Beware of GFK -Non Payment Issues -Refuses communication Unprofessional

October 14, 2015 02:00AM

I'm writing this post in an effort to inform those of you who are considering work with GFK. They are difficult to work for to say the least. They are unresponsive when it does not benefit them. They will scrutinize your work with the intention of denying payment. This is how they operate. The goal is always to find some small error with your report in order to disqualify your shop. They retain all your data which they use with absolutely no payment to you. Personally, I don't know how they get away with it. In any other working environment, you would be paid for your work and allowed to make any needed corrections. Not with GFK. I'm convinced their business model is to hire for a shop, look for some error (often correctable) and deny payment. This is a cost-effective way for this company to obtain good data for their client companies for absolutely no cost to them. It's routine for GFK. Fattens up their bottom line!

There are many reputable mystery shopper companies out there. Save yourself the time effort and frustration by passing on GFK.

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October 14, 2015 02:07AM

Manya88, I realized you have just registered with us and pretty obviously just registered to bash the company. So you have been heard and others will be drawing their own conclusions about whether GFK is a company they wish to work with or not. Continued bashing through the forum just makes it look like you are doing a sour grapes number so you may wish to think about whether you are diluting your possible impact.

So moving right along, what companies do you like to work with? Oh, and by the way, welcome to the forum.

October 14, 2015 02:08AM

I have found the opposite to be true. They have always paid me on time and the assignments I have done have gone smoothly. Each company has a slghtly unique way of operating and sometimes t hst takes some getting used to.

October 14, 2015 02:41AM

@Manya88------>you have been a member of the forum since 0805pm 10/13, and in that time frame (by 1041pm) you have posted 7 posts. All in GFK subject matter. Some are duplicate posts that you placed in several posted GFK topics. How weird is that

Apparently you don't like GFK and we get your message. But you may have spread yourself so thin that getting to know or like you is a hard pill to swallow.

I shop for GFK but have yet to run across the problem you have, I am sorry. Usually a rant is one post not several.

You also have the tone of another poster, whom was recently busted by the MOD for have more than one user ID.

But time will tell

October 14, 2015 03:04AM

I have completed many shops for GFK. What you say is untrue. They are an excellent company and they are honest. Payment has always been quick and on time.

October 14, 2015 12:55PM

Many88, you have been invited, on another thread, to communicate directly with an individual at GFK. I hope you're doing so. She can possibly help you; we can't. Multiple threads on the same topic seem to be getting annoying to everyone. I'm not easily annoyed, and I have some (minor) issues with GFK, but this is getting ludicrous on your part.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

October 20, 2015 10:52AM

I have only done a few shops for GFK, but I have found the schedulers easy to work with. Also, I was paid within two weeks for all the shops I completed.

October 21, 2015 12:05AM

@FluffyCat wrote:

I have completed many shops for GFK. What you say is untrue. They are an excellent company and they are honest. Payment has always been quick and on time.

Did they have a comeuppance and change? I gave them the boot after they rejected a wing shop and I've seen posters in other forums allude to the same when the results were less than desirable. If I wasn't on my phone and doing a shop, I'd glad copy and paste the email of the poor gal chasing her tail trying to explain away my shop rejection--it is worth its weight in gold as far as comedic value goes.

So, while OP may be going overboard, your opinion about GFK isn't the only flavor as far as they go.

October 21, 2015 03:10PM

I work for GFK and always get paid on time. If I do make an error or am not clear enough, they have contacted me and given me the opportunity to make the correction.

October 21, 2015 04:38PM

I just did my first shop with GFK last month and was very happy with them. I got 10 out 10 on my first submission. They paid in about 2 weeks. What more could you ask? OK, more money would be nice but we can't have everything. I look forward to doing more work for them.

November 14, 2015 02:41PM

@dakotagypsy wrote:

I just did my first shop with GFK last month and was very happy with them. I got 10 out 10 on my first submission. They paid in about 2 weeks. What more could you ask? OK, more money would be nice but we can't have everything. I look forward to doing more work for them.

You just did your first shop, it's not always going to be that easy or cut and dry. I've been working for them for awhile now and just got screwed over by them. It will happen because they are truly an incompetent company. I totally understand where the poster is coming from because it just happened to me. So just be on the look out in the future. I guarantee you that the schedulers and editors that work for them DO NOT have your best interest in mind. They do not care about helping you. So if you do continue to shop with them move forward with caution!

