I agree as a shopper if you know he owes people from years ago- why would any sane person take a job from him?

I'm curious why a shopper would register on the forum, search out this thread, and make her first post encouraging others to give another chance to someone who has not paid his shoppers.

I'm interested in hearing from elynbeth, jrossetti, charlhenri, Hairballs, jackaroe, and others who were not paid. Let's hear from some longtime shoppers. Has Mark come back and paid you?

mtaggart hit the nail on the head - why would any sane person take a job from a company known for not paying shoppers?

The only way for Mark to redeem himself is not by paying new shoppers up front. He could start by paying all those he already owes, shoppers and schedulers. Then if he can find a few people willing to take a chance he will have to pay them promptly. That way he MAY eventually be able to regain trust. His is not the only company that has experienced cash flow problems. Some have been much more transparent, maintained excellent communication about their problems, paid as soon as they could and gone on to have an excellent reputation.

I was eventually paid for every shop. The last shop was due to be paid on 12/18/2014. On 6/4/2015 I threatened a complaint to the Attorney General in his state. I was then paid the next day. You can see this problem has been going on for a long, long time.

Well, when I'm dead and gone, at least this thread will still be active....

Mmm No I still haven't been paid. Kudos to the shopper who managed to sign up recently and get paid, but why didn't we get paid first (the ones that are owed money!). I did the shop a year ago!

I still have not been paid from June 2014! I can't type how I really feel about Mark!

Only shoppers being paid are the ones he wants to use for current shops. He's not paying past shoppers not willing to work for him again. It's just SO wrong. Not sure who posted about the Senior Living shops, but perhaps a "plant" to get him going again? IDK, the one that is saying to "trust Mark" has not responded since the post and that was their first and only post. Seems fishy to say the least.

Does any one know who the person Was that wrote about getting half paid and asking us to give Mark a second chance is??? But more important has a list ever been made of all the shoppers he owes money to and the amounts ever been made?? I'd be interested in seeing that list. He owed me nearly $2000. I had to write him a certified letter stating what I'd do if I wasn't paid. I sent messages on his social network pages also. He realized I was serious and finally paid. But it should never take that! Never!! If we could come up with a list of those waiting payment- I'd be glad to see where all I could send it in hopes that people get paid.

Even if you could come up with that list of people who are on this Forum (and have them be willing to have their real names posted somewhere which would out them as a shopper), I suspect that this Forum is just the tip of the iceberg, with 90% of all shoppers not knowing that this Forum exists.

@mtaggart2011 wrote:

But more important has a list ever been made of all the shoppers he owes money to and the amounts ever been made?? I'd be interested in seeing that list. ,,, If we could come up with a list of those waiting payment- I'd be glad to see where all I could send it in hopes that people get paid.

I'm not sure how effective a list would be anyway. We are each small business owners and probably need to address the situation as individuals. Complaints can be filed with the Attorney General in the state where his business is located.

@Moneynowee wrote:

I just did 11 Assisted Living shops for Mark two weeks ago and was paid half of it today with the promise that within the week I will get my other half
I was very skeptical after reading on the reviews but I believe Mark has changed or let's hope so
So far I'm very pleased with Mark and I feel you need to give him another chance we all learn from our mistakes

Huh?...promised full payment up front....paid half....did shops....promised other half within a week?.... Mark Twain had advised us to know the whole truth before twisting it, and not to let formal schooling get in the way of our education.....If you REALLY ARE a shopper and did the shops by that scenario, good luck with that, or maybe we will see you on Judge Judy. But if you are really Mark Bray(he being the only one around here who could possibly pleased with himself), why break your own promise of full payment up front AND ADVERTISE the fact?... Duh!...Those with thinner skin would be justified in feeling that their intelligence had been insulted....

Would it really be Mark himself!!!!?????

File a complaint, Roy Cooper don't play.

I honestly do not understand why anyone would still be accepting work from Instant-Replays. If you really believe that you are going to be pre-paid for shops, then I have some Bank of Nigeria non-scam money orders that I need for you to cash in at your local bank.

After hearing from Jan again to try to get me to do a shop a few months ago, I was paid for the shops from April 2015. In my dealings with them, I implied that I might be willing to consider more work if I was paid for the old work. That was a strategic lie to get them to pay me. I am not even remotely ashamed of it, because Mark Bray is a con-man as far as I am concerned. I would not even consider working for him again.

The newbie shoppers seem to be highly targeted by Instant Replays to get their shops done. The ones that were previously shoppers with them should know better than to work for IR, given their current business practices of "work for me now, and I'll pay you sometime close to never."

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/30/2016 11:57PM by Eric in Tampa.

@Moneynowee wrote:

I just did 11 Assisted Living shops for Mark two weeks ago and was paid half of it today with the promise that within the week I will get my other half
I was very skeptical after reading on the reviews but I believe Mark has changed or let's hope so
So far I'm very pleased with Mark and I feel you need to give him another chance we all learn from our mistakes

Since moneynowee never came back after searching out the forum and registering to tell us how pleased he was with Mark, we can't know whether he was actually paid and if he is still "very pleased" with Mark. I personally think moneynowee is either a shill or Mark himself. I feel sad that newbies might be taken in by this.

It would not be the first time that we have had a phantom, one time, poster praising him!

Beware of new plea from Instant Replays and Mark Bray! Just received.

On Thursday, August 4, 2016 2:51 PM, "mark@instant-replays.net" <mark@instant-replays.net> wrote:

Hello,
I am writing you to ask a really big favor for Instant-Replays and our Clients. As you may be aware, we ran into some very rough times over the past few years. We are trying hard to get back on track and are finally making some progress. I have even put my personal monies into the business to keep the doors open. Our intentions, are and have always been to pay our current shoppers and pay shoppers in arrears. The only way we can do this is to conduct shops. This is where we need your help.
If you agree to do the shops for us, we will pay in advance for your services and use the remaining payment from client to pay past due shoppers. This would be the amount of monies left after paying you and the IR staff (coordinator, reviewer, and production). I would let you know in advance how much that would be and provide details of whom the payments went to.
We have had good luck recently using this strategy and I would be happy to provide shoppers for reference.
I thank you in advance for your consideration and would appreciate your response yay or nay. Additionally, I would be happy to get on the phone with you personally to answer any questions.

Respectfully,

Mark Bray

WTF. He would be happy to provide details of whom the payments went to? Did I totally misinterpret what was said or is he offering the give the names of shoppers he is paying off to new shoppers?

I did want to add this. If he would truly use new revenue to pay monies owed to shoppers, I would be willing to takes shops to that end. He would have to pay both upfront so I'm not sure exactly how that would work out for him.

What about the 5K he owed to Kathy, the scheduler who left when she saw the writing on the wall and tried warning everybody? If she gets her money, then maybe, but probably not......

Kathy left in 9/2014 and was owed around $6K. She has received one payment of $400 towards debt.
California shopper still owed over $2K from shops in 2013 and 2014.
Illinois shopper was paid in June of 2015 for past debt from 2014 of $450 (because Mark needed shops performed!), then shopper was given new shops for same client - and never paid those new fees of $450. Not only was that IL shopper never paid for his shops in 2015, but the very same shops have since been performed again by another shopper just a week or so ago. Newbie, too. So sad. You know money has been received from the client for the three rounds of shops, right?

I've heard there were around 175 debt stories which range between $35.00 and $4000.00; you have now heard 4 of them.