I did a search for Service Impressions on this forum and found a few postings that are not encouraging! I am set up for 7 telephone shops at $12@. I called 2 days ago and left a detailed message saying I needed a return call asap, but I have not heard back. I called again today and left a similar message stathing that if I did not hear back within an hour I would have to forfeit these shops. There is something I need clarified before doing these 7 recorded shops. And, this is what the guidlines clearly state to do if there are any questions. I stated clearly that I have set aside a particular time to do these and my time next week will be very limited. I looked up the company on line and found that the only name and number given is the same one I called. I have only done one shop for them to date, and that was in early January. I have not yet been paid but have also not contacted them about it, thinking that its probably like Service Sleuth, and pays at the end of the 2nd month following the shop. So, do you think I should just forfeit these shops? I will be taking the rest of the day (and some time next week) to do these phone shops, and I do not want to chase downt the money. I have been shopping for several years with barely a problem with any company, but I am leery about this one. Not returning a call for payment is one thing; but for a shop that is not yet complete?? I want to be fair, and patient, but I sense something is up. Yet, its an MSPA registered company. I thought they were reliable and trustworthy. Thanks for your input.

Jump this is scaring me. I have been asked to do these 7 shops next month. Please keep this forum posted. Good luck, I hope the communications improve.

ServicesForMysteryShoppers Wrote:
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> This is one of the concerns
> Servicesformysteryshoppers.com addresses. No
> waiting to hear from other shoppers! My apologies
> to those who may think this is a spam reply, I
> just want to help shoppers with this type of issue
> and many others that shoppers face and have no way
> of getting help right away, from a reliable source
> that has done research on the issue.

Yep. Spam. Nope, apology not accepted.

Pooch,
When I left the voice mail earlier today, I reiterated what I had said on Wednesday and said that if I didn't receive a response, I would have to forfeit the shops. It is now almost 4 hours later and I heard nothing. I don't want to bad mouth this company as I know little about them. As I said, I did one job for them in early January and received a rating of "10." I heard nothing about the shop other than seeing the rating on the shop log. The shop paid above average and was fairly easy. The report had considerable narrative but nothing out of the ordinary. The guidelines, as I remember, were clearly stated. So, when I received the email for these phone shops, I did not have any red flags. Again, the directions/guidelines are very clearly stated and well presented. I did have two questions regarding the shops that I wanted clarification on before having these shops recorded. I also had 7 shops but they put 8 in my log. One appeared to be a duplicate but that was not clear as each verification code was different. These calls targeted a different person and you have to place no more than 3 calls per day to a particular person, should they not be at their desk. Anyway, I never heard back today and having 7 shops to complete by next week, I was concerned. They are Mon-Fri 8:30-6:00 time frame calls. I am limited in my time next week. This afternoon, I did write a message on each "help/comment" section on the 7 shops stating I would forfeit, also stating why. I also replied to the acceptance email I had received. I felt bad because I don't remember ever having to do this before. I could have gone ahead and done them and hoped for the best, but after reading the few postings I could find on this company, I just decided to forgo the potential headache. This is what I said in my email to them........

"Please cancel these shops. Unfortunately, I called two days ago and left a detailed message asking for a return call to clarify a couple of questions I have. I called again today and have not yet received a reply. I did some research on my forum and learned that you have a reputation for not returning calls. This is very unfortunate for both of us. I set aside yesterday and today to get these shops completed, as I stated in my voice message. It is now almost 3:00 pm EST and there is not enough time left. I do not have a lot of availability next week, and planned to do these with more than ample time this week. I wish this had been a better experience. Please consider how your lack of communication affects the shopper. I have been shopping for 7 years and have had positive experiences thus far. I have only done one other shop for you, and I did enjoy it. I found the pay to be satisfactory. I received a rating of "10." So, I was hoping for a good relationship and future shops with Service Impressions. With 7 upcoming shops, I find it hard to believe that 2 days would go by without a return phone call. My message was clear and detailed. I looked up your company on line and find the only phone number to be the one I called. Please, if you don't want to have a bad reputation with good, qualified mystery shoppers, consider changing how you do business with your shoppers. Thank you."

