16 yrs, never an issue.. well, that I CAN REMEMBER for this over 50 brain lol

I actually do like Sentry, which is why I hate that I always have payment issues with them. While it is true that I don't often make a lot of money on my shops for them, I do get reimbursed for my meals so it's a free lunch or dinner. While I've not done a shop for Sentry since the most recent payment issues, I can't really say that I "would not" do a shop for them again. Dave, please don't shut down my account... I said I can't say "would not".

To Dave,
I think the issue of payment is important to shoppers. When you see thread after thread where shoppers are complaining about lack of payment from Sentry, that has to tell you there's a problem. Investigate the problem, fix the issue, and people will want to do your shops. You say you consider shoppers and MSCs equals, then how would you react if one of your clients didn't pay you on time? What if it was 30 days late? 60 days late? With little or no communication?

You still owe me for the last shop I did for you. Notice, I didn't say "my last shop". I don't want you to misinterpret that statement and think I'm quitting. Oh no, now I said "I'm quitting". Sorry, a bit of levity.

Just pay me. Please.

leverly

The payment you are inquiring about should have been processed on 11/27. Because it was overlooked, I processed payment via bill.com this morning.

You asked how I would react if a client were 30 to 60 days late with little to no communication. This is something that most businesses deal with on a regular basis. I can tell you what we don't do. We don't take to public forums to criticize our CLIENT. If we went hysterical every time a client paid us late, well, we would have exited the business a long time ago.

I believe that I've stayed in communication with you regarding this issue.

My sincere apologies for the delay.

Dave

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2015 01:16PM by Sentry Marketing.

Instead of being defensive about the issue, fix the issue. Maybe my analogy of the client relationship was flawed, so points to you. I came on here, not to complain, but to ask if anyone else had had the same problem. Your email bounced back to me as not deliverable as the address no longer existed. So, yeah, it freaked me out a bit. I'm sure if someone who owed you money disappeared you would use whatever resources you had to find out what happened. That's what I did.

I checked bill.com and there is no indication that a payment was received from you this morning. Since I've not used my name in this forum, can you confirm that you sent me the payment? I'll send you an email so you can confirm.

I am not being defensive and I have resolved the issue. You asked a question about how we handle late payments and I responded.

You had other alternatives to posting on the forum to contact us regarding your payment. My email address is readily available on this forum and you could have contacted me directly.

With regard to the payment I processed this morning, I replied to your email within 30 minutes of receiving

I had a check from Sentry bounce about a year and a half ago. I let them know and got a prompt apology and repayment right away. Dave was cordial and gave me complete information and statuses about my payment.

Interestingly, I posted a thread about it on this very forum asking for advice but didn't reveal Sentry's name because I wanted to see how it all panned out. Since it turned out to be an honest mistake, I was glad that I didn't go bad-mouthing my client online. I do agree that I've seen a fair number of payment issues with Sentry mentioned on this forum. Maybe they need a new employee in that area or to improve their processes. But, I think we all need to stay calm about these issues and continue communicating professionally. I know that I've been thankful for times that companies have been generous with me in being understanding. I can extend them the same courtesy.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2015 03:12AM by elynbeth.

Yet another post about a late payment. A late payment (reportedly not the first) followed by an email from the shopper to the MSC, which bounced back. There was nothing "hysterical" about the post. However, there was grumbling from the MSC about posting on a public forum. No surprise there.

Shoppers come here to become informed, share experiences, watch trends, make decisions, or draw conclusions. Sometimes to the dismay of an MSC.

leverley, thanks for sharing. I hope it all gets sorted out for you.

To all,
Dave has indicated I should have my money in the next couple days through Bill.com. I hope that is true. Whether it is or not I won't pursue anything further. I'll post here one way or the other. As Mert stated above, "shoppers come here to be informed" and I will inform. Don't worry, Dave, I'll be honest.

I don't know if coming to the forum was correct or not and I do hope that I can continue to do work for Sentry. Other than payment issues they've always been good to me.

Mert,

I'm not grumbling about leverey decision to post about the late payment. I am simply making the point that there were alternate courses of action that could have been taken. This same point has been made by at least two well respected and long time members of this forum. I guess when it comes to Sentry, you have different standards.

The reality is that payment issues are a part of this business and something that happens to EVERY company. Sometimes the issues are the result of a poor payment process on the part of the MSC, other issues are related to bad mailing address, email addresses or bank account info supplied by the shoppers and others, like lost checks, are out of everyone's control. We take these issues seriously and work hard to resolve them as quickly as possible.

