Since I am new to mystery shopping I thought I would ask here incase I am not understanding before I email them.

I did a restaurant for BestMark and I was suppose to be paid $22.00 but when I login and go to "shop history" I see it in the list of jobs but it states Amount $9.29

I was contacted about fixing the empty comment boxes I was under the impression I only had to fill out comment boxes for negative ratings to follow up. So did they deduct my pay because of this? I am new... If so I won't be doing another job for them again. Not to mention I guess firefox doesn't work well for them but I did not know that. When they contacted me to redo I did on IE

They don't have any restaurant jobs here, so I have no clue what particular shop you might be referring to. However, they have very specific things for which they deduct, very specific percentages and/or $ amounts that are deducted, and they also deduct per day for some of these things. They have spelled all this out in no uncertain terms in their shopper agreement. You should review the agreement on their site so you are clear about what you are contracting to do and what they are contracting to do.

BestMark is really going down hill fast/// IMHO...They seem to have lost all accounts for well known hardware stores.
Plus now they no longer allow you to do more than one shop per day..Which really stinks for myself. I used to do 3-4 shops in one day to make it worth my gas money and time. They also now block out a lot of shops and only seem to dole those ones out to certain people..Their phone shops seem to be far and few.

They are getting really picky about the manner in which reports re done..Also the rules seem to be made up as they go along..They change things but don't tell everyone until after the fact..Like if you did a Friday/Sat/Sun shop you had until 10 am on Monday to submit..No longer...

Ihope you find out the big difference in pay.

Thanks for your sharing

FLLDYTRKR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BestMark is really going down hill fast///
> IMHO...They seem to have lost all accounts for
> well known hardware stores.

This happened earlier this year. It has been with another company for several months.

> Plus now they no longer allow you to do more than
> one shop per day..Which really stinks for myself.

When did this happen? I just did two coffee places in the same hotel on the same day with their knowledge and permission.

> They also now block out a
> lot of shops and only seem to dole those ones out
> to certain people..

They have always done this. "The fun shops" always went to those who did the painful shops. Unfortunately, the biggest fun of the fun shops did not open here until after that carrot went away. It was a big drag for me because my scheduler had already let me know I was first on the list here for that shop.

> Their phone shops seem to be
> far and few.

They only had one here, and that is the HW store, so that left when the HW store left.
>
> They are getting really picky about the manner in
> which reports re done..Also the rules seem to be
> made up as they go along..They change things but
> don't tell everyone until after the fact..Like if
> you did a Friday/Sat/Sun shop you had until 10 am
> on Monday to submit..No longer...

My time zone is 5-6 hours behind theirs (depending on whether or not they are under DST or CST) and it gives me LESS time than many of their contractors have to report. I have done many shops on Friday or Saturday and have never had until Monday at 10 am to report them. I have never had past 10 am CST the following day without an extension and penalty.
>
> Ihope you find out the big difference in pay.

? I did not understand what you meant by this. They have been very clear what they penalize for, and except for LM bonuses, have never paid well. They do pay like clockwork, and my scheduler is very nice. I do not plan a schedule around their jobs, I plug their jobs in to places I am already going.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2009 09:15PM by dee shops.

Bestmark does do some restaurant shops but not that many anymore, I would be surprised if they lose some of those restaurant accounts also.


On a different note it seems like so many businesses keep switching mystery shopping companies so it is hard to keep out with shops that were previously done.

And the season for many to change again (or stop altogether, given the economy...) is upon us. Many change around January. You have to be systematic to track it all-take notes in a formalized manner when you see others talking about shops you want even if not near you. Otherwise it is like trying to catch a flame in the wind. :-)

They want the sun, the moon and the stars above for $10.00. They pay nothing for a lot and then complain about it. Don't these mystery shops know the price of gas is going up, up, up! Don't waste your time with Best Mark!

I do like knowing that when I do a job for Betmark, that payment will come in two weeks like clockwork. They have a restaurant shop that has a lot of locations in my area that I like to do. They could definitely be more generous.

In my area Bestmark offers Restaurant shops but restricts them to a lower age group. I guess old folks can't eat a hamburger. I found better hamburgers to eat. No Loss. They do Casios in Atlantic City but you have to be going there to do them. They do not pay you to make the trip.

I love the restaurant shops, and they just picked up a haircut place that Secret Shopper had for many, many years. I am trying that for the first time today. I know that my directions say very clearly "Narrative is required in a sections"- and the quiz they make you take says that also, and that you MUST comment, good or bad. but yes, they are WAY too picky, critial, God-like and will deduct $2.00 for each and every tiny mistake. I make sure to re-read my reports every time.

