I started being a mystery shopper about a month ago and am trying to figure out who I want to work for the most. I'm with Intelli-Shop, Bare International, Mercantile Systems, Cirrus, Bestmark and Beyond Hello. I'm in shock that Cirrus waits 4 months to pay but the bonuses and overall pay are much more than for other MSC's. Who else do you like, and any positive or negative comments about the places I listed? Thanks in advance for your thoughts. : )

read this thread.
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Those two things can be mutually exclusive.

Who pays the best?

An interesting question. If you mean strictly who pays more, it's a little like comparing apples to oranges. There are shops that pay $50-100+ but have costs. Some are video shops that require acquiring and operating video equipment, along with some added risk of not recording anything. Some involve running a credit check. Some involve lots of time, both on-site conducting the shops and writing the reports. Some have more demanding narratives. Some require a large outlay of your money which may or may not be fully reimbursed (they usually are).

If you compare the usual fees for the companies you listed I think Cirrus probably comes out on top mostly because of a certain client's shop. However, according to what is posted on the forum, that one takes hours to perform and numerous shoppers are of the opinion it is not worth it for the time spent.

I suggest the answer to your question is within you. As you continue to shop, your preferences and experience will tell you which are your favorite companies. There will be shops that you prefer to do and those that rub you the wrong way. Certain companies will be great for you while others may operate in a way that is a PITA for you to deal with. New shops come while old ones disappear or move to another mystery shopping company.

As you shop, keep expanding your list of companies to expand your opportunities - and get better shops.

Good luck.

Fastest? Easily defined, this is a simple matter of fact unless there's a company who pre pays their shops.

Taylor and associates hands down.

He pays the day your get your paperwork in his hand. I once did a job and got him the documents 14 hours later and was given cash (I happened to do a job by his office the night before and he knew a notary). Cool 250. Not nom nom.

Best for me is whatever pays the most per minute as there hasn't been a job, anywhere, that I've been unwilling to enter as I have exactly no hang ups about poor areas, being surrounded by 300 minorities, or attempting to steal.

So again I say Taylor and associates because his jobs average about a hundred bucks an hour on the low end. May 2nd I broke 250 an hour for five hours.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2015 11:53AM by jrossetti.

Trendsource

Yea, I would agree with trendsource being the fastest... there alcohol shops pay out every tuesday. I usually get my check on friday

ive been paid in 8 hours of report which was same day. but it was a special project.

Customer Experience Experts pay within 2 weeks. Love them.

I think Bestmark is every 2 weeks but I have not worked for them for a while. I remember about 3 years ago BestMark paid weekly during December which was nice.

Gfk pays fast but many do not like shopping for them.

Just FYI, I will never work for Cirrus again. First of all, what they require for the pay offered is ridiculous. (You'll notice many people here reference a particular "shop from hell." I couldn't agree more.) Secondly, they are anything but friendly to work with. And lastly, I performed a shop in December and have yet to be paid for it. That is despite having written several emails to them. Emails to the owner/scheduler were responded to with a form letter and shift of responsibility to her invoicer, and emails to the woman who does the invoicing (as of this writing) have been completely ignored. I would devote your energies elsewhere.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2015 10:57PM by dapailet.

@MSNinja wrote:

ive been paid in 8 hours of report which was same day. but it was a special project.

Well you beat my record except with one company but mine was a super special case. I am apparently an ace in the hole for covering his flakers in Chicago and have been for a few years so that company will pay me ahead of time if I can't cover it (rent or late paying MSP's always cause this problem)

Id rather know the project than the client, so you mind sharing what you can about the project? That sounds kinda cool. I love projects with fast pay on the table and it doesn't' get much faster than 8 hours.

On a personal note, we are now feuding for the next ten minutes because you smashed my 13 hour record by several hours :p If we ever meet, drink on me unless someone else beats you haha.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/18/2015 01:50AM by jrossetti.

Does Taylor and associates have a website to register?

They're on the official list of Mystery Shopping Companies at the bottom of the page.

Instant Replays. They pay lightning quick.

I've been paid within seven days by NSSN. And almost always within two weeks.

@Eric in Tampa wrote:

Instant Replays. They pay lightning quick.

I can't tell if you're being serious right now.

@Eric in Tampa wrote:

Instant Replays. They pay lightning quick.

No, he has no website to register with. I can put you in touch with him directly though or relay you his contact info. Whatever you prefer. Just to note, when it comes down to it, he won't spend time with idle chit chat or to even contact you short of having a job once he has your info. You should definitely keep him posted as to where you are for any UFC and boxing PPV's. Also read through some of the threads about these. There are distinct pros and cons. If you're comfortable anywhere and have no hangups as to where you are you'll make more money but the locations range from a place that a teenager could go to a place you might feel better bringing a gun to

Service Performance Group last paid me on the morning of May 1 for my April shops. They're usually the first of my MSCs to pay, but that was even faster than usual. It's too bad they seem to have literally one client in my area, or I would try to work for them more.

Mintel twice a month like clockwork and their fees are high for the work involved. I have done a shop on the 30th and gotten paid on the 31st. I will have a 1099 from them for sure this year.

DJC USA and Hilli Dunlap pay within a week. They are low fee jobs but they do pay quickly.

Trendsource is slow for me but, The Training Factor has paid me promptly every two weeks I've performed an assignment.

Trust me when I say this: Get out now!!! Seriously!!! You will hate it. I did a few of them years ago and it wasn't worth it so I started doing them again hoping that maybe things had gotten better but they haven't. They are even WORSE now! They ALL suck! You will be asked to memorize pages and pages of info that no one can remember and they expect you to do this without bringing in any notes and you will be asked to keep track of all this detailed stuff that you can not write down which sometimes includes bringing in a stop watch and tracking multiple times down to the EXACT second but not write it down and then a lot of them want you to go home immediately to input all of your info because they're scared to death that you'll forget so you'll spend anywhere from 20-30 min to input and upload all of this information and then YOU have to keep track of them because they like to nit pick your reports and NOT pay you and they WON'T even tell you because they're hoping you'll forget about it or leave it up to you to log in and check on your payments. And for what? A free sandwich? A free movie? A $5 item at the drugstore? These companies make bank & want to pay peanuts! It's way more work than what it's worth! I'm just being honest with you.

Best luck in your new money-making venture. I hope you find something more suitable and rewarding.

Trendsource pays every two weeks, around the 5th of the month and around the 22nd. The shops don't always pay a lot, but you're going to reliably get paid. Gfk usually pays within 2 - 3 weeks and is very reliable. But I understand about not liking to work for them, there seems to be a disconnect between who writes, schedules and edits their shops and it's difficult do to their jobs correctly, I liked doing the store audits for them when they were in set routes.

I have noted several old faithfuls taking longer and longer lately. What's up with that?

KIKI,

I would like to take advantage of your advise but who is it, what company are you speaking of?
Great stuff and thank you..

I believe kiki is referring to MS in general. All I can say is beware of kiki. He has been a member since 5/14/15, has 4 posts and his favorite word is"sucks".