As someone else previously mentioned, Marketforce is reducing shop fees on a lot of their shops. I usually did 8-10 FF shops a month as a way to get free lunch. But I will be taking a pass for now unless they call with a good bonus attached. They forget you have to enter the report, which takes time.

I am passing also but the shops will still be taken. Maybe there will be some bonus money at the end of the month - probably not. I have seen the fees drop and never go back up again, so much for any type of cost of living.

just say no

I haven't seen a change on their pricing for the returning clients. They start low and change the fee through the month. Nothing different there. They are way lower on on FF fee than another MSC with the same client.

Okay. NO.

@parkcitybrian wrote:

just say no

What's up with all the price drops from several companies we respect? Does this mean if the minimum wage goes up MSCs are going to drop your paid expenses further?

@MDavisnowell wrote:

Okay. NO.

@parkcitybrian wrote:

just say no

perfect, now if more had our mindset maybe, just maybe, some of the ridiculously low fee offerings would be higher?

@Wild Bill wrote:

As someone else previously mentioned, Marketforce is reducing shop fees on a lot of their shops. I usually did 8-10 FF shops a month as a way to get free lunch. But I will be taking a pass for now unless they call with a good bonus attached. They forget you have to enter the report, which takes time.

The issue is that they don't care. They don't care how long it takes a shopper to enter a report. They only care about getting the shop done cheap. Shoppers are a dime a dozen to Marketforce. Market Force representatives are quoted frequently and seem to believe that the only requirement for a shopper is that they be breathing. What does that say about how much they respect shoppers?

The reality is that no matter how much they lower the fees, most of those shops will be taken by shoppers like Wild Bill who take 8-10 a month as a way to get a free lunch (NO - no free lunch; lunch is your payment for working!) This business of calling it a FREE lunch is the reason they think they can cut fees. Even if they cut the fee out completely, like A Closer Look does, some shoppers will still see it as a FREE LUNCH and take the shop. I have to admit I would rather do a no-fee shop for MF than ACL because the MF report is much shorter and easier.

Some shops will have to be bonused toward the end of the month, just as some had to be bonused with the higher fees. From what I can tell, the lower fees have not caused these jobs to just sit on the Job Board. Most of them were self assigned immediately when posted, just like always.

Just say NO if you don't think the money is worth it. Either someone else will think it is worth it, or the price will go up.

@Jay C wrote:

@Wild Bill wrote:

As someone else previously mentioned, Marketforce is reducing shop fees on a lot of their shops. I usually did 8-10 FF shops a month as a way to get free lunch. But I will be taking a pass for now unless they call with a good bonus attached. They forget you have to enter the report, which takes time.

The issue is that they don't care. They don't care how long it takes a shopper to enter a report. They only care about getting the shop done cheap. Shoppers are a dime a dozen to Marketforce. Market Force representatives are quoted frequently and seem to believe that the only requirement for a shopper is that they be breathing. What does that say about how much they respect shoppers?

The reality is that no matter how much they lower the fees, most of those shops will be taken by shoppers like Wild Bill who take 8-10 a month as a way to get a free lunch (NO - no free lunch; lunch is your payment for working!) This business of calling it a FREE lunch is the reason they think they can cut fees. Even if they cut the fee out completely, like A Closer Look does, some shoppers will still see it as a FREE LUNCH and take the shop. I have to admit I would rather do a no-fee shop for MF than ACL because the MF report is much shorter and easier.

Some shops will have to be bonused toward the end of the month, just as some had to be bonused with the higher fees. From what I can tell, the lower fees have not caused these jobs to just sit on the Job Board. Most of them were self assigned immediately when posted, just like always.

Just say NO if you don't think the money is worth it. Either someone else will think it is worth it, or the price will go up.

exactly...the rationale & justification of some folks for prostituting themselves time/effort wise boggles my mind, tho

@parkcitybrian wrote:

exactly...the rationale & justification of some folks for prostituting themselves time/effort wise boggles my mind, tho

LOL, The shop is akin to prostituting yourself at $4, but at $5 it was fine? Prostitution sounds weird in Park City

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

@parkcitybrian wrote:

exactly...the rationale & justification of some folks for prostituting themselves time/effort wise boggles my mind, tho

LOL, The shop is akin to prostituting yourself at $4, but at $5 it was fine? Prostitution sounds weird in Park City

everything is pricier here in park city, btw

I've thought about this at length and I agree it's weird I'd feel so differently about $5 and $4. I'm not sure I can explain it. When I first saw their bitty bear shop at $5 and I thought that was low but I gave it a shot. I picked these up every now and then. IF the report had loaded promptly I would have found $5 plus the meal okay because the report was quick and simple as designed. I kept thinking they'd get that fixed. Silly me.

