder of the reimbursement was in my bank account....all $639.54!!! Now I just have to wait on my pay....now that may take a while to receive, but at least I can pay off my CC now!

I've been super impressed how quickly the advances and reimbursements are being processed. Its a little strange that they don't respond to email, even with something automated that says "We have your request and your reimbursement will be processed in 48 hours" but clearly someone(s) over there is getting these requests and getting them paid. I really like working with this company!

I received my "standard" advance yesterday afternoon, and this morning they called and said they would do a quick reimbursement on the locations I submitted so that I could take more work.

@MW, I'm glad to hear this. Thanks for updating us.

I will be going to a couple of stores. Can anyone share their experience in store? Did you actually ask to inspect the back room and offices? Or did you just ask the manager for all of the inventory? Did anyone run into any issues? Thanks!

@bradkcrew

OVERTHINKERS VERSION...

I just completed 10 stores. I made purchases at 8. One refused and one said they didn't have any. Be prepared to spend some money. I spent anywhere from $100 to $480. All my stores brought the product out from the backroom. None of them had it on the display.

In my area, for many of the cashiers, English is their second language. Be sure to show them the Letter of Authorization. After a few stores I highlighted key points to make it easier. Some cashiers called the owner or manager and after speaking with them let me proceed. Let them know you will be buying the product (I highlighted this sentence in the LOA).

If the store is busy be prepared to wait while they assist customers.

You'll need a picture of the cardboard display where the product had been located. The other chips that are not on recall will be on this display, and there should be gaps where they pulled the recalled items.

Depending on how many "a couple of stores" is, have some boxes or containers in your car to keep the products segregated by store. Some stores had product in the unopened boxes which are 10 per box. I just left them unopened. They are easier to pack because the loose items are an unusual shape. Some stores had them in a random cardboard box all lined up neatly. Ask if you can have the box. All gave it to me.

Verify the number of products you are buying. One store had 2 long rows in a box. The cashier counted 2 by 2, ie 2, 4, 6, etc and counted 28 total but it looked like 1 row had more than the other. It ended up being 29, not the 28 she had counted originally. So double check. Loose items I asked for bags and lined them upside inside. (Easier to pull out for packing later).

I labeled the bags and boxes with the store address (1234 Main St), the quantity and 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3, so I'd know which were which for shipping, using a black Sharpie. I also wrote on my store list how many items there were and how much I spent. You'll need the total # by store for the paperwork you'll put into the box when shipping.

Once you are all done shopping you'll need to box up for shipment. Maximum box size is 16x16x16 (as Cassie mentioned previously in this thread and they hold about 120 items). I got unmarked boxes from Staples (office supply store) that are perfect. They have lines on the inside so you can cut the box down if it's not full. I did this on all 3 of my boxes since I packed around 90 per box, keeping complete store purchases together. You can use boxes you already have but having the same size was just easier for me.

They will reimburse you for the boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap. I got 100' roll of bubble wrap at Walmart (on a previous project for them) for $20. It's perforated in 12" sections so you just tear off how much you need.

I took my 3 boxes to FedEx (all 3 fit into the back seat of my little Civic) but you can also call for a pickup.

Thank you so much! That is really helpful information.
I didn't know about the cardboard display. And I will make sure to have all of my organizational supplies. I only have 5. There were originally 8 offered, but I had to do something for a couple of hours and when I came back to accept them 3 were gone, so I assume that means there is another shopper nearby! I hesitated because I am new to the company and it threw me when I had to decide to take the per shop or the hourly fee. What have others done? I decided to try the hourly.

@LindaS wrote:

@bradkcrew

OVERTHINKERS VERSION...

I just completed 10 stores. I made purchases at 8. One refused and one said they didn't have any. Be prepared to spend some money. I spent anywhere from $100 to $480. All my stores brought the product out from the backroom. None of them had it on the display.

In my area, for many of the cashiers, English is their second language. Be sure to show them the Letter of Authorization. After a few stores I highlighted key points to make it easier. Some cashiers called the owner or manager and after speaking with them let me proceed. Let them know you will be buying the product (I highlighted this sentence in the LOA).

If the store is busy be prepared to wait while they assist customers.

You'll need a picture of the cardboard display where the product had been located. The other chips that are not on recall will be on this display, and there should be gaps where they pulled the recalled items.

