It wasn't that long ago that I was a new shopper. But nobody would tell me what companies were the best for me, because it is all subjective.

Here are the 4 best, and 4 worst MSCs. These are the best companies for you. Join these companies and you won't be sorry you took the time to fill out an application.

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4 Best Companies

Bare International
Good Editors. New shoppers have access to bonused shops. I've seen bonuses as high as $75 for new shoppers. Pays by Direct Deposit.

Market Force
Reason: Simple reports. Can self-assign. You can eat all month at restaurants and get your food costs reimbursed on the 10th of the following month. Good bonuses offerred for shops typically beginning during the third week of the month. Pays by Direct Deposit on the 10th. Their job board is easy to navigate. But avoid their gas station audits, which can be difficult.

GFK
Reason: Pays 12-14 days after shop approval. Many smartphone shops available, which are good shops to do because there is no out-of-pocket expenses. GFK is the 4th largest company of its kind in the world.

Maritz
Pays by check on the 1st and the 15th and pays on-time. Good support and helpdesk for shoppers to call and talk to real people. New shoppers have access to do the same high-bonus shops as do veteran shoppers.

-----------------------------

Four Companies for New Shoppers to Avoid.

A Closer Look
Reason: Only reimburses you for meals. No fee. Just food. Their reports remind you that nothing is really free. But some shoppers recommend them for their hotel shops. Wait to gain experience before you attempt their shops if you decide to join.

Coyle Hospitality
Reason: Reports take hours to complete (up to 4 hours for well-practiced shoppers). Only worth it if you can't afford to eat at good restaurants. Or if you dream of eating at good restaurants and are willing to shell out $-$$ for a meal out-of-pocket in hopes of getting reimbursed if and only if your report is accepted. If they reject your report you are out the $200 you paid for your fine-dining experience. This is a bad company for new shoppers.

Intellishop
Reason: Editors are hyper-critical. They will pick apart your reports. It's not a good feeling when someone is hyper-critical of your grammar or syntax. They punish new shoppers who flake for any reason by giving them what they call a "flake citation." This isn't cool to shame and humiliate a shopper. They will pay on-time on about the 20th. Wait to join this company after you've gained some experience with dealing with schedulers on the phone with Maritz, and have developed a thick-skin and know how to protect yourself at this company.

Trendsource
Reason: Requires an EIN from the IRS. Low paying jobs for the trouble of getting an EIN. Wants you to get an EIN because they want nothing to do with you if you are injured doing a shop for them. Must upload your Driver's License (but you can white out the DL# to slow down identity thieves). They will hand your picture out to their clients. The EIN requirement is why this MSC is best-suited to shoppers who are serious about shopping.



Edited 13 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2014 05:24PM by aggiejim72.

Here's why this question is so subjective; Coyle and ACL are in my top 5 MSCs. Your commentary is not accurate. I get paid for the dining assignments I of for ACL, and reimbursed thousands for the Coyle shops. Sometimes for just a few hours of work. All of your favorites are also on my do-not-shop-for list.

This is simply a list of companies that work for you…not all shoppers.

I'm curious as to why Intellishop keeps being put on the slow pay list. They shortened their terms from 60 days to 30 days and are paying faster than some other 30 day companies since it is usually between the 18th and 21st rather than the last day of the month.

My only gripe with Intellishop is some of their video shops now have reports.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2014 09:42PM by LisaSTL.

SteveSoCal Wrote:
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>All of your favorites are also on my do-not-shop-for list.

This is a list for new shoppers. You clearly are not a new shopper as you say you won't shop for MF. That labels you as a likely hardcore long-time mystery shopper. But this list is for new shoppers. New shoppers won't get the jobs from Coyle that you say you get. New shoppers will be forced to run on the treadmill to earn the top shops.

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> I'm curious as to why Intellishop keeps being put
> on the slow pay list. They shortened their terms
> from 60 days to 30 days and are paying faster than
> some other 30 day companies since it is usually
> between the 18th and 21st rather than the last day
> of the month.

It's been awhile since I shopped for Intelli-shop, and I didn't know that they pay faster now. But I don't recommend them to new shoppers because of their editors. Some shoppers might be offended by the comments that the editors make. So I thought it is better to have good experiences when starting out.

aggiejim, I was with you until TrendSource. They pay like clockwork, twice a month and are very easy to work with. I'm concerned that you made the overstatement that TrendSource "Requires an EIN from the IRS. Low paying jobs for the trouble of getting an EIN." The EIN requirement costs the shopper zilch and takes, at the most, a few minutes to apply for.

