Is Bestmark known for low pay and inconsistency?
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In my experience, they're solid in that they always have shops near me and they pay on time, but I don't regularly do their shops due to long narratives and low paying shops. I rarely check them for shops anymore.
I have worked with Bestmark for ages and like them. But I am disappointed that a restaurant has gone down in pay to $13 and it's hard to fit all the things you have to buy in that amount. It only works with the most basic main food item.
Once I had a problem with BM sending me an email that I had put some inappropriate things in a report. WHen I questioned them about it, they refused to tell me exactly what was so offensive.
They tried to bribe me with an offer of $300!
Share with the whole class Cheryl! 
You don't need to copy in the letter but can you give more details how they tried to bribe you?
You don't need to copy in the letter but can you give more details how they tried to bribe you?
I have performed over 500 shops with Best Mark. Their major client treated me badly and slandered me. Best Mark stated they felt bad about the situation but could not confront the client. An offer of $300 was made - which was their way of saying good-by. I explained I made more than $300 a month on a number of occasions. Best Mark threw me up the bus. A recent visit to a local store of this particular client - manager stated she felt bad about my treatment and did not think it had been right. The bottom line - shoppers are on the low rung and really have few options when abuse is present.
I would have taken the $300. Refusing it IMHO did nothing other than let them keep their $300
Nothing would have changed, but you would have had the $300. Now, if they wanted you to sign a waiver or something, that might have been different. But my understanding of what you wrote is that not taking the $300 did not allow you to preserve any rights to sue them or anything. Or maybe it did?
Nothing would have changed, but you would have had the $300. Now, if they wanted you to sign a waiver or something, that might have been different. But my understanding of what you wrote is that not taking the $300 did not allow you to preserve any rights to sue them or anything. Or maybe it did?
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
It was a legal document which basically stated I could never shop at that particular #1 electronics store again. They should not be speaking for them. Since that time more vile actions against me via (electronics store). The document also waived my rights to pursue action against them at some future date. One of the top dogs at Best Mark told me she was going to write me up on the MSPA site. When I spoke with Anne Jennings, CEO she stated that was not going to happen. This statement was made by Anne two weeks later. Two months passed and another msc stopped using me because of comments made by Best Mark. I never knew there was any double cross. I did contact MSPA and informed them the comments were not true and I had never been informed of their remarks. The remarks were removed but the damage had been done.
Mod note: Please do not a MSC with any of its clients. This is a violation of the Forum rules and probably a breach of your ICA agreement as well.
Mod note: Please do not a MSC with any of its clients. This is a violation of the Forum rules and probably a breach of your ICA agreement as well.
I like Best Mark. For quite a while they and Grass Roots were the only ones I worked for. The pay is low , but as I start to expand to other MSC 's I don't see the pay being a whole lot higher. I have never had a problem with getting payment and they have been courteous to me on the phone when I have needed to call.
Bestmark was my first company and I have never had a problem with them. I am just selective in what assignments I pick up.
Their auto shops went from $20 several years ago to
$18. NOW, they are $14! I can do a mystery shop in
10 minutes for $15 to $25! Why would I want to do
an average of 80 minutes for $14?
$18. NOW, they are $14! I can do a mystery shop in
10 minutes for $15 to $25! Why would I want to do
an average of 80 minutes for $14?
Bestmark was the first company I ever signed up to work for and taught me a lot. I drove all over the state of Oklahoma doing highly bonused auto sales shops. I now realize that there is easier money to be made elsewhere and only accept their oil-change shops. The staff was always fair with me; I suppose I was lucky to have never been in a bad situation.
I didn't have a bad situation until I did. I performed more than 500 shops for them. It just goes to show you!
As the saying goes "Expecting the world to be fair because you are a nice person is like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."
As the saying goes "Expecting the world to be fair because you are a nice person is like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."
@cheryljane wrote:
I didn't have a bad situation until I did. I performed more than 500 shops for them. It just goes to show you!
As the saying goes "Expecting the world to be fair because you are a nice person is like expecting a bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."
I'm not familiar with that saying but it's a winner, cheryljane (and I'll probably plagiarize it).
I've done a few shops for them and had very little trouble. They're a little difficult at times, but I don't find them any more or less difficult than anyone else. I just don't do as many shops for them as others as, in my area, they have lots of oil change shops. I've done a few dealership shops, though. Good company, IMHO.
This is an interesting interpretation of the situation, Cheryl. Based on BestMark’s communication with you [on many occasions] regarding this issue, what you have shared with this public forum is riddled with inaccuracies and misinformation.
