I have worked with Maritz for a very long time and find they are reasonable in pay and payment. I used to get calls AND bonuses when they had the post office shops, which I miss them having so much because I refuse to do them for the MSC that has them now. Did a couple when they went to the other MSC
and said I wouldn't do another one for them and I haven't.

I did have a problem some years back with a weekend person who mistated why I couldn't complete a shop and needed it rescheduled. It has caused me not to be able to self-assign now, but if I see shops I want on the board, I request them and then immediately call the office so I can be assigned them instead of waiting until they see the request.

I've asked several times when I'll be able to self-assign again, but they keep telling me to continue to do shops and the system should automatically reinstate my self-assigning priviledges as long as I don't cancel any, but it hasn't as yet and that's been going on almost 4 years now!

I keep saying it and saying it and saying it. Most (not all, but most) of the shops I do for Maritz are bonused. Because I will not do them otherwise. I tell them what I need (I am getting better at this) and they come back with a counter offer (sometimes). Or they tell me they are not bonusing shops right now but will keep me in mind at the end of the month (or the quarter). And they do. No hard feelings. No angst.

I have run into a couple of PITA schedulers/editors there but most (95%) of the folks there couldn't be nicer. I am always knocking MSCs but I can find very little to dislike about them. In fact quite contrary.

As far as the vest. Good for them. It's a safety precaution.

So they call me yesterday at 8:55pm and tell me to call back on their 800 number in regards to a shop I requested TWO WEEKS AGO..... I call them back a few minutes later just to be nice and say it's kinda late to assign this shop to me, and just get the recording saying they're closed.... "Here's your sign...."

You're not supposed to wear the vest until you have completed the mystery shopping portion of the shop but I do the shops so often that the attendants know who I am as soon as I enter the store.

I can definitely see the reason for the safety vest because it does make you more visible to drivers as you wander in and out of the pump islands doing your inspection and especially if you have to wander out into the street somewhat to get a complete overall photo of the site.

I've been signed up with them for a few months and have recently seen shops in my area. I have requested two different assignments from them, but they have yet to assign any to me. Anybody have any idea why that may be?

I have done a few shops for them, but I tried to get the ones really close to me and they get assigned to someone else. I think they have a shopper or maybe more than one that is doing a "route" and they are getting first pick. I am going to keep trying - at one point they might want a new face.

miss.xteena Wrote:
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> I've been signed up with them for a few months and
> have recently seen shops in my area. I have
> requested two different assignments from them, but
> they have yet to assign any to me. Anybody have
> any idea why that may be?


With Maritz...it is usually better to request the jobs, then call them and tell them you requested them for assignment. After you do so many you will be able to self assign, until them request them on the job board, then give them a ring.

SecretAgentMom -- Too much work for so little money.

I NEVER go on their job board. I wait for them to call me. Depending on the time of month/quarter/year that might be every day for a week. I then tell them my price. Rarely do I take a job for the stated price. I did one FF, which was in my town (.7 miles from home) for their stated price today, but that is an exception. I never do their gas station shops without an "incentive" because they are a pita. I read on this thread that some folks do them in 15 - 45 minutes. I find they take much longer. Maybe it is just me, but....depending on the situation, Maritz is often willing to pay my fee. If they are not willing, we are never acrimonious. We just tell each other "next time." Next time might be the following quarter or it might be in an hour. I find them to be fair and easy to deal with. With a company that large, there are exceptions, but overall...nice folks.

avitoots Wrote:
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> SecretAgentMom -- Too much work for so little
> money.


Maybe...but
beginners have to start somewhere and they are definately one to start with, they are forgiving and give second chances to get that one pic you missed without throwing out the whole job.

I take their jobs for little money. I do lots of them. I also get the phone calls and when I throw out an outrageous number to get the job done, the give it to me because I am dependable. In the beginning their jobs seemed like too much work for little money, but now it is second nature and I am done with a report finished in about 45 minutes. Sure to some that doesn't seem like enough money for that amount of time...but I get gas reimbursed, plus a fee. When doing their jobs in routes I end up coming home with more gas than I left with, meaning the 200+ miles I drove was FREE.

I like that I can call them up when I am on a route and say "hey, are you sure this is the right address????" They answer. I have only ever had one crappy editor and I think they are only that way to newbies, as I have never ever had a problem since. Could also be that I called her on the fact that the instructions did not say to do what she wanted a pic of and that I can't help 2012 directions said to do so when 2011 did not and they haven't release 2012's yet.

I am glad not everyone takes their jobs for their fee...leaves more for me and my one day a week.

To each their own for sure.

spactzk, After x number of shops, you can self-assign. You are losing jobs to the self-assign shoppers.

I like Maritz, and I also like it that a lot of you don't like them. More for me.

I have been working for Maritz for 4 or 5 years now. Year before last I made over $4,000 just from them. Last year I did not make enough to even receive a 1099! Speaking of nitpicking, my sister received an email yesterday accusing her of resubmitting a picture from March of 2011 for a shop last month. A couple problems with that are, she did not do the shop in 2011 and did not do the shop in 2012. Then she noticed tat even though the email was sent to her it was addressed to someone named Sheila.

I have been trying to find out about the pay for a couple of bank shops I did last year. They were last minute shops and long distance. Combined they were over $100. I talked to payroll about two weeks ago and they said they would check to see if the check had cleared and call me back. I still have not heard back. I am calling back tomorrow.

The schedulers are the same as they were. Marie is a dear. But it is just not the same company it was a couple of years ago.

