I am very frustrated right now. I started shopping December 1, 2011. My first paycheque should have been last week. I am still awaiting payment from RetailTrack, Premier Service, and Gapbusters. I did over 45 shops in December. Not getting paid is going to cause me to bounce my mortgage tomorrow. I have emailed all the companies. RetailTrack is the only company that got back to me, they say they mailed a cheque instead of using paypal like they say they do, I don't know why they did this, I still haven't received the cheque they say they mailed weeks ago. I have emailed both Premier and Gapbusters to no avail. I have tried calling Premier but they NEVER answer their phone! I have sent emails to Gapbusters, as they don't give out a phone number. Has this happened to anyone else this month who is shopping with these companies or am I the only one? I am losing faith in these so called reputable companies. I am out thousands of dollars if I don't get paid. Any suggestions? I have already cancelled all my shops that were scheduled with these companies hoping for them to contact me about them, I refuse to continue doing shops if I'm not going to be paid for them. I don't know what to do, I feel powerless, like if they decide not to pay I can't do anything. There are NO problems with my reports. Every report for every shop I have done has received a 10. They have continually praised my reports so that is not the issue.

I hear your frustration but those are not companies with whom I have found shops so I don't know what their current pay schedule is. More than half of my December is not yet paid, nor is it due for payment yet according to the companies' payment schedules.

I've never worked for these companies so I'm not familiar with their payment schedules. I feel your pain but I personally don't count on payments from Mystery shopping companies to pay me fast enough to pay my bills that are due the next month. The only one I know i can count on is Trendsource that pays like clockwork on the 5th and 20th of the month for shops completed the couple of weeks prior to those dates. They do direct deposit into my bank account.

I as well do not work for mentioned, but my Dec. jobs won't be paid until the end of Feb. I'm now getting paypal for my Oct. jobs.

Toymom -

To echo others who have already posted. I also have not gotten paid for about 2/3's of my December jobs.

I started shopping in October, and the best advice I can give anyone is to never "expect" you will get paid - until AT LEAST 60 days after the last day of the month.

October 2011 - these jobs should be cleared off my books by January 1st, 2012.
November 2011 - these jobs should be cleared off my books by February 1st, 2012.
December 2011 - these jobs should be cleared off my books by March 1st, 2012.
January 2012 - these jobs should be cleared off my books by April 1st, 2012.

When you signed up for these companies, did you add a "NOTES" column to your spreadsheet and list the "Anticipated Pay Schedule"? (as per what is on the company website?) I see that Gapbuster pays on the 26th of the month following the month 1-31st you performed the jobs for all countries. So your checks - or from what Gapbuster says it is a direct deposit - should have been mailed or initiated on January 26th. With the weekend(?) I half-wonder if that may be a cause? Double check your profile and banking information too.

Good luck.

I did a lot of shops in December and I did not get paid yet...it takes a while.
Sorry for your inconvenience but you need to have a budget that you can not count on for almost 2 months..

When I was starting out it was several months before money was flowing in with enough regularity to budget for specific bills. klhofbauer gave you some great advice about including payment terms somewhere in your records. If they pay by check you really should allow a couple of extra weeks for "processing." Most that utilize PayPal and direct deposit will also wait if their normal pay date is on the weekend.

I checked the pay schedules and I was to be paid by paypal for all by the 26/27 of January for all December shops.

I did receive my cheque from RetailTrack today! But it was the smallest cheque. I'm still unsure why they paid me by cheque because that is not what their handbook says.

The thing that is frustrating me the most is the lack of communication. The fact that no one is responding to my emails is infuriating. They can certainly get in touch with me quickly when they need a shop done in a rush, but when I don't get paid, I get no response. If I have to be reliable, than why should they not have to be. If I can't count on my paycheque, How can I continue putting out money if I don't get repaid. I am a single mother on disability, it's not like I have any "extra" money. I put out the money for the shops and have done without in order to get to payday last week. I barely gave my kids anything for christmas and my birthday last week, was treated like any other day, I didn't even have enough to buy a cake to share with the kids. I am just so disappointed that they won't let me know what is happening. At least if I knew it was actually going to arrive, I could at least plan for it.

An unfortunate reality is many don't want you contacting them if it is either at or shortly after the time you are expecting payment. You may want to read their policies again to see if there is something about that. Don't get me wrong, I know it sucks, but it is what it is.

I am into my second month of MS so am waiting myself, to see how the pay comes out. I am so sorry Toymom...;>(
I so agree, that what they expect out of us when we take a shop, should be what they give in return.
I know if it were me, I would give them one more week, with contacting them each day, then threaten legal action!
It's just total BS that this stuff happens and to make it worse, they don't even tell you why! I feel for you...
We don't work for FREE here do we now!

