I once took a $3 bonus when the shop was right down the road from me. I had done it once before non-bonused.

When they call, I frequently find myself reminding the scheduler what they paid me last time. Usually they will meet or exceed the previous bonus. You will also start to get an idea of what their limits are so you know how far to push your luck. At one point, they stopped calling people who asked for too much (at least that's what this forum indicated) too often.

Here's a good way to make money from MarketForce (or any MSC).

1. Do ONE shop at each location. Don't worry about the fee yet.
2. Do an excellent report. (side note - MF doesn't like negative reports FWIW)
3. Never do it again for the base rate.
4. Sit back and wait for bonus offers.

MF Bonus guidelines (generally speaking):
1st offer - MFI Shop Assignment with Premium Fee (usually 2-3 dollars over the minimum)
2nd offer - Call from Martinez CA - 925 area code - overseas outsourced scheduler (anywhere from minimum to base+5 or so)
3rd offer - Shop Offer From Samantha (anywhere from $2 over minimum to the max they've ever paid for that location)
4th offer - Call from Georgia - stateside scheduler - these are the ones that can negotiate the best bonuses. Take their calls!

-The later in the month the better the bonus
-The harder the location is to fill, the better the bonus
-As others have stated, keep track of what you've gotten paid for a location and ask for that anytime they call you again.

Personally, I average around $15 fee for FF shops with them, and I love the occasional payday loan shop for $125 or so.

Jeremy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't see any graet advantage to being with
> them. They turned down a shop I did saying that I
> was supposed to order all meals first. Then, when
> I told them that maybe I was a bit too harsh on
> the shop they came back with some quotation from
> their guidelines. So I replied with quotes from
> the section I was turned down for. It really was a
> real waste of money for me and the waste of a day.



I've realized it's a waste to argue with them. I've had one shop turned down and I will never know who is at fault because they refused me a copy of my report.

My shops start in the 5-6 range and I pick them up when they shoot up to 12-13.

I get calls from Georgia and am always happy when I hang up. I've never experienced a call from a foreign country. I must be lucky, eh?

The bonus calls I receive are usually $30-50. It is nice to be driving down the road and suddenly get a call for something nearby and heavily bonused!

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm not a new shopper, so I'm definitely not trying to get experience with their low-paying jobs. But based on what several people here said, I think I'll complete a few of their shops (one from each client), sit back, and *hopefully* wait for those bonus calls to start rolling in. This was how it went with Maritz, too. Once they know your work is good and you're reliable, they'll pay any reasonable offer to get the job done.

I have an $8 shop scheduled with MF for this weekend... Maybe it'll lead to better offers later.

Fingers crossed

I shop for MF. I couldn't pay the rent on what I get from their shops, but yesterday I bought groceries and a tank of gas!

Canuck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I get calls from Georgia and am always happy when
> I hang up. I've never experienced a call from
> a foreign country. I must be lucky, eh?


Mine are mostly from CA and I hate answering them! They just talk me in circles to try to accept an assignment after I've told them I can't do it. I ignore all their calls now.

I can't work for them. Like many others on here and volition I was one that they "dumped" for no real reason. I had no active jobs with them at that moment and had done very good informative reports before that. Others have had success asking to be allowed to go back on after some time, but I'm about 4 years out and they still won't have me back. I've even moved to a new location, but they won't take me back. They reply with a curt statement from their agreement that either party can choose to discontinue our agreement at any time for any reason. I finally had to accept that they just were never going to have me back.
It may have been that I would only take jobs that had bonuses on them. I never shopped one for the base price, but it seems others here do that same thing so I just don't know.
You can go search though and see that MANY people have been just dumped by them.

vadershero Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
.
> It may have been that I would only take jobs that
> had bonuses on them. I never shopped one for the
> base price, but it seems others here do that same
> thing so I just don't know.
> You can go search though and see that MANY people
> have been just dumped by them.


I have to wonder how many of these peope allegedly canned for no reason were really fired for filing over zealous reports, cancelling all the time,calling in with problems all the time.......in general just being real jewels to work with!

I used to work for Market Force, 2-3 years ago I had to run the numbers on which companies made me money as an MSer and which don't.

Market Force just didn't cut it. When I have other companies that will pay me $100 to drive an hour to an hour and a half, there is no way I can say, "Yes I will do this emergency shop for you for $10 USD", which the bank takes half of.

