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Bestmark

August 26, 2013 07:09PM
I recently did a casino shop for this company which was to pay $75.00. I have done shops for them before and have put up with their bllsh*t deductions. I decided to give them another chance to be fair. I did my assignment, filled out all the surveys and submitted them, on time. Several days later, I get an email with a ridiculously long list of (clarifications needed) It was all the same sh*t I had answered on the surveys just phrased in different ways. Even in the email, they asked the same questions several times, just phrased differently. For this, I got a &10.00 deduction. I read plain as day in their paperwork that if I kept track of the money I had to use for their required gaming, I would be reimbursed. I submitted this to them and will not be getting ANYthing for my gaming expenses! Has anyone else had similar problems?
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More Discussions About BestMark (All Companies)
August 26, 2013 07:56PM
These shops are kinda stinkers as is the woman who is in charge of this MSC's casino shops. To be straight I have done many of these shops and they definately belong on a shoppers DO NOT DO UNLESS YOU ARE BORED AND DESPERATE LIST! Basically if you are not real careful these casino shops serve as excellent loss-leaders for the casino. How is it possible to sit at a $5 black jack table for 15 minutes(as suggested in the instructions) and not lose $40-50? The answer is you cant sit at a gaming table for 15 minutes and not lose $50 unless you get amazingly lucky.
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August 26, 2013 08:09PM
I hate their deductions too. Sometimes it's pretty ridiculous and frustrating.
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August 27, 2013 12:08PM
FREELANCEREPORTER Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How is it
> possible to sit at a $5 black jack table for 15
> minutes(as suggested in the instructions) and not
> lose $40-50?

I'd find it hard to lose that much in just 15 minutes. It's why I prefer blackjack, at $5 a hand you can play for a long time on very little money.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
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August 27, 2013 12:15PM
One of the MANY reasons I no longer shop for them.....
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October 24, 2013 09:08PM
Bestmark forces me to print out crap!!! They use color and large highlighted area's that is money to me, ink cost money!!!! I requested another way to help me save ink and was ignored.
I do not shop for Bestmark for this reason and because the reports are to difficult for the funds they offer. They expect us to put money out of pocket, IE...vehicle expences, ink, paper and then nit pik the reports, under pay, expect too much for too little. I have been teaching a few friends MSing and the first thing I informed them was avoid BestMark.
They are one of many MS companies I suggested avoiding.
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October 24, 2013 09:24PM
Have you tried printing in black and white or is there a requirement that you print in color? I've never done a Bestmark shop so just curious.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
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October 24, 2013 09:43PM
As I had posted in one of the threads, I was surprised when I was docked $2 for my report which was supposedly late.
As I was not late, never have been late in any report, I contacted them and they said it was from their end and to send back their email indicating it was their fault when I do my next report. Unfortunately, I don't do much of their shops as they have
very, very few in my area.
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October 24, 2013 09:55PM
When you're ready to print, click preferences and print in greyscale. That's what I do, unless I need something in color like a gift certificate.

We are contractors. Ink costs are part of what we have to absorb.

If you don't like working for them, then don't. It's your choice.
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October 24, 2013 10:24PM
I use a Brother printer which uses long life toner cartridges and prints in black only. Generic toner cartridges are cheap on Amazon and I use maybe two a year. I miss out on shops that require a color certificate but the trade off is worth it.

No fair dumping on Bestmark because you don't want to print color. That's your choice. Print black on white if you don't want to print color. If you don't want to buy color ink, ditch the color printer and get something that uses a cheap toner cartridge. Color printers are absolutely not worth their cost of operation for mystery shopping. Even if you keep your color printer for other purposes, you'll save in the long run if you buy a black and white printer that runs a long life toner cartridge.

If you don't shop a lot, it won't make much difference. If you're running several shops a day most days of the week, please consider a different printer.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
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October 24, 2013 10:54PM
NOTE-This MSC fired me almost 7 yrs. ago for refusing to accept their high work/low pay jobs.

I agree with Mary, as I also use a Brother B&W. In addition, no one is forcing any shopper to accept work; that's their prerogative. If anyone feels as though they are being mis-treated, they have but to request de-activation and that problem is solved. As my departed grandmother was so fond of stating, "If you don't like the peaches, avoid the tree."
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October 25, 2013 12:55AM
May be in my early days, I printed, but I do not recall any printing requirement with Bestmark. You can always print to pdf, save to file, or some such.

I've used an HP 8500A for over three years. It's a color printer, and was advertised to cost 50% less than laser. I have no complaints. I did try lower-cost generic refills once, and my printer didn't like them; it prefers genuine HP. Okay, fine, I tried. I buy high-yield cartridges, which print about two and half times more pages than regular cartridges, so are well worth the price. They are good for between 2200 and 2500 sheets each. I am only on my second set of HP cartridges.

I need a color printer for other things, but occasionally for ms'ing.
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October 25, 2013 02:16AM
Mert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> May be in my early days, I printed, but I do not
> recall any printing requirement with Bestmark.
> You can always print to pdf, save to file, or some
> such.
>
> I've used an HP 8500A for over three years. It's
> a color printer, and was advertised to cost 50%
> less than laser. I have no complaints. I did try
> lower-cost generic refills once, and my printer
> didn't like them; it prefers genuine HP. Okay,
> fine, I tried. I buy high-yield cartridges, which
> print about two and half times more pages than
> regular cartridges, so are well worth the price.
> They are good for between 2200 and 2500 sheets
> each. I am only on my second set of HP
> cartridges.
>
> I need a color printer for other things, but
> occasionally for ms'ing.


The only time I print out the guidelines is if it is a new report. I learned about the printing expense early in the game I usually copy the guidelines over to Word and then highlight the high points that I need.

****************


Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.
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October 25, 2013 12:34PM
If you have a smartphone, you can save the guidelines to your dropbox then access the folder from your phone. I like this better as you can take the guidelines with you for some shops (such as grocery or retail stores). You would be outted for sure if you brought the guidelines printed out but if it's on your phone, they think you are just playing on it or getting coupons.

Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
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October 25, 2013 01:43PM
I only print something if the guidelines etc have changed.

When I first started out, I printed everything. Now I don't have to.

I DO print out the contracts though. I like hard copies in case my computer fries.
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October 25, 2013 01:54PM
I did a recent shop for the first time on a fast casual restaurant, and was amazed at the amount of time it took me to enter the shop. I haven't received feedback yet, so not sure if my report will pass muster, but I doubt I would do that shop again.

That said, they do have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. And I have not ever had a problem with payment.

Silver Certified
Upstate, SC


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2013 02:06PM by EyesOnYou.
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