I would enjoy making some extra money just for fun! I enjoy getting my nails done and it seems rather expensive and like a waste of $ when we are on a fixed income...maybe my toenails, too? I love talking with people. We have had some fun cruises, and would enjoy doing again. Anything, really. I just enjoy people.

You can get the information about what "legitimate" companies (there are some 400-500 or more) to register with for free (the more companies you register with, the busier you'll be) on the list that's available here, at volition.com, at walletboosters.com, at mommybiz.com or a list of 150-200 MSPA members at www.mysteryshop.org/shoppers/membercos.php

Good luck and have fun.

Charles: There are many good companies in Connecticut that you can shop for.
Sign up with Bare international, ATH, Beyond Hello, and stay away from CRI or any Marketforce company.

dr lloyd, I have been doing shops for an above mentioned company for 8 years and have never had a problem. They have now acquired several other shopping companies

Broom--do you really think any company would pay for your cruise when you're totally inexperienced?

Hello Folks,

It's been a long time since I've checked out these Forums! Anyway... I have successfully completed many shops with CRI and Marketforce... what's your beef with them?

The issues are with Certified, not with Market Force in most situations when you drill down to it, though some folks have had problems with the Shop 'N Chek arm of Market Force as well.

Certified has a long history of working reasonably well with shoppers as long as shops go according to scenario and shoppers are always available for shops. But in the real world, not all employees and locations to be observed fit the scenario. Ask how they would like a non-conforming situation handled and you are a "bad shopper" if you get a response at all. Don't shop for them frequently enough and you are terminated. Have a problem with a shop, you are terminated. They don't want to hear about it even if it is no reflection on you as a responsible, reliable shopper.

I am not talking here about shoppers flaking or rescheduling or being late or forgetting to do something required. I am rather referring to legitimate questions raised during a visit that can not realistically be addressed. An example that comes to mind (not from Certified) is going to a theater where the yes/no question is whether entrance door glass is clean and free of fingerprints. On arrival at the site the sidewalks in front of the theater are being jackhammered for replacement and patrons are being admitted through a side door to purchase tickets at the Customer Service desk. How would the client like box office and entrance questions addressed as N/A is not an option and no text commentary is possible? Is raising that question worthy of termination as a shopper?

If I have an illness and recovery period of 6 months during which I am on bed rest and not doing any shopping, is that cause for termination? Perhaps if we were employees it would be cause, but the point is that we are NOT employees but just Independent Contractors on a job by job basis.

Are well-qualified shoppers a dime a dozen? What's the rationale in terminating shoppers just because they don't shop routinely? Or, terminating shoppers who have the presence of mind to seek clarification when completing their evaluations?

It is the irrationality of how they treat shoppers that is why I just shake my head with shoppers who are enthusiastic about Certified. I figure they just haven't worked with them long enough to be dissed.

This will be my last post on CRI. If someone thinks they are great, then they are obviously much better at shopping than I am. I am just a stupid PH.D. and I know when I am getting the shaft. Let me show you some things that WILL happen to you along the line.
1: The Status department does not know what arrangement you may have with scheduling and if you asked for and were granted an extension of time, Status will deassign the shop. Even after you have done it. Now you will not get paid.
If the receipt that you obtained if faint and you cannot darken it for some reason, you will not get paid. The people that you need to get help from are uncooperative and YOU WILL NOT GET PAID,
If you think you are happy with CRI, just keep on doing their cheap shops and just remember, in the long run YOU WILL NOT GET PAID.
Some people just do not have the ability to learn until tromped upon.

dr.lloyd@sbcglobal.net Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This will be my last post on CRI. If someone
> thinks they are great, then they are obviously
> much better at shopping than I am.

SNIP


> Some people just do not have the ability to learn
> until tromped upon.


Everyone has different experiences. I don't do a lot for them, and I turn them down all the time. I don't have anything negative to say about them; they have not done anything bizzare or irrational in my case, and they were helpful when I screwed up and needed to redo.

