Many MSCs will pay for a closed location. It's happened to me on several occasions. Unless it states in the guidelines to call first as the MSC will not pay for a closed location, or with some MSCs the guidelines state what a closed location will pay (Marketforce I believe pays $3 for closed locations), it's reasonable to assume you will be paid. It's not the shopper's job to research whether or not a location is still in business unless the guidelines state to do so.

On a related note: last week I was assigned a credit card shop for a bank card at a hardware store in my area where I was to purchase an item over $200 and I would receive $200 reimbursement. I was to research to find the item I wanted before going, then apply for the card at the register (the cashier was supposed to ask me if I wanted to apply). I drove all the way to the city where the store was located, went inside, found the $201 air purifier I wanted to buy, and went to the register, only to find that this hardware store did not offer the bank card I was supposed to be applying for. The guidelines did not state it was my job to research whether or not the location offered this particular bank card, only that I had to research the item over $200 to purchase. I went out to the parking lot and called the scheduler, who told me not to do the shop and he would find another one for me to do in my area. He removed the shop and added a different location for the following day. I researched the other hardware store the next morning, found an item, and then on a whim decided to call the store to see if they offered the bank card I was supposed to apply for. Guess what? They didn't. I let the scheduler know that this location did not offer the bank card, either. He removed the shop, and since I was going out of town the next day, I didn't have time to pick up another location (which is just as well because I would have been highly irritated to find a 3rd location that didn't carry this card). So altogether I put about 3 hours into this shop with no pay, wasted time that I could have used to perform other shops and make money. I emailed the scheduler and stated that I felt I should be compensated a fee for my effort and time, and he asked how much, stating that he would ask his supervisor. I replied that I felt as if $25 would be appropriate. Never heard back from him. I think I should get paid considering it wasn't my error and I followed the guidelines properly. I am guessing it's not going to happen, though. Oh, and two days later they reposted the second location even though I had let them know that the store did not carry the bank card I was shopping!!!!

As far as US and THEM go, many schedulers are shoppers, too...as AustinMom stated, we are all in this together.