They've come back to me two-three times since we parted way, and don't want to talk permant raise. I've been a mystery shopper/merchandiser/promotional rep for 10 years. If they can't bring the money, I can't bring the honey so to speak.

I have been a shopper a long time. I started with Marketforce about 10 years ago.I stopped for a while then went back. For me,I know I am getting paid. I know when I am getting paid. Living in a large city I can always get as many shops as I can do. I can also change the day if need be.

I have done more shops with MF than any other MSC. Yes, fees can be low, but once you are established as a reliable, no-flake shopper, they end up calling you (often from the Atlanta area or some offshore boiler room, I think!) when deadlines are near, offering much larger shop fees. I usually don't accept the shops unless the fees are doubled. As far as the online offers, the only "Samantha" I would deal with is Samantha Stevens, who was quite bewitching.

IMTrashman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have done more shops with MF than any other MSC.
> Yes, fees can be low, but once you are
> established as a reliable, no-flake shopper, they
> end up calling you (often from the Atlanta area or
> some offshore boiler room, I think!) when
> deadlines are near, offering much larger shop
> fees. I usually don't accept the shops unless the
> fees are doubled. As far as the online offers, the
> only "Samantha" I would deal with is Samantha
> Stevens, who was quite bewitching.

I agree with you 100%. I do a lot of shops with MF and they do call more than any other company, often with decent bonuses

There is no appeal for me anymore. The $10 phone shops have been cut to $7 shops here. The $30 gas shop I always did, only pays a measly $12. Unless you want a fast food shop ( I don't ) there isn't much from these guys anymore in my area of NW Ohio.

Tlt14 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After hearing a lot about Market Force from
> everyone on the forum, I decided to sign up with
> them. I have to say, I am utterly disappointed.
> The fees are SO low! I don't usually come on here
> and complain about low-paying jobs because, well,
> no one is forcing me to take them. I'm just
> confused because they are so popular with a lot of
> our fellow shoppers, so I must be missing
> something. Especially when I hear people say that
> the majority of their income is derived from MF.
> Are they like CORI, whose fees start really low
> and increase if no one takes them?
>
> I am in no way trying to put anyone down or start
> drama here, I just want to know why so many people
> like this MSC.
I have been doing market force for a year and I do mostly food shops. If I keep the shop fees under $600 for the year so their is no taxes paid so I like the ones that have reimburstments. I just do it more for fun and knowing I am eating for free plus a few exta dollars is nice. The pay ever month on the 11th with no problem. It is the only company I have done and I am looking to see who else is out there to do mystry shopping for.

Who123who Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I have been doing market force for a year and I do
> mostly food shops. If I keep the shop fees under
> $600 for the year so their is no taxes paid so I
> like the ones that have reimburstments. I just do
> it more for fun and knowing I am eating for free
> plus a few exta dollars is nice. The pay ever
> month on the 11th with no problem. It is the only
> company I have done and I am looking to see who
> else is out there to do mystry shopping for.

Who123, if you keep the shop fees under $600, Market Force will not issue a 1099, but taxes are due on everything earned from mystery shopping. The reimbursements are not taxable income, but the any fees do represent income. When you report the income/fees on your tax return, taxes are owed.

I do a lot of shops for Market Force. I passed 500 several years back. They frequently pay good bonus to go to outlying areas. I have rarely had any questions on shops. They are professional and I always consider any shop they ask me to do. They also cover my lunch frequently at one of the quick service eateries. I have never had pay issue in 7 years. Overall, top notch company. I have friends that are taking shops also.

While I don't have any proof of this, it has always seemed the shoppers who get the boot have somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 shops plus they work for MF frequently. Otherwise bonus vs no bonus, etc, hasn't been consistent. In general I also think they prefer their workforce be made up of casual rather than professional shoppers. For a few years now my shops are always bonused, but also infrequent.

I shop rural 'whistle-stops' in Texas on a regular basis for MF. Every month, I get multiple phone calls from schedulers 'desperate' to fill remaining shops. I've been paid some fairly nice bonuses, simply because I negotiate. More than once, I have been informed that the bonus I requested was not enough, so I've learned...start high, then come down if I absolutely must. Many times, my first offer is accepted.

