CFA
MFI-blue portal
STN

Does anyone here have an opinion on these 2 companies?

BES-Business Evaluation Services
ACE-Associate Consumer Evaluations

I'm a newbie (just shy of 2yrs)thus the small list...would appreciate feedback on the above companies...

I have only done one shop for ACE--it paid decently and was fairly straightforward.

Long narratives (needing 4-5 sentences for something that can barely be said in 3). I was sick and couldn't do the shop on the original date, but they were extremely gracious and let me reschedule. However, it was very, VERY difficult to find contact information when I needed to get in touch with them to tell them I was delayed. So overall, not bad. I like shops that are over $10 in general (I think all, or at least most, shops should be that high, but maybe that's just me).

I do a lot for Market Force purple portal. I love the way they pay and the Merchandising shops are great! I made STAR for the quarter. I use to do grocery shops for Trend but i got angry when one of my shops was rejected because i did send the exact amount on the shop i was short 4cents and my shop was rejected. That was so discouraging. and the pay was only $5 per shop of an hours work.

Who is CORI?? Is it Corporate Research?

jpgilham Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Who is CORI?? Is it Corporate Research?

yes, corporate research international.

Trendsource
Maritz
Draude
A Closer Look
Customer Impact
Service with Style
Quest for the Best
mVentix
Feedback Plus
After three years, I dropped all the rest.

i like aboutface because i get good compliments from the schudlers
also CSP profiles because they dont need detail info plus they pay quickly
i did two shops on the oct 12- got the check today

bare assoicates dont use as much

blaqwumin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CFA
> MFI-blue portal
> STN
>
> Does anyone here have an opinion on these 2
> companies?
>
> BES-Business Evaluation Services
> ACE-Associate Consumer Evaluations
>
> I'm a newbie (just shy of 2yrs)thus the small
> list...would appreciate feedback on the above
> companies...


I have done several shops for both BES and ACE. The shops have all been straight forward for both companies and I have received payments from both in a timely manner. I would say, "Go for it!"

My list:

Mintel
Shopper's Critique
Intellishop
Market Force (Blue ...hate Purple even though I like merchandising but the old Certified Reports, now Market Force Purple is a totally cheapo, disorganized mess!!)
Beyond Hello
CORI - I shop for them at least several times a month; never until the fee reaches at least $10.
Service Sleuth
Best Market Audits (BMA)
ICU Associates
Ann Michaels

Trendsource - Business verifications are the best! Pays quickly like clockwork.
International Service Check - A little slow on the pay but very good premium jobs.
RSG - Quick payments and friendly support staff
EPMS - Good fees and quick payment. Love doing video shops for this company.
Innerdrive - Cliche shops but a great little company. Quick payments.
ServiceCheck Reports - 60-days pay but great shops.
Ardent - Except for the vegetarian months, most scenarios are cool. Pays quick.
The Shadow Company - 60-days pay and a lot of video jobs once you get yourself established.
Impact Marketing - 60-days as well and lots of video shops.
Monterey - Great luxury vehicle shops and pays very quickly.


No offense to the companies that I did not list. I wish it is top 20. I usually just shop for the ones who pays good. Each of the companies above have paid me $2000 or more a year.

Trendsource especially is like milk money. I only almost do business verification for them and gets about $500-$700 every pay cycle (5th and 20th) or an average of $1200 a month. They pay for my children's private schools - LOL!!! ServiceCheck Reports pays for my food expenses at about $300 a month. Innerdrive pays me about $200 a month and provides me with lunch about a week a month. So does Ardent.

I'm at $800 with Shadow already this month and $450 with Intl Service Check. Then about another $700 or so with the rest of the MS companies above. Then I do about $1000 of contractual work for a couple of MS shops not listed above. LOL - I will protect the identities of these MS shops. You probably know them but are not aware of the monthly, repetitive, and revealed "contract" jobs.

Mystery shopping pays for the mortgage and my children's education. My main job pays for everything else.

LateRain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm suprised nobody has mentioned BARE
> International.

I work for BARE when they have shops that pay a fee. Lately it is hard to find a shop worth the gas to get me there.

Does anyone imagine this company has their offices in a nudist colony, Sorry "nature resort"?

Piled Hip Deep, PHD Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LateRain Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm suprised nobody has mentioned BARE
> > International.
>
> I work for BARE when they have shops that pay a
> fee. Lately it is hard to find a shop worth the
> gas to get me there.
>
> Does anyone imagine this company has their offices
> in a nudist colony, Sorry "nature resort"?


I used to like BARE. Jason was a cool guy. But they lost all their video contracts and the ones they have nowadays are not very lucrative. I miss my old BARE shops.

Another company that started paying low was Intellishop. I used to do a lot of jobs for them but have noticed the decline on the old premium jobs. The fees which used to be $75 are now $25 jobs and yet the task and survey remained the same. It's a shame because they were one of the oldest MS companies around.

