The below is merely my take on Doug's statements.
Doug states---The forums do serve a positive purpose but they are also a place where shoppers vent, or give bad advice.
BOB'S comment---That's logical and true of all forums.
Doug continues---I personally have noticed that there are a core group of shoppers who give their opinion on MSPA, schedulers and mystery shopping companies that bear no merit.
BOB'S reply---If the above is correct, I haven't read such opinions, but it's certainly possible I've missed those threads.
Doug concludes his 1st paragraph---Unless they actually are an employee of a scheduling company, a mystery shopping company or the MSPA they really don't know.
BOB'S thought---I agree. Shoppers may deduce, surmise and conclude, but they couldn't know for sure.
Doug's direction part #1---The purpose of this article is to say to shoppers not to listen to rumors and by shoppers who hide behind as user name.
BOB'S question---Does the above apply to Shopper Bob, AKA Bob Engleman?
Doug's direction part #2---And if you do post it really is not that difficult for MSP's to figure out who the shopper is.
BOB'S opinion---Now that's a clear warning.
Doug's 3rd paragraph---I have read posts where shoppers bash a company because they were not paid and the company refuses to pay them. The shopper does not tell you that their shop report was falsified, that they never went to do the shop or submitted a falsified receipt. This is one example. There are always 2 sides of every story and I am confident shoppers know this.
BOB'S agreement---I've no doubt the afore typed is true in many cases.
Doug's 4th paragraph---About a year ago there was a Mystery Shopping Company who was in financial trouble and did not pay shoppers. They were a member of MSPA. Several shoppers complained to MSPA about this. After doing our due diligence MSPA terminated their membership for ethics violation. There is a forum who took full credit when in fact they had nothing to do with the termination.
BOB'S response---Having been in this business for 11 yrs. and reading of countless difficulties my brother and sister shoppers encountered with Freemen, all while the MSPA remained on the sidelines until Jacob's letter, my opinion is 180 degrees out-of-phase with Doug's words on this matter.
Doug's closing advice---So when you read the forums please keep in mind that there are two sides to every story and if you have a problem with a mystery shopping company contact them directly."
BOB'S agreement---While completely disagreeing with #4, Doug and I are congruent with his closing. Folks, the overwhelming number of MSCs are reputable, hard working and deserving of their profits. As such, they have zero obligation to treat any contractor in a manner that people deem as fair, a word I've often wished didn't exist. As I've posted on several occasions, this IS business.