Why do people take $9.00 + $5.00 contractor fees= $14.00 grocery shops when its not even worth the gas to get there. Trendsource sucks and needs to boycotted because you are working for free people. Thes scheduler's pay depends on the shops they fill! When you guys take low paying sh*&ty shops, the MSC companies love it and they will continue to undercut the shopper. Demand pads to make it worth your while unless you live right next to the grocery store. Even then the time to input and do the actual shop is still really long. For crying sakes, unite againt these cheap MSCs like Trendsource, Maritz, Marketforce and Bestmark!

Mod note: It is against forum rules and an ICA violation to link the client with the MSC.

No gas to get there dear, [client name deleted] has 5 stores all within 3 miles from me. $14.00+5 equals 19.00 12 times a month, that's a lot of food where I come from, since you'll be grocery shopping anyway.

Mod note: Edited for another ICA violation.

This topic has been discussed time and again. The people who feel it is worthwhile take them. The people who don't don't. It doesn't hurt me if they take them. The upside is it probably eliminates a few "begging" emails cluttering up my inbox. Work with whoever you feel pays you fairly. Why be so upset and try to dictate what someone else chooses to do for their business?

I have a close Price Rite store for a $10 Reimbursement and $12 Fee. It's 2 miles from where I work so I'd do it after work. I used to do them for $5 fee but after a while I noticed no one was taking it except me so I just wait till the MSC calls me to do it with a decent fee.

Ditto, Irene. Those shops are among my FAV!

Yes please please don't take those shops!!!..... That's just more for me to pick up ! For the past 6 months, I have done on average about 5-10 "R" shops a week alone. The schedulers all know me by my caller ID when I call them, and often will call me on weekends to pick up last minute shops. 95% of the time, all of my grocery shops get approved with the PAD I had requested. This can be as little as $3,, or as high as $20 if it's a distance or a last minute flake shop that needs to be filled. This past year, I celebrated a new baby in my life. It was Trendsource to thank as I have a HUGE wall just filled with diapers, wipes and other baby items that cost me nothing thanks to working with Trendsource. While others may bad mouth them, for me they really are one of the better companies to work for.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2016 07:41AM by drdisney.

I love doing grocery store shops. I am going to be there anyway, so why not make a few bucks? If you don't want to do them, then no one is making you. You choose which shops you want to do. For me, there are not a lot of shoppers in Eastern KY. I live in TN, but I often go to KY for big bonuses because they can not find anyone else to do shops in this area. When I have several in a row and can pick up some fast food shops along the way, then why not do them? I recently got a $68 (!) bonus to do a shop in KY. I was able to schedule 4 others that were along my route, so WIN WIN for me and the MSC's.

I got a call earlier last week with a $40 bonus, and another yesterday with an undisclosed bonus for the same store. Unfortunately I was working the real job both times and couldn't sneak out to do them.

For people who do these, how is the reporting? I have looked in the past but always seem to pass, mainly due to the low pay...even though free groceries helps.

Rizzily, most of us long time shoppers usually combine the grocery shop with other shops nearby. To most people, it would not make the effort to accept a shop that paid $14. It all depends on the shopper's situation. Some don't mind driving across town to do a $14 shop. Some of us don't mind the free groceries-must purchase $X.XX amount to validate shop. Okay, so I need some milk/meat or dessert. My grocery bill is usually $70.00/week for 3 adults and 6 cats. So my grocery bill is reduced to $50 to $60/week depending on how many grocery shops I did. You are not looking at the whole picture. Wouldn't you like to reduce your grocery bill in some way if you can?

@catgrannyof5 wrote:

Okay, so I need some milk/meat or dessert. My grocery bill is usually $70.00/week for 3 adults and 6 cats. So my grocery bill is reduced to $50 to $60/week depending on how many grocery shops I did. You are not looking at the whole picture. Wouldn't you like to reduce your grocery bill in some way if you can?

I use the required $1.00 purchase for most C-store and gas station shops to buy cat food and dog food to feed strays or donate to a shelter. I meet the qualifications of the shop and I am helping hungry animals.

I'll do the grocery shops when I need food. Heck I can get a lot of stuff for $9 bucks. Especially the stores I shop aren't expensive. I can get 9 or 10 items. Love getting fruit and veggies.

I do about 7 of these shops a week, I bought a freezer and trade with my neighbors. I've managed to almost memorize the associates names in the stores I do and I type the reports while watching tv and even with the neighbors visiting it's so easy now. I do the NE and SE side of town one week and the NW and SW side of town the next week (weekend). I combine them with other work of course there's some Merchandising company with some kind of work at those stores.

Funny, my scheduler got pissy because I asked for $6 pad to drive 40 minutes to a nearby town. No one did the shop. It was the wierdest conversation I've ever had. So, you're calling me for a favor? Do I know you? Did you go to my daughter's wedding? Maybe they'll replace her soon, ick.