BestMark was contacted by a client who provided feedback about the shopper and requested that we withdraw this shopper from the program in which she was conducting assignments. The shopper was informed by BestMark that she would be paid for all assignments she had conducted for us so far, but that we would not be giving her any future assignments for this specific program. Additional demands, threats, profanity and accusations ensued from the shopper. This coupled with violation of signed policies resulted in BestMark making the decision to remove the shopper from the database altogether. Even after all of this, BestMark attempted to be more than fair and offered a settlement for potential future earnings. The shopper refused the offer. We are happy to provide a more thorough explanation to any shopper who would like details, however we wanted to protect our company by publicly clarifying that the information provided by Cheryl is incorrect.
BestMark was contacted by a client who provided feedback about the shopper and requested that we withdraw this shopper from the program in which she was conducting assignments. The shopper was informed by BestMark that she would be paid for all assignments she had conducted for us so far, but that we would not be giving her any future assignments for this specific program. Additional demands, threats, profanity and accusations ensued from the shopper. This coupled with violation of signed policies resulted in BestMark making the decision to remove the shopper from the database altogether. Even after all of this, BestMark attempted to be more than fair and offered a settlement for potential future earnings. The shopper refused the offer. We are happy to provide a more thorough explanation to any shopper who would like details, however we wanted to protect our company by publicly clarifying that the information provided by Cheryl is incorrect.
@cheryljane wrote:
I have performed over 500 shops with Best Mark. Their major client treated me badly and slandered me. Best Mark stated they felt bad about the situation but could not confront the client. An offer of $300 was made - which was their way of saying good-by. I explained I made more than $300 a month on a number of occasions. Best Mark threw me up the bus. A recent visit to a local store of this particular client - manager stated she felt bad about my treatment and did not think it had been right. The bottom line - shoppers are on the low rung and really have few options when abuse is present.
The document stated I would not hold you Best Mark accountable and there was no wrong doing by anyone. That was just a part of the sham. I am more than willng to provide copies of the document for any shopper. What I said or did not say to you Best Mark in a personal conversation should have remained confidential and not blasted all over MSPA which caused me to lose another avenue of income. I was unaware of your comments on the MSPA site for two months. The comments were made two weeks before Anne Jennings offered me $300 to go away. The comments were so off the wall - and referred to a private conversation which I did not recall - which obviously occurred months before. Over 500 shops and all it takes is for some big cheese whose reputation for fair play hardly stellar.
What I stated I stand by. Can you do the same?
I stopped by another local [client's store] recently and the manager apologized for my abuse and stated it was NOT fair. Gee - must be something in the water in Beaumont?
As for believing $300 is fair? Excuse me - I made more than that as a shopper for Best Mark many a month.
Mod note: Please do not link the MSC with their client. It is against forum rules. Thank you!
What I stated I stand by. Can you do the same?
I stopped by another local [client's store] recently and the manager apologized for my abuse and stated it was NOT fair. Gee - must be something in the water in Beaumont?
As for believing $300 is fair? Excuse me - I made more than that as a shopper for Best Mark many a month.
Mod note: Please do not link the MSC with their client. It is against forum rules. Thank you!
The only thing that is worth doing for this company are the oil change shops and when they were doing Customer Exit Interviews for an electronics store which I don't think they do anymore. Everything else SUCKS! They don't pay crap for their Mystery Shops. They'll give you $12 to evaluate a store and that's after having to memorize pages and pages of stuff, driving to the store, spending 20-30 min in there, driving back home and filling out pages and pages of questions and uploading receipts. But to be honest with you that is pretty much ALL of these Mystery Shop places. I have worked for about 5 of them and they ALL suck! It's just not worth it. They make it sound like it's an awesome job but it's not. It's a lot of work for next to nothing. Who wants to remember 4 pages of info, drive to a fast food place, go in with a stop watch, try to remember names, descriptions, exact times down to the second, etc and then drive home and fill out 5 pages of info. For a free sandwich? NOT WORTH IT! And they usually don't even give you 24 hours to input your info, some want it done within 4 hours of performing the shop! It's ridiculous! Oh and a lot of these companies like to pick apart your report so they don't have to pay you! It's B.S.!
Ive never not been paid by a report that met guidelines. Ever.
There would be hell to pay if that occurred.
You're an independent contractor, YOU wanted the job and volunteered for it. How is this the MSP's fault? DOn't do their job. IF they can't find someone else to do it they'll eventually have to start paying a better rate for it or they will lose their client.
Seriously man @kiki125 you seem bent out of shape. Don't cater to companies who don't treat you well or have @#$%& jobs. There are too many out there for you to get upset about. Go find companies who have jobs that pay decent and treat their people well and you're going to have a much better time.