November 14, 2015 03:35PM

I have been shopping with GfK and I find that they are one of the quickest (and fairest) reviewers.

November 14, 2015 04:48PM

I have never had trouble getting paid by Gfk. Many of the projects are long and detailed but straightforward. The initially offered fee for shops in my area tend to be low for the work involved, but when the compensation is bumped up I'm on it.

November 15, 2015 06:39PM

I think that all MSC's have had complaints against them at one time or another. I realize that GFK has had more than usual, lately. When a poster comes on and bashes a company with a lot of emotion (perceived, at least) instead of facts of what happened, I tend to discount the entire post. We have no idea of what actually transpired. The "they are a bad company and I know they are using my report" post gets old. I have been on the receiving end of a rejected report Fortunately, not too many times! Out of the three rejected reports I have had, all three were my fault. I was upset, at first. But once I calmed down and really looked at what I submitted, I knew I had made the mistakes. I think if people let their emotions cool before posting, we wouldn't see so many of these types of posts. Having said all that, I don't like GFK's tests and their jobs tend to start out on the low end of the pay scale. I don't do too much for them, except when they bonus shops. I also am SO tired of cell phone shops. It takes quite a bit to get me to do one of those! OP - I'm sorry you had that experience. I hope you find out what really happened and use it as a learning experience.

ETA - the rejected reports were for different MSC's. Not from GFK.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2015 06:40PM by kathygry.

November 15, 2015 07:15PM

@kathygry wrote:

I think that all MSC's have had complaints against them at one time or another. I realize that GFK has had more than usual, lately. When a poster comes on and bashes a company with a lot of emotion (perceived, at least) instead of facts of what happened, I tend to discount the entire post. We have no idea of what actually transpired. The "they are a bad company and I know they are using my report" post gets old. I have been on the receiving end of a rejected report Fortunately, not too many times! Out of the three rejected reports I have had, all three were my fault. I was upset, at first. But once I calmed down and really looked at what I submitted, I knew I had made the mistakes. I think if people let their emotions cool before posting, we wouldn't see so many of these types of posts. Having said all that, I don't like GFK's tests and their jobs tend to start out on the low end of the pay scale. I don't do too much for them, except when they bonus shops. I also am SO tired of cell phone shops. It takes quite a bit to get me to do one of those! OP - I'm sorry you had that experience. I hope you find out what really happened and use it as a learning experience.

ETA - the rejected reports were for different MSC's. Not from GFK.

Very well said. I do not work for GFK because I'm not tempted by their fees. But anytime a new forum member registers simply to bash a company with a lot of emotion and no facts, I can't help but think that poster is full of bull. And when the poster makes seven posts, every one of them emotional warnings with no facts against the same company, they simply appear vindictive to me as well as full of bull.

Note to all posters, whether new posters or "old" posters: if you want to warn me about a bad situation with a MSC, post the facts. Tell me what happened. Save the drama for your mama. Anger and emotion are not an effective warning. An unsubstantiated, emotional attack on a company merely makes a poster look petty and foolish. Most times when posters write emotional tirades with no facts, it seems to suggest that they were wrong and that's the reason they don't want to tell what happened.

November 15, 2015 09:55PM

Hi All,

My name is Carey Medina, and I am the scheduling manager for GfK. Happy to have a conversation about a rejected shop if needed - Just email me at carey.medina@gfk.com. Also - to be clear - We do, in fact, want to pay you. If your report gets rejected, we cannot use it because our client won't pay for it. The editor doesn't get paid, the scheduler doesn't get paid, and GFK doesn't get paid. So, we have to send someone else out in the field to try again.

Contrary to popular belief, that is the simple truth. So, if you feel your report was rejected without warrant, let's talk about it.

Looking forward to hearing from any of you who wish to chat!

November 15, 2015 11:20PM

@Carey4GfKMysteryShops wrote:

Hi All,

My name is Carey Medina, and I am the scheduling manager for GfK. Happy to have a conversation about a rejected shop if needed - Just email me at carey.medina@gfk.com.................................................. Looking forward to hearing from any of you who wish to chat!

While you have responded to the OP in one of her many post from Oct. 13 she has not been back. So she has left the building or Forum. One cannot reason with someone whom refuses to listen. The MOD should have closed this post after the OP did not return within a reasonable time to lick her wounds and take the criticism like an adult. Most positive GFK shoppers do not feel the same as the OP. They have said so in there glowing posts.

