Some of the highest ranking firms on that list do absolutely no MS and very little market research. For instance, Westat is one of the largest social science survey firms in the US. They do not do MS and their business is almost entirely large surveys and testing for the US Depts of Education, and the NIH. I worked for them for years and have a great friend in their marketing department. They work on problems like tracking and interviewing people who have been exposed to certain chemicals at work, conducting huge national educational testing projects, or helping other countries design their population studies and other census proceedures, among other things. Their big statistical group may provide expert consulting to firms doing market research, though.

That doesn't change the fact that the numbers you are using for your argument are irrelevant. By your argument Nielson has a claim to be the largest MSC. Do a lot of shops for them do you?

I nominate BillBryaninCarthage to call or email the CEO of MF and address his concerns with that person. All in favor?

Ok Bill, MF is the 873rd largest MSC in the country. What does it REALLY matter? Why don't you just ignore them and have yourself removed from their database if you hate them so much?

Be careful, bgriffin. Or you will be next on Bill's Toggle Hit List.

If you don't hate them then why do you complain about them CONSTANTLY?

My question is why the hostility and suggestions we do not discuss the subject? I actually find the information and rankings to be interesting. So far I haven't seen biggest associated with best, other than in the minds and marketing of the larger companies. Personally, I'm always curious as to how a company arrives at the claim of being #1 while marketing themselves to clients and whether the claim is legitimate.

I don't think anyone suggested we didn't discuss the subject. I think many of us are stating that if we are going to discuss the subject we shouldn't use irrelevant information and then say that it proves our point.

LisaSTL, as your husband has stated, no one said not to discuss the subject. The OP has been on a rant about MF now for awhile.

Ok, here's a great example of what I'm talking about.

Hero Motorcycles in India produces more motorcycles than any other company in the world.
BWM also produces motorcycles, but less than Hero. However it is a MUCH larger company.

So if you did a list of the largest companies which manufacture motorcycles, BWM would be ahead of Hero in that list, because they do MANY things other than manufacture motorcycles. But if you did a list of the largest motorcycle manufacturers (taking into account ONLY motorcycle manufacturing), Hero would be ahead of BMW.

Since I don't read every single post by Bill or follow every single thread about MF, I don't know if he has been ranting or not. I just found this to be an interesting factoid rather than a rant. It still seems to have taken an odd, hostile turn.

It would have been an interesting factoid had it been presented as an interesting factoid. Instead it was presented as evidence that MF isn't the largest MSC, which it is not evidence of.

And the OP has edited many of his posts several times so latecomers will not know exactly what was said.

BillBryan, very impressive numbers you racked up with MF! It seems you have stirred up some animosity with the two tinhorns. You should know by now Mutt & Jeff do not like to get called out on their bs. Sybil, since you like recipes here is one named and developed in your honor:


The Nasty Bits:Kidney Pie
:
Ingredients

1 veal kidney, trimmed of its fat and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
2 medium potatoes, cubed
1 turnip, cubed
3 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons butter or lard
1 tablespoon flour
For the pastry:
1/2 cup butter or lard, cut into 1/2 inch squares
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Pinch of salt
Iced water
To glaze:
1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water

To make the filling: Heat a heavy skillet or pan over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon or so of butter. Toss in the kidneys and quickly saute to brown the surface, leaving the interior raw. Remove from the pan.
Deglaze the pan with the beef stock, reducing the liquid by half.
In the meantime, make the roux: Add the remainder of the butter to a saucepan and melt over low heat. Add the flour, mixing to make a paste. Toast the flour in the butter for a few minutes, until the roux is light golden brown. Add the reduced stock and simmer gently, until the liquid is thickened and coats the back of of a wooden spoon.
Bring a pot of water to boil and add the cubed potatoes and turnips. Simmer for 10 minutes, until tender. Drain and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
To assemble the pie: Place the kidney, turnips, and potatoes into a pie pan or ovenproof pot. Cover the ingredients with the gravy so that the liquid comes up to approximately 3/4 of the kidneys and vegetables. Roll out the chilled pastry into a sheet approximately 1/4 inch thick. Carefully lay the pastry sheet over the kidney mixture and crimp the edges with a fork. Puncture the surface once or twice to allow for air vents. Lightly brush the egg glaze over the pastry.

Place the pie in the oven and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and the interior is very hot. Serve immediately.

Awwww. Where's my recipe Bill?

Thank you, ShoppingNee. It actually sounds pretty good except for the lard so I'll let you keep that special ingredient.

Actually lard is a healthier choice than butter and don't even get me started on hydrogenated shortening. Please note the word was healthier, not healthy

I usually don't use butter. Extra virgin olive oil or Pam sounds better to me.

My great-grandmother cooked with lard. She lived to be 97 years old. She wasn't the largest member of the family. She was probably larger, though, than the 21st largest member of the family.
One thing is certain - she was definitely the lardest.

I'm totally lost!

I just do my shops. Shop only for the companies I choose and that treat me right. Get paid, enjoy!

@elcarev68 wrote:

My great-grandmother cooked with lard. She lived to be 97 years old. She wasn't the largest member of the family. She was probably larger, though, than the 21st largest member of the family.
One thing is certain - she was definitely the lardest.

I'm sorry, but this is so hilarious, I just wanted everybody to see it again.

(heart)

You know, I was thinking about this a few minutes ago. You posted your earnings here from what is obviously taken from Market Force's website. You will probably get deactivated because they will know who you are. All they have to do is put in the amount of money you earned and presto! The computer will bring up your name. Did you ever think about that? I thought of that. No way in hell would I put personal information like that on a public forum. Guaranteed, Market Force has people here.

@BillBryaninCarthage wrote:

@bgriffin wrote:

Ok Bill, MF is the 873rd largest MSC in the country. What does it REALLY matter? Why don't you just ignore them and have yourself removed from their database if you hate them so much?

I don't hate MF. I was told that for 4 months in a row I set records over there.

I have to keep pointing this out - BillBryan is aggiejim72. Dude has kept the psycho reined in for a few months, but he can't help himself.

Oh Lordy!

That $2500.00 pay check is a good one. I'd be making nice.

Darn,

It really is hard to determine which is the largest MSP because there isn't any such list I know of. That being said, what about the number of discussions on this forum?

By that method Market Force is the clear leader. However, you have to read into the numbers a little bit. Some have gained or lost clients in the recent past. For example, MaritzCX and Stericyle/Expert Solutions come to mind. Others generate more discussion because there is something about them to talk about (Coyle, Ardent). Others fly under the radar because everything goes smoothly.

The number of discussions by forum members is solely discussion about mystery shopping, not the other activities many companies have. What do you folks think?

Who is aggiejim72 and why does he have two screen names on here?