My only complaint with Market Force is the staff members who do not speak English as a first language. This is not meant as a criticism of those people who are just trying to do their job...more power to them! I applaud their efforts. But, it is burdensome to negotiate with a scheduler who has to repeat everything twice in order to be understood.

That being said, Market Force conducts its business in a most professional manner and they pay on time.

I don't have a problem understanding the people from the offshore schedulers. I just listen closely and understand them easily. I wonder if it could be that my fulltime job is a company that is considered very diverse and global. Therefore, I am used to listening closely out of habit. I actually find that the people speaking English as a second language typically speak English better than us Americans.

LOL

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> While I don't have any proof of this, it has
> always seemed the shoppers who get the boot have
> somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 shops plus they
> work for MF frequently. Otherwise bonus vs no
> bonus, etc, hasn't been consistent. In general I
> also think they prefer their workforce be made up
> of casual rather than professional shoppers.


Thats right there is no proof to any of that because its pure nonsense and biased speculation. Lets get abstract here and use some common sense huh. How about the real reason so many people come into this forum crying about getting canned from MarketForce is the fact that MarketForce is the biggest MSC by far. And then for you to look down your nose and exclaim that MarketForce shoppers are less sophisticated and professional is outrageous.

I've never gotten a call past the 925 number......never seen a call from Georgia. I get the emails though. Sadly, it's always for FF, shops I have never done for them!

I just started getting calls from the 925 number recently.

Tlt14 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After hearing a lot about Market Force from
> everyone on the forum, I decided to sign up with
> them. I have to say, I am utterly disappointed.
> The fees are SO low! I don't usually come on here
> and complain about low-paying jobs because, well,
> no one is forcing me to take them. I'm just
> confused because they are so popular with a lot of
> our fellow shoppers, so I must be missing
> something. Especially when I hear people say that
> the majority of their income is derived from MF.
> Are they like CORI, whose fees start really low
> and increase if no one takes them?
>
> I am in no way trying to put anyone down or start
> drama here, I just want to know why so many people
> like this MSC.

LOVE them. Sometimes the shop fees are low, yes, but they offer many in my area, and rarely do I get contacted for editing. They accept faxed receipts. I have recommended them to friends/family more than any other company. Their organized pay system is superior. And they do bonus often as well. Reports are easy to complete as well. Two thumbs up for Market Force from me!!

Would it even be possible for you to have twisted everything I said any more than you did. Do you even read posts?

I began by saying it was speculation, but certainly is not based on nonsense or bias. It was a conclusion arrived at after reading many posts and based on my own experience. You are the one looking down your nose at every single person who has ever had their contract terminated and claiming they must be hiding the truth. There was no exclamation that MF shoppers are less sophisticated or professional. The statement was Market Force prefers casual shoppers to professional shoppers. Last time I looked, "casual" did not translate to less sophisticated. If you want something out of the horses mouth, look up the thread about an attorney for MF saying the only requirement to be a mystery shopper was the ability to breathe. Since it is on video somewhere you should be able to see and hear it for yourself.

Your vehemence regarding Market Force is odd to say the least.

FREELANCEREPORTER Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LisaSTL Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > While I don't have any proof of this, it has
> > always seemed the shoppers who get the boot
> have
> > somewhere between 1,000 and 2,000 shops plus
> they
> > work for MF frequently. Otherwise bonus vs no
> > bonus, etc, hasn't been consistent. In general
> I
> > also think they prefer their workforce be made
> up
> > of casual rather than professional shoppers.
>
>
> Thats right there is no proof to any of that
> because its pure nonsense and biased speculation.
> Lets get abstract here and use some common sense
> huh. How about the real reason so many people come
> into this forum crying about getting canned from
> MarketForce is the fact that MarketForce is the
> biggest MSC by far. And then for you to look down
> your nose and exclaim that MarketForce shoppers
> are less sophisticated and professional is
> outrageous.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you want something out of the horses mouth,
> look up the thread about an attorney for MF saying
> the only requirement to be a mystery shopper was
> the ability to breathe.


Lets be real here. Thats about the only requirement for any MSC isnt it. Take a monkey and strap a video camera on him and teach him how to get on the internet and you got a highly trained video mystery shopper.

I just made the above post to get her goat. Its just a joke!