@dobsgirl found this post and decided to flame an unwarranted fire AND after posting a negative comment post in another GFK topic. She is one who should be reaching out. Possibly there is no help for the OP, but @dobsgirl can still be counseled. @dobsgirl should read your post to the OP in the other posts. Maybe she will listen.

I shop for GFK. And have handled rejectable results with a mature attitude. Those actions have turned a negative situation to a paid report. I am glad.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2015 11:22PM by sojo917.

November 18, 2015 02:04AM

Carey is a class act! She will definitely assist you.

@Carey4GfKMysteryShops wrote:

Hi All,

My name is Carey Medina, and I am the scheduling manager for GfK. Happy to have a conversation about a rejected shop if needed - Just email me at carey.medina@gfk.com. Also - to be clear - We do, in fact, want to pay you. If your report gets rejected, we cannot use it because our client won't pay for it. The editor doesn't get paid, the scheduler doesn't get paid, and GFK doesn't get paid. So, we have to send someone else out in the field to try again.

Contrary to popular belief, that is the simple truth. So, if you feel your report was rejected without warrant, let's talk about it.

Looking forward to hearing from any of you who wish to chat!

Arguing with fools is like playing chess with a pigeon...
...No matter how good you are, the pigeon will s@^t on the board and strut around like it won anyway.

Not scheduling for ANY company.

November 18, 2015 05:17AM

Hahahahaha. I was once given a score of 8 for a closed location. I'm not sure how that equates to a "fair" review.

@sarjmacc wrote:

I have been shopping with GfK and I find that they are one of the quickest (and fairest) reviewers.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

November 20, 2015 04:01AM

I've not had any problems with GFK. They pay FASTER than many others. I did a shop for them and I got paid less than 2 weeks later.

TexGmn

November 20, 2015 11:11PM

@AustinMom wrote:

@kathygry wrote:

I think that all MSC's have had complaints against them at one time or another. I realize that GFK has had more than usual, lately. When a poster comes on and bashes a company with a lot of emotion (perceived, at least) instead of facts of what happened, I tend to discount the entire post. We have no idea of what actually transpired. The "they are a bad company and I know they are using my report" post gets old. I have been on the receiving end of a rejected report Fortunately, not too many times! Out of the three rejected reports I have had, all three were my fault. I was upset, at first. But once I calmed down and really looked at what I submitted, I knew I had made the mistakes. I think if people let their emotions cool before posting, we wouldn't see so many of these types of posts. Having said all that, I don't like GFK's tests and their jobs tend to start out on the low end of the pay scale. I don't do too much for them, except when they bonus shops. I also am SO tired of cell phone shops. It takes quite a bit to get me to do one of those! OP - I'm sorry you had that experience. I hope you find out what really happened and use it as a learning experience.

ETA - the rejected reports were for different MSC's. Not from GFK.

Very well said. I do not work for GFK because I'm not tempted by their fees. But anytime a new forum member registers simply to bash a company with a lot of emotion and no facts, I can't help but think that poster is full of bull. And when the poster makes seven posts, every one of them emotional warnings with no facts against the same company, they simply appear vindictive to me as well as full of bull.

Note to all posters, whether new posters or "old" posters: if you want to warn me about a bad situation with a MSC, post the facts. Tell me what happened. Save the drama for your mama. Anger and emotion are not an effective warning. An unsubstantiated, emotional attack on a company merely makes a poster look petty and foolish. Most times when posters write emotional tirades with no facts, it seems to suggest that they were wrong and that's the reason they don't want to tell what happened.

November 20, 2015 11:13PM

I stopped scheduling with GFK about two months ago after reading about them on the Forum. Since they are a problem company, I have chosen to work for other MSC who respect my work. We seem to forget that this is our business and we can run it the way we wish.

November 20, 2015 11:42PM

Hi all...I recently went to the IMSC Conference (Nov 9-11) and met Carey. I agree with Dante, Carey is a special lady. She presented a workshop and was also present during the conference for all attendees to speak with at her sponsor's table. She was professional, yet friendly the entire time, and offered to answer any questions. She was accessible. I am happy to say that while I need to shop GFK through one of my NV scheduling companies, I have also shopped them while out of state as an IC. I have never had an issue with their shops or pay, but if I did, I would be more than happy to reach out to Carey, if my scheduler would be unable to help me. Like Austin's mom said, my one fine dining shop that was rejected was totally my fault (although I did try to save it to no avail but received a $15 shop fee), my solution was not to pick up that restaurant again, or to accept those high reimbursed shops anymore. I can remember at least one other shop that was rejected. Those hurt, but you definitely learn from them.

