Just wondering if anyone has gotten paid by service sleuth for April shops yet? Their deadline is still about 3 days away, but just wondering. Thanks!

My last payment was for shops on March 22nd, paid June 4th. I have a number of shops in April but they were done a day apart. I don't know if they would pay them at the same time. But once, they did for more than 15, at different days in a month.

I did not payment dates so I emailed them on Monday for a job I did on 4/29. I got the paypal message today it got paid.

ServiceSleuth is one of the better, on time, and responsible MSC out there. Why is someone always trying to throw a wrench in the fire? ServiceSleuth have on their page when to expect payment and whom to contact if there is a payment question.

When you pose a question regarding payment and YOUR is not due yet, you make the company look like a flake. There are enough MSC whom is or are having payment issues, why would you want to put a reputable company in that fire. WHY? WHY? WHY?

If you have a problem as to when you get paid, ask your scheduler before doing the shop, write it down, mark it on your calendar (like the rest of us), and wait. (patiently)

I didn't see that the OP was making anyone look like a flake. She simply asked a question. Tomorrow is the last Friday of the month. Her inquiry was reasonable. Geez

Over the past six months there have been six starter posts about SS. More than half of them have been about payment. Included is a reply by a SS agent from the Mother-ship. If the OP was concerned about payment being late, then she should have wait until August.

SS statement page states------->>>>>"Shops completed in April 2013 will be paid by July 5th.<<<<<<< or not...........(based on the holiday.)If you do not receive payment for your shops, please email: xyz@abc."

So...........Tomorrow being the last Friday of the month has no barring on when she will get paid. (cause it is not due.)

When payment question is arousal, anxious shoppers tend to wonder....."oh, yeah, where is my money/payment?" Just saying.

The original poster stated: "Just wondering if anyone has gotten paid by service sleuth for April shops yet? Their deadline is still about 3 days away, but just wondering. Thanks!" [Emphasis added.]

It looks like you are the one trying to start something. Robin clearly stated that the deadline was not due yet and she was just wondering if someone already got paid. You do know that MSCs sometimes actually pay earlier than their deadlines, right?

Have you never asked other forum members about info. that was listed on MSC's websites? What's with all the multiple all caps and emoticons? Dramatic much?

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ServiceSleuth is one of the better, on time, and
> responsible MSC out there. Why is someone always
> trying to throw a wrench in the fire?
> ServiceSleuth have on their page when to expect
> payment and whom to contact if there is a payment
> question.
>
> When you pose a question regarding payment and
> YOUR is not due yet, you make the company look
> like a flake. There are enough MSC whom is or are
> having payment issues, why would you want to put a
> reputable company in that fire. WHY? WHY?
> WHY?
>
> If you have a problem as to when you get paid, ask
> your scheduler before doing the shop, write it
> down, mark it on your calendar (like the rest of
> us), and wait. (patiently)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2013 10:07AM by BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz.

The OP did not express any concern about payment being late. On the contrary, she was very clear that the payment was not late. Please stop mischaracterizing her post.

August? Why on earth would she have to wait until August when you stated that the payment deadline was July 5th?

"When payment question is arousal, anxious shoppers tend to wonder.....'oh, yeah, where is my money/payment?' Just saying. "

Arousal? Holy fluffy cows. Did you start the weekend early?

BTW, whenever someone ends a post with "Just saying," I expect nothing good.

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Over the past six months there have been six
> starter posts about SS. More than half of them
> have been about payment. Included is a reply by a
> SS agent from the Mother-ship. If the OP was
> concerned about payment being late, then she
> should have wait until August.
>
> SS statement page states------->>>>>"Shops
> completed in April 2013 will be paid by July
> 5th.<<<<<<< or not...........(based on the
> holiday.)If you do not receive payment for your
> shops, please email: xyz@abc."
>
> So...........Tomorrow being the last Friday of
> the month has no barring on when she will get
> paid. (cause it is not due.)
>
> When payment question is arousal, anxious shoppers
> tend to wonder....."oh, yeah, where is my
> money/payment?" Just saying.

gigishopper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I didn't see that the OP was making anyone look
> like a flake. She simply asked a question.
> Tomorrow is the last Friday of the month. Her
> inquiry was reasonable. Geez

Yep.

An MSC issued and mailed its June payment slightly early. I really appreciated the early-than-expected payment, especially since the total was significant. I don't know why the checks were processed early this month, and wonder whether it was because of July 4th.