I have worked for Gapbuster and they paid me via direct deposit at the end of the following month. I don't do a lot of work for them, but I have never had a problem with payment.

toymom welcome to the shopping world- it takes time.... sometimes a long time. Just the way the cog in the wheel turns.

And not sure how many shops you did but you state our thousands of dollars?
3 companies, your first month..... thousands?
Gap has some pretty hefty sometimes. If you scored and got that many.... go for it!

It is a revolving door sometimes on payment. A slow cog.

Toymom, I have not worked for the others, but Gapbuster has previously paid me at the end of the following month, so if you did the work for them in December, payment would not be issued until about the last day of January. Most MSPs take 45-60 days to pay. Much of my December work has not been paid yet, which is usual with the companies I work for.

Gap states on their site that payday is the 26/27. Yes I did allot of shops with some very large bonuses in December. I was doing an average of 3-5 shops a day in December. Averaging between 30-200 per shop. Many were more than 100 each.

Wow! What shops were those that paid hundreds?

New shopper ... three to five a day...I would say you did well. Gap has it challenges... good luck.to fall into several hundred dollar bonuses for multiple shops for a new shopper is out of the norm.

Every company has told me that my reports are outstanding. I rarely apply for shops now, they've been calling me and paying whatever I ask for basically. I haven't gotten the huge bonuses in January as I did in December, but I am still getting 30-50 bonuses on top of the regular fee. I've done all types of shops. I spent many a night up all night writing tests and studying. I am working for 8 companies, it's just these that I'm having problems with the pay. They are also the ones I did the most shops for.

Wow...Tell us your secrets...;>

I am 2 months in and learning, tell me what you did to get this stuff happening!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2012 04:53AM by mlmagic.

toymom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Every company has told me that my reports are
> outstanding. I rarely apply for shops now, they've
> been calling me and paying whatever I ask for
> basically. I haven't gotten the huge bonuses in
> January as I did in December, but I am still
> getting 30-50 bonuses on top of the regular fee.
> I've done all types of shops. I spent many a night
> up all night writing tests and studying. I am
> working for 8 companies, it's just these that I'm
> having problems with the pay. They are also the
> ones I did the most shops for.


Does anyone else smell something off with this?? LOL! A new shopper making big bucks, not having to apply, right off the bat within a couple months?? Sorry, not buying it.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/31/2012 06:23AM by 3offthecharts.

3offthecharts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> toymom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Every company has told me that my reports are
> > outstanding. I rarely apply for shops now,
> they've
> > been calling me and paying whatever I ask for
> > basically. I haven't gotten the huge bonuses in
> > January as I did in December, but I am still
> > getting 30-50 bonuses on top of the regular
> fee.
> > I've done all types of shops. I spent many a
> night
> > up all night writing tests and studying. I am
> > working for 8 companies, it's just these that
> I'm
> > having problems with the pay. They are also the
> > ones I did the most shops for.
>
>
> Does anyone else smell something off with this??
> LOL! A new shopper making big bucks, not having to
> apply, right off the bat within a couple months??
> Sorry, not buying it.
Hmmmm...Well, I'm a newbie and this sure has not happened to me, that is why I said share your secret!! I have been steadily applying, searching and in the game, getting this going...

You can think what you want. I've run my own company for 10 years, and I was a paralegal before that. I thought this site was for support but apparently there's always a few bad apples everywhere. I have integrity, I don't lie. What would I be getting out of it? Obviously you have such low self esteem that you have to try to bring others down to your level. I feel sorry for you. Thank you everyone else that had positive comments and shared your experiences for how you were paid and are paid. I appreciate it.

I think it's absolutely possible. Despite what I've read frequently on this board about favoritism being shown to experienced mystery shoppers-which I am not denying-when it comes down to the wire, schedulers get desperate to get shops completed. Trust and believe that the right click at the right time can land you some real dough.

My secret, by the way, is hard work, studying for many many hours (20+ a week when I first started), having a really good eye for details, and not having trouble writing an extremely detailed report. That's how I've done it. I didn't expect it to be this way when I started. I thought I would do 1-2 jobs a week, not 1-2 a day or more. I'm also a very determined single mother with a cronic pain condition which doesn't allow me to work full time. I put my all into it, and so far it's paying off. I have talked with other shoppers in my area and some are getting the same treatment as I am. Instead of calling an honest person a liar you could have spent this time studying, than maybe you could start getting bonuses as well.

toymom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My secret, by the way, is hard work, studying for
> many many hours (20+ a week when I first started),
> having a really good eye for details, and not
> having trouble writing an extremely detailed
> report. That's how I've done it. I didn't expect
> it to be this way when I started. I thought I
> would do 1-2 jobs a week, not 1-2 a day or more.
> I'm also a very determined single mother with a
> cronic pain condition which doesn't allow me to
> work full time. I put my all into it, and so far
> it's paying off. I have talked with other shoppers
> in my area and some are getting the same treatment
> as I am. Instead of calling an honest person a
> liar you could have spent this time studying, than
> maybe you could start getting bonuses as well.
Wow,
It sounds like you are one determined mama! I am working hard on getting this going like I said prior. What companies do you find have big pay? I too am avery detailed person, not afraid of hard work and am currently self employed and have been for almost 20 years. Just trying to fill in some gaps with this economy and help my hard working hubby out. I would love to make thousands a month! How did you make that happen? Where was your starting point?

