@jwolpert wrote:
According to the HS Brands website Service Sleuth and The Mershimer Group are part of HS Brands. The payment is most probably from working for one of those two.
@Lorrie68 wrote:
@jwolpert wrote:
According to the HS Brands website Service Sleuth and The Mershimer Group are part of HS Brands. The payment is most probably from working for one of those two.
Thanks for the response. How is a new shopper to know that three companies are working together, but only one company pays? The same goes for Beyond Hello which has merged with Mystery Researchers and Insula Research. Even though I've been shopping for five months, it's overwhelming trying to figure out who is affiliated, especially with various schedulers who schedule for the same MSC.
As you can see from my name, I'm not a "whippersnapper" (Did I say that?!) nor am I a techie. I'm sure other new shoppers become confused as well. I will get this figured out one day at a time.
@Kakita987 wrote:
Lorrie68,
I am only about two months in but I would be happy to share with you my bookkeeping strategies, and help you setting up a spreadsheet.
@SoCalMama wrote:
@Lorrie68 wrote:
@jwolpert wrote:
According to the HS Brands website Service Sleuth and The Mershimer Group are part of HS Brands. The payment is most probably from working for one of those two.
Thanks for the response. How is a new shopper to know that three companies are working together, but only one company pays? The same goes for Beyond Hello which has merged with Mystery Researchers and Insula Research. Even though I've been shopping for five months, it's overwhelming trying to figure out who is affiliated, especially with various schedulers who schedule for the same MSC.
As you can see from my name, I'm not a "whippersnapper" (Did I say that?!) nor am I a techie. I'm sure other new shoppers become confused as well. I will get this figured out one day at a time.
You would know because when you go to the login page, all three logos are right there (in both of these cases).
@Lorrie68 wrote:
Thanks for the offer, but I would need someone sitting side by side! I am not computer illiterate, but I have never done a spreadsheet in my life.
@Sybil2 wrote:
@Lorrie68 wrote:
Thanks for the offer, but I would need someone sitting side by side! I am not computer illiterate, but I have never done a spreadsheet in my life.
This is a honest question. How can you be and stay computer illiterate and be successful in this business? Technology is constantly changing and if you can't keep up, you will be left in the dust.
@Sybil2 wrote:
Ok, I missed the word "not." One of the Sticky threads under New Mystery Shoppers area already has a spreadsheet created specifically for MS'ers. You should learn how to use that one since you would not have to create it from scratch. If you are successful in this business, you really need to have an electronic spreadsheet. With one click of a button, you can see exactly which shops have not been paid, how many days outstanding, form of payment or what a shop paid in 2011 among many other helpful features.
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]
@isaiah58 wrote:
Lorrie,
Your notebook is your spreadsheet. You should be recording the information in columns. You should then have a method in place to flag when you have been paid. Hopefully you are tracking all of your submissions until you see each one has been accepted, rated (if applicable), and eventually paid. Sounds like you might not be monitoring you completed shops if your having trouble matching a payment.
@Lorrie68 wrote:
I plan to do a spread sheet by hand. I do record everything now, but in different places. For example, I keep track of my miles on index cards, my shops with dates and payments (if I can figure them out) in my notebook, and monthly calendar sheets so I can see my shops at a glance. I definitely have to get my sX!t together. Thanks!
@plmccut wrote:
Check among your friends and family and I'd be willing to bet someone would be knowledgeable about spreadsheets. Use the one on the sticky here on the forum, get your friend, neighbor, grandson, anyone who can to sit down with you for a few minutes. The spreadsheet here on the forum is already set up so it's easy to use.
However, if worse comes to worse and you absolutely don't want to deal with Excel, then set up a table in Word. You can label the columns for your different items. You really must find a way to track the compensation and the actual payment. You also need to track your mileage and other expenses. If you don't do this, you are going to spend a whole lotta time doing your taxes. Best to get your info. set up now!
@shopper8 wrote:
I use a basic calendar, I print the shop, MSC, location and mark paid when paid. I simplify! I keep all of the receipts, and shop in a separate folder per MSC. EASY! I keep them for 1 year. My notes fit on a sticky note paid. I have shopped for 8 years, never had a problem. I purchase one of those 3 year calendars, and pencil in pay also.
I also use a Neat portable scanner, which I know I have mentioned many times.
Your Service Sleuth log and most companies will show you the shop, pay and comments.
@CoffeeQueen wrote:
I had never done a spreadsheet either. I am not yet familiar with excel so I just got google docs and used a spreadsheet of theirs. I did my first spreadsheet with no help from anyone and it wasn't hard at all. Stop thinking that you can't do it. You can do it. But first you have to try.
@myst4au wrote:
How do you keep track of mileage? Even if you just go to one place and come home, you need to track mileage. If you are on any sort of route (even two shops is a route), then where do you record the mileage for ther day?
Sassie makes it easy to see your past history of shops for companies which use that platform, but other platforms range from more difficult to impossible. And there is still the issue of where do you record mileage.
@shopper8 wrote:
I use a basic calendar, I print the shop, MSC, location and mark paid when paid. I simplify! I keep all of the receipts, and shop in a separate folder per MSC. EASY! I keep them for 1 year. My notes fit on a sticky note paid. I have shopped for 8 years, never had a problem. I purchase one of those 3 year calendars, and pencil in pay also.
I also use a Neat portable scanner, which I know I have mentioned many times.
Your Service Sleuth log and most companies will show you the shop, pay and comments.
@myst4au wrote:
Sassie makes it easy to see your past history of shops for companies which use that platform, but other platforms range from more difficult to impossible. And there is still the issue of where do you record mileage.