When the shop went to $4 I stopped picking them up. Maybe I'll feel differently down the road. I doubt it. Right up front here, it's not the principal of the thing at all. It's the dollar ding plus the slow slow page progression on the report. My absolute rock bottom on the shop WAS $5 plus the meal. I've reconsidered. If/when/haha it goes up to $10, or if/when/haha I hear they upgraded their website, I'll take another look.

Right now, NO.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2016 04:26PM by MDavisnowell.

$4.00 + modest reimbursement for faux / pseudo chinese "food" = an insult. shame on those folks who accept these kinds of assignments. you know who you are!!!

The fee going down by one dollar bothers me since next month it may be a $3 fee - and the jobs will still be taken. When it is just a "free" meal they will probably still be taken. All I can do on my end is to refuse and hope that others do the same but I doubt it.

@teriraia wrote:

The fee going down by one dollar bothers me since next month it may be a $3 fee - and the jobs will still be taken. When it is just a "free" meal they will probably still be taken. All I can do on my end is to refuse and hope that others do the same but I doubt it.

yep

@parkcitybrian wrote:

@teriraia wrote:

The fee going down by one dollar bothers me since next month it may be a $3 fee - and the jobs will still be taken. When it is just a "free" meal they will probably still be taken. All I can do on my end is to refuse and hope that others do the same but I doubt it.

yep & the "food" is total s h i t, also

This is why I don't do a load of shops, I have a sense of my expenses, and what it takes to cover them. No profits for me, no shops done, nothing personal, just business.

The fee on the coffee shops also went down to $3 this month. Each shopper needs to decide for themselves if it is worth it. Some shoppers are living day to day and if they can catch a meal that is a bit higher grade and a bit more interesting than the dollar menu it might be worth it to them. Or if they have some time to waste between other things they might be inclined to take these shops if they are nearby and need a meal rather then spend their spare time surfing the internet, playing games or whatever other time wasters people have nowadays.
There are other higher paying shops for those who do not think it is worth it for them. Yes I think the fee should be more but I do not believe in demanding others with different needs stop shopping these places if it fits their needs. I would get more value out of a meal I got reimbursed and $4 for a check off list of questions then I would for a fee of $10 to go out of my way to a location that is not on every corner and have to park and spend time in the store and then write up a narrative.

I was at a meeting of managers when the CEO making $25,000,000 a year(Edgar disclosures used to show his combined salary and stock option compensation package) said "You need to realize we can train chimpanzees to do their jobs!' Carls Jr. Hedge Fund owner said "I want to automate all jobs inside the restaurant to avoid paying higher wages." He did not back down on further interviews, there is a war going on in America. The War to continue income inequality and transfer what's left of the people who make $300,000 a year and less, a war to move all those assets in to the 1%'s pocket.

A few of the big MSCs feel that your time has no value, so lets allow them to get those jobs filled by people who can't read and write because I see the talent coming out of high school and college. Your generations are the last who know how to write so well, let them get people who don't care about perfection.

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

@parkcitybrian wrote:

exactly...the rationale & justification of some folks for prostituting themselves time/effort wise boggles my mind, tho

LOL, The shop is akin to prostituting yourself at $4, but at $5 it was fine? Prostitution sounds weird in Park City

CaliGirl did you ever read Churchill's qoute?


"“Churchill: "Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?" Socialite: "My goodness, Mr. Churchill... Well, I suppose... we would have to discuss terms, of course... "
Churchill: "Would you sleep with me for five pounds?"
Socialite: "Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!" Churchill: "Madam, we've already established that. Now we are haggling about the price”


― Winston S. Churchil

goodreads.com

I have been declining them. I call up the assignment and check the "decline because of reimbursement" box. It's the only vote I have. I did notice that in my area, the lower-paid chicken shop has had few takers - still lots available more than a week into the listing. Usually these are gone in a couple of days. Maybe someone will get the hint. It is frustrating since the reimbursement doesn't cover the required meal, either. Perhaps MFI is trying to make up for all the clients it lost at the beginning of the year? The good thing is it is forcing me to find some better paying and more interesting MSCs.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2016 08:58PM by PuaM.

I don't think backing off these reduced fee shops will make any difference at all. Someone will take the bitty bear shops at the new fee of $4. After the MSC enjoys success at $4, they will reduce the fee. When it goes down to $3, someone will still take them. It will work it's way down to $2 and then $1, and they will still disappear from the board.

Eventually there will be a zero shop fee, and the job will be put out for bids. Whichever one of us agrees to pay the MSC the most money for the privilege of working for them will be awarded the privilege of doing the shop. At that point, those of us who have worked hard and smart and lived frugally will be in the best position to pay them the most money for the honor of mystery shopping the bitty bear.

