Trendsource Project Pay Ranges
I find out when I have accepted the job and usually it's the lower fee.
The fees are listed in the popup window that opens when you click the "Request Project" button.
You should never accept an assignment without verifying the fee and reimbursement beforehand.
You should never accept an assignment without verifying the fee and reimbursement beforehand.
@frugalmommy wrote:
The fees are listed in the popup window that opens when you click the "Request Project" button.
You should never accept an assignment without verifying the fee and reimbursement beforehand.
I am in complete agreement not to accept an assignment without verifying the fee...but when I click on the "Request Project" button, the popup window I get only has a "Pay Range" listed, not an exact amount. And I'm noticing that for a good percentage of the shops, the top amount is more than double the lower amount.
So, going by what jpgilham said, if I find out the fee only after they assign the job, and it's usually the low end, why are they listing the range to begin with?
I'm so confused...but I appreciate the responses. Thanks!
Actually I think that frugalmommy might be right and the fee shows up when you request the project.
I just tried it to be sure. When I click on an entry under the column titled "Click for Program Info" the specific fee for that program / shop appears in a pop-up window. I have checked several, and that is what happens. That is what I thought has been the case whenever I look.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Email them and ask. They do respond fairly quickly most of the time.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
Now that I think about it, I'm wondering if you've been activated as a field agent. TrendSource tends to limit the number of shoppers they have in an area. You can apply to be a field agent, but if there aren't any available assignments they won't activate you immediately. When they need a new agent in the area, they'll email you project offers. When your first request is approved, you'll get an email saying you've been engaged as a contractor.
Until then, you're in the system as an applicant. I have a few emails from back when I was an applicant that only show pay ranges, not the exact amounts for contractor pay and reimbursements, which makes sense because applicants can't complete the ICA until after they're activated.
In my experience, the amount paid for the shops has been on the higher end of the scale, but I'd assume the lower when applying for a shop if a range is given. Regardless, when you're approved, you should have the opportunity to review the details before accepting/declining the project.
Until then, you're in the system as an applicant. I have a few emails from back when I was an applicant that only show pay ranges, not the exact amounts for contractor pay and reimbursements, which makes sense because applicants can't complete the ICA until after they're activated.
In my experience, the amount paid for the shops has been on the higher end of the scale, but I'd assume the lower when applying for a shop if a range is given. Regardless, when you're approved, you should have the opportunity to review the details before accepting/declining the project.
Ok, thanks for the details folks. I understand what you're saying.
I can login and see projects on the MSI site, but can't login to the Onsite Inspections site. I went back and read my "welcome" email from them, and frugal mommy you are right, I am not fully active as a Field Agent yet, and all that other stuff you said, too!
They sent me a "first project" offer yesterday, but I passed on it since it was over 20 miles away and not in a zone I was planning to swing by this week. Hopefully something closer will come up soon.
Thanks for all the info, everyone. You are all awesome!
I can login and see projects on the MSI site, but can't login to the Onsite Inspections site. I went back and read my "welcome" email from them, and frugal mommy you are right, I am not fully active as a Field Agent yet, and all that other stuff you said, too!
They sent me a "first project" offer yesterday, but I passed on it since it was over 20 miles away and not in a zone I was planning to swing by this week. Hopefully something closer will come up soon.
Thanks for all the info, everyone. You are all awesome!
You are seeing the PAD page, you can request if there is a long trip from home, or driving conditions. You do not always get it .
What I have found is that it depends on what State you live. If I do a shop in Ohio it pays $10 but when I do the same shop in Nevada it pays $15
I got my first project request approved this morning - Woohoo! Problem is the website went down while I was doing all the ICA type paperwork...now that it is back up, the project was swooped up by someone else...arrghh!
Oh well...good news is that I can now see exactly what/where projects are, and the exact pay.
Does their site normally go down in the middle of the day for maintenance?
Oh well...good news is that I can now see exactly what/where projects are, and the exact pay.
Does their site normally go down in the middle of the day for maintenance?
I have pretty much given up on them......pay is always way too LOW and not worth the time to even put in for PAD--you prob won't get it anyhow....
I disagree.
I have done some ok jobs for them and I get PAD about 75% of the time I request it (I just don't take the job without it if there is mileage involved and I am not already going that way). I always indicate the approximate round trip mileage as my reason, and I don't request it for anything under 25 mi RT.
I have done some ok jobs for them and I get PAD about 75% of the time I request it (I just don't take the job without it if there is mileage involved and I am not already going that way). I always indicate the approximate round trip mileage as my reason, and I don't request it for anything under 25 mi RT.
Based upon suggestions I have read on this forum, I have begun requesting PAD for business verifications that are at a distance. Since those have to be scheduled at the convenience of the business, and that can range from today to weeks from now, I can't be sure of picking up other work in the area, especially if it is an area that is 2 hours away, across a toll bridge, and at the end of a toll road. In the past, I have just not bothered. Now, I am giving them a chance to contract with me to go. So, far the requests are just sitting there. Maybe they have to age for a longer period of time.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Not really, it is when it is convenient for you AND the client. They want you to try and get it done in 2 business days if possible, but a couple of weeks would surely be an unacceptable time frame. The client also wants to get this done so they are usually easy to work with.