I am well aware of the issues that existed with the payment processes that Sentry and Feedback Plus used for shops completed on the Prophet platform. This is one of main reasons we transitioned payment to bill.com for assignments completed on our ShopMetrics platform.

I understand quite clearly why shoppers come to this forum. That's why I think it's important to point out bias where it exists. For example, your post, like all of your posts concerning Sentry, is subtly negative and intended to dissuade form members from working with Sentry. I've attempted on many occasions to discuss the source of your feelings but you refuse to elaborate. It seems that you'd rather be free to bully and criticize our company without making any attempt to resolve your issues.

Dave

I have only one set of standards. Terms must be met.

Am I biased? Yes, when it comes to MSCs who repeatedly do not meet terms.

When there are problems with an MSC, that is not my issue; I cannot resolve it. Rather, the issue should be resolved by the MSC.

And you have first hand experience with our company where terms have not been met?

That is relevant to you why? So you can out me or deactivate me? You have developed quite the reputation.

Let's stick to what is important on this forum. Shoppers voicing a concern, stating a need or seeking recourse. Not an MSC trying to vindicate and rehabilitate itself. Take care of shoppers, adhere to stated terms. If you can't live up to stated terms, then change them. My two cents.

@Sentry Marketing wrote:

I understand quite clearly why shoppers come to this forum. That's why I think it's important to point out bias where it exists. For example, your post, like all of your posts concerning Sentry, is subtly negative and intended to dissuade form members from working with Sentry. I've attempted on many occasions to discuss the source of your feelings but you refuse to elaborate. It seems that you'd rather be free to bully and criticize our company without making any attempt to resolve your issues.

Dave

You've got quite the persecution complex going on there. It might not be a bad idea to calm down and examine your own biases.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2015 06:34AM by Misanthrope.

Mert,

Your experience with our company is relevant. When you post about Sentry, is it based on first hand experience or some other bias you've developed? We don't know because you refuse to elaborate on the reason for your dislike of Sentry and myself other than the vague references to my actions and your belief that mystery shopping representatives should not be allowed to participate in mysteryshopforum. These are the actions of a bully.

Given our shop volume, which has increased substantially over the last two years, we don't have any more problems related to payment than any other company in the industry. Anyone reading the forum with an unbiased eye will see that those shoppers who approached us in a patient, professional manner almost always walk away with a satisfactory resolution and those shoppers who approach an issue in a unpleasant manner are frequently deactivated. If that's the "reputation" I've developed then good. Mystery shopping companies should not be expected to tolerate unprofessional behavior any more than a mystery shopper would accept this behavior from a company they work with. This line of criticism always been interesting to me since it's quite clear on this forum that shoppers are crossing companies off their list every day without the same level of consternation.

It's not unreasonable for mystery shopping companies to expect their shoppers to conduct themselves in a professional and patient manner. This is part of being a business owner. Given the recent discussion on this forum concerning mystery shoppers as business owners, I think the conversation is very timely.

There's no persecution complex going on. It's been long established on this forum that a small group of forum members have strong disdain for Sentry and myself and a separate set of standards apply to comments made about our company.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2015 12:01AM by Sentry Marketing.

@Sentry Marketing wrote:

It's been long established on this forum that a small group of forum members have strong disdain for Sentry and myself


And who started that situation and continues with the same attitudes and actions?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2015 03:16PM by barbage.

@Sentry Marketing wrote:

Given our shop volume, which has increased substantially over the last two years, we don't have any more problems related to payment than any other company in the industry. Anyone reading the forum with an unbiased eye will see that those shoppers who approached us in a patient, professional manner almost always walk away with a satisfactory resolution and those shoppers who approach an issue in a unpleasant manner are frequently deactivated. .

That is just utter nonsense. Your company does as many shops monthly as Market Force? Bare? Maritz? These guys manage to get their shops paid in a timely manner and in fact shoppers get all bent out of shape with Market Force when they don't see their direct deposit on the 10th of the month after the shop because there was a holiday, though if I recall correctly the Market Force indication is 'around the 15th' or some such. No tickets required to get payment, no messing with Paypal or some other web entity to get their payments.