I have not done something like this before so I don't know if it will have any repurcussions or do any good. I do know that I was also influenced by the fact that most of the people who posted stated that they had difficulty getting paid or had not yet been paid, and had not one of them had received any return phone calls. That does not sit well with me, so I figured it was an indication of their communication tactics. I feel quite strongly at this point that there must be better communication than this. I do my best and take my jobs seriously. I also respond quickly when I am contacted by a MCS scheduler or editor. I think we deserve the same considerations. Perhaps there is some reason, but it appears that they have had time to rectify the situation by adding staff, having calls forwarded, answering the calls, or whatever the problem is. I would think that "they" (whoever the company consists of........there isn't much information on the website) would want to be on top of things. Dan Crevin's name and phone number is the only one to be found on the website. This is a quote taken from their "shoppers" page. "Each client will have a full-time account manager. Nothing is more important to us than your satisfaction. It is crucial that your mystery shopping program meets your objectives. It is our job to ensure that this happens!" Now, to be fair to them, it does also say someplace on their shopper info page that it is easier to get a reply if you email them at mysteryshops@serviceimpressions.com. I only found that after the fact. They also say this about payment....."Payment is provided via Pay Pal around the 30th of each month for assignments completed in the previous month." I did my one shop for them in early January. That would have put me due for payment around the 30th of February. Granted, it is only March 8th, so that is not really alarming to me. We all know that some companies pay slowly at times. But from what I read on the postings here, people were trying to track down their money for quite a while, and NOT getting any reply or satisfaction. I may be wrong, but I don't recall reading anybody who said they love the company, or have worked for them without any problems, or anything like that. I know at times there are conflicing reports about a company, pros and cons, but this company did not seem to have any pros. If so, I missed them. I am giving you my details so that you can make the decision that is best for you. One last thing, my guidelines clearly state........."If you have any questions prior to your shop, please contact us. Our phone number is (916) 683-9895. Our email address is MysteryShops@serviceimpressions.com." I did not email them about this shop until today. But clearly, somebody would have listened to the voice mails from the ONE telephone number that they have?? I did email them almost 4 hours ago but have not received a response. I had Wed/Thurs/Fri to do these shops so I hope I am not having unreasonable expectations.

Busy Bee, What is that post in between, that you replied to?? Is it some spam posting? It doesn't make sense. Doesn't even have a purpose........

JumpForJoy Wrote:
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> Busy Bee, What is that post in between, that you
> replied to?? Is it some spam posting? It doesn't
> make sense. Doesn't even have a purpose........


Yes, it is a spam posting. The poster is looking for free advertising for his business. He is selling memberships to mystery shoppers and offers additional services (which he calls "helping" for an additional cost. He offers to help you get signed up with "all 219 mystery shopping companies." So apparently, this business has not even found all the mystery shopping companies!

Don't pay to shop!

Duh............just had to say I know there is no 30th of February.......what was I thinking. Figured I'd make fun of myself before somebody else did!!

Jump, thanks for the update. I will proceed with caution.

Pooch, Please post about it if you don't mind or PM me. I'm interested in knowing how it works for you. It is a day and a half later and I've yet to hear a word from them and the jobs are still in my job log! I voice mailed AND emailed.....the preferred method. Sigh........

This is a good company, Service Impressions, and while they had slowed down on payments a month or so ago, they are back on track and paying within 6 to 8 weeks.

Just wanted to leave an update. After several emails and voice mails that were not replied to, I finally did receive payment at the end of April. My conclusion is that this is a company that is probably a one man show and while slow, they do pay eventually. As others have stated on this forum, when you have to chase down your money, its a very frustrating experience. I would rather receive an honest reply that they are behind and will be sending out the payment as soon as possible, rather than ignore repeated phone calls and emails.