I want to make it clear I have no problems with shops paying under $20 and I do a boat load of them every month. I even do a bunch of shops paying $10 but they're simple, I get a long window, and the report loads right up. Additionally, I can book up to 80 of those type of shops at a time and I don't have to put up with any crap like booking two and having the rest of them jerked. I apologize for being extra witchy lately but I'm reaching the hurl stage.

And don't even get me started on "name your price" which never works and the absurd counter offers that come back to drive to Egypt and back. Yeah. You bet. Please call again. Can't wait.

@MDavisnowell wrote:

I don't think backing off these reduced fee shops will make any difference at all. Someone will take the bitty bear shops at the new fee of $4. After the MSC enjoys success at $4, they will reduce the fee. When it goes down to $3, someone will still take them. It will work it's way down to $2 and then $1, and they will still disappear from the board.

Eventually there will be a zero shop fee, and the job will be put out for bids. Whichever one of us agrees to pay the MSC the most money for the privilege of working for them will be awarded the privilege of doing the shop. At that point, those of us who have worked hard and smart and lived frugally will be in the best position to pay them the most money for the honor of mystery shopping the bitty bear.

I want to make it clear I have no problems with shops paying under $20 and I do a boat load of them every month. I even do a bunch of shops paying $10 but they're simple, I get a long window, and the report loads right up. Additionally, I can book up to 80 of those type of shops at a time and I don't have to put up with any crap like booking two and having the rest of them jerked. I apologize for being extra witchy lately but I'm reaching the hurl stage.

And don't even get me started on "name your price" which never works and the absurd counter offers that come back to drive to Egypt and back. Yeah. You bet. Please call again. Can't wait.

good & i'm heartened from hearing people say..."i'm done with these crappy fees".

@GrosMichel wrote:

CaliGirl did you ever read Churchill's qoute?
"“Churchill: "Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?" Socialite: "My goodness, Mr. Churchill... Well, I suppose... we would have to discuss terms, of course... "
Churchill: "Would you sleep with me for five pounds?"
Socialite: "Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!" Churchill: "Madam, we've already established that. Now we are haggling about the price”
― Winston S. Churchil
goodreads.com

For godsakes, it's CALI Girl, not CALL Girl.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2016 09:27PM by CaliGirl925.

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

@GrosMichel wrote:

CaliGirl did you ever read Churchill's qoute?
"“Churchill: "Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?" Socialite: "My goodness, Mr. Churchill... Well, I suppose... we would have to discuss terms, of course... "
Churchill: "Would you sleep with me for five pounds?"
Socialite: "Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!" Churchill: "Madam, we've already established that. Now we are haggling about the price”
― Winston S. Churchil
goodreads.com

For godsakes, it's CALI Girl, not CALL Girl.

I thought you were a West Coast girl all tan and slim, a Cali-Girl!

@Wild Bill wrote:

As someone else previously mentioned, Marketforce is reducing shop fees on a lot of their shops. I usually did 8-10 FF shops a month as a way to get free lunch. But I will be taking a pass for now unless they call with a good bonus attached. They forget you have to enter the report, which takes time.

I'm kinda thinking "Good luck with that". The theater side doesn't even put out bonuses like they once did. I roped myself (aka answered the phone) into a 100-mile round tripper to put up a mega banner for Batman v Superman and a 3D glasses audit and that will probably be the last time I do that trip. Nice, quiet drive, but I'm sticking to inner loop Houston now with the 8-5 job.

I think the hedgehog shops went back up and the reimbursement got fiddled with. I'll have to see what the new menu options are before I dive into any--doesn't look like much changed from what I can see.

@AlfredB1979 wrote:

@Wild Bill wrote:

As someone else previously mentioned, Marketforce is reducing shop fees on a lot of their shops. I usually did 8-10 FF shops a month as a way to get free lunch. But I will be taking a pass for now unless they call with a good bonus attached. They forget you have to enter the report, which takes time.

I'm kinda thinking "Good luck with that". The theater side doesn't even put out bonuses like they once did. I roped myself (aka answered the phone) into a 100-mile round tripper to put up a mega banner for Batman v Superman and a 3D glasses audit and that will probably be the last time I do that trip. Nice, quiet drive, but I'm sticking to inner loop Houston now with the 8-5 job.

I think the hedgehog shops went back up and the reimbursement got fiddled with. I'll have to see what the new menu options are before I dive into any--doesn't look like much changed from what I can see.

It's the same new items: Cinnasnacks w/ cream cheese icing, Pretzel Dogs and Chili Cheese Dogs, and you can put chili/cheese on your fries.

They still bonus. I did 2 hedgehog shops last week for $12 each. I will wait for the call... they always start around mid month.

Just pass on the ones you know there will be bonuses, but grab those you know will be grabbed right now and still worth your time and effort to you.

@Tarantado wrote:

Just pass on the ones you know there will be bonuses, but grab those you know will be grabbed right now and still worth your time and effort to you.

huh ???