I just received this email:

Please visit the BestMark University tab to review the training materials and certification assessments, and then the Find Audits tab on your shopper page to sign up for the location nearest you!

But of course, I see no BestMark University tab.
Can anyone tell me where it is?

It should be on the left hand side of your home page.

This is what is on the left side. Where exactly is it on your page?

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On my home page, Bestmark U is under My Profile.

Thanks. I used both Chrome and Internet Explorer and it is not there for me.
I even clicked on my profile in case you meant it was there but it is not there either.
Oh well.

I got that e-mail today. It was talking nonsense as far as I'm concerned. I'm just not broke enough to have to do 5 hour audits for $60 or $70 bucks. And you have to go to the "university" first. Its a shame they have to try to make slaves out of people.

I think they are phising. I logged in immediatey to get the details for the audit but no es possible. Well I don't know about slaves. This is over $10/hr and a decent wage. But no details.

I got that email and started going through the "training."

I can't agree that $10 an hour is a decent wage for the audits. Over the course of the audits there were a lot of requirements put in place that makes them more time-consuming than they need to be and there is some major data entry with a lot of photo uploads. Looking at them from time on-site only does not give the real picture. I never took one with Bestmark, but with the previous company my report time was at least two hours and some auditors reported times closer to four hours.

I'm a passive forum member and don't check in on the conversations frequently but I wanted to chime in on this auditing convo. I actively complete the audits for BestMark and I really like the restructuring they did with the program since the last MSP had the client. It's much more streamlined and they provided ample material to ensure that I was prepared for my first audit, AND they have the auditing team I can call if I have any questions/issues while I am at the store. The 2013 BestMark program is even different from the program at the end of 2012 and takes a lot less time in store and completing the surveys, but pays less because the audit is smaller/goes quicker which is a bummer... I actually liked completing the four visits across 2 days instead of the 1 day they have now because the pay for a store was large! Side note... The stores I complete audits at are different sizes and the payment for the stores reflect the size and how many components are included in the audit visit (some of mine have 2 components and some have 4). I asked about the variance and the auditing scheduler said that they did testing with auditors in different store sizes to get completion timing for audits which weighs into the overall audit pay. After I completed one or two of the visits for the first time, my process became a lot quicker because I had gained experience using the scanning gun, finding departments, uploading pictures, etc. I was kind of discouraged the first audit I completed because I felt lost in the process and it took a long time, but I grew into the learning curve and they take me a lot less time to complete now (I created my own in-store processes that help me complete the audit quickly).

Another great thing they they added to their survey dashboard for Google Chrome is that I can drag and drop groups of pictures from my computer folder directly into the web browser for each section of the survey that requires pictures so uploading pictures is basically hassle free AND I don't have to upload pictures one by one (believe me, this cut off hours of my data entry time). Also, because they provide the blank surveys for me to print out to take with me to the store, the data entry is relatively easy; obviously it takes longer than a regular mystery shopping report because more information is involved, but I am a pretty quick typist so I don't really mind.

I know that a lot of people complain about the audits but I really like completing them- there are a bunch of locations in my area and since I am familiar with how to complete the audits they go quickly for me. From time to time I have scanning gun or printer issues while at the store but I typically call the scheduler if I cannot figure out the issue on my own and they will tell me how to proceed. I think it's just a matter of the auditor's willingness to stick it out for an audit or two to get familiarized with the processes and learn how to actually complete the audits and be patient when things are confusing. As with many things in life, there is a learning curve associated with it (which I experienced!) but after completing a couple, things get MUCH easier (and faster, meaning my payment-per-hour increases as well!)!

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I figured I'd go through the training and try ONE and see how it goes. I would expect subsequent ones would go quicker for all the reasons you mention.

Well, I too received the email about completing the training. I spent about an hour reading and completing the tests. I passed the tests, but when I click on "Find Audits" I receive this message:

"You are not currently eligible to participate in the Merchandising Auditing program because you have not met the eligibility requirements, either due to the results of your Skills and Suitability Assessment, or a noted conflict of interest or not meeting other eligibility requirements. If our eligibility criteria changes in a way that makes you eligible for the program, you will be contacted."

Makes me mad because I wasted all that time reading the material and taking the tests. Leaves a very bad taste in my mouth with BestMark.