(heart)

stilllearning Wrote:
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> aggiejim, I was with you until TrendSource. They
> pay like clockwork, twice a month and are very
> easy to work with. I'm concerned that you made the
> overstatement that TrendSource "Requires an EIN
> from the IRS. Low paying jobs for the trouble of
> getting an EIN." The EIN requirement costs the
> shopper zilch and takes, at the most, a few
> minutes to apply for.

stilllearning, I am also a member of Trendsource and I like this company. But new shoppers might be intimidated by the EIN requirement and the Driver's License requirement. So I suggested that they stay away. Trendsource is a good company for professional shoppers and too many new shoppers don't even know if they will stick with it to get good at it. So I selected Trendsource as a company to stay away from when you are new. Also they will reject shops at the drop of a hat if you don't know what you are doing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2014 09:56PM by aggiejim72.

aggiejim72 Wrote:
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> Here are the 4 best, and 4 worst MSCs.

I think in that case, you need to add, "...for shoppers who are starting out simply want to get paid quickly with a minimum effort."

You have to jump on the treadmill at some point if you want to make it to the top. Also, the ability to get in with many companies is really dependent on your location.

I am not going to argue about Intellishop editors being difficult at times. For that reason I wouldn't necessarily recommend a newbie. When I started they were not nearly as harsh or demanding as they seem to be now. After all these years of knowing what they want, most of my shops are 10s. If I was just starting with them that would not be the case.

SteveSoCal Wrote:
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> "...for
> shoppers who are starting out simply want to get
> paid quickly with a minimum effort."

Added as a qualification to my list for new shoppers. Hope this list helps new shoppers. They need all the help they can get.

Interestingly, Coyle was the first mystery shop I ever worked for. I heard about cruise mystery shoppers on the radio and looked it up. I signed up and got accepted, got assigned two restaurant shops the first month and never looked back. I have since ventured out to other companies but I remain the most active with Coyle...

Fair point, aggiejim, as long as you take Steve's advice, where he suggested you need to add, "for shoppers who are starting out simply want to get paid quickly with a minimum effort."

In a little over two years, I have done almost 30 BVs for TrendSource and other assorted shops, including the dreaded pizza one, and have n-e-v-e-r had a shop rejected....even, at the beginning, when I didn't know what I was doing.

(heart)

aggiejim72 Wrote:
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> Four Companies to Avoid.
> Run from these companies and don't look back.

Yeah…that's much more objective

If you are in Texas, your opportunities with Coyle are limited and it may be a long/slow and potentially painful process to get situated for the best shops. If you are in Phoenix or NYC and don't mind putting in a few hours of work in exchange for a great meal, then you would be a better fit for Coyle.

Maritz takes forever to approve you the first time. They also do not allow you to self assign until you prove yourself which varies. The web site is slow to put it nicely. I signed with them when I first started and it took me a long time to do a shop because of the approval process.

Bare... I don't particularly like them, the reimbursements for some of their shops are not enough to bother (in some cases not even enough to cover the shop) and the narratives on every single thing kill me, but, I do a good number of shops with them.

Coyle, well, the narratives kill me but they have AWESOME shops and pay fairly. Yes, you have to work hard and prove yourself by doing a lot of little shops at first but the end result is soooooooooooooooooo worth it.

Trendsource, easy, easy, easy and one of my top companies from the beginning. The EIN costs nothing and is instantly assigned online with a short survey (no narrative either.)

There has been so many issues in this forum I steer clear of GFK at least until they offer a shop that I want to do, then at least if I don't get paid, have to chase payment or find the report horrible it won't be bad because I did some thing I wanted to do anyway.

Haven't done much for Intelli because they offer shops I prefer not to do. The few I have done have been fine and I had no problems with it, beginning to end.

I am fine with Market Force and they are fine with me (for now.) I only had one problem and it was worked out professionally between quality control and I with a win, win for everyone. Reports can get tedious but I like what they have to offer.

A Closer Look is fine with me, although they have very little that I want to do.

Overall, this was a great post not just in the way it was worded and trying to be helpful but it will also allow new shoppers to see how much opinions vary from shopper to shopper.