If they change and start to treat me badly, well, I'd sure rather not get paid $10 for a shop that took 5 minutes to report and 5 minutes to do, than be out a couple hundred for 9 months the way Freeman did.

I don't understand the need to go on and on about some of these companies. We get you do not like a company (that is a collective you and a collective we). Report your experiences and let it go.

CRI ? are you kidding? if they knew that a $10 bill is actually legal US currency they would have to shut down. They offer "commission "rates that are not only insulting, but I believe would be against the law if you weren't obligated to be an independent contractor. There is no way you can make money with that company. If you do the cost accounting, and include your time (whatever you think that is worth) and transportation costs, printer costs, and to add insult to injury, if you accept PayPal they actually...yes deduct a fee from that payment... Unbelievable! This company is about the worst out there, that is unless you can find a company that does not pay at all. I believe if they could get away with offering a dollar for a shop they would. But anything less would be dealing in change, and with the deduction from PayPal payments you would owe them for the privilege of 'working' for them. lol.
Thanks
Barry

Again, I pick and choose my shops, do only specific ones for them that pay in my favor, and no one at Certified has ever treated me poorly.

I am looking for another company like certifited (self assigned).I only had one problem with certifited,And I have worked with them now going on three years.The pay could be better but if you set up perm store routes,You could make a little money.

Personally, every company out there has the potential to "tromp" on you. Whether it's the timeliness of your report, lack of enough details, your overall tone while reporting, whatever the case each one of them have their own standards.

I can agree that whomever is ultimately deciding whether or not to accept your shop can make or break you. However, it is still you that decide to continue working with that MS company. There is not a perfect fit for each of us to each of them. It's what makes the world go 'round.

modario Wrote:
--<snip>-----------------------------------------------------

> There is
> not a perfect fit for each of us to each of them.
> It's what makes the world go 'round.

I muse:

It's like my Grandpa used to say....



"If we all liked the same thing....


There would be a lot of people upstairs with Grandma...."

I would love to make more money.I have the time and a family to support.I love to shop but lately haven't had the money.I love meeting new people.No one is a stranger to me.I greet everyone.

Do anyone know of a company like certifited (self assigned),That I can sign up for?

Bigpee, there are a whole lot of them out there, at least for some of their jobs. Many companies, like Trendsource and Maritz will allow you to self assign after you have successfully performed shops for them (5-10 shops).

Thanks superstar,I signed up with Maritz and even called them after not hearing from them. They said there was no work in my area at the time,But they would let me know when work is available in my area (about 7 months ago ).

Considering who the Maritz clients are, they have something in every area of the US on a monthly basis, so keep checking their site, request and make a phone call when you have requested one asking specifically for the shop so you can build a working relationship. Their scheduler may even suggest a couple of more because a series of nationwide shops require they send you a package of materials so it is more cost efficient for them for you to do multiple shops.

Thanks superstar.

I AM TRYING TO FIND A LEGITIMATE SIT FOR SECRET SHOPPERS OR MYSTERY SHOPPERS. HAVE ANYONE OUT THEIR KNOW OF ANY?

Well, you have reached a forum of mystery shoppers who work with legitimate companies and try to help each other find and perform work. Wander over to the New Mystery Shopper area and read about how this works. (You will note that unlike with texting, the standard on forums is to use upper and lower case letters, saving all caps for emphasis.)

IF ANYONE NEEDS HELP WITH THEIR LOVE ONE SEND ME A E-MAIL THANK YOU

claraj900 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> IF ANYONE NEEDS HELP WITH THEIR LOVE ONE SEND ME A
> E-MAIL THANK YOU


At first, I thought this was an offer of help with your love life....

I wondered if it was a potion or a voodoo charm...

i think it is just spam.....

Been with CMS for about 3 years,Starting to have on going problems.(assignments,pay,etc)

Unfortunately that is a very familiar sounding story. Usually it arrives before 3 years. Sorry for your loss, but there are many other companies out there to work with.