MSI Trendsource called today

So, I got a call today from Trendsource.

The caller explains that they don't have my DD info so that's why I haven't been paid for my shops in March.

I explained that I had trouble getting paid because I signed up during the EIN transition and decided to not get one. I got paid anyway but I've been locked out.

He explains that he will have to deactivate my account, but wants me to take one more shop! He promises that I'll get paid!

He double checked with a manager and called me back.

Yes, he will have to deactivate me, but will I please do one more Xxxx Xxxx'x pizza shop for them. They are willing to offer a bonus of five dollars!

Oh, boy!

In my day job I supervise several employees. I'm trying to imagine how the conversation would go if I said, "I can't use you any more after this week, but would you be willing to work an extra shift for less than minimum wage before I fire you?"

Too funny.

AndrewTX
Certifiable

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Aw geez... they've got some bullocks alright..

WoW!!!!

Why are they deactivating you in the first place?!

Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.

Pretty nervy to ask that you complete one more shop before being deactivated. I never got the EIN either. In fact, I have not logged in since they announced the EIN requirement so maybe I am deactivated, too. Perhaps they are short of shoppers - I get so many begging e-mails for shops to be completed, many more than I ever got before the EIN requirement.

This is the first time I have heard of someone actually being deactivated because they lacked an EIN. But then again, AFIK, I'm the only one who has been deactivated by ACE for not having a PayQuicker account.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

Yeah why again did they say they deactivated you? Because of the EIN? And to ask you to do another shop is unprofessional and nuts. On the other hand, maybe you should reconsider. That $5 might make all the difference.

Last month, I received this message from them "We have determined that all agents will be required to obtain an EIN." It wasn't specific as to whether agents without an EIN would be deactivated, but that seems to be the intent. I don't have an EIN and haven't shopped with them this month, but am able to login and see available projects.

May be schedulers will find that it's not as easy to reach out and touch someone. Even with such a sweet deal as offering $5 PAD and in the next breath deactivating them. You scratch my back, and I'll scratch my back, yes?

EIN folks get the jobs first, but since that pizza job always needs shoppers, guess they can stretch on that one.
I've only been called for there Medicare jobs, but I have my EIN and since getting it a year ago, get up to three
upscale grocery shops....oh dear lord, I'm unpoplular, but, 60.00 a month of free groceries is worth it to me.
We do have to abide by "their" rules if we want "their" jobs........Merry Xmas!!

Live consciously....

I don't understand the problem with having an EIN. I've had one for years. I'd rather give out my EIN than my SSN to people I don't know. I wish all the MSC's at least ALLOWED you to give an EIN instead of an SSN. (No particular reason for them to require them though.)

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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

Just like I won't get a PayQuicker account for a company that only has a few jobs in my area each year, I don't see the point in getting an EIN for one without jobs of value to me. It is easier for me to wait for them to call because then the offer is much more reasonable than anything I would find on their site.

The whole PayQuicker payment method kinda drives me nuts. I don't want to have to learn to deal with it, because I don't have the time or patience to deal with it. I forward everything on that relates to PayQuicker to my shopstitute, and whatever he can get from that source is his to do with as he wants. I consider it his tips for helping me out with my dining assignments.

_____________________________________________________________________________
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl

@Shopgal:

I thought that "shoptitute" is what you call the item you purchased to replace a lost item that was found immediately after purchasing a replacement.

The best way to find any lost item for sure is to go out and purchase a replacement (shopstitute) for it so the lost item will turn up immediately.

Shopping South Texas where there are miles and miles between each of the miles to every shop.

Nah, PT, a shopstitute is a compensated companion who escorts a shopper on assignments, usually restaurant shops.

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> EIN folks get the jobs first, but since that pizza
> job always needs shoppers, guess they can stretch
> on that one.
> I've only been called for there Medicare jobs, but
> I have my EIN and since getting it a year ago, get
> up to three
> upscale grocery shops....oh dear lord, I'm
> unpoplular, but, 60.00 a month of free groceries
> is worth it to me.
> We do have to abide by "their" rules if we want
> "their" jobs........Merry Xmas!!

I've never heard of an upscale grocery store. What makes an upscale grocery store an upscale grocery store? Do you get to go through the aisles in a pedicab while you drink champagne and tell someone what to put into you cart for you? (btw that was a joke, but I'm seriously curious about what an upscale grocery store is)

shopgal Wrote:
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> Nah, PT, a shopstitute is a compensated companion
> who escorts a shopper on assignments, usually
> restaurant shops.

Thank you! I have been looking for someone to accompany me on a few restaurant shops. Now I know what to term them as.

Shopping South Texas where there are miles and miles between each of the miles to every shop.

I was told I was identified as a shopper (not for Trendsource) and that I couldn't shop for this client. I got a call Friday of last week wantng me to set up an account in my daughter's name and do the shops for them that way. At first I said yes, then decided I didn't want to shop for them any more.

I would definitely decline that. That gives them the freedom to not pay you at any time because you lied and the attempt to defraud will be blamed on you.

Not to mention potential tax implications as your daughter would be on the hook for income tax on it. Bad,bad idea.

What is the problem with getting an EIN? Why do so many not want to get one?

I've asked that a few times here but nobody has really given me a reason. I've had one for years, even when I didn't have a business. It's just another way to point to your SSN, without having to give out your SSN. Nobody can do identity theft and screw up your credit with just an EIN but they can do all sorts of havoc with your SSN.

