TRENDSOURCE: Let's stick together and boycott their shop bids!!!

Let's say no and not accept any shops requiring bidding. This escpecially applies to their WHOLEsome green logo supermarket chain, who's shops generally get snapped up quickly.

Shoppers need to send out a hard message that we won't bid against each other for shops...

Happy Weekend to all.

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I could not agree more and think that every shopper on this forum will most likely follow suit. Not to be a downer here, but the problem is not the informed shopper who frequents a forum. It's the larger group of shoppers who will take whatever the companies dish out. It would be nice if we could get the word out and have a larger percentage of shoppers on forums.

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.
I have sent them my message twice...:p

Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I doubt if many will go out of their way to get an EIN anyway. The next thing they will want is for all of us to incorporate.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2012 08:13PM by Reporter.
I will not get an EIN, and I will not bid on shops. Last time I checked in, the bid for one in which I normally would have been interested is twenty cents. I know my time and efforts are worth more than that, and if they don't think so, c'est la vie.
Read on another board :-) that it is a possibility a scheduler is low balling these. No proof but it sure is a possibility.
I have got to stop responding to those people since now they won't leave me alone, LOL.

This is the most recent response and all I did was ask if they could deactivate me.

"The EIN is only another form of a federal identification and is not any different than how you are or should be claiming the payments you receive from MSI already. If you prefer to not ask advisor about this to confirm how this will affect you than that is up to you. However, if you have not provided a valid EIN by May 1st your field agent access will be restricted. We hope you will comply and continue to work with us. Have a good weekend."

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.
I just canceled my assignment for next week and will not get an EIN. Next step: part ways with Trendsource. The last thing I want to do is perform the shop and then not get paid for not having the EIN.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2012 12:08AM by newyorkdan1.
I had no idea that TrendSource was taking bids on shops! I have never seen this but I only perform a shop or two for them each month. They just don't have much work in my area, Southeast Texas.
RE: the EIN I have one that I got for an Internet business my husband was starting. This was at the start of the last year (2011) At that time Maritz came on like Trendsource and said that you had to have an EIN. I sent my to them with my business name. Nothing changed, nothing happen. Fast forward to this year: As of 2012 Maritz started sending my checks in my business name as per the EIN. Well, the business didn't work out and we closed it and our company bank account, in September of 2011. Guess What!!! I had checks for my shops for Maritz, but no where to cash them!!! I called and finally had them start paying me under my ss#, I got my first check today that I will not have a hassle to cash. I sure am not going through that with Trendsource or any other MS company again, and I am warning everyone else not to either, unless of course you do have a business bank account.
I thought you would like to know that
> the jobs that we are all actively being bid are all
> at 20 cents (at least the ones' that I could see). So they went from 5.00 to .20 and
> every job looks to be taken. Depending on how
> many they put up, they made thousands of dollars
> this month, and considering this market is very
> much in too "fair trade," and "taking care of
> their community," I just can't believe that the company knew
> they were doing this, and it's just
> very depressing and sad
Now that I've been realizing who the client is the situation is that much more deplorable. I'm sure they too would find it disappointing.

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.
Am I understanding this correctly? TrendSource is paying .20 for shops and people are taking them???
I bid on one of those shops but went way above what they normally paid. I received an email that I was underbid by 20 cents...but saw the job on the board for almost a week before it finally got taken at the regular price. It appears they did not want to pay the premium I asked for.
I did not know that there was any bidding at Trendsource. I also was not asked for EIN. Just proves that I have not done much for the company although I can self-assign and an Elite member.
Apparantly TS only accepts bids at or below the 'regular' fee. They allow you to submit hight bids but dont accept them.
TS sent me an email last week with a desperate plea for me to take a shop and was offering $10.00 PAD. I responded immediately. I saw the email come through and within 10 seconds had responded.

Well, the job stayed on the job board for another WEEK! I then noticed that my pending application was deleted.

This was a location I had shopped before, so I wasn't denied because of being a newbie. I bet they called around and found a shopper who would do it for .20cents.
Just signed in, big message on the front page..."New requirement..."

They never had much in my area, so I'll just let it go and not give them an EIN.

I just don't see what benefit this is to them? Why should they care one way or another?
Supposedly it's to help justify classifying us as ICs and not employees. Basically it appears that companies with questionable policies have the most to fearsmiling smiley

Imagine if you are working a retail job for $8 an hour. You spend an hour setting a display and make a minor error. Your employer now says they are only going to pay you $6 for that hour and in addition they expect you to clock out and make the corrections on your own time. Sounds a bit ridiculous doesn't it? But that is exactly what TS is doing when they request clarification on a report and then reduce your fee.

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.
The problem with starting a boycott on the forums is for every shopper who does visit a forum, there are many more who don't and who will do shops for ridiculous fees. When I did some shops with a local company, I was shocked that only one out of the 12 ICs I met knew anything about other companies or that there were forums online. Needless to say, I informed them (and not about V, either). So I doubt that a boycott will put Trendsource in much of a pickle.

On the bright side, by boycotting them, it won't put you in a pickle.
Lisa -- So, Trendsource wants a business tax i.d.? That's what an EIN is and I don't know if you can even get one without submitting some kind of incorporation papers.
I just checked the *whole* bunch of listings in my area, and none of them are set up for bids. Maybe they are testing this approach in some areas?
avitoots, I honestly don't know what is involved and all of the ramifications. Flash has provided us with a lot of information and considering her track record there is no doubt in my mind she is correct. As I was told by Trendsource, if in doubt I could contact my tax professional, etc., etc. I looked at what I have made from them and the potential for future income and there is no incentive for me to invest my time in it when they are the only company with this requirement.

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.
When I produced murder mysteries, we got an EIN when we incorporated the company. I don't think any of us make enough to not only go through the hassle and expense of getting the number from the IRS but then being put in the position of possibly having to do two tax returns, one for our SSN and one for the EIN. Wonder how many people will go through that hassle.
Getting an EIN is not the issue. That indeed is not complicated and generally takes less than 5 minutes. It is what goes beyond that which becomes an issue. So indeed if Trendsource is saying getting the number is quick and easy, that is very true. What jumps to mind is that it also is generally not too complicated to get pregnant (and often takes less than 5 minutes) . . .
I have not seen the bidding thing? I do get e-mails from TS. Where did you find it?
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