Logged in this morning to do my latest Intellishop report and this was the headline (On a bright red background with yellow letters, no less):


"YOU WILL BE VIDEO TAPED DURING YOUR SHOP AND THE VIDEO SURVELLIANCE WILL BE CHECKED AGAINST WHAT YOU REPORT.

Please ensure that all information you report is 100% accurate. Any inconsistencies reported will result in you not being paid and being deactivated from our system.

Anything that is not accurate will be reported to IntelliShop immediately."


I understand that they want us to take this stuff seriously, but is this kind of warning really necessary?

Since I'm still relatively new at this, I'm eager to hear what other shoppers say.

many companies say this, few actually do check video. Usually only if it is challenged by the individual location.

Agree with Techman. Several companies do this so I'd call it normal.

Don't be alarmed; this is something a lot of companies are doing due to shoppers turning in reports with negative comments about the location itself or their employees or falsifying their reports.

I have not seen this and think it a bit much, the question is, along with the threat, is there a raise in pay? Video's are used for Bar audit's, and I can see checking, but for an auto dealership......

Editors do not get paid enough to look through videos of transactions. Nor are companies going to Fed Ex them to the MSPs. I'm sure there are some anal client who will review EVERY shop report for clarity, good or bad, but most of the stores shopped would it it only for a negative review. Even then, many wouldn't check unless there was something that stood out as a warning to the managers.

The ability to even check the video is going to impacted by how quickly the report gets back to the location. My understanding was most do not retain the video for long since it is used primarily as a security measure. No problems, no reason not to tape over the existing video.

You would think if the video was so good they would not need shoppers.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The ability to even check the video is going to
> impacted by how quickly the report gets back to
> the location. My understanding was most do not
> retain the video for long since it is used
> primarily as a security measure. No problems, no
> reason not to tape over the existing video.


I know that in NJ (I'm sure it is true with most states) security cameras are only legally allowed to be used for the purpose of security. They aren't used for checking on secret shoppers. However, if a report is challenged (like I challenged a few during my time as a manager at a clothing store), stores/managers will look at the tape according to your times and dates to see how accurate the reporting is. But that is not the main focus.

I don't worry about it, because I know what I observe will be reported accurately. One time, a few years ago, a cell phone company challenged my report, stating the video did not match what I observed. I observed a young female employee, during an extremely busy time at this location, sit at a desk and flirt with a guy, who could've been a customer, but hearing their conversation led me to believe, uh no....he was there to chat with her.

When I received flak from the MSC, I immediately said to recheck their video, because I stood by my report 100%. I never heard one more word and received my payment like clock work.

If it makes you feel more comfortable (or perhaps not), there are video survelliance cameras EVERYWHERE today. Hidden and in plain view.

Angie knows better than most of us. I do have empathy for the schedulers/MSCs. They do not know us from a stray cat and get a lot of junk reports. They are just trying to put the fear of not being paid into us in the hopes of receiving more legit reports. I also find it annoying, but grain of salt.

I dont look good on camera, thats why I shop ln secret.

I had a client check the video to verify my report once. The person I had shopped was a trainer and had a reputation for *always* meeting the CS requirements. The night I was there, they were beyond busy and I was overlooked. I had to respond to an email from the store manager, and they said they checked the video to verify that it happened as I reported. I never heard anything after that, but I was paid on time.

I think these kinds of warnings are rude and unncessary, though. Mentioning it once is fine, putting it in giant, screaming letters with threatening language is over the top.

It's simple..... Just report honnest and accccurate... I dont care if the president has a secret service team(pun intended) watching me when i do my shops. I am always (at least i really try) unbiased factual and detailed when i write my reports.

If you do what you are supposed to do, it wont matter who's watching.
Happy Shopping!

I worked in retail where the stores were shopped. The threat of being shopped kept the lazy clerks doing a thorough job for each customer. Likewise the theat of video applies to lazy secret shoppers. It is not a new technique. When I was a small child, it was used on me every Christmas.

"He's keeping a list, checking it twice....."