As for 'professionalism' . . . when you contacted me offering to reactivate me, there is no way I was interested in doing that because your ongoing whining on this forum about all of us being out to get you is an ongoing and pathetic display of unprofessionalism. Pay your bills in a timely fashion without sending shoppers through hoops and trying to intimidate them and I would think much more highly of you. When Goodwin was not paying in a timely fashion, shoppers were warned on this forum so that they would work at their own risk. It is not at all inappropriate to warn shoppers similarly about Sentry. Payments should arrive when due, just as shop reports should arrive when due.

Flash

I am in total agreement with you that this is utter nonsense. Your carrying a grudge against my company and I for years , as well as your efforts to dissuade shoppers from being involved with our company, is simply unprofessional and reprehensible. Let's be clear about something, I never said all of the members of this forum displayed an animus toward our company. The truth is that it is you and a few others who dislike me over something that happened years ago that you will simply never get over. Moreover, I enjoy a cordial and friendly relationship with many forum members.

Your hatred of my company and I is simply irrational. Over the years, you're cut off contact with forum members who don't share your view, accused other forum members of writing my posts and employed a separate set of standards when it comes to criticism leveled at our company. I can only image what gets discussed in the members only sections of this forum.

We pay our shoppers on time with no more errors than any other company. Period. We've been in transition this year as we migrated mystery shopping and payment platforms. The vast majority of our shoppers have been pleasant, patient and professional when it comes to reporting an issue with payment. It's a very small majority of shoppers who handle things in an impatient or unprofessional manner.

Recently, there's been a lot of discussion on this forum about mystery shoppers as business owners. I think mystery shoppers do run their own small business and they should be paid the respect afforded to any other small business owner. They should also conduct themselves accordingly. Demanding to be respected and then acting in a disrespectful manner is not part of the equation. I'm sorry, "Flash", but cowering behind an anonymous online persona and lobbing criticism makes you a bully, not a professional.

Shoppers come to this forum to share information and when information is biased. shoppers deserve to be made aware of that bias. When we've made a mistake or screwed something up, I've taken responsibility and worked to quickly resolve the issue. If I think that comments posted on this forum are vague or inaccurate, I've commented accordingly. I get that you don't want company representatives to be post here, however, that does not seem to be the opinion of the overall community.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2015 05:19PM by Sentry Marketing.

You know exactly who I am Dave. I normally stay out of "your" threads because I continue to see the type of involvement you display in this forum unprofessional and I would not want to insert bias. But it is not lost on me that most threads started about Sentry regard missing payments. I think many forum members see that as well with zero input from me. And I certainly would not say that I have a 'grudge' against you but rather 'disdain'.

As I stated I would do, I saw Dave's payment in Bill.com. It hasn't come through to my bank yet, but I do see it. That being said, I'm done commenting.

That's a lie, you repeatedly deactivate shoppers who question you, and ask about payment which often times are running at 90 days.

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with our company. Based on your previous post, it appears that your interactions with our company were not related to payment.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2015 04:11AM by Sentry Marketing.

Dave is really unprofessional, Sentry payment has been delayed for few weeks for me too. The said check lost in the mail... but the reality they just having a cash flow issue. BECAREFUL WITH SENTRY & DAVE.... RUN AWAY if possible!

raygine

You posted in October, 2014 that you didn't like our company. Now, you are saying that your payment has been delayed. Why would you perform an assignment for us after posting that we should be avoided?

In fact, all Sentry payments are current. We are in the process of converting the last of the Feedback Plus payments to check and processing them in bill.com and these payments are delayed by a couple of weeks. We expected to be caught up in the next 15 days. Your comment that Sentry is having cash flow problems is nothing but a misinformed lie.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2015 08:54AM by Sentry Marketing.

@Flash wrote:

That is just utter nonsense. Your company does as many shops monthly as Market Force? Bare? Maritz? These guys manage to get their shops paid in a timely manner and in fact shoppers get all bent out of shape with Market Force when they don't see their direct deposit on the 10th of the month after the shop because there was a holiday, though if I recall correctly the Market Force indication is 'around the 15th' or some such. No tickets required to get payment, no messing with Paypal or some other web entity to get their payments.

I have never had a late payment (not counting holidays) with MF or Bare. I temporarily had a check issue with Maritz due to a new employee inadvertently changing my mailing address in their system. It took three pay periods to get the issue corrected which was aggravating but that was my only problem with them in 10+ years.

@Flash wrote:

When Goodwin was not paying in a timely fashion, shoppers were warned on this forum so that they would work at their own risk. It is not at all inappropriate to warn shoppers similarly about Sentry. Payments should arrive when due, just as shop reports should arrive when due.