Depending on how many "a couple of stores" is, have some boxes or containers in your car to keep the products segregated by store. Some stores had product in the unopened boxes which are 10 per box. I just left them unopened. They are easier to pack because the loose items are an unusual shape. Some stores had them in a random cardboard box all lined up neatly. Ask if you can have the box. All gave it to me.

Verify the number of products you are buying. One store had 2 long rows in a box. The cashier counted 2 by 2, ie 2, 4, 6, etc and counted 28 total but it looked like 1 row had more than the other. It ended up being 29, not the 28 she had counted originally. So double check. Loose items I asked for bags and lined them upside inside. (Easier to pull out for packing later).

I labeled the bags and boxes with the store address (1234 Main St), the quantity and 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3, so I'd know which were which for shipping, using a black Sharpie. I also wrote on my store list how many items there were and how much I spent. You'll need the total # by store for the paperwork you'll put into the box when shipping.

Once you are all done shopping you'll need to box up for shipment. Maximum box size is 16x16x16 (as Cassie mentioned previously in this thread and they hold about 120 items). I got unmarked boxes from Staples (office supply store) that are perfect. They have lines on the inside so you can cut the box down if it's not full. I did this on all 3 of my boxes since I packed around 90 per box, keeping complete store purchases together. You can use boxes you already have but having the same size was just easier for me.

They will reimburse you for the boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap. I got 100' roll of bubble wrap at Walmart (on a previous project for them) for $20. It's perforated in 12" sections so you just tear off how much you need.

I took my 3 boxes to FedEx (all 3 fit into the back seat of my little Civic) but you can also call for a pickup.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2023 07:37PM by bradkcrew.

Brad, I did the hourly rate too. I'm glad I did because even though it was only about 20-30 minutes for each store, it took me awhile to get a system down. Plus drive time to buy the boxes and pack them for shipping. Don't forget the admin time to print and read all of the instructions plus more time on the back end to enter and print the info you need that goes in the boxes plus the shipping labels.

Edited to add...

Once you finish everything and submit your expenses you can pick up more locations.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/2023 08:12PM by LindaS.

Thanks @LindaS. I figured the same thing. All of the administrative stuff like finding boxes and packing, filling out the expense report, etc. can really add up!

I booked my first round of 15 at the flat rate because the locations are all within a couple of minutes of each other, so no significant drive time.

I'll be using boxes already in my possession (and my girlfriend's), so I just need to buy a roll or two of packing tape and maybe some packing materials.

I'll monitor my admin time carefully, and might switch to hourly as I book waves that are further and further away from the crib.

What is the hourly rate for these shops? Or does it vary by region? There's a whole bunch of them in my area, but I worry that the admin time wouldn't make it worth it especially if the hourly rate is low.

@Mellifluy, I'm pretty sure the hourly rate is the same for us newer reps - $20. I think long time reps with more experience might have a higher hourly rate? Maybe some of them can add their 2 cents worth?

When I did these the company forwarded an advance to minimize the out of pocket for product purchase. I remember getting as much as $800 on occasion.

Linda, your feedback was really helpful. I worked with this company years ago and have two stores this week. Your directions were a nice summary!

For the person who said they weren’t finding prior discussions about “retrievals” I would suggest they try searching for “recall.”

@joanna81 wrote:

Linda, your feedback was really helpful. I worked with this company years ago and have two stores this week. Your directions were a nice summary!

@Joanna, thank you so much. I appreciate your comment. I've been on this forum for awhile and I've learned so much from other posts on a variety of topics. I'm glad I could add some useful tips. Hope everything goes smoothly for you on your two locations this week.

@Mellifluy wrote:

What is the hourly rate for these shops? Or does it vary by region? There's a whole bunch of them in my area, but I worry that the admin time wouldn't make it worth it especially if the hourly rate is low.

One thing that is nice is that they pay you for all your hours--driving, shipping and admin time, as well as in store time. I took these jobs at the per location rate. I have done 18 stores so far and I've found that it is pretty much a wash whether I was getting paid hourly or by location. Usually, the in store time is quick but not always. But it takes time to get boxes, pack, ship, do the paperwork, etc. I prefer the flat rate because when I work on a hourly rate, I get stressed when there is a delay and worry that the company will think I am overbilling. Also, the flat rate saves you the trouble of tracking hours.

I've done 9 of my first 15.

I'm definitely sticking with the per store rate, even as I drive to locations farther and farther from home. I've had two stores out of my first 9 with no products to return. Took about 4 minutes each. Way easier to take the $20 per and not have to track all the admin stuff. I might think differently after I time how long it takes to get everything packed and ready for FedEx...