I've done quite a few shops for Intellishop and am familiar with the big red letters. I agree, it's excessive, but not that big of a deal in reality. As long as you do your job and are accurate it shouldn't be an issue. I like the company as a whole and have a soft spot for them since they were the first that I started shopping with.

Your shop will be on video? Good deal! You can prove everything you report.

It is annoying. But if I was a scheduler I would be very tempted to threaten
almost anything to get a reasonable, decent report. "I know where you live... That is why I am not scheduling.

Speaking of warning, here is an example. This is not from Intellishop but from a new company I registered with.

Special reminders:
Once scheduled, you will receive a Confirmit link. If you do not receive
it, PLEASE email me at xxxxx.com and request
your shop's unique link.
-
If you do not do this, your Prophet report will not be published and you
will NOT be paid - no exceptions.

Ok, so no exceptions. I did everything but never received the Confirmit links.
So I decided to submit the reports on Prophet for the first two shops I did for this
company, and probably the last. This was after 4 emails that were ignored. Eventually
on my fifth email where I attached the reports using the survey forms, I received a reply
advising that there would be a delay on the links but to go ahead and complete the shops
and report on Prophet. But the shops were now actually way behind and I would have had
a late report and would not be paid. Would you dare hope to be paid with this kind of
disorganized system? Would you continue to be involved with them?

So much for the threats. I've completely lost interest. I have no respect for companies
that make so much threats yet incapable of following their own rules.

Indeed.

For some companies, there definitely seems to be two sets of rules. One is for the shoppers "Do EVERYTHING RIGHT!", "AND DO IT ON TIME!", or "YOU WILL NOT BE PAID!".

And, two, a set of rules for the companies. We'll (check your report, respond to your email, pay you) when we get around to it. If we feel like it.

And that's where this board is so valuable, helping us determine the good companies from the bad.

Regarding the new company with Confirmit links, this doesn't sound ideal but perhaps it will get better. With that in mind, I wouldn't cut the company, but I'd be cautious. If I had alternative opportunities with an organized and dependable company, I'd take the alternative work. If I didn't have enough work, I'd consider picking up something now and then from the Confirmit guys provided I had been paid for everything I previously submitted. There's always a chance this could develop into a valuable connection and a good working relationship.

To minimize potential losses, I wouldn't do anything for them that required much driving or other outlay of cash until they get their system flowing.

I ignore all threats. Here's mine: Don't pay me and I'm history.

I'll always do my best, and if it's not good enough I can live with moving on.

I have done over 15 shops for intellishop...they are terrible to work for in my opinion.....I did a report that came back to me 3X...clarify this, clarify that...traveled over 105 miles and then they say because this clarification has taken so long, the client won't pay them for "OLD" info( I don't see how it mattered not about personnel just about building and presentation it made ) They don't bother calling you if you request and obviously think you have nothing better to do than constantly go to their web site....Then I get an evaluator who says " I must have information today " but NEVER puts the date she sent this message to me...JUST on their web site...No E Mail....IMPOSSIBLE...must think they are the only company in the world. By the way I have only gotten paid for 10 as they take forever when they finally do pay, and have many excuses for not paying For instance did one shop ended at a prohibited time and was supposed to be shopped just a few min Before, Never even called to discuss as many companies would. Claim cannot read receipt (sent it 3X) and did not receive receipts...(of course they did -even faxed it) Do not like this. I will be taking them to small claims if something doesn't change soon. NEVER AGAIN..!! Has anybody else had problems?

Verysecret, I do a few jobs a year for Intellishop and have not had problems. Their jobs that require narrative do require tremendous detail, and they are very particular that all points in the report are covered. I find the jobs requiring narrative to be overly time consuming, but I am happy to accept them when appropriately bonused. They also have fast food work in my area that is more of the very simple (monkey see monkey check the box) type of report. Payment has never been an issue. They pay as set out on their website and their payments to me have always been correct.