In my experience, those mystery shopping companies who are fair in their assessments and provide great training/information and feedback are:

Sentry Marketing
A Closer Look
BestMark
Consumer Impressions
MarketStat
Quest for Best
TrendSource
Jancyn
Feedback Plus
Corporate Research International

I will get this one going again. My favorites thus far are:
Corporate Research Intn'l
A Closer Look
Beyone Hello
Reality Based
Market Force

My favorites are based on payment for assignment, ease of input for assignment (not difficulty of assignment), communication from schedulers and interest of assignment.

1) Maritz
2) Informa
3) Service Excellence
4) Reality Based (GameFilm)
5) RSG
6) Trendsource (Grocery Shops only!)
7) Bare
8) ICCDS
9) Second to None
10) Shoppers Inc

MickeyB:
Could the email I received today for a company I am not signed up for be such a "referral?" I read the email with offers of shops, went to the site, I am NOT signed up, so I went ahead and registered.

If CORI is such a problem, why continue to shop for them? Ther are plenty of MSC's out there. A simple way to check it out is to go to the MSPA for a list.

The ease of shopping for them basically.

And free stuff!

How do you gather a portfolio. I have kept my shopper ratings from various companies who have given me written ones. Apart from that what else can you do? ps who is CORI is that Corporate International?
MickeyB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bena Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > MickeyB Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > my first, second, and third favorite
> companies
> > which
> > > are invitation only companies.
> > >
> > >
> > >I have had a few calls from companies through
> the
> > MSPA, but other than that, how does one get an
> > invitation? How do these companies know you
> > exist? Any ideas on ways to promote yourself
> to
> > catch the attention of the 'invite only'
> > companies?
>
> Wait and network, network, network. And research,
> research, research. You just need one big break -
> 7 degrees of seperation is more like 3 degrees of
> seperation in hospitality shopping. They were all
> referral based, either from existing companies I
> worked with, an editor that I had worked with
> extensively for a different compnay, one was from
> a fellow shopper, etc. - Basically, I knew people
> who knew about a particular company wanting to add
> to their contractor list by one or two for the
> year - keep in mind that these companies only have
> a very few number (i.e. less than 50, sometimes
> less than 10) shoppers.
>
> I am still looking to expand - my new goal is to
> get in with Leading Quality Assurance (google
> Trent Walsh if you are curious) - but it will
> probably never happen cause they are UK based -
> but perhaps some day they would like to have a
> small contingent in the Americas -- are you
> listening Mr. Walsh??? I digress...
>
> Know that when it does happen - you will be
> expected to turn a portfolio of work and
> application over quickly - so build your portfolio
> and examples now so you will be ready.

Maritz(Low pay-but lots of jobs in my area)--mVentix--Monterey--Mintel--CORI--Reality Based--Feedback Plus--Bare--ATH--EPMS--(Although I hate their long reports-Robert is really good for working things out)...

I like:

MFI
Reality Based Group
Bestmark
Pinnacle Financial Services
Iccds
STN

Firefox does not work with CORI. I love the company because if you wait, they pay the most. Their forms are the easiest to enter and they pay like clockwork.

Other companies I love are:

Intellichoice
Mintel
Monterey Mystery Shopping
About Face
Bare International
Informa
ICCDS

My favorite companies depend on which ones have a lot of good shops in my area and can change over the years. Some companies I loved no longer have the shops so I'm not listing them. But in no particular order my favs are:

ICU
CORI
STN
Market Force
Bare
Mintel
Maritz
Ath
Customer Perspectives
Satisfaction Services
Ritter
IPSOS

Oh, I almost forgot Informa



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2012 01:40AM by MsJudi.

BARE is definitely one of my favourites because they have a variety of shops.

1. Strategic Evaluations
2. Premier Service Inc.
3. Jancyn
4. Bare International
5. Beyond Hello
6. Shoppers Confidential
7. HMSHost
8. Lanla


Edited to remove ISC and Trendsource.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2012 10:50PM by risinghorizon.

I just began shopping in November, so I am very much a novice. I am paying close attention to your rankings to see which names keep popping. Based off of my 2 months of experience here is my list
Measure Consumer
Quest for the Best (not many assignments)
Feedback Plus (not many assignments
A Closer Look - I really enjoy the higher end clientel
Based off this I just signed up for
Trendsource (already approved)
BestMark
Second to None
I will eventually sign up for
Cori
- any other good beginner shopper suggestions please feel free to add.

It seems to depend on where you are, as some great companies have no shops near me and vice versa. I like MFI (blue and purple portal) because they actually have jobs near me. I also like TrendSource, although I'm really sad that they pulled the grocery shop program. With 4 grocery stores in this town that was adding up to a lot of free groceries!

vince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what are your favorite top ten mystery shopping
> companies in order of preference?

Maritz Research
BARE
Confero
Customer Impact
Service Sleuth
Service Intelligence
A Closer Look
Measure Consumer Perspectives
Strategic Reflections
ICCDS

I loved Service Intelligence, but they are no more.

I really love CoRi.
Most of the shops I do for them are $10 (which is my quota) and they have enough that I can plan a route. I'm sorry some people feel so strongly about them, but more shops for me, I guess!

As another note, they are one of the first companies I did work for, they are a great one to start out with, I think, because of their video tutorials and checksheets.

EliseSm, Service Intelligence is now part of In-Touch Insight Systems.
Their website is [shop4.intouchshoppers.com]