I Searched the internet, for hours, for companies in my area, and came on here and found more in my area. Which companies would depend on your area. I have definately noticed that not all companies have shops in all areas. As I am in Canada it is probably even more different depending on where you are. I do tend to get good bonuses from gapbusters. Their shops are listed at $5, but I haven't done a shop for them for $5 since I started with them. I almost always get a minimum of $30 a shop with them now, and I have done as many as 5 in one day for them. An exception was obviously made as their training states you can't do that many in one day, yet even when I've hit the limit they are still calling with jobs. I've also done some out of town shops that no one else wanted which had really big bonuses. It depends how badly they need someone to do a shop I guess. As far as I can tell there aren't allot of shoppers in my area, I'm not saying there aren't any, but I don't think there are as many here as there are in the states.

I'm sorry you're having trouble getting paid. Gapbusters are very reliable. Hopefully, you'll receive payment today. Retail Track has only ever paid me via cheque. I believe that's the norm despite what their website says. I haven't worked with Premier in a long time but they were also a very reliable company. Here are some phone numbers for them: +1 (514) 685-1200 in Montreal
+1 (800) 452-5150.

From your list of payment due, there are no duds. I'm confident you will be paid within a short time, probably within the next couple of days. Chin up, stay strong, don't let the hater(s) get to you. You know there's always one in the bunch no matter what. Crossing my fingers that your mortgage will get paid in time.

Toymom not true on Canada shops and shoppers. Been on both sides of the border.
Pay and bonus are similiar. Yes year end brings on more bonus. But yours are to the extreme as a new shopper. Looks like GAP found you and will use you. Read upon Gap and others. You will find it is not a lifetime employement. Most of us have learned to not outlay moee than we can afford to be without. This is positively one employment where you dop not spend your mortgage money waiting on a reinbursement.
What happens when that one huge bonus is denied for whatever reason.

3offthecharts Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> toymom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Every company has told me that my reports are
> > outstanding. I rarely apply for shops now,
> they've
> > been calling me and paying whatever I ask for
> > basically. I haven't gotten the huge bonuses in
> > January as I did in December, but I am still
> > getting 30-50 bonuses on top of the regular
> fee.
> > I've done all types of shops. I spent many a
> night
> > up all night writing tests and studying. I am
> > working for 8 companies, it's just these that
> I'm
> > having problems with the pay. They are also the
> > ones I did the most shops for.
>
>
> Does anyone else smell something off with this??
> LOL! A new shopper making big bucks, not having to
> apply, right off the bat within a couple months??
> Sorry, not buying it.


I went to Gapbusters to check them and they state up front the first two months you are only allowed 2 to 4 shops max per month?

Sometimes companies just take their own sweet time to pay the shopper. I agree with what's already been said--you can't rely 100% on getting money in time for certain key aspects of your budget. Sometimes it's a feast or famine situation with shopping. I made some significant money last fall and this year so far I've had exactly one shop. I've been at this for 18 years now and know that's just how it is.

Having worked with Gapbusters before I know that they will break their own policies to get shops done. I do believe that if the OP is in an area where shops have not been getting filled (rural or willing to travel) she probably did very well with bonuses in December.

Liz


darmody2 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 3offthecharts Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > toymom Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Every company has told me that my reports are
> > > outstanding. I rarely apply for shops now,
> > they've
> > > been calling me and paying whatever I ask for
> > > basically. I haven't gotten the huge bonuses
> in
> > > January as I did in December, but I am still
> > > getting 30-50 bonuses on top of the regular
> > fee.
> > > I've done all types of shops. I spent many a
> > night
> > > up all night writing tests and studying. I am
> > > working for 8 companies, it's just these that
> > I'm
> > > having problems with the pay. They are also
> the
> > > ones I did the most shops for.
> >
> >
> > Does anyone else smell something off with
> this??
> > LOL! A new shopper making big bucks, not having
> to
> > apply, right off the bat within a couple
> months??
> > Sorry, not buying it.
>
>
> I went to Gapbusters to check them and they state
> up front the first two months you are only allowed
> 2 to 4 shops max per month?