Okay, off topic, but I like the cinnamon roll ones with the icing. Denny's and IHOP have these ones and they are really good. Also, the banana cream pie ones at IHOP are excellent!

@LisaSTL wrote:

Or strawberry and blueberry shortcakes with mounds of whipped cream

Personal attack deleted

Yep, I just went around with the Scheduler because I cancelled this shop after reading the 31 pages of questions that they wanted answered, for $15......I have emails from her at the MSC acknowledging that I cancelled the shop. Then got an email this morning about a "missing report". Dinged 2 points too.

Very Typical

I'm not a "her".

@jrt2015 wrote:

Yep, I just went around with the Scheduler because I cancelled this shop after reading the 31 pages of questions that they wanted answered, for $15......I have emails from her at the MSC acknowledging that I cancelled the shop. Then got an email this morning about a "missing report". Dinged 2 points too.

\My problem with gfk is that they don't reveal basic information up front. For example, if the shop is resricted to a specfic age range, why not put that in the shop requirements as part of the shop description before I sign up, rather that bury it in the details at the end of pages and pages of instructions. That way I don't waste my time or theirs signing up for shops for which I am ineligible because I am too young, too old, the wrong gender, etc, etc.

I prefer companies whose guidelines are visible to me before I accept a shop. That's one of the things I like about companies who use Prophet. I can click and open all instructions and requirements before accepting.

I have a not negative comment about the GFK audit. The build-up to it, the two tests, the umpteen pages of instructions, the rover app download and manual and the conference call were all a bit overkill and of course not compensated one penny. But the actual audit was not terrible. My store manager was super helpful. The uploading of the pictures was time-consuming, but I didn't use the app. But there were no unexpected pop-ups. There weren't endless repetitive ridiculous narratives. There were no ridiculous questions.

I was half-expecting things like "Why didn't the android turn on? How did you find a**.com? How many apps were in the app store? How many clouds were in the picture in the background?"

Most importantly, unlike the appliance shop, GFK didn't try to combine 15 shops into one for $15.

A step in the right direction.......

I've been following this thread and I usually don't speak on these things, I keep to myself. But I love doing my audits for GFK, if they didn't have it to where I would have to wait 60 or 180 days, I would do them all the time. Yes the new audits do have a few more pics, but I did my first one yesterday and its not that much different and it didn't take me but about 5 mins longer to do it. It wasn't that bad.
Yes, the appliance shop report was extremely long, I believe when I printed the questions out, it was 31 pages, but I asked for the shop even though it was only 14.00, so I had to do it, even though, I don't feel it was worth all the time I put in it, but I did complete it because that is my job and I asked for the shop. You can't cancel just because something is too hard. And I am saying all this in the nicest way! So please, no one get offended. I can see the shoppers side, but I also can see the schedulers side too.
I have never had an issue before up until last week and it was just a small thing no big deal, but I talked to Christy at GFK and she is awesome! She helped me out and got everything fixed for me. I would do anything for her that she needed me to do. If she needs me to go do an audit that is needing to be done and she can't find anyone to do it, yes even if it is a ways away from me, I will do it for her. She has done a lot for me and I respect her in every way. I have never really had big issues or anything really bad with anyone at Gfk, and when I see these threads about them, I look to see what is going on. I hope everyone gets everything worked out and all the back and forth will stop. Good luck to all of y'all!!

Those extra pictures might only be five minutes per audit, but that adds up. If you perform 12 audits it is an extra hour for the same amount of pay. Another problem with the addition, GFK previously lowered the fee using the excuse there were less photos, now they add the photos back in where is the pay that was cut?

As an independent contractor we have every right to cancel an assignment if we find out it was more work than we were led to believe. The painter or plumber or car mechanic is not going to agree to a specific amount of work for one fee and allow you to throw in a bunch more work at the same rate. Try arguing they have to do because they agreed to the job. Granted those independent businesses have a big advantage over us, they know exactly what is required of them before giving us a quote. With mystery shopping it is too often ass backwards.