Thanks for the input.

Goes to show how subjective it is. I've shopped since 2008 and I have started three family members on the mystery shopping path. I would totally not recommend Maritz or Bare to a new shopper. I don't NOT recommend them, but they would not be among my top ten choices for a new shopper. ACL was one of my first (I signed up alphabetically by the below list) and I thought they were a great training company for a newbie.

I guess, as has been said many times, determining "the best" is too subjective. Any list provided is just one person's opinion.

EIN took me less than 5 minutes to get. I started with Trendsource and found them great.

AustinMom Wrote:
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> I would totally not recommend Maritz or Bare to a new shopper. I
> don't NOT recommend them, but they would not be
> among my top ten choices for a new shopper.

But Bare has those shipping service shops that are sometimes bonused and these shops are good for a new shopper especially when bonused. Last month I picked up a $45 shipping service shop and several more that paid $30 and many that paid $17.50. And Bare let's new shoppers self-assign soon after joining. That's why I recommend them. But I have never done any other type of shop for Bare.

This thread is proof that the general consensus here not to try to recommend "best" companies to anyone is a valid one.

Your bests and worsts are other people's worsts and bests.

Most of us prefer to point the newbies to the list at the bottom of this page, let them stick their toes into whatever waters appeal to them, learn from their mistakes (and from the mistakes of others, by reading the forum), and don't try to spoon-feed them the answers. There's a good reason for that.

This industry is such a huge example of "your mileage may vary" that it's an exercise in futility to try to steer people to what you think they need.

I think the shop type is more important than the company when a newbie is starting out. It takes time to build skills. A first shop should require no timing and no descriptions. A certain Maritz bank shop fits that description. Five minute shop, six question report. Pictures you take at home. You learn how to resize and upload at home, not on the shop. You learn to follow directions when you get reminded to write that shop number on things before photographing them. You learn to look out for your own bottom line when you're reminded you have to submit that invoice to get paid.

Other Maritz shops are gas station shops with a 30 page book of instructions to read, 20 or more photos to take, interactions, descriptions, observations, receipts, greeting quotes.

Still think "Maritz" is a good company for a newbie? Or is it only good if the newbie picks the right shops?

I agree with dspeakes, the list at the bottom, sign and look at what is offered in your area. If the newbies have a question about a particular shop they can ask or do a search.

Another personal example...

I don't care how easy the bank shops are, I hate them. I will do them because this is a job but.... I hate them.

Gas stations on the other hand. I have done so many that I am in and out in 15 or less and my reports are done in another 15 or less. Practice makes perfect.

Another thing about Maritz that I find annoying.... having to submit a whole separate invoice and if you don't submit that invoice you don't get paid.

They are not the only one but I do find the process of filling the invoice more invasive than other platforms.

aggiejim72 Wrote:
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> Trendsource
> Reason: Requires an EIN from the IRS. Low paying
> jobs for the trouble of getting an EIN. Wants you
> to get an EIN because they want nothing to do with
> you if you are injured doing a shop for them. Must
> upload your Driver's License. They will hand your
> picture out to their clients.

I have to say I was happy to get an EIN. I use it for all the companies I sign up for. After reading other posts about scammers getting our info somehow from MSCs and sending bogus cashier's checks, I see an EIN as an added layer of security. It took about ten minutes to apply online, but you do have to apply during certain hours on weekdays - not a big deal. Also, I like TrendSource's business verifications. These usually pay well and might be better for people who are nervous about going under cover for mystery shops. I also like their option to request distance pay. If I see a good job in a nearby town, I don't have to wait for a decent bonus to come up to make it worth my trip; I just make a distance pay request and, so far, they have granted them. I can build a route out of a decent BV with some distance pay added.

I also think TrendSource is leading the way with their mobile app. I can easily check on jobs, request jobs, or even check into a location without having to buy a pack of gum somewhere and asking for a receipt.

Intellishop, because I get my oil changed monthly

Ardent Services, I like to eat.

CSE, Love their golf shops

Dataquest and Trendsource, valet parking in Boston

You want to talk about slow paying? I did a shop for Service Sleuth in May and still haven't been paid....it's 60 days after the last day of the the month you did the shop so I did the shop on May 2, the clock doesn't even start running until June! I am still awaiting payment.

