What a scam 100 questions over a hour for a d**** grocery store shop for $10.00 are we trying to get blood out of a turnip? I have been getting 45-50 for a job like this.

I am out Confero is confused work for free? Go ahead..

Hello Ram, welcome to the forum. Sorry you had a problem with the shop. They don't have any grocery stores in my area so I haven't done any for them. I haven't seen anything over $14 including reimbursement around here. Too bad. Wish we had some of that $45 - $50 business here. I guess it's different everywhere, or maybe I haven't found the right MSC yet.

Well PHOOEY !! I'd sure like to find a $45 shop..........yep

I received payment from Confero today for both of my January assignments and I never bugged them about it. I'll still shop for them. They were the first company to give me a shop way back when and I've always considered them to be upstanding and professional. After reading several posts from worried and unhappy shoppers, I was a bit concerned, but payment arrived and was the correct amount. Unless they give me reason to believe they are having problems or something has changed, I still think they are a good company.With that being said, they don't have the variety they once had in my area, so shops are now few and far between. I'll keep my eyes posted on the forum for others' comments.

Confero's grocery shops were my "learning ground" I took tons of them for the paltry 10 bucks and 3 bucks reimbursement. Mostly because they were always on the board, had no restrictions, ect. But, eventually you get burned out because they want you to buy 15 items minimum (if you observe your own bagging) or to observe another bagger you don't need to purchase as many items. (But who wants to stare at another customers bagging?) But they even say, "Shoppers who purchase 1 item are discouraged from this visit, as the client wants you to make a minimum 15 item purchase-(not exact wording)."

Glad I got the experience and once in a blue moon I take a grocery shop from them.

I work for over 50 different Mystery Shop companies but last August I became quite ill, went into the hospital on an emergency basis, and had part of my foot amputated. I was not back on the road doing Mystery Shops until January of this year. Every single one of my companies worked with me except Confero. I actually tried to call them from the hospital (I was admitted on an emergency basis and did not have my computer with me) I called directory assistance and got the number for Confero in Cary NC and when I called they said I would have to e-mail my scheduler, Celeste Borden (who handles all of the shops for one particular Grocery Store Chain) at Summit Scheduling. E-Mail is a tough thing to do when you are in pre-op on a surgery gurney.

I was dropped from them and they will not reinstate me, even through I am in the Great Smokey / Blue Ridge Mountain area where I have to travel for miles between towns, sometimes on mountainous roads and there are VERY few shoppers here. I even sent them photos of my foot when I got out. It was not as if I didn't try to reach them but when you are about to go into surgery and all you have is a cell phone and directory assistance I was lucky to even just reach Confero.

When I was "back on my feet" in January I e-mailed their C.E.O., Elaine Buxton, who did not even bother with a reply. She apparently dumped my concern off to Rob Barry, one of their hot rod account execs who apparently regards shoppers with as much concern as an anoying spam e-mail....something to be deleted.

Given that I had done over 40 shops for them in the past year with consistently good ratings, often going to places they were begging for help I regard their actions as callous and shortsighted.

Because they farm out their scheduling and lack the ability to even take a call at their Cary NC headquarters and relay an emergency concern I had to Summit Scheduling several shops for a grocery store chain (the one that pays a whopping $10 with a max $3 reimbursement) was recorderd as a flake out.

My advise....STAY AWAY from Confero! They drag their feet with one of the longest reimbursement lags in the industry. Their debutante C.E.O. is aloof and clueless, they have a very low regard for their Independent Contractors, and among Grocery Stores they have one of the worst payment / reimbursement offers compaired to other mystery shop companies offering similiar grocery store shops. There are far more ethical mystery shop companies I would rather work for (thank you MarketForce, Trendsource, BARE, Strategic Reflections, Jancyn, GfK, etc.)

Unlike all of the folks at Confero Headquarters with their full benefits package, paid healthcare and other perks I sometimes struggle to break even with high gas prices, no health insurance, and living in a very rural area where what looks like 20 miles on a map may take 45 minutes to an hour to drive. Aparently the folks over in Cary NC have never ventured beyond Asheville to see some of the rugged and remote places I visit every month.

They were unwilling to be kind when I had a parent pass away. Another one of you should have told us before it happened. HUH?

CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They were unwilling to be kind when I had a parent
> pass away. Another one of you should have told us
> before it happened. HUH?

Whaaaat? Tell me you're kidding.