AboutFace
I just got paid via PayPal for a shop I did March 1st. Almost 3 months. Better late than never, of course, but jeez.
Kona Kathie
Help..I am doing two shops for them, today and tomorrow. Should I be scared about payment, one is a schlep, the other is in town. Says you must have paypal email, as that is how they pay.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2010 10:27PM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2010 10:27PM by Irene_L.A..
I've done only two shops for them, both on the same day. They were late with payment but after I emailed, I was paid pretty swiftly. The scheduler and editor were also very nice and communicative. Personally, I wouldn't worry, but just be on top of the payment schedule and email promptly if they're late. I'd shop for them again.
I have been paid either on time or within a few days of on time by this firm for every job I have done, which is only around 6, but over a few years.
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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
I am not shopping for them right now, I did one in early April, and have not received payment. I have contacted both the scheduler and pay help twice, and get the same answer about system changes occurring. How long does it take to change something? My payment was processed, according to them, May 25th.
ludlow123 Wrote:
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> I am not shopping for them right now, I did one in
> early April, and have not received payment. I have
> contacted both the scheduler and pay help twice,
> and get the same answer about system changes
> occurring. How long does it take to change
> something? My payment was processed, according to
> them, May 25th.
I've heard from other shoppers that AF has advised they're going green, paperless and their system changes are ongoing. As a result, it may be necessary for shoppers to re-send their PayPal address. If that's not the hold-up in your case, then it's probably just AF slowness. You'll get paid, but you may not want to hold your breath
Heather Stokes is usually helpful to shoppers with payment questions. You can email her at heather.stokes@aboutfacecorp.com
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> I am not shopping for them right now, I did one in
> early April, and have not received payment. I have
> contacted both the scheduler and pay help twice,
> and get the same answer about system changes
> occurring. How long does it take to change
> something? My payment was processed, according to
> them, May 25th.
I've heard from other shoppers that AF has advised they're going green, paperless and their system changes are ongoing. As a result, it may be necessary for shoppers to re-send their PayPal address. If that's not the hold-up in your case, then it's probably just AF slowness. You'll get paid, but you may not want to hold your breath
Heather Stokes is usually helpful to shoppers with payment questions. You can email her at heather.stokes@aboutfacecorp.com
Heather is the one I contacted, and yes, she's great, I'm just wondering how long. I have vacation the end of the month, and I was counting on the $ . In the past, they have paid me, always via Paypal, sometimes with a little prodding.
I posted this on another "About FAce" thread....but wanted to update. My shop got me a very amazing email, telling me what a great job I did, got a 5 out of 5, and my detail was specific and helpful to the client. This was written by the senior editor and really got my day off to a blazing start, doesn't take much to make me happy....This was my first job for them....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2010 07:01PM by Irene_L.A..
Live consciously....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2010 07:01PM by Irene_L.A..
Irene, I hate to burst your bubble, but I think that is the standard email they send with 5/5. It's the only email I have ever gotten from them.
That said, it IS a nice email...and other companies might want to consider being more effusive in their thank you notes, as it does charm us and make us like you more...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2010 05:30PM by dee shops.
That said, it IS a nice email...and other companies might want to consider being more effusive in their thank you notes, as it does charm us and make us like you more...
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2010 05:30PM by dee shops.
I'm with you, Irene, as dee said that's the standard 5 thanks. The first time I got it I (still a newbie shopper!)I was beside myself with excitement...until I got the next 3 and they all said the same......LOL.....It's still really good to get the 5s....did they bring back the bonus payment for 5s? They had discontinued it. My last shop for them was one I thought paid low but it promised the $3 bonus for a 5 report, so I figured I always got 5s from them, I would knock myself out and get a 5 and that would at least raise the fee $3. Well, between the time they posted the job and I accepted it, and the time I did the shop, they removed the bonus, so even though I got the 5 I got no bonus. I wrote and questioned and got a really airy e-mail telling me they just decided to stop on a certain day and did and "at least we're really proud we are still paying our shoppers in this bad economy." I never shopped for them again. Not because of the $3 but because I no longer trusted them. I notice also that they have lost a lot of clients in Texas.....Monterrey seems to have picked up their motorcycle and car dealership shops now..... they post very little here so it's just as well I don't shop for them anymore.
I've been shopping for them for a while, and they are always late. I have to follow up every time and as soon as I do, I get an email saying the payment is on the way, and it is.It bugs me that I have to contact them every single time to get paid. Why can't they just do it?
Today I got a reply similar to other shoppers here:
"Thank you for contacting us about your payments. I sincerely regret the lateness of your payment and will ensure that you are paid as soon as possible since you are past your due date. I will pull your payment out of the queue and mark it as a “Pay First”. We expect to resume processing payments by July 15. We are changing the way we make vendor payments at AboutFace, which affects shoppers too since you are one of our vendors. This change will allow us to not only be more automated, but our intent is to become one of the fastest paying companies in the industry.