November 21, 2015 12:02AM

I have been doing shops for GFK for over a year. I have done 30+ shops for them. I have never had an issue getting paid, and they pay within two weeks. The schedulers have bent over backwards to accommodate me when I have had to reschedule a shop and are always there to respond to my emails quickly. I love GFK and will always look for shops from them. Their pay is not high, but a $14, 20 minute cell phone shop with a quick, easy report is better for my time than a $25-$30 apartment shop with a phone call, visit and lengthy, narrative full, report that I can spend over two hours to complete.

November 21, 2015 12:27AM

GFK is the first company I shopped for and I've done 70+ shops in a little over 3 years. I only had 2 shops rejected, because it was my fault. Never had an unfair review from them. Never had a problem with payment, which is always quick. I don't shop with them that often not because I don't like them, but because they don't have the shops / customers I liked and not many shops where I moved to.

So to all those bashing it because your feelings are hurt, well look at all the other testimonials and man up. You probably screwed up and blame GFK for your lack of accountability.

November 21, 2015 12:44AM

I have been working with GFK for two years and I have always gotten paid for my shops when I could complete them. The only problem I have with them is many of the shops I take can not be completed because the location has closed. It is not profitable for me to only earn $3.00 fee for these shops. That is why the company should make sure the information for the shop is correct when we accept the shop and not put the blame on us to verify that the information is correct for the shop. Also some of their shops are not reviewed in a timely manner so if there is something wrong with the shop we do not have anytime to correct the shop so we can get paid for the shop.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2015 10:17AM by Catman1960.

November 21, 2015 02:06AM

I rarely speak up on this forum or any of them... I am shy. HAHAHAH; NOT. Anyway, I'm usually busy shopping for a living. With that said, I must say you are entirely wrong about GFK. I have been working for them for years and never once have I had an issue with non payment, slow payment or any problems with editors, schedulers, or quality issues. I think GFK's "bottom line" is fat enough due to the large number of shops they complete for numerous companies and there great work ethic as well as positive employees and fantastic schedulers.
I hope you change your mind and realize that quick words on a message board not only harm who you are targeting but also YOURSELF in this industry. My mother always told me you catch more fly's with honey.... but I am from the South.

Kim
Now shopping Hawaii (all islands)!!!!
20 + years in the mystery shopping industry to date.

)

November 21, 2015 06:40AM

I have spoke the truth in the past when I felt wronged by GfK.... but they made good on everything I had coming and I can honestly say, I have a lot of confidence and a lot of trust in Carey. If I still had reservations about them, I would speak my mind on here (we all know I'm not afraid to do so).

Carey has really changed this company for the better. She is receptive to feedback from everyone; shoppers, schedulers, etc.

I can whole-heartedly recommend them to shoppers.

Arguing with fools is like playing chess with a pigeon...
...No matter how good you are, the pigeon will s@^t on the board and strut around like it won anyway.

Not scheduling for ANY company.

November 21, 2015 08:22PM

My issue with GFK is their sloppy shop preparation, not revealing sufficient information in advance.

For example, they offer self-assign shops requiring a shopper to be a particular age or gender to do the shop. Instead of building those checks in when you sign up for a shop or at least telling me in advance what the requirements are so I can choose not to self-assign it - they leave you to assign it. Then, only after you read the excessively long and repetitive instructions, you get t o the end and in the fine print you discover you are the wrong age / gender / whatever.

Indeed I almost fell into this exact trap this morning. But I remembered just in time going through that problem previously so I skipped those shops.

Their clunky survey programming also prevents me from filling out the form on my phone, but that is not a blocking issue, just an inconvenience.

November 21, 2015 08:43PM

I have completed many, many shops for GFK and have found them easy to work with and have been paid for all. The schedulers are great to work with.

We all have a job to do, we are all in the same boat really, needing to get the job done to be paid; and, that means, shoppers, schedulers, etc.

I believe GFK only asks what is expected of them and needs to deliver. The feedback after a shop is information they need before transferring to a client. This is how I see it and am always glad to give any needed information to complete the shop.

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Beware of GFK -Non Payment Issues -Refuses communication Unprofessional

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