I did my first 2 assignments for them over the weekend. I got a call today saying that I needed to invoice. (Shoot, I forgot) I go in to invoice, and I see that you have to upload the receipts (AGAIN). The receipts are not with me at work, they are at home. So I bail out, and figure I'd do it when I had the receipts with me. I get home and go online to invoice, and I get a message saying that the invoice has already been submitted. Any ideas? How important are attaching receipts to invoices when they were already attached to the report?

I am tempted to tell Maritz I can't do any more for them. It is too complicated! You can't self assign until you do 10 assignments. You can't get a route together because almost all of them have a rule that if it is your first one of a certain kind, you have to get that submitted before you can do any more of them. They want me to get my feet wet with one audit, but it can't be done until the end of the month. Since most shops from other companies have deadlines coming up soon, I can't take those to have it make sense to drive 70 miles round trip. There are a bunch in my area, but they say I can't have those, because they are reserved for people who can self assign!! Anyone else between a rock and a hard place with them?

Yes Maritz has a few quirky rules, not so much user friendly website, and phone calls, but all in all I find them worth working for. Hang in there.

I haven't shopped for them in years, and don't miss them at all.

Robin,

In that I've been a shopper with Maritz for several yrs., I've never encountered your problems so I can't comment, but will share why being activated with the MSC can be beneficial.

1-They ALWAYS pay on time
2-They're extremely accessible via an 800 number
3-They have wide completion windows
4-They will pay what it takes to have a job completed

Numbers 1-3 speak for themselves, so I'll state a very recent example of #4. There were 11 banks that needed completed in my state. I submitted an estimate, it was accepted and the work was completed. Out of consideration for Maritz, I won't include the figure, but, according to some companies, I'm outrageously expensive. Maritz, though, realized they needed the jobs finished and paid the necessary price.

This yr. though, they have refused my estimate on approx. 80% of my submissions; that's business. They know I'm there when needed and I know they'll ante up the fee when the need exists. We have a great relationship.

Maritz does have it's rules, and are sticklers for them, but definately a good one to work for.
They always pay on time and offer bonuses
If you pay attention to the requirements you don't have a problem. It is imperative to submit the receipt as that is what they use to pay you with.
Tip I always take a picture of the receipt and that way have it with my picture uploads and keep them all together.
Definately like the company. Have been with them over 5 years

That's great, bob. Unfortunately, even though there is a SERIOUS need if you (like me) live out in the middle of no where, it is almost impossible to get established with them.

If you are new to Maritz I would suggest only doing one at a time until you get used to there software. I amde the same mistake the first time I submitted my invoice. Call them and explain it to them tale to the same team that scheduled the shop. They will help you, but they expect you to learn from mistake they dont like fixing mistakes over and over and I dont blame them.

I'm active with Maritz, but they were one of five MSCs that were causing 80% of my shopper headaches.

Too much hassle, with their phone calls and quirks and invoices.

Dealing with Maritz felt like time travel back to 1995.

When they realize that it is 2012, and people use emails and texts (!) then I will be back.

Their invoice system is a bit quirky to say the least. If you go to submit the invoice and then don't complete it for whatever reason, it still will say it's been submitted. I did that once when I decided to send receipts for multiple jobs together, but when I tried to enter the one I had already started earlier, I couldn't because it said I already did. Hence no receipt was uploaded for that one. I had to call and email the receipt to them and it was a bit confusing. From then on, I always submit one invoice for each shop immediately after I enter it, even though it would be simplier to enter all invoices for multiple shops. I just don't trust the system and like to have one invoice number for each shop completed. And yes, this usually means you need to upload the receipt or business card again..but hey they pay twice a month and do offer those nice bonuses. Just remember, once you start the invoice process...finish it. Also you must know that you have to submit the invoices within two weeks of the shop, so I feel it's a good habit to submit the invoice right after entering the shop. Otherwise, if you're at all like me, I'm on to the next thing and might forget about submitting that invoice.

As far as getting self-assign privileges, I would suggest you take whatever you can to meet the number they want. Then you'll be good to go and can select the jobs you want next time.

I submit the invoice immediately after doing the shop report, one invoice for each report. It really takes no time at all to do it when you are already in; just a couple of clicks and a submit. Another shopper told me that she was scolded for submitting multiple invoices and was told that Maritz wants you to submit one invoice for multiple reports, like one invoice a week or something. Nobody has ever told me that and I've been shopping with them for 4 years. And I wouldn't be inclined to add it all up and submit one invoice, I think that would be way harder and more time-consuming. One invoice per report, submitted right after the report, works fine for me.

I like Maritz but the amount of time it takes to do the gas station audits, $10 is not worth it. I did a route once with bonused shops and that was OK. That's pretty much all they have in my area so I haven't shopped for them in quite some time because of that.

I got it worked out. They are re opening so I can re submit. What I find annoying is that if you need to make 2 purchases, you need to upload 2 separate receipts for the report. Then you have to put both receipts onto one page for the invoice!

Robin - As you do more and more of their jobs, it will get easier. I would recommend hanging on with this company unless you have easier, more lucrative work you would rather do. If you're still needing work, don't throw these people away. I've been shopping over two years and I'm certainly not prepared to give them up. I understand that a lot of the more experienced shoppers have better opportunities than what's available with Maritz, but that's not the case at my house. Things would have to change a lot for me to consider giving them up. I like the long completion window. It gives me an opportunity to book several in an area and then add on whatever else I can pick up.
Eventually you'll be able to self assign. Be patient. This can work for you, but not overnight.

Thanks for all of the advice. Here is another question...