How do you get GFK to respond regarding not paying you full fee. I had one that had bonus pay on it and they needed it right away. They paid me less than half and said "excluded pay closed fee" with no remarks explaining why?? I still have not heard back from scheduler or editor. It leaves a bad taste when things like this happen with no reply as to what was wrong with the shop.

Hi Ashley,

I admire your commitment to finish an a $14.00 audit after you printed out 31 pages of instructions. However I must ask how can you feel you got a compensated fairly for the amount of work involved? I've done shops like that and always felt cheated. However, like you, I did them because I committed to them, but I would not recommend them to others, or take them again for the base rate.

While I have never done the audits, (I've been tempted, but I can't shop M-F 9-5), I wonder how the scheduler has ever helped you out to the level that would respond that level of loyalty or commitment. Has the scheduler paid a late bill for you or taken care of your child if you had to go out on an assignment? I imagine the scheduler has helped you out on adjusting dates or something like that, but come on, that is their job to help you get the shop done. They are not doing you a personal favor to finish up their shop list.

I guess I just want to keep this real. We are working for money, so are the schedulers and the MSC. Let us stand up for solid commissions for the work we do.

If a place is closed or shop cant be used they pay you a reduced close shop fee. thats 3 dollars for the base shop and 70% of whatever bonus you agreed too. only company in industry that reduces the bonus portion of a fee

@willgolf4fun wrote:

How do you get GFK to respond regarding not paying you full fee. I had one that had bonus pay on it and they needed it right away. They paid me less than half and said "excluded pay closed fee" with no remarks explaining why?? I still have not heard back from scheduler or editor. It leaves a bad taste when things like this happen with no reply as to what was wrong with the shop.

@PaulinMI wrote:

Hi Ashley,

I admire your commitment to finish an a $14.00 audit after you printed out 31 pages of instructions. However I must ask how can you feel you got a compensated fairly for the amount of work involved? I've done shops like that and always felt cheated. However, like you, I did them because I committed to them, but I would not recommend them to others, or take them again for the base rate.

While I have never done the audits, (I've been tempted, but I can't shop M-F 9-5), I wonder how the scheduler has ever helped you out to the level that would respond that level of loyalty or commitment. Has the scheduler paid a late bill for you or taken care of your child if you had to go out on an assignment? I imagine the scheduler has helped you out on adjusting dates or something like that, but come on, that is their job to help you get the shop done. They are not doing you a personal favor to finish up their shop list.

I guess I just want to keep this real. We are working for money, so are the schedulers and the MSC. Let us stand up for solid commissions for the work we do.

Well put and that really does cut to the heart of the issue of the minuscule amount of compensation for some of these assignments. We have a shopper who will follow the leader to hell and back for $14 after printing out a 31 page document, answering a ton of questions in blind obedience? WTF is all that about and that kind of dedication is not only misplaced (certainly, in my opinion) but is the causation of what is happening industry-wide which is the drastic lowering of fees to us (the boots on the ground) and/or the stagnation of the fee structure.

@LisaSTL wrote:

Those extra pictures might only be five minutes per audit, but that adds up. If you perform 12 audits it is an extra hour for the same amount of pay. Another problem with the addition, GFK previously lowered the fee using the excuse there were less photos, now they add the photos back in where is the pay that was cut?

As an independent contractor we have every right to cancel an assignment if we find out it was more work than we were led to believe. The painter or plumber or car mechanic is not going to agree to a specific amount of work for one fee and allow you to throw in a bunch more work at the same rate. Try arguing they have to do because they agreed to the job. Granted those independent businesses have a big advantage over us, they know exactly what is required of them before giving us a quote. With mystery shopping it is too often ass backwards.

Precisely and that is why they are having such a hard time getting experienced, knowledgeable, professional shoppers to drink the GFK KoolAid. Regardless of what GFK says these phone company assignments are somewhat labor-intensive with contradictory guidelines (I got a "minor adjustment" email from GFK last night which said that they neglected to add another pic requirement to their phone shops).