I have been waiting for these & had not performed a shop for the company due to this. I picked up the service desk shop the day before the email, bummer : (

The one I did was horrible. There were some major issues on the shop including a software program that was supposed to be on the demos that wasn't functioning. I then had to get a picture of every computer that wasn't showing the demo and get the SKU number down and then input that all into the computer when I got home reporting took hours. There were a few other problems in the store I was at. I think it was listed to say it would take 4-5 hours. I was in the store close to six and spent close to three hours getting all the pictures uploaded correctly.

I tried to warn you kids!

And you warned us based on no experience whatsoever, just a dismissiveness toward the pay rate.

So why should we have listened to YOU, instead of waiting to hear from someone who actually knew what they were talking about? You, who have been here less than a month under this ID and have made a whole 21 posts at this point. You expect us to just take you as an expert? There's just no limits to the arrogance of some of Barry's clones and/or friends, is there.....

And thanks for the "kids" remark. I'm 57 and haven't been called that in about 45 years.

You can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink! Im sorry I dont have a thousand post like you do lady. You go right ahead and sign up for all those auditor jobs you can!

No soup for you.

I did forget to mention mine was last summer, so there is the potential that things have changed. Personally I'm not interested in risking that one.

TRUTHSEEKER, here's another one: You can try to help a donkey, but you can't make him think.

And another: Because a donkey brays does not mean we should look for meaning in the noise.

In all fairness, I bet if we added up the posts from all his aliases it would be as many as itsasecret.

I can't believe I've got over 1400 already.

I'm a writer in another life. I guess it's a compulsion.

Or were you suggesting that I am also a braying donkey who should not be regarded as a source of wisdom?

Oh hell honey, if that was the case I wouldn't just hint around about it

He referred to all your posts and since we know he has many more than 23 posts, I thought we should give credit where credit is due

LOL. I missed that. I was trying not to look for meaning in the noise so I didn't pay much attention to what he wrote.

I've done a couple of these audits recently. There ARE a lot of required pictures and narrative to document things that are non-functional, not down-stocked, don't match sale flyer pricing, etc. The trick to these audits is to know your big box locations, and how functional they appear to you as a customer. The audits are not uber time consuming and the reporting not overly time consuming, so long as the store being audited is a fairly functional location.

The first one I did (when I was new and starving for work) was a nightmare. In some cases, I had to upload photos of entire departments due to the requirement that one show where something "should be" when it is absent.

The saddest thing is, the stores that need the most help (that an audit would provide helpful information to corporate to correct), wind up being the nightmare audits that end up paying the auditor wayyyy less than minimum wage when all is said and done. I now know which stores these are, and have told Bestmark that I will not complete them without substantial bonuses. So far, the required bonuses have not been offered, and the nightmare audits have been picked up by some unsuspecting soul.

They'll probably turn into the pariahs that the Ikea shops have become -- only the unsuspecting newbies will take them, and only once. Meantime, I stopped going through Bestmark's training based on the comments on this thread. Getting disillusioned with any merchandising job I can't do in my own backyard. They're not worth traveling for.

ITSASECRET posted this about me in this thread- "And you warned us based on no experience whatsoever, just a dismissiveness toward the pay rate.

So why should we have listened to YOU, instead of waiting to hear from someone who actually knew what they were talking about? You, who have been here less than a month under this ID and have made a whole 21 posts at this point. There's just no limits to the arrogance"

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Ah yes indeed the poignant smell of arrogance is most certainly in the air here. Like I said lady, I don't have a thousand posts like you so I guess that means I'm not cool around here like you. That being said, cool or not you need to keep your own yapper shut and stop flapping your lips just to here them clap together! Besides when you have your mouth open so often you run the risk of sticking your foot in it like you did when you posted this in another thread recently.......

"I'm signed up with Bestmark but have only ever done two jobs for them."

Really? Really you have done just 2 shops with them ever and you feel that gives you enough experience to say anything about this company. I have done over 100 shops for this company Maam and I know I'm qualified to venture a thought or two on this mystery shopping company. I will wait for your apology or a quick banning for bringing the truth to light!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2013 10:42PM by TRUTHSEEKER.

You have called people names and called people liars with nary an apology yet you now demand either an apology or banning. In what way is that going to work out? Shouldn't someone who expects an apology be willing to offer the same? Like the old adage, what is good for the goose is good for the gander?

BTW, this is not sarcasm, it is a real question.

I was thinking more along the lines of it would be me that would be banned for exposing this woman. I assume theres a rule against that. Here we have a woman whos only done 2 shops for that company and she feels she has anything to add in this thread just boggles the mind. And then to scold me for not knowing what Im talking about. Yup I should be banned thats the only way to fix the problem.