I'm not new to the Mystery Shopping game (2+ years here) but this is a new one for me. I received a check in the mail from Ipsos MMI, Inc. I don't think I have ever done any assignments with this company. There's no letter, just a check with a tear off that has a date and the description "Incentive." It's for a significant amount of money (think 15-20 retail shop payments).

It kinda screams scam to me, with two exceptions. First, it's made out in my legal name, which I don't use for mailing lists/internet things where my details might have been harvested for scam purposes. Second, there's no letter saying deposit this and send us a portion, like the scam checks tend to include.

So, thoughts? Is Ipsos likely to be a company I've worked with, perhaps under a different business name? Has anyone else received checks with no information?

I Googled the name. It says they are a MSC in Norway. It does say they conduct research in the US. I have never heard of them. Here is the link:
[directory.esomar.org]

Edited to add: I do see there are discussions here on the forum about the company. You may have shopped for them through a scheduling company.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2012 07:33AM by sassyshopper.

I've done surveys for them, some time back. I think I accrued points to apply towards merchandise etc. I got greedy and no longer wanted to give my .02 away and disconnected from them.

There is an IPSOS in the US, but it is listed as IPSOS USA and they pay via PayPal. I would be very cautious about depositing any unidentified check.

Ipsos MMI refers to the division of Ipsos that used to be Marketing Metrics out of the midwest. They do mystery shopping, but mostly sub that out to their partners (although maybe they pay the fee in the end) and they also do panel studies, focus groups, and product testing. The word "incentive" usually means that it was something like that (that is terminology that is used for participating in a customer survey project - as opposed to "fee" or reimbursement that is usually mystery shopping).

Can you think of any thing like that recently that might account for why they are paying? Maybe something from Marketing Metrics?

The fact that it is a CHECK and not a money order or cashier check also indicates it is not a scam. Can you take the check into the insitution it is drawn upon?

Perhaps you can call the bank on the check and verify there's $ to cover it, or go to their branch to cash? Just a thought, you know.

that won't necessarily work. First, it could be a forged check on that account so even if the money is there when it hits the issuing bank it will be rejected. If the OP takes it directly to the issuing bank they can be accused of passing a fraudulent check and arrested.

I did a focus group tied to a special mystery shop project a couple weeks ago, but I expected the pay to come from a different MS company that usually pays via PayPal. I put an email out to that scheduler to see if that's what this check is.

I do plan to take it to a bank and ask if it's legit on their end. Maybe straight up cash it instead of depositing the check.

I just heard back from my scheduler. This is a check for a focus group, even though were were told to expect PayPal payment. And the check is for $50 more than we were originally promised.

Thanks for your replies, guys!

Glad it worked out and glad you have some "found" money!

I hope the check cashed out OK. I know that IPSOS is a legit survey co. From what I have read I would never try to deposit or cash a check that is suspect. I would take it to your bank and ask them to give you an OK first and have them sign off on it. Apparently, if the check turns up to be fake, the bank can legitimately charge you major fees.

Here is the sassie login

[www.sassieshop.com]

I just clicked on prettygul1's link. I am reading the Mystery Shopper Agreement and it says...

* You will destroy all copies of the reports you submit to IPSOS within 30 days after submitting them.

3. Payment. IPSOS will pay you for each assignment within 45 days after you fulfill it; except that IPSOS may withhold payment if you have broken any of the above promises or if IPSOS or IPSOS' client otherwise determines that you did not properly fulfill your assignment. IPSOS will not pay or reimburse your travel expenses or any other costs you may incur.

Doesn't that seem odd to anyone else? I always hold on to my paperwork and notes until AFTER I get paid. And how do they enforce the 30-day rule? Program satellites to hover over our houses and zoom into our offices?

I clicked on it and just read it. I actually have an outstanding assignment with them right now. I understand why they might say this. They have assignments that are highly confidential and it is probably necessary to have this agreement in order to ensure the integrity of the clients. With me, there is nothing to hold on to.

IPSOS is legit. I received a $59 Visa card from them this week for a focus project I did 2 months ago.

I did a an audit in Walmart, took some photos, took a survey, ended getting $15 check that they promised. It took about 3 months to show up though....