So far pricing has been all over the map. My first stop was 70 units, but the tab was only $179. All the rest have been bigger expenditures. Most seemed to be priced at $7.49, but one batch rang up at over $10 per unit. Cool!

The key to really making this thing profitable is the credit cards you use.

Discover is 5% on digital wallet purchases though the end of September. Took me awhile to figure out I need to take my phone out of its mag case with the additional magnet in it for my car mount in order for Apple Pay to work consistently, but I am now dialed in. Pun intended.

Today's stop was 65 units @ $669, and took ten minutes, so $53+ gross with my cash back. I like that hourly rate!

Once I reach the max $75 cash back on my Discover I will switch to my Venmo VISA. It pays 3% on whatever category you use the most each month, so that will be used exclusively for this project moving forward.

I also have a Verizon VISA that pays 4% at gas stations, and I've noticed that all my 7-11 stops have rung up under that category whether they have pumps or not. That card does not pay direct cash back, but I can use it towards my Verizon bill which automatically bills to the card, so the same end result is achieved.

I received my advance for the 15 locations very quickly. Have yet to receive reimbursement, but I'm guessing that is because I have not processed my returns yet. I''ll be wrapping up my first wave tomorrow, and will do the packaging and FedEx stuff on Friday while my car is in the shop. I'll then eagerly look forward to booking my next 15.

Biggest issue as others have mentioned is language barriers. Pretty eye opening. At one store the only employee in the place did not understand the question asking for his last name, much less anything else. He had to call someone else to guide me to where the inventory was stashed. At another the clerk was unable to linguistically process my request to buy 39 units. Luckily a manager was there to step him through the process in their native tongue.

The wildly varying back-of-store conditions have been an eye-opener as well.

FWIW, I rarely stop at 7-11, and these visits will keep me from stopping there in the future.

Our two local convenience store chains offer bigger, cleaner stores and much more pleasant customer service experiences. One of those, Maverik, just bought the Kum & Go chain from back east. K&G had just started opening out here in Utah (a couple are on my retrieval list). Will be interesting to see if they rebrand them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2023 11:20AM by CoolMusic.

@CoolMusic wrote:

I've done 9 of my first 15.

I'm definitely sticking with the per store rate, even as I drive to locations farther and farther from home. I've had two stores out of my first 9 with no products to return. Took about 4 minutes each. Way easier to take the $20 per and not have to track all the admin stuff. I might think differently after I time how long it takes to get everything packed and ready for FedEx...

So far pricing has been all over the map. My first stop was 70 units, but the tab was only $179. All the rest have been bigger expenditures. Most seemed to be priced at $7.49, but one batch rang up at over $10 per unit. Cool!

The key to really making this thing profitable is the credit cards you use.

Discover is 5% on digital wallet purchases though the end of September. Took me awhile to figure out I need to take my phone out of its mag case with the additional magnet in it for my car mount in order for Apple Pay to work consistently, but I am now dialed in.

Today's stop was 65 units @ $669, and took ten minutes, so $53+ gross with my cash back. I like that hourly rate!

Once I reach the max $75 cash back on my Discover I will switch to my Venmo VISA. It pays 3% on whatever category you use the most each month, so that will be used exclusively for this project moving forward.

I also have a Verizon VISA that pays 4% at gas stations, and I've noticed that all my 7-11 stops have rung up under that category whether they have pumps or not. That card does not pay direct cash back, but I can use it towards my Verizon bill which automatically bills to the card, so the same end result is achieved.

I received my advance for the 15 locations very quickly. Have yet to receive reimbursement, but I'm guessing that is because I have not processed my returns yet. I''ll be wrapping up my first wave tomorrow, and will do the packaging and FedEx stuff on Friday while my car is in the shop. I'll then eagerly look forward to booking my next 15.

Biggest issue as others have mentioned is language barriers. Pretty eye opening. At one store the only employee in the place did not understand the question asking for his last name, much less anything else. He had to call someone else to guide me to where the inventory was stashed. At another the clerk was unable to linguistically process my request to buy 39 units. Luckily a manager was there to step him through the process in their native tongue.

The wildly varying back-of-store conditions have been an eye-opener.

FWIW, I rarely shop at 7-11, and these visits will keep me from stopping there in the future.