SecretAgentMom -- I meant too much work getting the shops for the money they offer. I do request the shops but haven't been assigned to any since I've been spending time in Florida. They just don't pay enough for me to request the shop, then call to tell them I requested the shop, etc.

Thanks SecreAgentMom and cubbiecat

I didn't realize people could self assign.

I pass a few of the banks to and from work everyday. I actually go to another branch for work at least once a week. Next time I see them I will request and immediately call them. Hopefully I will be able to self-assign sometime in the near future.

I must concur. They worry you to death;the pay sucks and they all ways have questions. I refuse to do any more shops for them.

SecretAgentMom Wrote:
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> With Maritz...it is usually better to request the
> jobs, then call them and tell them you requested
> them for assignment. After you do so many you will
> be able to self assign, until them request them on
> the job board, then give them a ring.

Thanks for the info!

I've worked for Maritz for 4 years (shopped for a total of 8 years) and find them easy to work for. They pay routinely and if there is an issue with a report they make every attempt to work it out! They have honoured every deal I've worked with them so I consider them to be one of my top choices to work for. I have completed not less than 300 jobs for them and look forward to more!Angel Wrote:
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> Not meaning to be rude, they do seem to sound
> friendly in the multitude of voice mails they keep
> leaving for me but am I the only one who finds
> they are getting way too many calls from this
> company?
>
> I just signed up recently and they keep calling me
> about the shops I did, even if they've sent me
> emails or already left a message. I've never had
> such a phone-intensive mystery shop company
> before. I understand they won't give you an email
> to reply back to either and email is my preference
> for contacts (for one thing, that way I have a
> record as to what was agreed to which I don't when
> communications take place over the phone...) Mind
> you you can still log onto their website and leave
> a general message there but I prefer being able to
> contact the person who left me messages by their
> specific email (which they don't allow.)
>
> They seem to be extreme nit pickers, nice, but
> nitpickers. I've worked with a lot of companies
> and done this for a few years now but most
> companies don't seem to need to call me about
> shops I've done and certainly not this much. lol
> I don't know, just wondering if anyone else finds
> this the case. I do wish they'd come into the
> modern age and allow you to email them back!

I seem to have a problem. They call regarding a shop and then when I return their call even if only a few minutes have passed, they just don't return my calls.

This was my first MS company to work for, and I really like them. Yes, they do call me, but just to offer me opportunities to make money! I love getting calls like that. They pay on time EVERY time, and I've never had a complaint. When I had car trouble they moved my shops for me without any bad attitude. I got the stomach flu the following week and they moved them again. I like Maritz. I wish there were 100 companies as reliable.

gloydc Wrote:
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> I seem to have a problem. They call regarding a
> shop and then when I return their call even if
> only a few minutes have passed, they just don't
> return my calls.


Yeah, that happens. I have only had them truly pick up immediately twice. Once they were waiting for me to call back after I looked at the job board.

Just leave a message, and give them time. Their number ends in 4299 so if you see that on caller id, pick up. Shoot them an email to let them know you are getting their emails (click on the envelope next to the job number having issues) Seems like a lot of work, but they are fair.

I agree. The called me constantly and I agreed to do 10 shops for them. They never paid me. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!

Amazing how some folks love them and some hate them... I am glad some hate them. more for me. I LOVE this company. They are not perfect, but as MSCs go, they are great! Again, thanks for all of you who hate them.

I've only seen one person dislike them that strongly. Like I said initially, they are nice enough but I find the interface a pain and the refusal to email but insist on so many phone calls to be strange and frankly inconvenient. They are the only MSC I know of who operates like that. Might be a few more but I haven't come across them yet.

Angel I see lots of posts about Maritz being a PITA. Just saying. I love dealing with them. It's refreshing, talking to a human being.

jimntx3 Wrote:
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> I agree. The called me constantly and I agreed to
> do 10 shops for them. They never paid me. STAY
> AWAY FROM THEM!


I am not sure what happened. But they are a company that gives you every single chance under the sun to correct your problem. They give you time to get it corrected. Unless you ignored their requests to correct the problem, completely disregarded their instructions, submitted the same picture for several different shops, didn't submit an invoice with the required receipt/business card for each shop within 14 days (or 30 days with a phone call), I just don't truly see why they would not have paid you.

I am sorry you had a bad experience.

Secret Agent Mom....you are so right. I have screwed up royally and have still gotten paid. I forgot to send in an invoice from six weeks ago. The Admin person told me to email it to her and she would make sure it got in for the next pay cycle. She APOLOGIZED that it could not get in for this pay period. I lost a receipt. They paid me for the shop but not the reimbursement. When I made a mistake on a shop, they called for clarification. Someone went over the guidelines and told me, apologetically, that she had to note our conversation. I LOVE them.

Sorry some others have had bad experiences. Glad some of you are not willing to shop for them. More for me.

Snuffycuts99 Wrote:
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> I've considered doing shops with Maritz but is it
> just me, or is their pay very low? I've never
> seen bonused shops with them and the normal fee
> just isn't enough for me. I've been a little
> disappointed because they do have shops in my
> area. Ohhh, and the idea of wearing a safety vest
> just seems a little ridiculous to me. No thanks


I like the company, but that's exactly why I don't shop for them any more. $10 is not enough for a gas station shop/audit, and I would feel ridiculous wearing a safety vest. They called me this week asking to take some in my area and I said I'd only do them for $20. Haven't heard back.

jersen8v You will (hear back that is). At some point there will be an equilibrium of supply and demand and you will get your fee. $20 seems too low to me (just saying). I add in travel time and figure $15 - $20 an hour.

I like them so far. Haveonly done 4 shops but they pay fast.