>>>Since those have to be scheduled at the convenience of the business,<<<
>>>Since those have to be scheduled at the convenience of the business,<<<
@myst4au wrote:
Based upon suggestions I have read on this forum, I have begun requesting PAD for business verifications that are at a distance. Since those have to be scheduled at the convenience of the business, and that can range from today to weeks from now, I can't be sure of picking up other work in the area, especially if it is an area that is 2 hours away, across a toll bridge, and at the end of a toll road. In the past, I have just not bothered. Now, I am giving them a chance to contract with me to go. So, far the requests are just sitting there. Maybe they have to age for a longer period of time.
and they WILL sit there.....and they will wait til the very last moment and then notify you and expect it done.....I guess I just got tired of playing the game......
I have had ones where it took several weeks to get the client to agree on a date (while logging all of the calls, of course), and then the client requested a visit date several weeks in the future. As of today (April 1), I am still shown as backup on two business verifications which I requested on February 2nd. These can stretch out for weeks. There was one where the requesting company continued to keep telling me to call and leave a message. After 3 weeks (literally) of no one calling me, TrendSource agreed to let me drop the assignment without prejudice.
Yes, it has to be convenient for both me and the client, but if the agreed upon date is more than 2 days later, it needs to be at the request of the client. The client gets a copy of everything you type as a comment (justification), so the truth will come out.
Yes, it has to be convenient for both me and the client, but if the agreed upon date is more than 2 days later, it needs to be at the request of the client. The client gets a copy of everything you type as a comment (justification), so the truth will come out.
@Boutique wrote:
Not really, it is when it is convenient for you AND the client. They want you to try and get it done in 2 business days if possible, but a couple of weeks would surely be an unacceptable time frame. The client also wants to get this done so they are usually easy to work with.
>>>Since those have to be scheduled at the convenience of the business,<<<
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Yes, first request the project, then a more detailed description with pay pops up, then accept the project (or not). There is a variation in pay depending upon what is required in the grocery shops.
When you sign up for the shops on this site, there should be a box at the bottom that says "request with PAD." Add the amount you would like and reason, distance, etc, and then when you push to accept, it will (and should) automatically add you in que that says "waiting for PAD request" to be approved or something. Then, when they decide that they want to pay you what you asked for, you will get an email. Does this help? You can also right to them via the contact tab on their site, they are good at getting back to shoppers within a day or less. Let me know if you need additional help.
I wish all the shoppers would boycott Trendsource for being so cheap! $5 for a grocery shop! When I did the exact same shop in Nevada they paid $12 but in the midwest only $5! If you all go on strike and nobody shops the stores then they will realize they need to raise the pay.
Another good example is there is another shopping service that pays you $10 per grocery department! You can earn as much as $60 per store! But Trendsource $5 for the complete Store!
Another good example is there is another shopping service that pays you $10 per grocery department! You can earn as much as $60 per store! But Trendsource $5 for the complete Store!
@tobiz777 wrote:
I wish all the shoppers would boycott Trendsource for being so cheap! $5 for a grocery shop! When I did the exact same shop in Nevada they paid $12 but in the midwest only $5! If you all go on strike and nobody shops the stores then they will realize they need to raise the pay.
Another good example is there is another shopping service that pays you $10 per grocery department! You can earn as much as $60 per store! But Trendsource $5 for the complete Store!
If we all go on strike, they'll just recruit more new shoppers who don't mind taking that amount for the project. I think I'll keep getting reimbursed for more than half of my household's monthly grocery needs, thank you very much.
In my area, the pay does start a little low, but as the deadlines get nearer, the schedulers often give out bonuses. I wait now for those unless I can group several stores together in one day.
Why should we have to wait for deadlines to get closer. The object is to get these shops done in the fastest time possible so that the client gets the info quickly. Most times are dead line is with 12 hours or by midnight the same day as the shop.
So they rush us to get the report in but stall on paying higher money when it gets closer to deadline.
I still stand by ground... PAY US MORE THAN $5
So they rush us to get the report in but stall on paying higher money when it gets closer to deadline.
I still stand by ground... PAY US MORE THAN $5
@tobiz777 wrote:
Why should we have to wait for deadlines to get closer. The object is to get these shops done in the fastest time possible so that the client gets the info quickly. Most times are dead line is with 12 hours or by midnight the same day as the shop.
So they rush us to get the report in but stall on paying higher money when it gets closer to deadline.
I still stand by ground... PAY US MORE THAN $5
It's the objective of the mystery shopping company (not just this one, but most of them) to get the shops done at the lowest possible price that can reasonably get them done for (law of supply and demand). Although time is a factor, I would say they are more interested in limiting the cost of the shops than in getting the shops done in the fastest time possible so the client gets the info quickly. The deadlines you are referring to are deadlines for shoppers to submit their reports after performing a shop; those deadlines do not mean the shops will be forwarded to the client within that time, and many are not provided to the client that quickly. The best way to get a higher fee is to hold off on taking a shop; of course, the risk is that another will take the shop for the low initial fee.
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