Does anyone know about the relationship between Ipsos, Mystery Researchers and Shopmetrics? A job that is ongoing has moved from one to the other. I am not sure whether to continue it or not. There seems to be a lack of good communication. I have spent a lot of hours on this to date and am not sure what the situation is. I cannot say what the nature of the job is, but have a lot of questions. Is anyone else working on a big job with them?

Thanks

I think the full name of IPSOS is Ipsos Loyalty Mystery Shopping. They have used the SASSIE reporting system for many years. About a year ago they began doing some tentative steps towards changing reporting platforms. At this point they are beyond the test listings on Shopmetrics and offering jobs through there though obviously they do not yet have all the filter kinks worked out so I can see shops all over the country and that makes it hard to find stuff in my area. Meanwhile I am currently in a project that is still using SASSIE. So yes, appearing on two reporting platforms is indeed going on right now. I suspect you may be thinking about the 2 week job, so PM me if you still have questions.

Edited to add that perhaps they aren't finished testing as all shops I can see are expired already . . .

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2014 04:41AM by Flash.

I do lots of shops for them, I never had a problem... I would just call the office and see what's up.

Here is the link to the main information page.

[www.ipsos-na.com]

They are also a sassie system and upon looking over my profile and agreement I found them on jobslinger and they pay in 45 days through PayPal.

Here is the log in link... try logging in and see if that works for you.

[www.ipsos-na.com]

Shop2LiveinFL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just clicked on prettygul1's link. I am reading
> the Mystery Shopper Agreement and it says...
>
> * You will destroy all copies of the reports you
> submit to IPSOS within 30 days after submitting
> them.
>
> 3. Payment. IPSOS will pay you for each assignment
> within 45 days after you fulfill it; except that
> IPSOS may withhold payment if you have broken any
> of the above promises or if IPSOS or IPSOS' client
> otherwise determines that you did not properly
> fulfill your assignment. IPSOS will not pay or
> reimburse your travel expenses or any other costs
> you may incur.
>
> Doesn't that seem odd to anyone else? I always
> hold on to my paperwork and notes until AFTER I
> get paid. And how do they enforce the 30-day
> rule? Program satellites to hover over our houses
> and zoom into our offices?


LOL, I should have read the whole thread before I posted... ah well...

Anyway, as far as destroying the paperwork... I don't. I keep the job number and the receipts for everything in a file for 7 years. The IRS states that 3 years is good but there are situations they can come back after 7 (because this is my own business I CHOOSE to keep everything filed for 7).

I don't keep the full reports but I do keep all information as to who, when, where, what and how much.

Kathee70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyway, as far as destroying the paperwork... I
> don't. I keep the job number and the receipts for
> everything in a file for 7 years. The IRS states
> that 3 years is good but there are situations they
> can come back after 7 (because this is my own
> business I CHOOSE to keep everything filed for 7).
>
>
> I don't keep the full reports but I do keep all
> information as to who, when, where, what and how
> much.

Good move. Businesses are generally required to retain 'records of original entry' or some such terminology forever. For me that is my spreadsheet, which I keep in .xls format since that is considered a 'universal standard' that can be opened by or imported into most any financial or spreadsheet software. As for the rest . . .

I throw receipts, notes, paperwork, proofs of visit and checks that have been electronically deposited into a file folder labeled for the current month. I keep the most recent 6 months in my file for easy access if there are questions (which there rarely are). Then they are off to on site storage in 3 month batches. These days I am destroying paper files more than 5 years old. But since receipts were generally scanned to upload, they are staying on the computer because computer storage space is both cheap and doesn't get silverfish.

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
These days I am
> destroying paper files more than 5 years old. But
> since receipts were generally scanned to upload,
> they are staying on the computer because computer
> storage space is both cheap and doesn't get
> silverfish.

I do the same, I keep them organized in my email account in monthly labeled folders. This way, even if my computer crashes, there's a fire or the sky falls, I still have access.

I am less trusting of email accounts and the 'cloud' than you. My computer gets backed up 2X per year to an external drive that gets stored in my safety deposit box.