Thank you for your patience during our exciting transition. We appreciate the quality work that you and your colleagues do!"
If they like us so much, why not pay on time?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2010 08:34PM by patnewman.
Today I got a reply similar to other shoppers here:
"Thank you for contacting us about your payments. I sincerely regret the lateness of your payment and will ensure that you are paid as soon as possible since you are past your due date. I will pull your payment out of the queue and mark it as a “Pay First”. We expect to resume processing payments by July 15. We are changing the way we make vendor payments at AboutFace, which affects shoppers too since you are one of our vendors. This change will allow us to not only be more automated, but our intent is to become one of the fastest paying companies in the industry.
Thank you for your patience during our exciting transition. We appreciate the quality work that you and your colleagues do!"
If they like us so much, why not pay on time?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/03/2010 08:34PM by patnewman.
'changing the way we make vendor payments' can be interpreted a whole lot of ways. I frankly resent ANY company pulling the squeaky wheels out of the queue and marking them as "Pay First", whether I am the beneficiary of such a policy or not. It certainly make me wonder if I am having to waste my time now contacting them BECAUSE they put the squeaky wheels first. I expect to be paid in an orderly fashion and within contract terms. Fairness, even handedness and justice require this. And I figure that a company that cannot pay on time in a fair and equitable fashion is too close to bankruptcy to mess with.
That message has been up there, I think, for almost a year. Ludicrous.
I do know for a fact from someone who worked there that at least until February of this year, they paid their editors every two weeks (which I can only surmise is the same timeframe they pay employees.)
They have been paying me without me saying anything, around the 48 day timeframe, for the few jobs I have completed for them. July 2009 job was paid at 48 days; October 2009 job was paid 47 days; December was paid 48 days; May 2010 job is scheduled to be paid 7/15, which if it does come then, will be 48 days. The recent one in June does not yet show on "when will I be paid?"
I wonder what is so magical about 48 days as a number? It is a weird number of days; it comes out to around 35 business days.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2010 12:18AM by dee shops.
I do know for a fact from someone who worked there that at least until February of this year, they paid their editors every two weeks (which I can only surmise is the same timeframe they pay employees.)
They have been paying me without me saying anything, around the 48 day timeframe, for the few jobs I have completed for them. July 2009 job was paid at 48 days; October 2009 job was paid 47 days; December was paid 48 days; May 2010 job is scheduled to be paid 7/15, which if it does come then, will be 48 days. The recent one in June does not yet show on "when will I be paid?"
I wonder what is so magical about 48 days as a number? It is a weird number of days; it comes out to around 35 business days.
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2010 12:18AM by dee shops.
I wish they'd be better about payment. I recently did my third shop for them and as was the case with the first two, everyone was incredibly nice, helpful and communicative.
Before I do more shops for About Face, are they keeping up with payments? If it stretches to 90 days, that's a sign cash flow is an issue. Which, I wouldn't fault them for. They are probably having to send Dunning letters out to their clients to get payments. This economy is hitting everyone.
robfwtx, I WOULD fault them for cash flow problems if they allow their cash flow problems to keep them from paying their shoppers on time. Yes, the economy is bad and is hitting everyone: companies/clients, MSCs, and shoppers. About Face contracts with its clients to do shops and provide the reports to the client for payment. It contracts with shoppers to perform shops according to the instructions they provide, and they set the terms by which they will pay their shoppers. It is irrelevant to the shoppers when, or even IF, About Face gets paid by its clients. Cash flow problems or not, About Face is probably still required to pay its rent and utilities on time. About Face is probably paying its employees at their regular pay periods. If About Face is having cash flow issues, they can arrange a short term loan, paying interest on that loan, as a cost of doing business. An MSC should not expect its independent contractors to float the company an interest-free loan.
Should or shouldn't.. you. can argue that until the cows come home. It doesn't change the reality of what actually happens. I've seen it first hand. The ideal situation isn't always what we get. Hopefully this company has recovered and are meeting obligations again.
That's the point. I know we don't always get the ideal situation. The idea is to make the best of whatever situation exists. The reality is that, despite the poor economy, MSCs continue to book shops and shoppers continue to shop. Many MSCs manage to pay their shoppers on time, and some, for whatever reason, do not pay their shoppers on time. It really doesn't matter why they don't pay on time if they consistently do not pay on time. As an independent contractor, it is my choice which shops I accept and which companies I work for. I choose not work for companies who do not pay on the timetable they have promised payment to their shoppers. It would be nice if this company recovered and started meeting its obligations again, but, based on the comments posted here and other forums, it appears that About Face is not currently meeting its shopper obligations timely.