Were the checks issued early because the Accounts Payable department folks were going to use some of their vacation days to make it a very long weekend, and therefore needed to issue the checks early so that they would not be late? Was the MSC being extra nice in anticipation of some of its shoppers going on vacation soon? I don't know. I wonder, though.

Now I wonder, too, what would have happened if I dared to post about wondering about the early checks. Wondering about wondering. Would wonders never cease?

The problem with Service Sleuth is that they take so much longer than anyone else to pay, so even though they are following their published schedule, it *feels* like they are late - especially when those boxes on your spreadsheet stay unchecked for a month longer than all the others. If they would step it up and catch up with the rest of the MSCs, it wouldn't be an issue, and people would not keep posting about it. It's their choice.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2013 10:30AM by RiverSong.

Early payment is a blessing not a curse.

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> BTW, whenever someone ends a post with "Just
> saying," I expect nothing good.
>


--
This made me giggle. I needed a giggle before I went to work today. (It might not be for the reasons that you are thinking though)

"grip time".....people are just asking.....and with the economy and MSC's as they are today, it's OK if they get antsy about it.....sheesshhhh.....

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ServiceSleuth is one of the better, on time, and
> responsible MSC out there. Why is someone always
> trying to throw a wrench in the fire?
> ServiceSleuth have on their page when to expect
> payment and whom to contact if there is a payment
> question.
>
> When you pose a question regarding payment and
> YOUR is not due yet, you make the company look
> like a flake. There are enough MSC whom is or are
> having payment issues, why would you want to put a
> reputable company in that fire. WHY? WHY?
> WHY?
>
> If you have a problem as to when you get paid, ask
> your scheduler before doing the shop, write it
> down, mark it on your calendar (like the rest of
> us), and wait. (patiently)

sojo........ I am terribly sorry that I offended you. That was not my intention. Perhaps I should forget about mystery shopping, quit my day job, go back to bed, pull the covers over my head and contemplate the meaning of my miserable life.

OR........ perhaps you should take a midol!! I appreciate the info about July 5th. Perhaps you could have just helped a person out (which is a BIG part of why this site was created, I believe) and led with that. Trying to make someone feel stupid (and failing miserably) isn't really doing much for you. The last several times I worked with this company, I was paid around the 20th. That's all. Thanks to all for the supportive and constructive posts!

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Over the past six months there have been six
> starter posts about SS. More than half of them
> have been about payment. Included is a reply by a
> SS agent from the Mother-ship. If the OP was
> concerned about payment being late, then she
> should have wait until August.
>
> SS statement page states------->>>>>"Shops
> completed in April 2013 will be paid by July
> 5th.<<<<<<< or not...........(based on the
> holiday.)If you do not receive payment for your
> shops, please email: xyz@abc."
>
> So...........Tomorrow being the last Friday of
> the month has no barring on when she will get
> paid. (cause it is not due.)
>
> When payment question is arousal, anxious shoppers
> tend to wonder....."oh, yeah, where is my
> money/payment?" Just saying.

I completed a shop for Service Sleuth back in the 1st week of April. The shopping company advised it would pay in 60 days within the definition of the shop. Stupidly, I accepted the assignment and completed the shop.

In the last few days of June (almost 60 days after the shop) I requested status about when I would be paid. Well it turns out THEY pay 60 DAYS AFTER the last day in the month that the shop was completed. That not what the definition of the shop showed. So in the case of this shop, my payment will be actually 90 DAYS since I completed the shop. Not acceptable.

I suggest, we, as shoppers do not allow this policy from any vendors we shop for. If the members of this forum REFUSE TO ACCEPT AND/OR SHOP for any shopping company that holds our payments beyond normal business terms of 30 days. We would stop this extended payment practice and we would get a handle on being used as a BANK for this companies.

There are many outstanding shopping firms who pay their shoppers in a very timely manner. So we really do not have to accept very long repayment terms.

In business, the sure sign of a failing company is slow or extended term payments of vendors, (like us). This indicates VERY SLOW CASH FLOW and the company's desparate attempts to save its business by using its vendors (shoppers) as a bank.

I believe it would be to the secret shopping community's best long term interest to STOP ACCEPTING ANY ASSIGNMENTS of shopping companies that do not pay for an accespt shop in 30 days. Any company with payment terms beyond that DO NOT HAVE SHOPPERS TO DO THE WORK. Eventually those companies will go away. Leaving for the SHOPPERS companies that value our work and compensate us in a timely manner.

Well you do have a point. That said Service Sleuth has been around a long time and that has always been their pay schedule and they have always paid. I am not worried about their cash flow.