Intellishop is one of the quicker payers now and I have never had an issue with them.

It took Maritz almost a month to pay me for those DIY bonused shops. I love A Closer Look and Coyle.

For the love of god, Sentry has low paying shops requiring long narratives, they are rarely bonused, and they take FOREVER pay.

The consensus seems to be that Market Force is the best company for a new shopper. That much is agreed on. Market Force was smart to eliminate narratives in their reports. This MSC uses a company called GAVS to run all of their computer systems. Market Force didn't have the talent to build the system that they have so they paid one of the the best IT company's in the world. So Market Force, by creating a simple reporting structure, can attract the most shoppers and keep them, which allows MF to serve their clients while keeping their shopper pay low due to the high demand. In 2012 MF hired the same person that built Microsoft's India operation, and this person put MF with GAVS.

I've found it takes 1 hour from start to finish to locate a company to join after doing some research, then joining the MSC, then looking at their board only to learn that they have no jobs in my area. There are perhaps 25 MSCs that I've joined off the list at this site, so 25 hours spent to find no work in my area. Is there no better way to find MSCs with local work?

Trendsource's EIN requirement also means that you have to be more intimate with the IRS. I know this because I sent this new form to the IRS when I changed my address. The EIN increased my paperwork. Not a big deal, but this is why new shoppers might want to wait to get experience before they join Trendsource.

"As previously reported, the IRS in May 2013 issued final regulations (T.D. 9617) requiring any person assigned an employer identification number (EIN) to provide updated responsible-party information to the IRS (see News Notes, “Final Regs. Require EIN Holders to Update Information With IRS,” 44 The Tax Adviser 426 (July 2013)).

The IRS has since released revised Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party—Business, for this purpose, as well as instructions stipulating the manner and frequency with which such information must be provided.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, entities with an EIN must file Form 8822-B, completing boxes 8a through 9b to report any changes in their responsible-party information.

I started shopping with Coyle. I almost didn't because everyone here scared me so much about starting with them. I got a perfect score by my second shop. I say this not to brag, but to let other newbies know you CAN start with Coyle (if you are accepted).

But as the original poster alluded, reports must be perfectly formatted and edited, and you must expect to spend 4 hours on reports with considerable novel-length narratives.

aggiejim72 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Trendsource's EIN requirement also means that you
> have to be more intimate with the IRS. I know this
> because I sent this new form to the IRS when I
> changed my address. The EIN increased my
> paperwork. Not a big deal, but this is why new
> shoppers might want to wait to get experience
> before they join Trendsource.
>
> "As previously reported, the IRS in May 2013
> issued final regulations (T.D. 9617) requiring any
> person assigned an employer identification number
> (EIN) to provide updated responsible-party
> information to the IRS (see News Notes, “Final
> Regs. Require EIN Holders to Update Information
> With IRS,” 44 The Tax Adviser 426 (July 2013)).
>
> The IRS has since released revised Form 8822-B,
> Change of Address or Responsible Party—Business,
> for this purpose, as well as instructions
> stipulating the manner and frequency with which
> such information must be provided.
>
> Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, entities with an EIN must
> file Form 8822-B, completing boxes 8a through 9b
> to report any changes in their responsible-party
> information.


Not exactly.

"Last year, the IRS updated the regulations under Code Section 6109 to require an entity with an EIN to report change in the entity’s “responsible party.” Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business, is the form used to report these changes. The filing became mandatory with respect to responsible party changes, and voluntary with respect to mailing address changes, effective January 1, 2014. " [www.employeebenefitslawreport.com]

As sole proprietors with an EIN, there would never be a change in the "responsible party." Address change reporting is voluntary. So this law change does not add any burden to a mystery shopper with an EIN for mystery shopping.

This affects companies with employees, boards of directors, etc., where responsibility for the tax matters might change from Joe Blow to Jane Doe when Joe Blow retires and Jane Doe takes over the tax returns. The entity remains the same, but the name to whom the IRS would send notices of an audit, for instance, might change.

dspeakes thank for the clarification. I'm always hyper-vigilant when I'm dealing with the IRS, and am over-cautious.

I actually started with Intellishop. I was recruited by the manufacturer of my vehicle to do a dealership service shop...the rest is history.

I have set a friend or two on the mystery shopping path and I recommended ICCDS and MF as a good starting off point.