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They have been having technical issues lately. It is a good solid company.
Recently their website has been having issues. I figure they are dealing with the issues and will get it sorted out to at least adequately function. They are a good company to work with because their instructions are clear. They don't put up with a bunch of nonsense. What they tell you is needed you need to get. But their shops are among the easiest in the industry, if nothing else because narrative requirements are minimal. The payments tend to be low by industry standards but they pay before the middle of the month following the shop.
@Flash wrote:
Recently their website has been having issues. I figure they are dealing with the issues and will get it sorted out to at least adequately function. They are a good company to work with because their instructions are clear. They don't put up with a bunch of nonsense. What they tell you is needed you need to get. But their shops are among the easiest in the industry, if nothing else because narrative requirements are minimal. The payments tend to be low by industry standards but they pay before the middle of the month following the shop.
Flash,
I have to thank you for the endorsement of MF. They have some great fill in shops for my routes. I'm always looking for shops that will provide a break from driving around every hour or so. I would much rather earn money during the breaks.
Had I not been too afraid of taking on a new assignment 200 miles from home today, I would have volunteered. I agree the fees are low. But since I'll probably stop at these locations anyways, why not get paid for it?
Thank you again. I really appreciated your post. I've been afraid of MF ever since they tried to tell me I only lived 8 miles from a FF and it's really a minimum of 25 miles because there is no bridge over my lake.
MaryAnn
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
I am not 'endorsing' them per se as an MSC of any great merit. They have a couple of clients that I enjoy doing. They have other clients that are not my cup of tea at all. But they don't play games. The shop is correct and accepted or it isn't and is rejected. If it is accepted it is paid. There are no mysteries.
Mileage is a challenge for any MSP. My favorite example is a shop that from the center of my zip code to the center of the zip code of the shop is 20 miles but from my residence to the shop is 44 miles because of the road structure and our respective locations within our zip codes. I was chuckling with a friendly scheduler a year or so ago and challenged her to find a route from my house to the shop using Google maps. It was a friendly challenge and she was surprised. We then negotiated a more appropriate price for the job.
Mileage is a challenge for any MSP. My favorite example is a shop that from the center of my zip code to the center of the zip code of the shop is 20 miles but from my residence to the shop is 44 miles because of the road structure and our respective locations within our zip codes. I was chuckling with a friendly scheduler a year or so ago and challenged her to find a route from my house to the shop using Google maps. It was a friendly challenge and she was surprised. We then negotiated a more appropriate price for the job.
@Flash wrote:
I am not 'endorsing' them per se as an MSC of any great merit. They have a couple of clients that I enjoy doing. They have other clients that are not my cup of tea at all. But they don't play games. The shop is correct and accepted or it isn't and is rejected. If it is accepted it is paid. There are no mysteries.
Mileage is a challenge for any MSP. My favorite example is a shop that from the center of my zip code to the center of the zip code of the shop is 20 miles but from my residence to the shop is 44 miles because of the road structure and our respective locations within our zip codes. I was chuckling with a friendly scheduler a year or so ago and challenged her to find a route from my house to the shop using Google maps. It was a friendly challenge and she was surprised. We then negotiated a more appropriate price for the job.
I realized after I posted that endorsement was the wrong word.
How does having a positive and encouraging outlook sound to you? There are so many that trash any MSC because of mishaps. You always seem to have a level head and I appreciate it.
I was trying to say I respect your opinion concerning MF.
MaryAnn
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2016 03:48AM by MA Smith.
And if you start doing regular shops with MF, be sure and do the auto bank deposit. You will get your deposit about 3-6 days sooner than a check, and you won't have to worry about it getting lost in the mail.
Their shops start out low, but if you get to know a few of the schedulers, you can usually get at least double the offering fee if they don't get confirmed early in the month.
I had no interest in signing up with MarketForce because of its low fees and some negative comments on this forum. But I finally bit the bullet and did, because I wanted to shop one of the restaurants they have.
To my surprise, they are easy to deal with, and although many of the shop fees are ridiculously low, if you can wait until they really, really need them done, they will bonus them nicely. As Flash says, their instructions are clear (which can't be said about a lot of MSCs), and the reports are straightforward. Nothing confusing or ambiguous about them. The report for the restaurant I shop for them is time consuming, although not difficult, but it's why I won't do them at base fee. (Unless my family is clamoring for the food, then I take a shop, even if not bonused. That, or deal with pouting.
)
I recently did a cell-phone shop for them, which started out lower than low, but it went up until I thought it was worth it. The in-store time was long, but the report took about 10 or 15 minutes. It was well worth the increased fee, and paid better than any cell-phone shop I've done on a time vs. pay basis. (And I've done a lot of phone shops!)
Depending on what shops are in one's area, I think MF can be a profitable proposition.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2016 01:44PM by BirdyC.
To my surprise, they are easy to deal with, and although many of the shop fees are ridiculously low, if you can wait until they really, really need them done, they will bonus them nicely. As Flash says, their instructions are clear (which can't be said about a lot of MSCs), and the reports are straightforward. Nothing confusing or ambiguous about them. The report for the restaurant I shop for them is time consuming, although not difficult, but it's why I won't do them at base fee. (Unless my family is clamoring for the food, then I take a shop, even if not bonused. That, or deal with pouting.
