Certtified???????????

Hi Everyone! I am currently working a a merchandiser and happened to find Certified on another forum, I signed up with them and thought I picked up a few shops but sometimes they are on my assignments and then they disappear, then I find them posted again. Can anyone explain how this company works because I have taken some assignments and they are close and fit into my schedule. Any feedback?

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Use the 'search' feature and put in "Certified" and you will find a lot of venting about the company here and on other forums as well.

LOL. You got that right Flash.

They were my first merchandising company. The pay isn't great. I have problems with them from time to time, but I'm really dissatisfied right now. I think it is because MFI is involved, having bought them out. I think MFI is unfair. Having said that, I have a nice little regular assignment with them.

As to the assignments disappearing, I occasionally have that happen with other companies. Something changes with the relationship with the client, they pull the files, make changes and put them back. It usually only means I have to reprint the paperwork, not knowing exactly what changed without going over it in detail. I'd rather go over it only once. What Certified does from time to time is ask again if I want an assignment on a regular basis that I have already been doing on a regular basis.

They are also known to be the ONE ms company that loves to deactivate shoppers for no reason at all. Beware, they are a cold-hearted company and the Better Business Bureau has received numerous complaints about them from shoppers and some of their clients. They are not recommended, even by the US Government's BBB and known to be one of those companies in which you should only work for at your own risk. I'm one of hundreds who was deactivated from them for no reason at all! I also believe that Hanover is slowly taking over some of their theatre clients, which will be a very good thing!

I just can't bash Certified anymore...too...tired.

Just seek and ye shall find, many threads bashing Certified that is. LOL

Thanks for the feedback, are there any other self-assign companies out there? I like the convenience of that feature.

Lots and lots let you self-assign. Some let you self-assign immediately upon signing up with them, others require a number of successful shop completions first. A few, off the top of my head - CRI, AboutFace, IntelliShop, Gfk, ath, Maritz, MarketForce.

O. K. someone fill me in........... are Market Force and Certified the same company?

Certified and Corporate Research Int'l. are subsidiaries of Market Force.

When did CoRI become part of MFI?

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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton

It isn't.

Is CRI the same as CoRI? On MF's homepage, it says ". . .our newest subsidiary, Certified Marketing Services, which includes CMS, CMRS, and CRI."

"CRI" is Certified Research, (or Certified Marketing-same company.) They are part of MFI. CoRI is Corporate Research Inc. To my knowledge, they have no affiliation with MFI. There is often confusion over these companies as they have the same initials. That is why people use "CoRI" and not "CRI" for Corporate Research Inc.

The clarification is appreciated, dee.

:-)

WOW, I'm really surprised that there are so many unhappy shoppers that have used Certified. I have had nothing but great experiences with them. I mostly do the trailer checking assignments and have noticed that they aren't as frequent this year. Whenever I have had any issues with a payment or report someone gets back to me and rectifies the issue as soon as possible. Most everyone at Certified was pleasant and helpful.

I guess it depends on . . . . well, I really don't know. It should be consistent but wouldn't that be asking alot!

I haven't had any issues either. Maybe we are better shoppers, Modario! Hahahaha. :-)

I think maybe we live in areas that they either have trouble finding shoppers or just have nicer schedulers, or both.

I haven't had any problems with them either...yet. Still waiting for payment on some of my shops. However I did a merch. assignment for them the other day and I was paid the next day!

Dee, you're NOT a better shopper just because you're one of the few who haven't been deactivated from Certified yet. Many good shoppers, including myself, have been deactivated from them for NO REASON whatsoever. The fact is if you work for certified, you're not working for a business that is credited by the Better Business Bureau!

??? NJ???? She and others are simply stating that they have had no problems while others have. That is a legitimate comment, not a cause for attack, so cool it, please.

Flash, no one was talking to you so mind your own business!! Furthermore, Dee has praised this HORRIBLE company enough times on here already in other forums.

Rebel, chill out. It was a joke. Did you see the smiley and the Hahahaha? That was to indicate that it was a joke.

And, I don't think i have "praised" them-instead I said I had no problems. Semantics perhaps, but I think there is a HUGE difference between being fine with something as is, and singing out it's glories.

I don't really care about the BBB. I do care about getting paid for my work. If you choose to work for BBB certified companies, that is a choice and you are free to make it. I am also free to make mine. For me, it is not something I check out.

Thanks for clarifying that it was only meant to be a joke (although I find the jokes on Comedy Central much more amusing). Yes, it is your right to work for Certified even though they are not acredited by the BBB. However, I personally believe that it's very important to check out any company on the BBB before doing business with them or working for them, especially if they are an internet-based company. By NOT checking that information is how many people get scammed. I'm not saying Certified will scam you because yes, they do always pay. They are just not loyal to all of their shoppers by deactivating them for no reason. I'm just waiting for the day that you try to log into their site, Dee, just to find out that you were deactivated for no reason and you start realizing the way they REALLY are.

Maybe, I should stay out of this, but . . . we each make choices of whom we work for, the amount of money we're willing to work for, distance willing to travel, etc. I don't want to see anyone scammed or deactivated. But it can happen, even after due diligence. Just because some have been deactivated, does not mean all will be.

We can research MSPs, check with the BBB, read the forums, and either get burned, or get paid and keep choosing to work for any MSP. Fred Flintstone in Bedrock had an awful experience with Granite Shoppers, yet George Jetson had a great experience with them a few thousand miles away. My choices have occasionally made me feel at odds with the majority here, but I'm a big girl and will continue to make decisions based on my own criteria.

Can't we agree to disagree? Peace.

I am sure I will be deactivated one day. I may deserve it, or NOT. But I really don't have much opinion about them. My experience has been fine. They always pay me. They pay quickly. I only do certain kinds of shops due to pay. I check out companies in my own manner, which may or may not jibe with yours or anyone else's. The BBB is not my cup of tea. They have no power.

dee shops Wrote:
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> I am sure I will be deactivated one day. I may
> deserve it, or NOT. But I really don't have much
> opinion about them. My experience has been fine.
> They always pay me. They pay quickly. I only do
> certain kinds of shops due to pay. I check out
> companies in my own manner, which may or may not
> jibe with yours or anyone else's. The BBB is not
> my cup of tea. They have no power.

Frankly, I find it very hard to believe that anyone would be deactivated without a valid reason. A breech of any one of the company's standards divulged on their contract would be a reason. There is obviously something not being said. I was deactivated from one of the first shopping companies I signed up with and although they did not state the reason I certainly was able to figure it why. Live and learn.

I, also, only take the trailer check assignments from them because of the pay and again I haven't had any problems. Whenever there's an attack, there's usually an underlying issue. Simple semantics.

Well Mondario, BELIEVE IT! I'm one of many who was deactivated from Certified for no good reason. I'm "guessing" that it's because I turned down too many assignments via telephone because they were in really bad neighborhoods. But, who knows for sure. I tried several times to contact them to get reactivated and they always just tell me that I'm banned from the system and can no longer work for them, but won't give me any valid reason. I have read on other forums where people got deactivated because they had a car accident on their way to conduct an assignment for them and they had no sympathy for them. There are many many stories on these forums regarding how Certified treats a lot of their shoppers.

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