Has anyone noticed anything odd with those emails lately?
For about the last week every morning it is the same email with the same ONE shop. The fee never goes up though. It's showing the same today that it did last week.

I've noticed that what they send me is never in my area...

the emails are not following the usual pattern as in previous months. They must be trying a new system to get the shops done for less money.

I received those emails everyday for a week, however, different businesses were listed. Their pay is sooo low!!

Yep! and I am apparently too old for that one! (But I'm not bitter)

lisams901 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Has anyone noticed anything odd with those emails
> lately?
> For about the last week every morning it is the
> same email with the same ONE shop. The fee never
> goes up though. It's showing the same today that
> it did last week.

I got one today from NAME@stericycle.com I have not seen that before.

I haven't even got any for several days and the only shops on my watch list haven't gone up. Weird because they had some big jumps right away.

Hi! What does CoRI actually stand for?

kbellabella Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi! What does CoRI actually stand for?

Corporate Research International

I too have wondered why their shop pay increases have been so low compared to previous months. It was not uncommon to see a $4 shop go up to $15 or more but the end of the month. I used to stalk their board the last week of every month because the increases were usually worth taking the shop. Now, those $4 shops seem to jump only to $7 or so at best. Who is taking them for that low??? I took them at $4 when I first started shopping and before I had much sense, but after a time or two, I wised up.

amie068 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I too have wondered why their shop pay increases
> have been so low compared to previous months. It
> was not uncommon to see a $4 shop go up to $15 or
> more but the end of the month. I used to stalk
> their board the last week of every month because
> the increases were usually worth taking the shop.
> Now, those $4 shops seem to jump only to $7 or so
> at best. Who is taking them for that low??? I took
> them at $4 when I first started shopping and
> before I had much sense, but after a time or two,
> I wised up.

I haven't figured it out exactly, but they use some type of rolling average of the previous job payouts to calculate the rate and amount of increases.

For instance, there are three of their college bookstore shops in my area that I do on a routine basis. IIRC, they hit the board at $6, and I usually pick them up somewhere between $20-25. This past month, there was a new location added in my area. All four hit the board at the same time. It took the new location over two weeks longer to reach that $20 mark than the others, and the first several increases were all rounded to the nearest quarter it seemed ($7.50, $9, $12.50, etc.). I'm assuming because they don't the past history of higher pay, it took longer to hit that mark.

Also, there is a gas station that is literally under a minute from my house, which is in a very lightly shopped area. I've done this audit in 12 out of the last 15 months for upwards of $15. Because of this, the price on this shop increases much more quickly than the same brand of gas station in a more populated area, which usually go off the board at $7-8.

I kid you not I see a bonus today.... SIX CENTS>
It is not an error it is actually a six cent bonus. Total for shop $4.06.
Go CoRI Go CoRI......

CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I kid you not I see a bonus today.... SIX CENTS>
> It is not an error it is actually a six cent
> bonus. Total for shop $4.06.
> Go CoRI Go CoRI......

If it's CoRI, that actually could have been a $0.56 bonus. The sign audit shops they have start at $3.50.

Since January 1st I haven't received a single email from CORI announcing commission increases. Yet when I go online, shops are showing increased rates. I know because I've done a handful of them. Is anyone else NOT receiving the daily commission increase email from CORI?

I'm not getting them.

Now that you mention it, my last such email was December 24.

Maybe they decided to stop calling attention to how low they were to start with.

Did I imagine it, or did this used to say a maximum of $3? I wonder if they've finally gotten the message that they've been pretty chintzy in the past, maybe they're mending their ways?

PayPal Payment Fee Notice
Due to the transaction fees imposed by PayPal, Corporate Research International will be deducting the fee from your payment to cover the costs. The fee is 3% or a maximum of $1.50.


The thing that really bugs me about them is that they don't show the fee on the jobs listing, you have to look at the details individually to see if it's a $3.98 shop or something you might actually be willing to do.

I'm glad I'm not the only one having issues with them. I used to get these emails every day. I haven't gotten any since 12/25. I've checked the board and shops in my area are increasing in commissions, but I'm not getting the emails. I emailed them about it and they basically said they couldn't help me. It's frustrating!

itsasecret, from what I recall the PayPal fee has always been the same and one of the many reasons direct deposit is the preferable option. That is assuming you are in the U.S. I don't know if they have included our neighbors to the north yet.

I have not received any emails about increased commissions, either. I spoke with a scheduler today, who told me that they have a new "helper". One of the schedulers is no longer scheduling, but still works in the building. The helper sent me an email today specific to my area, asking if I could pick up some shops.

Did they loose a bunch of clients or is usually slow for them in the first of the year. I have only been with them almost 1 year and I am not sure of how they start things out. It seems like I am only showing 2 gas stations, a city food place, college bookstores and home improvement store. That's it! Nothing else. I think there is a new shopper in town too...chicken little as described in another thread, pecking away at all the jobs for extremely nominal fees.

I see all of those and a several more, in other words, all the usual suspects.

SecretAgentMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Did they loose a bunch of clients or is usually
> slow for them in the first of the year. I have
> only been with them almost 1 year and I am not
> sure of how they start things out. It seems like I
> am only showing 2 gas stations, a city food place,
> college bookstores and home improvement store.
> That's it! Nothing else. I think there is a new
> shopper in town too...chicken little as described
> in another thread, pecking away at all the jobs
> for extremely nominal fees.


I'm not seeing the usual "home" stores anymore either.....

jonk Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Since January 1st I haven't received a single
> email from CORI announcing commission increases.
> Yet when I go online, shops are showing increased
> rates. I know because I've done a handful of
> them. Is anyone else NOT receiving the daily
> commission increase email from CORI?


I have not either and am waiting to see the emails.

I see all the store, but no daily rate increase emails either.

Several different shops in the NorCal, rates go up for those who wait. I do maybe 3 a month if I can fit it in my route.

In my area, several of the usual shops are missing, as well. A couple in particular that I miss!

No material store, no blue light specials, no frozen treat (but that could be because I had to flake Friday night before Christmas because my daughter got admitted to the hospital, and as usual no one there to answer phone/emails), no framing shops.

I feel like there is nothing left to take. I really enjoyed those shops above (well not blue light special because there is never any associates to be found).


ETA: I only flaked on one frosty frozen treat dinner shop...I was all good with the others. I see blue light specials for February...joy.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2013 01:42AM by SecretAgentMom.

I haven't seen any of those lately either and I didn't flake.

Something must have happened for the negative (in regards to shopper pay) a few months ago. I used to do several shops a week with them but have not seen any worthwhile shops in months.