)
I recently did a cell-phone shop for them, which started out lower than low, but it went up until I thought it was worth it. The in-store time was long, but the report took about 10 or 15 minutes. It was well worth the increased fee, and paid better than any cell-phone shop I've done on a time vs. pay basis. (And I've done a lot of phone shops!)
Depending on what shops are in one's area, I think MF can be a profitable proposition.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2016 01:44PM by BirdyC.
For the time spent and the easy reports, probably the easiest in the industry, I think some of their fees are not so bad.
@MA Smith wrote:
How does having a positive and encouraging outlook sound to you? There are so many that trash any MSC because of mishaps. You always seem to have a level head and I appreciate it.
Thank you. I do get shops rejected from time to time and like so many others my knee jerk reaction is, "I didn't screw up!!!! This is all a big mistake!!!!!" I may whine to select friends or I may just be in a foul mood for a bit. I do remember, however, that more fouled up shops have been accepted than good shops rejected, so what was lost on this shop will be made up on future shops. I really see no reason to vent or rant on a public forum unless there is serious reason for others to be concerned with the company beyond my own little failed shop.
@MA Smith wrote:
@Flash wrote:
Recently their website has been having issues. I figure they are dealing with the issues and will get it sorted out to at least adequately function. They are a good company to work with because their instructions are clear. They don't put up with a bunch of nonsense. What they tell you is needed you need to get. But their shops are among the easiest in the industry, if nothing else because narrative requirements are minimal. The payments tend to be low by industry standards but they pay before the middle of the month following the shop.
Flash,
I have to thank you for the endorsement of MF. They have some great fill in shops for my routes. I'm always looking for shops that will provide a break from driving around every hour or so. I would much rather earn money during the breaks.
Had I not been too afraid of taking on a new assignment 200 miles from home today, I would have volunteered. I agree the fees are low. But since I'll probably stop at these locations anyways, why not get paid for it?
Thank you again. I really appreciated your post. I've been afraid of MF ever since they tried to tell me I only lived 8 miles from a FF and it's really a minimum of 25 miles because there is no bridge over my lake.
MaryAnn
Shopping SoCal and Maui.
MFI was my first MSC. I think the assignments I took, the questionnaires and the easy-to-understand guidelines were good training for someone starting out. I have had more than 300 assignments with MFI now. I had one, early on, rejected because I thought (my mistake) that "anything else" meant I could add on to my order. That was a good lesson learned. It is my only rejection. The pay is prompt and can be automatically deposited. Alas, in my area it seems MFI has only wireless shops now and one burger place that has probably seen me too many times. I have since branched out but still think of MFI as a good trainer for those who want to try out mystery shopping (and for folks who hate to write narratives.)
Shopping SoCal and Maui.
I like MF, because the payments are pretty prompt.
And sure, the fees may be low, but heck, there's a company I have shopped for that does steakhouses, with reimbursement only, and considering the order requirements, that reimbursement doesn't quite cover the two meals we have to buy. And I know they aren't the only no fee MSC.
With Market Force if there's a (Fast casual) shop that I would pass by on my normal workday, I'll sign up. Unfortunately, I don't always know what my normal workday will entail until the week of, so the shops I want to do aren't always there when I check.
And sure, the fees may be low, but heck, there's a company I have shopped for that does steakhouses, with reimbursement only, and considering the order requirements, that reimbursement doesn't quite cover the two meals we have to buy. And I know they aren't the only no fee MSC.
With Market Force if there's a (Fast casual) shop that I would pass by on my normal workday, I'll sign up. Unfortunately, I don't always know what my normal workday will entail until the week of, so the shops I want to do aren't always there when I check.
I have a job to do today. When I signed into the website my job is still there but there is no function to search for any new jobs. I also did not receive my daily list of jobs today. I checked all my information and under personal info my email was blank so I filled it in and then closed the site and opened again hoping that would fix things. Still no open job listings. Is this a problem others are having? I hope it is not me getting the axe! Anyone else not able to get new jobs? I know the site has been having issues so I hope that is it.
One time I was unable to see new jobs while they were waiting for a couple of receipts. Also you have to update your personal information every few months to make sure your email address is correct. Otherwise I would probably email the help desk to try and find out why the job search function is no longer available.
I just logged in and was able to search. 47 jobs available in my area, including one client I had not seen before.
I don't have any scheduled.
Hopefully the issue you have is just a glitch.
I don't have any scheduled.
Hopefully the issue you have is just a glitch.
@sandyf wrote:
I have a job to do today. When I signed into the website my job is still there but there is no function to search for any new jobs. I also did not receive my daily list of jobs today. I checked all my information and under personal info my email was blank so I filled it in and then closed the site and opened again hoping that would fix things. Still no open job listings. Is this a problem others are having? I hope it is not me getting the axe! Anyone else not able to get new jobs? I know the site has been having issues so I hope that is it.
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