I did start shopping though when two - three months was the "regular" pay schedule for just about every company so maybe I am a little more tolerant.

It is of course your perogative to not shop for companies that pay on whatever schedule you don't like but for me I will stick with the companies I know to pay and Service Sleuth falls in line there.

Liz


HomeNetDepot Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I completed a shop for Service Sleuth back in the
> 1st week of April. The shopping company advised it
> would pay in 60 days within the definition of the
> shop. Stupidly, I accepted the assignment and
> completed the shop.
>
> In the last few days of June (almost 60 days after
> the shop) I requested status about when I would be
> paid. Well it turns out THEY pay 60 DAYS AFTER the
> last day in the month that the shop was completed.
> That not what the definition of the shop showed.
> So in the case of this shop, my payment will be
> actually 90 DAYS since I completed the shop. Not
> acceptable.
>
> I suggest, we, as shoppers do not allow this
> policy from any vendors we shop for. If the
> members of this forum REFUSE TO ACCEPT AND/OR
> SHOP for any shopping company that holds our
> payments beyond normal business terms of 30 days.
> We would stop this extended payment practice and
> we would get a handle on being used as a BANK for
> this companies.
>
> There are many outstanding shopping firms who pay
> their shoppers in a very timely manner. So we
> really do not have to accept very long repayment
> terms.
>
> In business, the sure sign of a failing company is
> slow or extended term payments of vendors, (like
> us). This indicates VERY SLOW CASH FLOW and the
> company's desparate attempts to save its business
> by using its vendors (shoppers) as a bank.
>
> I believe it would be to the secret shopping
> community's best long term interest to STOP
> ACCEPTING ANY ASSIGNMENTS of shopping companies
> that do not pay for an accespt shop in 30 days.
> Any company with payment terms beyond that DO NOT
> HAVE SHOPPERS TO DO THE WORK. Eventually those
> companies will go away. Leaving for the SHOPPERS
> companies that value our work and compensate us in
> a timely manner.

The correct payment terms should be disclosed to shoppers before shops are assigned. If Service Sleuth failed to do that, they were wrong.

However, slow payment terms are not necessarily signs of a failing company or even slow incoming cash flow for a company. Many companies, in different industries, intentionally try to arrange to have longer payment terms to their suppliers of goods and services than payment terms granted to their customers. I was in charge of a company's accounts receivable and accounts payable and that was one of the things I tried to control. The positive cash flow generated was very useful.

Each of us shoppers needs to decide whether an MSC's payment practices are acceptable.

From their home page:

Compensation for contracted services are submitted to PayPal approximately 60 days after the last day of the month in which the shop was completed. Please note that it then takes PayPal up to 5 business days to process this transaction and clear the money for disbursement. If you do not receive compensation by this time, please notify us after confirming that both your professional email address and PayPal accounts were correct and active. You are responsible for updating your email address in our Sherlock system and in your PayPal account (email addresses must be EXACTLY the same in both our system and in PayPal) to ensure prompt compensation. Your Shop Log will provide a description, so there is no need to call us unless your log does not match what you were emailed when you accepted the shop and were scheduled

Another example of adults and bullying. She was asking a question. Good grief. She was not blaming the company. She was asking...... the massive bullying on the board is getting out of hand. What happened to plain old ask and respond?

CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Another example of adults and bullying. She was
> asking a question. Good grief. She was not blaming
> the company. She was asking...... the massive
> bullying on the board is getting out of hand. What
> happened to plain old ask and respond?


Amen!

robinhardage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------


> Just wondering if anyone has gotten paid by
> service sleuth for April shops yet?

Thanks for posting the question, Robin. I think bares repeating, expecially since nobody has answered yet. I happen to be waiting for pay on an April shop myself.

Any word yet?

Their pay cycle is slower than a sloth. But, they pay within their stated terms. If they have shops in your area that you want, on a regular basis, get past the first month, and then receive payment regularly.

I didn't do any shops for them in April. Previously, I have been paid from the 25th-2nd of the month, 60-90 days following the shop.

I received my April payment from Service Sleuth on July 3.

I got paid yesterday.

I have not received any payment for my April shops yet, as I stated in my previous post. Could be because some are in late April. Maybe they will bundle them together.

I got Paid today for my April job.

My 3 April shops were paid today.

I still got nuttin. But their site says the 6th now.

They paid me this morning.

lol I must be psychic! I might have jumped the gun on this thread a bit, but I did not get paid when they said they would pay. I emailed, and there was some sort of a glitch/mistake. They paid me yesterday!