I have worked for Goodwin for several years. I was there when shoppers had to "chase" payments. They were consistently late but once a shopper contacted them, the issue was resolved right away. No tickets required to get payment.

Forum members were still aggravated and voiced their concerns in this forum. I actually let my Goodwin scheduler know about the forum and the threads regarding their company. Eventually, Goodwin listened and changed their payment policies. I have not had a payment issue with them in probably over two years. BTW, Goodwin never came into the forum to complain or threaten shoppers with deactivation. They just fixed the problem.

@Sentry Marketing wrote:

I can only image what gets discussed in the members only sections of this forum.

There is a "Members Only" section on this forum? I was not aware of that. I guess you have to be one of the cool kids to be invited. Oh well.

@Sentry Marketing wrote:

Anyone reading the forum with an unbiased eye will see that those shoppers who approached us in a patient, professional manner almost always walk away with a satisfactory resolution and those shoppers who approach an issue in a unpleasant manner are frequently deactivated.

But your definition of unpleasant seems VERY narrow. Anyone who seems to disagree with you or your company's policies are arbitrarily deactivated.

I really don't understand the comparison to Goodwin or all of the talk of me "threatening to deactivate shoppers". Just because Flash claims that a majority of posts about our company are related to late payments does not make it true. Flash is certainly entitled to Flash's own opinions, however, Flash is not entitled to Flash's own facts. Like any other company, shopper payments are late from Sentry for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons are in our control and our responsibility to correct and some of the reasons are out of our control. We think moving payments to bill.com will solve a lot of our process issue and the early results indicate that's happening. We are also working hard to resolve the issue with the last set of payment for assignment completed for Feedback Plus on the Prophet platform. We expect this to be resolved in a couple of weeks.

Contrary to Flash's post, is it not necessary to submit a support ticket to get paid. The support ticket system was put in place to so that issues important to shoppers didn't get lost in the ocean of email every receives every day. Currently, submitting a ticket is as easy as clicking a link in our ShopMetrics platform or emailing help@sentrymarketing.com The ticket system on our previous platform involved submitting an inquiry from the same page that a shopper's payment information was displayed on. It was literally easier than sending an email and inquiries submitted by this method allowed us to resolve the issue in less time than an email inquiry. The process was designed to make it EASY for a shopper to submit a question about payment for an assignment.

Why don't you ask leverly if levery's account is deactivated? leverly had a legitimate issue and while I would have preferred leverly email me directly, I didn't shut levery's account down for posting on this forum. Our policy regarding deactivating shoppers is no secret and I don't think much different than any other company in the industry.

Edited to remove gender. My apologies to the forum.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2015 11:59PM by Sentry Marketing.

@Sentry Marketing wrote:

Why don't you ask leverly if his account is deactivated? leverly had a legitimate issue and while I would have preferred he email me directly, I didn't shut his account down for posting on this forum. Our policy regarding deactivating shoppers is no secret and I don't think much different than any other company in the industry.

I am not sure if leverly will appreciate you outing his gender in the forum. Many forum members like to stay gender neutral. I have noticed that you, Dave also like to refer to forum members by their real names in this forum. That is not cool. I believe a moderator addressed this issue in another thread. But you should make it a habit to refer to forum members by their forum names.

As for Flash, I have no idea who he/she is except for the fact that he/she has been here a long time. I just quoted the relative sections of Flash's post so I could post my own opinion.

@leverly, have you been deactivated? Yet?

I would say that many forum members have posted information about our company and not been deactivated. In addition, we've worked out issues offline with many shoppers. It's all in the approach. The criteria is very consistent. Those shoppers who approach issues in a professional and patient manner almost always walk away with a satisfactory resolution. Those who try to damage our company's reputation, post inaccurate information, make threats or conduct themselves in a similar manner are almost always deactivated.

Would you shop for a company that communicated with you in a hostile or demeaning manner?

@Sentry Marketing wrote:

Would you shop for a company that communicated with you in a hostile or demeaning manner?

No, I would not. That is why I do not work for your company. My decision has been based on YOUR posts in the forum. I do not even consider those ALL CAPS rants and the one-hit wonders who join the forum to just to bash a company.

As a MSC owner, I am honestly surprised at how much time you have to spend on this forum. Time for me to start cooking dinner. Peace out!