I'm not that concerned about the DL because we have to present it as ID sometimes when using a CC or cashing a check and the numbers from it are written down. Some companies do require something like that because it would not be difficult to sign up and beat the rotation by doing shops in someone else's name. It would have been even easier in the days when SSN were not required and verified. Your DL is a photo ID and if the description of the person doing the verification did not correspond to the ID there would be questions. Especially the Business Verification jobs involve a known entity verifying that a particular entity is a real business for purposes of granting them access to credit reports. I am uncomfortable that even using mystery shoppers is enough to grant that privilege.

The range on these shops has to do with which questionnaire is going out. Some have more questions than others and do pay more.

What you need to be more concerned with about TrendSource is that they have a (now documented through forums) history of talking about one shopper's reports or behaviors with other shoppers and sharing more shopper information with the target of the Business Verification than is appropriate (they gave out both home and cell numbers of a shopper to a target when the target was not at the location--or did not answer the door--when the shopper made the visit by appointment). You have a right as a shopper to privacy in your communication and reporting to the company and that does not include discussion with other shoppers. You also have a right to have your confidential information treated confidentially. If on a BV you gave the target a phone number to contact you if an appointment needed to be changed, that is one thing. It is not up to an MSP to provide additional personal information.

I had 2 companies who asked for it.

Trendsource is a great company. I like the jobs, the scheduler and they pay fast.

I did two business verifications.

At first you have to call and set an appointmnt. You have to make 3 calls. If you can't reach the spec. person, they send the info to the client to make a decission if you should call again. If problems arise, you may get only the pay for these calls and you are finished. If everyting is ok, you have to call again to set an appointment. When you have an appointment, you go there inspect their office etc. and take pictures. It was fun.

goldierebel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What is the companies web page to sign up for
> it, do they have work in NY? Can anyone tell
> me,Thanks

Hi, Goldie. Most of the ones I see in the NYC metro area are for a large video rental co. They also do revealed audits of printer ink and printers at a well-known office supply store, not Staples. The third is the business verifications, which pays the best. I've never yet seen a bonused shop on their board.

sneakers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> goldierebel Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What is the companies web page to sign up for
> > it, do they have work in NY? Can anyone tell
> > me,Thanks
>
> Hi, Goldie. Most of the ones I see in the NYC
> metro area are for a large video rental co. They
> also do revealed audits of printer ink and
> printers at a well-known office supply store, not
> Staples. The third is the business verifications,
> which pays the best. I've never yet seen a
> bonused shop on their board.


I've never seen a bonused shop on their board either, but I've done about half of the (now 61) shops for bonuses...the best one was the really last minute 7:30 pm phone call on Friday - $30 to do and enter that evening. I did it..Its 1/4 mile from home. I did one BV and that was fine too...But I look up the addresses and will not go to home office locations. So that limits me from doing most of the ones they get here.

I haven't had any 'bad' experiences with Trendsource and have done a number of business evaluation visits but they only pay from $17 -$23 for these and the customer is chanrged $100. for the visit - seems like I should get more money since I have to buy the gas.

Been too busy with other companies to accept many shops with this compnay, but they are still tops in my book. Evaluations of businesses and revealed audits all went extremely well. Unless something has changed, they get a 10 from me.

wonderduck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I haven't had any 'bad' experiences with
> Trendsource and have done a number of business
> evaluation visits but they only pay from $17 -$23
> for these and the customer is chanrged $100. for
> the visit - seems like I should get more money
> since I have to buy the gas.


I am interested to know how you have this info re what the client is charged. Are you a scheduler?

wonderduck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I haven't had any 'bad' experiences with
> Trendsource and have done a number of business
> evaluation visits but they only pay from $17 -$23
> for these and the customer is chanrged $100. for
> the visit - seems like I should get more money
> since I have to buy the gas.


How do you know what the customer is charged, wonderduck?

Sorry to hear of your difficulties with "Trensource". If you feel uncomfortable providing a copy of your "DL" , tell them that you would prefer to fax them a copy rather than send it over the net. You probably will also be uncomfortable providing your social security number. If you are then look for the link on their site to apply for and "EIN". This will keep your soc# out of the mix and keep your identity
nebulous.

I have been completing assignments for Trendsource for over 5 years and have never had a problem.

AustinMom: They charge that amount roughly. One time I got bored and I researched one of the clients and they had on their website the "Inspection Fee". I don't remember the actual number but I think it was 3x the fee paid.

I have worked for them for many years but they have lost a major client in my area and only have pizza shops.

Some issues I have had are: asking for verification of a name that is already on the form. For instance: Instructions say locate A. I locate A and indicated A is available. Then I turn in my form and am asked for clarification - Please verify it was A. Ridiculous !

Or if you sign up for a shop that says "this shop is in your delivery area". You accept the shop, make the call on the specified day and they tell you they are not in your delivery area. You have done 1/3 of the work asked of you and yet not only do you not get paid but not even a nominal fee for doing some work.

Their jobs are low paying but times are hard and some work is better than none to me.

I have to say, I have had really good experiences with Trend Source. I have done shops for them since December of last year. I have had to clarify a few things on my reports, but I have always been paid quickly. I have also received some nicely bonused shops, when I have agreed to take multiple locations.

I just checked I did a couple of jobs for them the one was a drive 45 miles to and from,the other was 57 miles to and from, no bonus. They deducted a dollar because they asked me to clarify.