BestMark is known to use every trick in the book to dock your pay. Of course they will fix few errors and use your reports.

I have fired them.

I've only been shopping for a few months, and I've hooked in with four or five companies. So far, BestMark is the only one that's paid me anything, and they are on time, every time.

I have a very soft spot in my heart for Bestmark, as they were the first company I ever worked for. Sure, their narrative is excessive, but if you do the same types of shops, you often can answer many very similarly. (I mean about cleanliness, etc., of course not individual service).

I know many don't like Bestmark but I've never had a problem with them and I've never been docked pay. I miss their "fun" shops like crazy and I rarely did one of the other shops to get a fun one. They still have restaurant shops in my area and I see phone and Internet shops when I'm in rotation.

Gotta try to remember about the IE/FireFox thing as I use FireFox more. Anyone know how well they do with Google Chrome?

Did anyone see their new site yet? Not sure yet if I like it, but it's definitely new.

Yea I checked out the new site...I like it more than the old version. I don't mind Bestmark. I don't do many shops for them but I enjoy adding the easy phone shops when available. I also enjoy the car dealer visits...yes, it's too much work for too little pay, but I like looking at new cars, haha. It's a real treat when they get bonused but that is very rare.

I like their new site better also. Today I did my first recorded call for them. You have to click a link on the website, put in your phone number and the system calls you. I made the call without a problem. The audio file was supposed to be accessible when filling out the report, but I keep getting error messages when I click on the call link. I didn't take any notes because I thought I'd be able to listen to the call again! I emailed tech support.

Their shops don't pay well and they expect a lot for the low pay, but they do pay out regularly.

I didn't realize they had changed the website. After going in to see if my profile was current imagine the surprise at finding there are no languages that I speak

I didn't know they had changed their site either. Logged with, with Firefox, and was relieved to see that I was fluent in English

I haven't used them since they stiffed me on a reimbursement. Got full pay for the shop but no reimbursement.

jersen8v Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I like their new site better also. Today I did my
> first recorded call for them. You have to click a
> link on the website, put in your phone number and
> the system calls you. I made the call without a
> problem. The audio file was supposed to be
> accessible when filling out the report, but I keep
> getting error messages when I click on the call
> link. I didn't take any notes because I thought
> I'd be able to listen to the call again! I
> emailed tech support.
>
> Their shops don't pay well and they expect a lot



Does anyone know about the legalities of the taped phone calls? I did one yesterday, and have performed several others.
> for the low pay, but they do pay out regularly.

57carol -- My belief is that the taped phone calls are o.k. because they probably are told that their phone calls are or may be taped. However, I'm not so sure about the legal liability for on-site video and recorded shops because the employee has not given their permission for us to record them and I believe that is the law. And, since we indemnify the MS when we sign up, I don't want to be dragged into court by someone who has lost their job because I videotaped them.

As walesmaven has pointed out, it is not the video that is at issue, it is the audio whether with an audio only recorder or a video recorder. Regardless, there are states which do not require two party consent. The standard for the businesses using video is that the employee agrees to the possibility when they are hired. Video cameras are much more prevalent than people realize because so many businesses use security cameras now. We are all being taped all of the time.

As far as someone losing a job, that would be more likely to happen because of security cameras than a video shopper. Video shops are used as training tools, not to play "gotcha."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/2012 04:05PM by LisaSTL.

Lisa -- I get that the shops aren't used as "gotchas," however, having worked as a litigation secretary for many, many years, I know how ridiculous people can be. I'd rather not have to deal with any kind of liability we have indemnified the MS companies.

>>>>>>
> Video shops are used as training
> tools, not to play "gotcha."

How about preforming a "hidden" video shop, and instead of payment of services, You inform the service provider with a letter--->"You have just been shopped."

A successful shop pays $75 fee. (There is no reimbursement.) But what if the provider does not like your form of payment? Supposed they called the police. :-(

Would this be considered training or I gothcha?

This was not Bestmark but it is a current shop for a MSC.

I know which one you're talking about. I didn't know what to do when the shop was finished because they didn't charge me for a consultation.

Taping laws vary by state. Some states both parties have to agree to it and in others, only one party does. It can get tricky when doing shops in other states. However, when being hired, many employees have to sign off acknowledging they know they are or could be taped. Plus the MSPs make sure they've gotten verification from the clients so they're not responsible.

If you're worried, you could always say, "Thank you for answering my call. For quality assurance, this call may be recorded." I wonder what they'd say if they heard that. LOL