@parkcitybrian wrote:

Precisely and that is why they are having such a hard time getting experienced, knowledgeable, professional shoppers to drink the GFK KoolAid. Regardless of what GFK says these phone company assignments are somewhat labor-intensive with contradictory guidelines (I got a "minor adjustment" email from GFK last night which said that they neglected to add another pic requirement to their phone shops).

the form for this round is still not fully correct. Also see my post about wordsmith pros in main forum for the craziness with these shops and gfk!

GFK expects too much from a shopper for $15.00. I have de-activated my account with them. I decided they are not worth my valuable time. Not for the pitiful $15.00 they want to pay a shopper. Let alone to print 21 pages of guidelines, drive to the assignment and take a ton of pictures for that small amount of money.
Anyone that wants to shop for GFK needs to figure out that you a basically doing a shop for nothing.

@DoritaScheduler wrote:

Good Morning CoffeeQueen
There is a new test because there are NEW updates with the Revealed Audits. Wouldn't it be a shame if you went and tried to complete the old shop only to find it was rejected. Most people when they take quizzes tend to have a better memory of what is expected. These are one benefit to taking our quizzes prior to an assignment. I hope this helps you see a little positivity when looking at the quiz. Have a great day!

Dante - while I don't feel I need a test every time instructions change, I at least understand the thought process behind that. I've had exactly two shops in my roughly 12 year career doing this rejected. And one of those was the GFK Wing shop where I asked for a receipt and not given the correct one, so I think I'm pretty good at following instructions and completing my shops properly.

That said, I understand the need for a test when the instructions *change.* The wing shops GFK used to do had the *same exact test* for multiple months in a row. Please tell me when it was necessary for me to take a test each and every time I shopped in a new pay period?

Thanks,

Matt

Hi Paul, I did do my shop, but as I stated, I dont feel the pay was fair for that amount. And I won't do another one of those appliance shops, I will stick with the audits! But like I said also, Christy is amazing to work with, and if anyone is having problems, y'all should really email her. She is very good at helping to fix the situation. And trust me, I was quite ticked off a little over a week ago over something that happened and I did deactivate my account over it, but after talking with Christy Ensley, I went back to them. But trust me, I won't do another one, I only did that one because I signed up for it. It took me over an hour in the store, and then 2-3 hours to put the report in. Like everyone else, I did not know the length and time it would take, but you live and learn. But if wasn't for Christy talking with me and fixing the situation, I wouldn't be there today. But she made everything okay. Oh and just so you know, what happened didn't have anything to do with the appliance shop, it was an audit.
I'm not trying to get into any argument with anyone, as matter of fact parkcity, I agree with a lot of things you have said. But I do respect quite a few people up there, so I'm hanging in for awhile.

The location was not closed and I completed the shop. Yet they paid it this way with no explanation. I don't think that is right!!!

I have taken shops without knowing the details (guidelines) and when I get them I immediately suggest to the scheduler that we did not have a "meeting of the minds". That is legal terminology meaning the details in the e-mail (offer to do the shop) was not the same as the written contract (the guidelines). that is binding if accepted.

It is like me asking you to carry a box across the street and you agree. As you start to cross the street I say hold it I got to light the box on fire. No one mentioned fire. Would you get your eyebrows singed because you agreed to carry the box across the street?

I was thanked many times by schedulers who sent me an e-mail authorizing the adjustment to the guideline. Not all guidelines are written by people who have actually performed shops. Perhaps their spouse or parents shop for them.

I ask schedulers if they would say or do (what the guidelines say) if they went to the store. If I hear "Oh my gosh!" I do not believe some schedulers actually read the guidelines.

The editors read the guidelines. The employees at the store do not read the guidelines. They do things the way they were trained. I am not supposed to prompt them. There is no option to answer "not applicable" if the the store did not have that department. Some employees are supposed to have business cards according to guidelines but don't and your shop is invalid if you do not get a business card that never existed except in the guidelines. I contact the scheduler and ask if they will accept the shop without a business card. If they say, "no", there is no reason to give them my work product or do another shop for them.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/2015 12:16AM by Piled Hip Deep, PHD.

