Part 1:

Has anybody heard of this company or shopped with them? They came up on Jobslinger today advertising simple menu board picture shops.

ICA states that they only pay with PayQuicker, which I've had the option of using with another MSC, but have declined to do so.

They have the same software portal as a couple of other MSCs (QAMS & Measure Consumer Perspective). They show available shops and even some for backup, so it seems like they are legit.

Searching "ACE" on here shows nothing. Ever.


Part 2:

OK so anyway, I didn't see the company name on here, but the sign up wasn't asking for my SSN or anything that couldn't be acquired from a quick search on the interwebs, so I went ahead and completed it.

I get the "Thanks for signing up" email and there's a link to a cash back rewards type thing for 100$ back in groceries. I'm thinking "yeah right," but filling in my junk email address anyway JUST in case.

Here's the deal:
"Congratulations, you have been rewarded with up to the value shown on your certificate in Cash Back Rewards just for purchasing food at your favorite grocery store each month. For every $100 in food receipts you mail in to us, we will send you a $20 Cash Back Reward every month for up to 5 months. In order to participate, you must register below by choosing the grocery store chain that you purchase food from each month along with the credit card or debit card that you will be using for all of your food purchases. Please read the terms and conditions below before registering.

They only want the last 4 digits of my card #. T&C are pretty basic safeguarding the company ect. You have to follow a bunch of rules like only having food on the receipts that you turn in. It takes an eternity to get your reward. Seems like just enough of a pain in the ass to be legit. I'm guessing the cash back rewards are actually some online store certificate or something, but I always seem to make use of stuff like that somehow.

Has anybody done this program and/or heard that it's just some time wasting phishing ploy?

I'm thinking if this program is scam city, then the MSC must also be, and likewise if it's legitimate.

They are legit, and I know they have been discussed on this forum.

I've only ever done one job for ACE. They don't have any near me.

I don't know about that reward program

I have never participated in the particular program you referenced, but I have worked for ACE. They are legit and I liked working with them but I stopped performing their shops a couple of years ago when they made Payquicker their only payment option. ACE has been the subject of many discussions on the forum - their name should be easy to search - I'm guessing maybe you did not put in "all dates." Search also for Payquicker - again, using "all dates" for your search.

I am no huge fan of PayQuicker (but give them kudo's for actively marketing to the entire MSC industry) but this is the way A.C.E. elects to pay for all of their shops.

As for A.C.E. itself.....THEY ARE WONDERFUL! Always was paid in a timely manner, they care enough about their independent contractors to come up with bi-monthly newsletters and they people are easy to reach, prompt with replies and fun to work for.

The only gripe I have for them is that usually the only shop they offer (and continue to offer) is a cell phone shop at a certain Warehouse membership club which I dare not try to shop more than twice a year for fear of being recognized. The city I do this in has a real good salesperson and the guy makes a lot of sales and has been there for years. Unless I get good enough to figure out when he has an off day (he seems to be there all the time) I only get to work with this MSC a few times a year. Occasionally they get other shops in the Southeast but those are very infrequent.

One thing that has caught my eye is a program ACE has been pushing to get some of us shoppers to try and land new accounts for them. Would I be in violation of any ICA's if I took my independent contractor hat off and went to a certain grocery store chain based in North Carolina to try and get them to switch the MSC they currently use?

Bottom line.... Highly recommend ACE to any shopper looking to add to the number of MSC they work with.

I've done several shops for ACE--all cell phones at the warehouse. They pay more for cell phone shops than others. I try to do one when I have to pick up my prescriptions, and figure the MS fee will pay for 1% of what I end up buying when I'm in the store. I haven't had any problems with Payquicker lately but I'd much rather have direct deposit or Paypal.

I received the paperwork for the grocery program, and decided not to do the program. I think it would be good for a large family that spends more than I do on food.I only buy for myself. Love and Great Shopping to all! Anne

I thought I had seen a discussion about them also, but when I search ACE or A.C.E. for all dates - nothing comes up - not even THIS thread. Could somebody do a quick search and let me know I'm not crazy? There are 2 discussions listed under the company name: one is a scam and the other is legit.

Thanks for the input. I will add them to my list!

probably not all but her is some

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

ACE is great

I have completed 10 shops for ACE over the years and 4 this year. They are all for the previously mentioned cell phone shops. I have never had a problem with them and signed up with payquicker just so that I can continue to work for them. I have not had any problems with Payquicker.

Listed also under the name as------->Associate Consumer Evaluations / ACE Mystery Shopping.

AUSTINMOM gave you a lot of discussion topics. Smooth sailing. There are also Payquicker discussions also.

ALWAYSANGIE used to post a lot from ACE on this forum. She has not replied in a couple of month. She is probably just living life now. I imagine that she can still be PMed if need be.

No I haven't but I wanted to say thanks for the heads up.. they have some very, VERY easy shops (go take a few photos) and had jobs in my neighbourhood.

I'll report back at some point about my experience with them

I shop for ACE and like them, don't even mind Payquicker as it's just another form of Paypal in my mind and I get my money either way. I got one of the grocery cards and went back to ACE and requested a gas card instead. Unfortunately I was going through a health issue at the time and by the time I got around to wanting to activate the gas card the date for doing so had come and gone. I thought the cards were a pretty good deal. I don't buy enough groceries to want the grocery card but when ACE offered the gas card instead, I thought that was great.

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Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2013 02:11PM by Ms.Baker.

I only pick up an ACE shop once a year or so, so I had missed the news about the transfer to Payquicker. I didn't want to sign up for that service, period (and don't feel I have to justify this decision :-).

When I reached out to ACE, they offered to mail me a paper check if I agreed to take a $2.50 hit for "service processing." Honestly? I went that route and was glad for the option. I didn't mind a $15 payment dropping to $12.50 because I've done shops of comparable effort for other companies at that amount, and it was just this one time.

If you don't mind Payquicker, go ahead and shop for them.

I like working for Ace. They pay on time and Payquicker is no problem. Just wish they had more shops in my location.

I have done shops for them. I just transfer my pay to my bank. Took less than 48 hours. Since it's for savings anyway, no harm done. They are great to work for.

I work in ACE's Accounting Department, and would be happy to answer any questions anyone has about ACE, their payment process, or about PayQuicker.

MaryACE

Got paid from them.. "ACE" company so far!

I've loved working with ACE for the past several years. I'm fine with PayQuicker, have had no problems with it, and when I transfer the money to my bank account, it is usually there in 2 days. They always pay the month following the shop, so I like that a lot!

They just started a chain of BBQ restaurants in the OKC area. Very easy report and great reimbursement (and even a small fee - rardon would like that). Very responsive to emails.

I got paid for the first two shops in 2 weeks!

I had previously only completed one shop for them, and it was a cell phone shop for which the report was very long and required a LOT of narrative. Just last week I completed my second and probably final shop for them - it was a photo-only shop for which menu prices were required. I got great, clear pics of the menu board and just got an email from them this morning that says I was supposed to get bakery items as well. I double checked my paperwork that I printed beforehand, and nowhere does it say anything about taking pictures of bakery items. In fact, pictures are encouraged to be taken from the drive-thru, where you can do it more discreetly. How in the world would one take photos of bakery items from the drive-thru, I wonder?? I responded with a screen shot of my paperwork, saying I would be happy to go back - for an additional $15.

I had no opinion of them before this one way or the other, but I find this behavior highly unethical and unprofessional. I am interested to see how they respond to my email.

The prescrip shops are not ACE, they are with another company with a similar name.