As a shopper on GFK's mailing list, it's very clear to me that GFK will reimburse the cost of the drug test after completing two shops. I don't think that's unreasonable. The emails also have stated that the audits take about eight hours, sometimes longer, and they are currently offering a bonus (as of at least twenty-four hours ago) of $20.00 on the audits here in PA. The email went out to other states too, so I think this is across the board.
GFK is not the first MSC who has asked for a drug test; the client obviously wants the shoppers to be tested. As for your cancelled shop, maybe you weren't clear enough about why you could not complete the shop, but your attitude is questionable. I try to complete every shop unless I am sick, have sudden car problems, or the weather is lousy (a frequent problem lately) and I fear for my safety driving through ice pellets, snow, black ice, snow drift and white-outs, and all the other lovelies we've had this endless winter.
Speaking of lousy weather, has anyone gotten any flack from MSC for cancelling shops due to the weather? Maybe that's a whole new topic! I guess it's hard for people living in sunny Texas or Georgia to understand what it means to risk one's life driving on black ice to complete a $20.00 shop.