For anyone who's done work for them lately, did you receive a request to resubmit the PayPal address in your profile in order to ensure payment? Seems that an update in the system wiped (at least some of) them out.
I did, nicely. About two months ago, though.
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
AM...always nice to be on a "Honeymoon", first job, first love, all the first's make you happy.....after doing the wash, the thrill goes out with the dirty laundry. Let me enjoy.....
Live consciously....
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> AM...always nice to be on a "Honeymoon", first
> job, first love, all the first's make you
> happy.....after doing the wash, the thrill goes
> out with the dirty laundry. Let me enjoy.....
May I use this quote?
I did enjoy my first shop with them. Everyone seems nice at this point. Although, I've learned a few shops just aren't worth the money, either from unreasonable requirements for little return or picky editors that you can't ever please.
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> AM...always nice to be on a "Honeymoon", first
> job, first love, all the first's make you
> happy.....after doing the wash, the thrill goes
> out with the dirty laundry. Let me enjoy.....
May I use this quote?
I did enjoy my first shop with them. Everyone seems nice at this point. Although, I've learned a few shops just aren't worth the money, either from unreasonable requirements for little return or picky editors that you can't ever please.
dee shops Wrote:
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> I did, nicely. About two months ago, though.
They're probably sending out the emails as people complete shops. Hadn't done one since the first two I did in March. For those of you who have accounts there and plan to shop again, you might want to sign in and take a look to see if your PayPal email has disappeared.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2010 01:54AM by nicelytwicely.
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> I did, nicely. About two months ago, though.
They're probably sending out the emails as people complete shops. Hadn't done one since the first two I did in March. For those of you who have accounts there and plan to shop again, you might want to sign in and take a look to see if your PayPal email has disappeared.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/2010 01:54AM by nicelytwicely.
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> AM...always nice to be on a "Honeymoon", first
> job, first love, all the first's make you
> happy.....after doing the wash, the thrill goes
> out with the dirty laundry. Let me enjoy.....
Huh? Irene, you totally lost me on this one....what can I say, I was born blond, although now I'm a Clairol girl.....explain.........
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> AM...always nice to be on a "Honeymoon", first
> job, first love, all the first's make you
> happy.....after doing the wash, the thrill goes
> out with the dirty laundry. Let me enjoy.....
Huh? Irene, you totally lost me on this one....what can I say, I was born blond, although now I'm a Clairol girl.....explain.........
I still shop with AF. Starting early this year, their feedback emails to me are not generic and verbatim replicas. Each has been individual and has the editor's name on it. The feedback is only a few lines but it's personal and nice. None that I have received is a carbon copy.
Regarding payment, it's not good or necessarily in the time stated, but I always get paid. Heather is communicative and apologetic, in a difficult environment. I sometimes squeak to get paid, and have received the same message as patnewman posted. Actually, I don't think squeaking is the only way to get paid, or even gets me paid faster. I sometimes just can't help myself Squeak or non-squeak, the longest it has taken me to get paid was 74 days, and that was only once.
In January, AF screwed up somewhere along the way and started charging a PayPal fee. The fee was not disclosed until after the fact. I emailed and was instructed how to get the fee credited back. I then cancelled a few shops as I wasn't willing to pay that fee going forward. AF dealt with that and no longer charges that fee.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2010 01:32AM by Mert.
Regarding payment, it's not good or necessarily in the time stated, but I always get paid. Heather is communicative and apologetic, in a difficult environment. I sometimes squeak to get paid, and have received the same message as patnewman posted. Actually, I don't think squeaking is the only way to get paid, or even gets me paid faster. I sometimes just can't help myself
Squeak or non-squeak, the longest it has taken me to get paid was 74 days, and that was only once.
In January, AF screwed up somewhere along the way and started charging a PayPal fee. The fee was not disclosed until after the fact. I emailed and was instructed how to get the fee credited back. I then cancelled a few shops as I wasn't willing to pay that fee going forward. AF dealt with that and no longer charges that fee.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2010 01:32AM by Mert.
Must be your editor. I have gotten no personalized feedback and no special subject emails. I have gotten an email response from Heather within an hour of sending mine when I emailed about a bonus issue, though.
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
I don't have just one editor. A quick search of email in my AF folder is from five different editors in as many months.
Then it must be you doing something right. :-) But that does not explain the SBS thing.
**********************************************************************
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
I am also waiting to be paid for a shop I did in April. And I have gotten all the answers everyone else has. Money is very important to me, and I work to pay the bills. AF may be in financial trouble, they may recover or may not, it's not my problem. I have not taken any more shops for them, and I liked the shops I did for them. I can't afford to work and not get my pay when it's stated I'll get it, depending on pay at a certain time is called budgeting.
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