There are so many, many reasons to not like this company and I would like to add another one (beside their dysfunction when it comes to their guidelines/instructions which keep changing)...

# of pics required for their cellphone store audits = 21 (that is not a type. 21 pics are required).

All for the princely sum of $14.00.

Run, don't walk...AWAY

@DoritaScheduler wrote:

Good Morning CoffeeQueen
There is a new test because there are NEW updates with the Revealed Audits. Wouldn't it be a shame if you went and tried to complete the old shop only to find it was rejected. Most people when they take quizzes tend to have a better memory of what is expected. These are one benefit to taking our quizzes prior to an assignment. I hope this helps you see a little positivity when looking at the quiz. Have a great day!

Hi Dorita,

I would never try to complete a shop without doing the new quiz, reading or re-reading all available material and anything else that would refresh my memory. I'm not under any delusion that even if the shop was exactly the same as last time, I would be able to do it adequately without reviewing the material.

I shouldn't post before coffee. Everything seems so overwhelming. I'm sure just two hours later the quiz would not have fazed me at all.

Editing to say, I never take more than one of a new kind of assignment. I will finish it come hell or high water and then I'll either take more or put it on my "NEVER AGAIN" list. But that is my way of ensuring that I don't get stuck with a bunch of assignments that I hate. It completely eliminates the need to cancel anything. I've never cancelled for any reason except weather and roads that were impassable.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2015 05:26PM by CoffeeQueen.

I think my audit went well.. Tell me what you think..... Just getting the manager to check my pictures!

[cdn.ebaumsworld.com]

@cammikun wrote:

I think my audit went well.. Tell me what you think..... Just getting the manager to check my pictures!

[cdn.ebaumsworld.com]

Brian the editor says its a little out-of'focus & therefore unacceptable & we at GFK demand flawless, repeat FLAWLESS, reports & pics therefore you WILL NOT BE PAID and you are banned, repeat BANNED from all future assignments, asshat

@parkcitybrian wrote:

@cammikun wrote:

I think my audit went well.. Tell me what you think..... Just getting the manager to check my pictures!

[cdn.ebaumsworld.com]

Brian the editor says its a little out-of'focus & therefore unacceptable & we at GFK demand flawless, repeat FLAWLESS, reports & pics therefore you WILL NOT BE PAID and you are banned, repeat BANNED from all future assignments, asshat

Yes, but you can clearly see the HERO wall!

To all the naysayers.... This was a REVEALED audit!!

[cdn.ebaumsworld.com]

Too revealed if you ask me! LOL

@cammikun wrote:

To all the naysayers.... This was a REVEALED audit!!

[cdn.ebaumsworld.com]

If parkcitybrian took 21 flawless (to the eye of the beholder) pictures I bet he can walk across water (without cheating..no rocks under the water). To some clients pictures are a way of getting a free report after you buy a pizza or go to a gas station where the guy with the towel on his head is is screaming at you in a language you understand even if you do not know the language. The guy is telling you he may kill you if you snap a picture. If you do not give the client a picture they will not give you a picture of dead presidents on currency.

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

If parkcitybrian took 21 flawless (to the eye of the beholder) pictures I bet he can walk across water (without cheating..no rocks under the water). To some clients pictures are a way of getting a free report after you buy a pizza or go to a gas station where the guy with the towel on his head is is screaming at you in a language you understand even if you do not know the language. The guy is telling you he may kill you if you snap a picture. If you do not give the client a picture they will not give you a picture of dead presidents on currency.

The 21 pics are for the revealed cellphone shops and it is very rare that I'm not contacted by an editor asking for clearer pics and/or pics that show the cellphone pic w/ the price card on one frame, etc. Sometimes it's almost impossible to get a clear pic of: the cellphone (brand and model) + the live online website they want + the price card....all in the same frame because you have to be far enough away to capture all the requirements but then the website on the phone (showing it's live) is too small to be seen. Jeez...what a major clusterf@$%&!!!!

Now can you see why $14 doesn't even come close for these assignments and why they stay on the job board?