EPMS and Maritz but fair PITA but fair.

Wana, I have been doing a lot of shops for EPMS lately, and when I had tried for about a week and a half to reach my target, I finally found out that she doesn't even work there! The scheduler [can't recall her name] said thay dropped the shop, because of that. Then she emailed me and said they had re-assigned me that shop, asking me to update the calls made [delete them] and fill out my shopper information and they would pay me $5 for my trouble, because I had made "a ton of calls".... it doesn't get any better than that!

I like working for EPMS, albeit their forms are redundant and heavy on the narrative... my main peeve with them is their stupid accordian system of filing/updating a report. Why is there no printer friendly form to print that asks all the same questions that are on their final report?

I don't know how well they pay. I haven't been through a pay period with them as of yet. But it's good money, and I do as many as I can when I have the opportunity.

chereeguitar

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Wana, I have been doing a lot of shops for EPMS lately, and when I had tried for about a week and a half to reach my target, I finally found out that she doesn't even work there! The scheduler [can't recall her name] said thay dropped the shop, because of that. Then she emailed me and said they had re-assigned me that shop, asking me to update the calls made [delete them] and fill out my shopper information and they would pay me $5 for my trouble, because I had made "a ton of calls".... it doesn't get any better than that!

I like working for EPMS, albeit their forms are redundant and heavy on the narrative... my main peeve with them is their stupid accordian system of filing/updating a report. Why is there no printer friendly form to print that asks all the same questions that are on their final report?

I don't know how well they pay. I haven't been through a pay period with them as of yet. But it's good money, and I do as many as I can when I have the opportunity.

They're A GOOD COMPANY TO WORK FOR, as far as I am concerned... If you don't like them, don't shop for them, that's the beauty of being IC's.

chereeguitar
CGrant,
They pay like clockwork!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I am delighted other shoppers have positive things to say about EPMS and Maritz. When I started this thread I was responding to comments that were extremely negative--not "I don't like this company because...." but "this company is evil" You get the gist. I have had good experiences with both. I know there are some companies that seem to have no redeeming qualities (difficult shops, low pay, slow pay) but I think (IMHO) both companies are fair. I think I earned more $$ from EPMS in 2011 than any other company. Never had to chase them for a dime. Worked hard for every penny, but until I figure out a way to make a living from investments, I am going to be working hard no matter what I do.
I've been commenting on another thread about some difficulties with EPMS, but to be totally clear and honest, the difficulty lies with the shop requirements and has been nothing impossible to overcome. The company has been great to work with and offered extensions every step of the way.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
At what point do we get paid for our attempts on a targeted shop?

I've done two shops for EPMS and had problems with payment.

One was a targeted shop where I finally made recorded phone contact with the target...had to get permission to ask for her...made an appointment, when I arrived for the appointment the target said she was on lunch and passed me off to another agent.

I made an excuse and got out of there. I immediately called the scheduler, emailed two EPMS employees, and updated the report status asking for an extension.

No word for two days then I get notice the shop has been cancelled because the target no longer works there.

Isn't that enough to get paid? I think it should be but EPMS does not...
Why didn't you complete the shop with agent you were passed off on?

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Honestly, LisaSTL, I didn't know I could do that.

This was my second shop for EPMS, I was out on a route when a scheduler called me for this emergency shop.

I told her I really preferred to download and review shop guidelines but she said she would talk me through the high points over the phone. So really the whole thing was by the seat of my pants. smiling smiley
Yes, the rule at EPMS is to complete the shop with the agent you were passed off to. That is probably why your shop was canceled and probably will not be paid. Making the appointment is not going to get you paid, by any MSC.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Now that's just a dang shame. It's tough running into a situation you haven't been prepped for and then having to make a choice without knowing which one is right. Something to keep in mind with a shop like that, a person going to look at an apartment is not going to care who the agent passes them off to and won't try to leave and come back because they have an overwhelming desire to work with one agent.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@walesmaven - I did more than make an appointment. I successfully completed the recorded phone portion of the shop and drove to the property for my appointment. I understand that isn't the same as completing the shop without complications but please don't misunderstand I would expect payment for merely making an appointment. I'm a newbie, but I'm not that green. smiling smiley

@LisaSTL - totally agree with what you said. Since at that time I thought I had to shop the target no matter what, in the middle of filling out the guest card I suddenly had the overwhelming need to go potty. Once in the restroom I texted my son to call me in exactly three minutes. I went back out to resume filling out the guest card when I got the urgent call from "my office" that the whole computer network had gone down and I must return immediately to handle the problem.

Figured that would explain my departure and later return just fine.

BTW, my son was cracking up on the other end of the line listening to the BS I was spewing out about networks and reports and backups...
That was certainly a clever idea!smiling smiley

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Thanks LisaSTL. smiling smiley

I was glad it was at a time I could reach him. I remember thinking we should have a whole Phone Tree kind of set up amongst us MSers so we could text each other in emergencies... LOL

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2012 08:31PM by NumberNineteen.
When accepting a targeted shop, one must always ask specifically what to do if the target is MIA when the shopper arrives for an appointment. different clients/MSCs have different rules, so it is always up to the shopper to ask for the rule for any shop where it is not already clearly stated in the guidelines.


Actually, a bunch of video shoppers have one another's phone numbers and email addies for emergencies in the field when our schedulers cannot be found!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@walesmaven - you are right, and it was a newbie mistake I made.

But I called, emailed, and texted the same scheduler who had called me, and another EPMS employee immediately after it happened and they left me out to hang for two days before I got the email saying the shop had been canceled.

Don't you think if they had been professional enough to respond in a timely manner it would have been resolved to a better outcome?

They would have gotten a completed shop; I would have gotten paid for my time and efforts.
972-256-3767 972-256-3767 972-256-3767 972-256-3767 972-256-3767 972-256-3767


what's that Jersey? oh, just the number of the EPMS office, which I have been suggesting people call instead of emailing, calling, and texting the scheduler.
The main reason that I only do EPMS video and audio shops is that robert A is reliably avalable to his shoppers; not so the folks on the "traditional" shops side of the company.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@jersey07032 - Thanks! That number is now in my phone in case I decide to chance another EPMS shop.

@walesmaven - I had requested several video shops in response to a schedulers email but was not assigned one.
NumberNineteen,
They tend to favor video shoppers who have their own equipment, of course.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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