I've learned a new term on the Internet this summer, it is "cyberslavery"... it is when anyone takes advantage of workers on the Internet. Your's is a classic example as is any work where one is paid less than the federal minimum wage.

More and more mystery shopping companies are active participants in cyberslavery--using any excuse to deduct from what they pay out.

However, we are independently contracted... and it is choice. Lesson learned, move on to mystery shopping companies that rise above cyberslavery.



marylo37 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just checked I did a couple of jobs for them the
> one was a drive 45 miles to and from,the other was
> 57 miles to and from, no bonus. They deducted a
> dollar because they asked me to clarify.

I wish people would not assume that everyone works in a market where jobs are plentiful and pay well.

Do you honestly think folks would drive 45 miles to a job that pays less than minimum wage (as you say) if they had options ?

Gimme a break.




Ms.Baker Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've learned a new term on the Internet this
> summer, it is "cyberslavery"... it is when anyone
> takes advantage of workers on the Internet.
> Your's is a classic example as is any work where
> one is paid less than the federal minimum wage.
>
> More and more mystery shopping companies are
> active participants in cyberslavery--using any
> excuse to deduct from what they pay out.
>
> However, we are independently contracted... and it
> is choice. Lesson learned, move on to mystery
> shopping companies that rise above cyberslavery.
>
>
>
>
> marylo37 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I just checked I did a couple of jobs for them
> the
> > one was a drive 45 miles to and from,the other
> was
> > 57 miles to and from, no bonus. They deducted a
> > dollar because they asked me to clarify.

But what kind of option is that? It's a good idea to understand what the true and often hidden cost of doing that job is and then decide accordingly because it could very well be costing you money. Even if you make a couple of bucks, what other productive activities were sacrificed?

There could also be intangible benefits such as building a relationship with a scheduler or company. Then you need to be sure it is a company that will recognize your sacrifice and reward you accordingly. There is certainly no appreciation being shown if the company enforces deductions to a fee which is already pitiful.

If there aren't any other shops available and you need the money and experience, let the person take the job ! I just can't with you people !

There have been days I badly needed that $10 when there was nothing else for me to do and you guys are going to sit up on the computer and claim someone is ruining it for other shoppers ! Ridiculous !

I shop for me and my family and no one else. You can call it pitiful if you want but if I need the money and nothing else is available, at least I got paid.

@frodosdojo, i hate to be the one to tell you, but if you drove 45 miles one way to do one job that pays $10, you lost money.

You didn't read my post. I said you need to be aware of how much you are really making or if you are making any money. If you need the $10 and can make that, fine. If you find the job cost you $10 in gas, ink and paper, you would have been better off staying home and saving the wear and tear on your car.

I also said it is sometimes good to take the jobs to build relationships. What I said was pitiful are Trendsource's fees and their tendency toward taking financial deductions on top of that. If you already have a low profit margin, that deduction could make the difference between making something and making nothing. The worse someone's financial situation is, the more reason they have for not wanting to lose money.

techman01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @frodosdojo, i hate to be the one to tell you, but
> if you drove 45 miles one way to do one job that
> pays $10, you lost money.

Well, it would be my money,wouldn't it ? And if I chose to do it, it's my choice and I'm not going to be held responsible for the entire mystery shopping community because I chose to do it.

Who's holding you responsible for the entire mystery shopping community? If you want to take pay the mystery shopping companies to let you work for them, it is absolutely your choice. Just don't think any of us are going to jump on that bandwagon and advise others to follow suit.

there have been discussions on this board where shoppers who take low paying assignments have been run down for it. I just don't think anyone here has the right to say who should take which shop. Everyone has there reasons and sometimes that reason may turn out to be a mistake.

I was responding to the poster who called it cyberslavery but then you and techman jumped on me. I don't share a lot of the "popular" opinions on this board but I'm not going to be quiet either if I don't agree with you. No one asked you to be on my "bandwagon" so to speak.

How is pointing out some costs of doing business jumping on you? Neither was the posting regarding cyberslavery. Why the heck are you taking everything on this thread so damn personally?

I find that certain posters on this forum to be less than welcoming/helpful who post quite often with an air of judgement. You can infer from my posts what you want, but I stated my opinion and I could care less how you take it.

@frodosdojo: You are correct that you can ignore what people say here. You do not have to try and better your shopping skills or abilities. No one is forcing you too and you can keep repeating the same mistakes if you want. The msc's won't mind you taking jobs for less then their cost to you.

However, for the rest of us there is strength in numbers. This forum is and will continue to be a community of shoppers that share ideas, techniques and other info with each other so that everyone can do better and learn as a whole.

If you take things on a public forum personally, it seems as though you may have some deeper issues with yourself that you need to get taken care of.

@techman

That is really low down and nasty to suggest someone has issues because they don't kiss your behind and agree with your posts. You know what you can do with your so called analysis of me.

The people on this forum are hardly saints and you have proven to me your are definitely not. You think your anonymity gives you the right to be nasty and condescending but I will call you out if you direct it at me.

^your response proves my point exactly.

As does yours, your holiness. NOT.

Here is my two cents. I personally will not do a shop for $4.00. Mystery Shoppping company you know who are.

I think the point they're trying to make is that accepting these low paying shops drives down the wages as a whole. If you want to take these shops, it's your choice. But in long term you undercutting yourself and other shoppers.