If you can't self assign, and your request for stores get ignored, how do you get assignments when you are first getting started with them? I had forgotten all about the ones that I had requested last month. 5 in total. No contact whatsoever. Do you wait until they get "desperate" enough to throw you a bone? The two I have done for them were because they called me.

robinhardage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for all of the advice. Here is another
> question...
>
> If you can't self assign, and your request for
> stores get ignored, how do you get assignments
> when you are first getting started with them? I
> had forgotten all about the ones that I had
> requested last month. 5 in total. No contact
> whatsoever. Do you wait until they get
> "desperate" enough to throw you a bone? The two I
> have done for them were because they called me.

Call them up! They love their telephones and will be glad that you did call. They sometimes "miss" that there are people out there with requested jobs.

@ Shopperbob...I couldn't agree with you more about bonuses this year. It is somewhat hard to get them to pay what I'm asking. But...that definitely is business! But I will wait and then pounce when they desperate and ready to pay what I am worth.

robinhardage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I got it worked out. They are re opening so I can
> re submit. What I find annoying is that if you
> need to make 2 purchases, you need to upload 2
> separate receipts for the report. Then you have
> to put both receipts onto one page for the
> invoice!

I am guessing you are talking about the pump and c-store invoices? Scan them together and submit as one. They will accept that for the invoice section.

After you request the locations just call them to get them assigned. Thats what they told me to do before I was able to self assign. They said they don't always get a chance to look at the requests and by the time they do,someone may have already taken them. I love their gas station audits and take as many as I can and theres always enough in my area to make a small route.

Cubbiecat, yes. that is what I am talking about. But when you do the report, you need to upload them separately. I guess I am missing the point of 3 scans for 1 job.

Thanks Pamala!

The job and report are so easy, it does not bother me to do three scans. However, out of every 25 or so stations, you will run across a station with ink so faint that it won't scan - that's when your headache starts!!!

I have found that with faint ink its better to photograph with the macro selected as it comes out better than a scan does.

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The job and report are so easy, it does not bother
> me to do three scans. However, out of every 25 or
> so stations, you will run across a station with
> ink so faint that it won't scan - that's when your
> headache starts!!!

If you use Microsoft Office Picture Manager you can also use a feature "auto correct" if correct color tone and lighting.

dwater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have found that with faint ink its better to
> photograph with the macro selected as it comes out
> better than a scan does.
>
> cubbiecat Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The job and report are so easy, it does not
> bother
> > me to do three scans. However, out of every 25
> or
> > so stations, you will run across a station with
> > ink so faint that it won't scan - that's when
> your
> > headache starts!!!


If I know what you are talking about, I would try it. I donn't think my hp photosmart scanner has a macro anything. :-(. I tried darkening on a photocopier before scanning, added darker background and typed out all the info on a separate sheet and scanned them next to each other. Finally, I had to mail the receipts to them. It took hours to try the different methods and days before we decided to mail the receipts, It was a nightmare!

ffrieszell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you use Microsoft Office Picture Manager you
> can also use a feature "auto correct" if correct
> color tone and lighting.


Thanks for the suggestion, but Unfortunately I don't have that. There is auto correct on my hp scanner, but it was that awful purple ink that would not correct. I find that copiers and scanner don't do well with the blue/purple inks as well as the black ones.

The macro mode dwater mentioned may be on your camera. techman suggested that for receipts and mine have come out even clearer than before.

For the longest time I didn't know I had Microsoft Office Picture Manager. I right clicked a photo one time and found the command "open with" and the extensions included Picture Manager. I gave it shot and was hooked.

If you have requested or called for jobs and haven't gotten them, please be aware that the schedulers are unable to assign jobs until they've been on the boards for a certain amount of time for people to self-assign.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The macro mode dwater mentioned may be on your
> camera. techman suggested that for receipts and
> mine have come out even clearer than before.
>
> For the longest time I didn't know I had Microsoft
> Office Picture Manager. I right clicked a photo
> one time and found the command "open with" and the
> extensions included Picture Manager. I gave it
> shot and was hooked.

Lisa, I have not thought taking a picture from my camera - that's a though! I have taken pictures of receipts when I'm traveling, but always presumed the scanner is clear. However, in the case of faint ink, the camera might be a better option! Live and learn.

You are also right about the right click on a photo. I was able to open it with MS picture manager and found the "auto correct" option on top.

Thanks dwater and Lisa. I hope to NEVER see a faint receipt again, but now I have options.

Hi

I was talking about taking a picture of your receipts with your digital camera.

Look for the following button on you digital camera.

[www.paneristipix.com]

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dwater Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have found that with faint ink its better to
> > photograph with the macro selected as it comes
> out
> > better than a scan does.
> >
> > cubbiecat Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > The job and report are so easy, it does not
> > bother
> > > me to do three scans. However, out of every
> 25
> > or
> > > so stations, you will run across a station
> with
> > > ink so faint that it won't scan - that's when
> > your
> > > headache starts!!!
>
>
> If I know what you are talking about, I would try
> it. I donn't think my hp photosmart scanner has a
> macro anything. :-(. I tried darkening on a
> photocopier before scanning, added darker
> background and typed out all the info on a
> separate sheet and scanned them next to each
> other. Finally, I had to mail the receipts to
> them. It took hours to try the different methods
> and days before we decided to mail the receipts,
> It was a nightmare!

Dewater, Thanks. I Have that on my Sony camera, but never used it. I'm always happy to learn new things.

I agree not worth the trouble. I do a ton of bank shops and this company came to me to be a shopper. I did a bank shop for $9.00 which required 6 pictures and invoice and report. It took me so long to upload all the stuff and then they were not happy with the results. I am going to stick with my 25.00 shops with QFB it only require a business card.