What's different about your experience and my experience is that they asked you for more information. That hasn't happened to me so I can't address any issues that may exist with that process. You mentioned that they don't email you and that they post it up on their website. After I submit a report with heavy narrative, I watch the website carefully to see of anything pops up. If you're having problems with this, a workaround would be to put a daily website check on your schedule until your report is approved.

Companies will not pay for unaccepted reports, and two of the more stringent rules are the date and the time frame. Sometimes we can't make the time frame, but that doesn't change the rules. It's great that some other companies have communicated with you and worked with you on issues, but that won't always happen. We are independent contractors delivering a job which is either acceptable to the company or not acceptable to the company. Most of us have done jobs somewhere along the way which didn't meet specs and we weren't paid. It happens, and we move on.

Leaving any company you don't care to work with is a logical conclusion, but I hate to see you slam the door. It would be good for you if you could work this situation to an amiable conclusion and then simply stop taking jobs for a while. In time you may feel differently, or not.

I have always received an email from Intellishop.when they need follow up. Maybe your ail.server is blocking their emails? They have always paid me.

Just a word to the wise. I would be very careful about jobs for Intelli. I recently deactivated myself from their company and will never do another shop.
I have been shopping for several years and have issue with a company that denies a report and will not pay you because you didn't use the correct zip code.

I just did a shop for them. They gave me the wrong address and therefore I had no directions. My friend let me know the correct address so verified with them to ensure that I should go to proper address and I did it on the day before Thanksgiving. I was exhausted with shop and real shopping for my own turkey. Now I get this questions from the editor asking for more info exact wording. After I had 45 min how am I to remember exact words qutable ones. Now if I said exact words when I have no way able to remember exact words I would be not giving the trueth. So I tried to add some more details. I closed it. I sent email that I had tried to fix as good as I good. Some how it wasnot closed and submitted a second time so I got at the end a score of 5 after I had been getting 10. So if I had said quotes when I had no way to remember exact quotes I would have errored and they could have not paid me. So I decided that I am done with them. Then I just got an email showing the same shop at the wrong address town. K

I've done close to 75 shops for Intelli-shops over the years. In my opinion, they are one of my favorite. They are picky. But, the schedulers I have are easy to work with. If you have questions ask them. I have never experienced any of the problems explained here, other than multiple requests for information, which I hate, but they have a job to do as well.

And, I'll be honest, I've gotta shops that have bad reviews. But, I do get paid.

All in all, I like working for them.

By the way,

I've never had an issue. Just do your best. You'll do fine. It's standard practice. I've done a lot of their "video disclaimer" shops, I think its just that. A disclaimer, if there's an issue (never is) it will be checked. Rest at ease.



sportsed1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Logged in this morning to do my latest Intellishop
> report and this was the headline (On a bright red
> background with yellow letters, no less):
>
>
> "YOU WILL BE VIDEO TAPED DURING YOUR SHOP AND THE
> VIDEO SURVELLIANCE WILL BE CHECKED AGAINST WHAT
> YOU REPORT.
>
> Please ensure that all information you report is
> 100% accurate. Any inconsistencies reported will
> result in you not being paid and being deactivated
> from our system.
>
> Anything that is not accurate will be reported to
> IntelliShop immediately."
>
>
> I understand that they want us to take this stuff
> seriously, but is this kind of warning really
> necessary?
>
> Since I'm still relatively new at this, I'm eager
> to hear what other shoppers say.

Yes I guess some people have good experiences and some bad...but OFF my list goes Intellishop...By the way has anybody ever sued these companies in small claims court? I have had it with them and the attitude of one editor her name begins with an N. What an unbalanced editor, called yesterday and as soon as I identified myself she switches me to voice mail.

I don't think I've ever bashed or spoke ill about a company before...but, I feel I need to chime in.

I recently had an absolute horrid experience with Intelli-Shop. Supposedly, it's settled now, but I will wait and see if I receive payment. The original scheduler refused to answer any of my emails or calls. Sad IMO because not to long ago, I had praised this very same scheduler in a PM.

I will still shop for them, but I will never work with that particular scheduler again. It's too bad, because of one person, an entire company can be tainted in a persons view.