There would be hell to pay if that occurred.
You're an independent contractor, YOU wanted the job and volunteered for it. How is this the MSP's fault? DOn't do their job. IF they can't find someone else to do it they'll eventually have to start paying a better rate for it or they will lose their client.
Seriously man @kiki125 you seem bent out of shape. Don't cater to companies who don't treat you well or have @#$%& jobs. There are too many out there for you to get upset about. Go find companies who have jobs that pay decent and treat their people well and you're going to have a much better time.
CEO The Mystery Shoppers Depot
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
@kiki125 wrote:
The only thing that is worth doing for this company are the oil change shops and when they were doing Customer Exit Interviews for an electronics store which I don't think they do anymore. Everything else SUCKS! They don't pay crap for their Mystery Shops. They'll give you $12 to evaluate a store and that's after having to memorize pages and pages of stuff, driving to the store, spending 20-30 min in there, driving back home and filling out pages and pages of questions and uploading receipts. But to be honest with you that is pretty much ALL of these Mystery Shop places. I have worked for about 5 of them and they ALL suck! It's just not worth it. They make it sound like it's an awesome job but it's not. It's a lot of work for next to nothing. Who wants to remember 4 pages of info, drive to a fast food place, go in with a stop watch, try to remember names, descriptions, exact times down to the second, etc and then drive home and fill out 5 pages of info. For a free sandwich? NOT WORTH IT! And they usually don't even give you 24 hours to input your info, some want it done within 4 hours of performing the shop! It's ridiculous! Oh and a lot of these companies like to pick apart your report so they don't have to pay you! It's B.S.!
Exactly and very well put. I see tons of shops for $6.00 + reimbursement for a crappy burger + sugary soda and then having to time things to the second and spend a lot of time in writing a narrative-heavy report. Stop plucking the low-hanging fruit, people. and don't prostitute yourself for the crappy amount of $$$ that these MSC's have suckered you into taking.
MSP's who pick apart reports to not pay shoppers quickly find themselves out of shoppers. I more or less agree with the rest, but lets not use hyperbole. If there's a company doing that, name them. If they are doing it to other shoppers it will quickly be known.
CEO The Mystery Shoppers Depot
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
Depending on the job you do, this can be a very good company to work for. I have had a couple of issues with them, and on both occasions, one was my error and one was there's, it was resolved quickly and compassionately. They even cut me a check off cycle when they made a mistake on one of my checks and I received the corrected amount within three days. Just follow the instructions and don't take any job that you feel is not worth your time.
The particular job was working as an interviewer for three hours and being paid $70. Most shops don't pay that well. Offering me $300 was a flip off. Best Mark threw me under the bus and that should say something. Another incident has occurred with this client which places them completely out of range for Best Mark and into the range of litigation.
@wiseshopper wrote:
The particular job was working as an interviewer for three hours and being paid $70. Most shops don't pay that well. Offering me $300 was a flip off. Best Mark threw me under the bus and that should say something. Another incident has occurred with this client which places them completely out of range for Best Mark and into the range of litigation.
Jeez...get over it already. Harboring that amount of animosity (on a continuing basis) is definitely counterproductive to one's mental well-being.
@wiseshopper wrote:
The particular job was working as an interviewer for three hours and being paid $70. Most shops don't pay that well. Offering me $300 was a flip off. Best Mark threw me under the bus and that should say something. Another incident has occurred with this client which places them completely out of range for Best Mark and into the range of litigation.
So, wiseshopper, are you explaining the $300 settlement you told us about earlier in this thread, posting as cheryljane?
cheryljane already posts under two screen names: cheryljane and txmedia. Are there now three screen names for the same person? We need a program just to keep track of all your different personas.
@AustinMom wrote:
@wiseshopper wrote:
The particular job was working as an interviewer for three hours and being paid $70. Most shops don't pay that well. Offering me $300 was a flip off. Best Mark threw me under the bus and that should say something. Another incident has occurred with this client which places them completely out of range for Best Mark and into the range of litigation.
So, wiseshopper, are you explaining the $300 settlement you told us about earlier in this thread, posting as cheryljane?
cheryljane already posts under two screen names: cheryljane and txmedia. Are there now three screen names for the same person? We need a program just to keep track of all your different personas.
ummm...austinMom, if you keep this up you'll take over my title as the snarky-est person on this site (an attribute, imho).
I appreciate the compliment, Brian, and I view a little snarkiness as a good thing, but I don't think I can ever be number 1.
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