Our two local convenience store chains offer bigger, cleaner stores and much more pleasant customer service experiences. One of those, Maverik, just bought the Kum & Go chain from back east. K&G had just started opening out here in Utah (a couple are on my retrieval list). Will be interesting to see if they rebrand them.

Wow Cool, nice work on all the rewards!

It's weird that the 70 units only rang up at $179, which is barely over $2.50 each. I'm in CA and all but 1 of mine were $9.99 each. The exception was $8.99. I've had purchases in 18 of my stores.

A store I went to yesterday had 59 units but their credit card machine was down so they were cash only. Nope, I don't walk around with $600 cash on me.

I did two stores and neither had product. They sent me an advance and I had previously selected the hourly rate but if I do any others I will probably do the flat rate.

Ran into the reason for the low price on my first purchase. I told the clerk to ring up 70 pcs. He charged me for 17. Given the ongoing language barrier issues, I've now gotten in the habit of stating the quantity by digits multiple times.

The discrepancy is clearly documented in the report, and I haven't heard back from the company since I started the project, so hopefully no issues moving forward.

I'm doing all my shipping stuff today while my car is in the shop. Tracking the admin time so I can make a more informed decision on the pay choice for the next round. So far I'm still leaning towards flat rate.

Personally, this is the first time I've heard of "Retrieval" assignments. Seems interesting. Don't want competition, but want to share how much out of pocket expense the shop creates? Why the share?

The company fronts you pay for the locations. You have to buy up the product on your own dime, and you get reimbursed, apparently pretty quickly.

They let you claim 15 locations at a time. I'm in the process of wrapping up my first round. 13 locations had product, for which I paid $5360. That was spread out over 3 cards with various perks ranging from 3% to 5% cash/credit back. My plan is to stick the reimbursements into my PayPal savings @ 4% and let it marinate until the bills are due, or until I need to pay them down in advance of my next round.

Well over 100 locations on my board, so I hope to stay very busy...

I wrapped up the five I was assigned today. It was my first time so I opted for the hourly. It will really boil down to your driving time because the retrieval itself was really quick. I ended up making a little more using hourly, but I made 3 trips since the stores were in 3 different directions, and I tried to keep track of the packing and admin time, which was kind of a pain.

Mine were all at Circle K's and the staff knew I was coming . They had the inventory ready to go, so it was quick and simple.

After I completed them I got an offer for 2 more, but they are in different directions and close to 30 miles away each. IDK, but for me I am super aware that driving expenses are more than gas. Every mile is one mile closer to the next oil change, brakes, tires, major repair, and the car graveyard. With vehicle prices where they are, I feel like I have to protect my asset and not just drive all over the place. Unfortunately neither store is in a direction I would normally go, so they just aren't worth it.

I wish they would show the total availability and allow us to map out routes.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2023 07:22PM by bradkcrew.

Is anyone else seeing no more locations in their area? UPDATE--Now I'm seeing locations listed that I already did. Do you think stores found more product?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2023 01:20PM by Nikki21.

It's probably a double-check to be sure they're gone. Or possible that stores called in to say they found more hidden somewhere.

After I did my first two, another one popped up in my area and I figured if I saw another shop in the area, I would go do it, but otherwise, I'll pass. The mileage for one location/shop isn't worth it.

@bradkcrew wrote:

I wrapped up the five I was assigned today. It was my first time so I opted for the hourly. It will really boil down to your driving time because the retrieval itself was really quick. I ended up making a little more using hourly, but I made 3 trips since the stores were in 3 different directions, and I tried to keep track of the packing and admin time, which was kind of a pain.

Mine were all at Circle K's and the staff knew I was coming . They had the inventory ready to go, so it was quick and simple.

After I completed them I got an offer for 2 more, but they are in different directions and close to 30 miles away each. IDK, but for me I am super aware that driving expenses are more than gas. Every mile is one mile closer to the next oil change, brakes, tires, major repair, and the car graveyard. With vehicle prices where they are, I feel like I have to protect my asset and not just drive all over the place. Unfortunately neither store is in a direction I would normally go, so they just aren't worth it.

I wish they would show the total availability and allow us to map out routes.

1st round of 15 is complete and packed up, ready for FedEx to pick up on Tuesday.

Took me about 3 hours to do the packing (8 boxes, 574 units) and get all the data into the vendor.

Generously estimating my overall admin/drive time to be 9 hours. It will increase as I choose locations farther from home, but not that much. After booking my second round there are still over 100 locations open, and they are all within my metro area.

I'll be sticking with the flat rate.