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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

arcadia Wrote:
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> What is the problem with getting an EIN? Why do so
> many not want to get one?

Search the forum and you can read the whole debate. So far this is the ONLY company that I've applied with that requires one.

AndrewTX
Certifiable

A lot of reasons why people do or do not want to get an EIN have been provided over and over in several discussions. Use the search function for all dates and search "EIN" and related info and "Maritz" and "TrendSource." This was first discussed a couple of years ago when Maritz made an attempt to require the EIN, then was re-discussed when TrendSource started its move toward requiring EINs. Please search and read but unless the facts have changed I don't see a reason to discuss again when the history is available on the forum.

Get an EIN...don't get an EIN. Either way it doesn't matter to the IRS as long as you pay your taxes.

Trendsource states on their website when you sign up, that having an EIN is a requirement of the IRS and they are full of crap.
It is, however, nice to have, especially to keep all of your MS earnings under the EIN.
The EIN is not going to protect you from identify theft either. The EIN is tied to your SSN and to you at the IRS.
The Bottom line is that Trendsource has nothing but a bunch of bottom of the the scum pond jobs and it is not worth the hassle, just to sign on with them, unless of course you are going to actually use the EIN for your business.

MSC's should give us the choice of which to use. We are not employees; we are contractors. They have no reason to require us to reveal our SSN just so they can give us a 1099 when they can use an EIN for that purpose.

I'm extremely uncomfortable every time an MSC's form only allows a SSN. It's none of their business what my SSN is. I got an EIN so I could operate my sole proprietorships without having to give out my SSN to every client who might need to give me a 1099.

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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

Wow, I have never had problems with Trendsource. I actually really like them. To each his or her own I guess.

jschilz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I've never heard of an upscale grocery store. What
> makes an upscale grocery store an upscale grocery
> store? Do you get to go through the aisles in a
> pedicab while you drink champagne and tell someone
> what to put into you cart for you? (btw that was a
> joke, but I'm seriously curious about what an
> upscale grocery store is)

I just realized nobody ever answered this. I worked grocery for 24 years in a prior life and was at the grand opening of one of the first "upscale" grocery stores in Arizona. Basically, they stock a lot of gourmet foods that you won't find in a regular grocery store -- chateaubriand, pheasant, $500 champagnes, truffles, caviar, imported shiitake mushrooms -- stuff like that. Usually have a custom bakery, personal service, meat cut to order, a wine steward. They also carry regular grocery items, but the better brands -- S&W Tomatoes instead of Del Monte, and no generics or second labels. The one I helped open had a parking valet. Oh -- and the kind of prices you would expect for such service and quality.

It was a subject of watercooler gossip which local celebrity's MAID had been in there shopping that week. Occasionally the celebrities themselves would show up.

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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2013 05:32PM by itsasecret.

Interesting. Our local chains have many of the things mentioned, although there can be somewhat of a difference depending on the neighborhood. Meat is available in cases, but also cut to order, beautiful floral departments, European style bakeries and extensive wine/liquor departments are the norm. While they carry generics and brands at different price points, they also have a wide variety of organics and items that used to be hard to find. Fresh, prepared food is available to take home or eat in small cafes in the stores where you can also get espresso, etc. A couple of them are also offering wine tastings all the time. These two locals have actually surpassed both Whole Foods and another local chain that was always considered the best of the best and had the prices to match. The nicest thing is the prices are not as upscale

Some regular grocery stores in high income neighborhoods might have a lot of the same items as the "upscale" stores.

One other thing I forgot to mention -- it's rare to find Prime graded beef in "ordinary" stores, sometimes you can't even find "Choice." You can find "Prime" at these upscale markets.

Nobody has a monopoly on anything. I could probably find caviar at Christmastime in my local market. But you can find these fancy things year-round at AJ's Fine Foods, which is the store I helped launch back in the mid to late 80's. In California, Vons Pavilion stores are "upscale." But the grocery industry has evolved in the last 15 years since I left it. Ordinary stores who didn't want to lose too much business to the upscales have no doubt started carrying some of the more common upscale items.

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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.

Try this requirement for some of the upscale grocery shops----->"This is a grocery store shop which requires you to have a Facebook and Twitter account. You will be required to have a brief interaction with four department associates at the store and evaluate the store's Facebook and Twitter account/page. A small purchase is required."

I think this will be ideal as a MS, as long as "No communication is needed on either social site,"' but it really does not say. Plus it only pays $10.

Once again social media and mystery shopping.

What makes an upscale grocery store you ask.....prices, quality of food, fish from ecuador (which has the cleanest water),
not from China which is full of crap and GMO'S. I can't say the name, but if you work forTrendsource, you'll know which one.
jschilz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Irene_L.A. Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > EIN folks get the jobs first, but since that
> pizza
> > job always needs shoppers, guess they can
> stretch
> > on that one.
> > I've only been called for there Medicare jobs,
> but
> > I have my EIN and since getting it a year ago,
> get
> > up to three
> > upscale grocery shops....oh dear lord, I'm
> > unpoplular, but, 60.00 a month of free
> groceries
> > is worth it to me.
> > We do have to abide by "their" rules if we want
> > "their" jobs........Merry Xmas!!
>
>
> I've never heard of an upscale grocery store. What
> makes an upscale grocery store an upscale grocery
> store? Do you get to go through the aisles in a
> pedicab while you drink champagne and tell someone
> what to put into you cart for you? (btw that was a
> joke, but I'm seriously curious about what an
> upscale grocery store is)

Live consciously....

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