@Sybil2 wrote:

@catgrannyof5 wrote:

Okay, so I need some milk/meat or dessert. My grocery bill is usually $70.00/week for 3 adults and 6 cats. So my grocery bill is reduced to $50 to $60/week depending on how many grocery shops I did. You are not looking at the whole picture. Wouldn't you like to reduce your grocery bill in some way if you can?

I use the required $1.00 purchase for most C-store and gas station shops to buy cat food and dog food to feed strays or donate to a shelter. I meet the qualifications of the shop and I am helping hungry animals.

You are awesome!

Rizzily, because $9 bucks in groceries is $9 bucks in groceries.

I do any grocery shop I can get. I got one for $60 plus $10 reimbursement. The company had lost 3 shoppers in my areas so I was the only one. Not a problem.

Those of you that love the grocery shops am I missing something? In your area does it also require you to have like 8 interactions one for each listed department?? I've done it once for Customer Impact the fee was bonused to $20 and reimbursement of $12. However, I had to ask a question in each department and evaluate the cashier and bagger, I decided it wasn't worth it for me. I see the Trendsource ones almost daily and just hit DELETE.

I get emails a lot for a high-end Whole Foods like local market in my area : You will be making observations in the following areas: Outside/Entry, Produce Department, Deli, Espresso Department, Meat/Seafood Department, Grocery Department, Specialty Cheeses, Beer and Wine, Health & Beauty Aids Department, Front End – Check Out, and Bagging. You will be asking a question in each of the different departments of the store to interact with an employee. The fee is $10 with reimbursement of $25. Those of you that love grocery shops would you take this one??!! I can't see how it's worth it? You can easily perform three easy convenience store shops at $12 each that takes about 5 mins and reporting of less than 10 mins. for $36 and take that money and buy your food w/o talking to every single person in the supermarket!

However, if I'm missing some trick on doing the grocery store shops please enlighten me...

Wow, $35! I'm going to try and find this company.

Here is a hint.

Q36: I could not locate an associate in the Grocery Department to evaluate.

I have done the Trendsource ones, but only if they have a steep bonus. In my area, the stores are not just grocery, but actually grocery/jewelry/electronics/clothing/garden/home store all in one. The amount of time it takes me to walk around, and then walk around again is crazy, and I am exhausted by the time I get all the interactions and counts.

As for the $10 plus $25 reimbursement ones another MSC has, I like these much better. There are a lot of interactions, but I find them easier because you can use your own questions instead of picking from a list. The only thing I don't like about the $25 reimbursement ones is that the stores are higher end/organic, so I always go over the reimbursement amount to get enough stuff to evaluate a bagger...I have stopped taking these unless they offer a bonus as well.

@aayaey wrote:

Those of you that love the grocery shops am I missing something? In your area does it also require you to have like 8 interactions one for each listed department?? I've done it once for Customer Impact the fee was bonused to $20 and reimbursement of $12. However, I had to ask a question in each department and evaluate the cashier and bagger, I decided it wasn't worth it for me. I see the Trendsource ones almost daily and just hit DELETE.

I get emails a lot for a high-end Whole Foods like local market in my area : You will be making observations in the following areas: Outside/Entry, Produce Department, Deli, Espresso Department, Meat/Seafood Department, Grocery Department, Specialty Cheeses, Beer and Wine, Health & Beauty Aids Department, Front End – Check Out, and Bagging. You will be asking a question in each of the different departments of the store to interact with an employee. The fee is $10 with reimbursement of $25. Those of you that love grocery shops would you take this one??!! I can't see how it's worth it? You can easily perform three easy convenience store shops at $12 each that takes about 5 mins and reporting of less than 10 mins. for $36 and take that money and buy your food w/o talking to every single person in the supermarket!

However, if I'm missing some trick on doing the grocery store shops please enlighten me...

The grocery shops now have a $10 bonus. Have to be done late tomorrow. They are cold calling merchandisers listed on World Alliance see if any will bite. Make the requirements/report reasonable, or pay commensurate to the expectations of the job. There are over 20 in this area still available. I got 3 emails and a phone call in 4 hours and I am not even registered with them. Looks like even the hungry $6 H.D. shoppers aren't biting on this one.

Why is this forum littered with posts from "new participants" condemning certain MSC's and warning the rest of us that they are evil and in most cases pay too little and should be boycotted. I, for one, do not need this kind of negative advice as I will judge for myself.

One day last week I did 7 gas stations for one of these blood-sucking MSC's mentioned by the OP and yesterday I did 4 more. I grossed $286.50 for last weeks and $247.50 yesterday.

Please - stop giving advice and learn the art of negotiating.

I, for one, appreciate advice and know other people's experiences! Negative or Positive. I don't really enjoy hearing about anomalies, like I earned $247.50 for yesterday because it's like owning a Rolls Royce, very rare and people are starving so I would never own one anyway. But, I listen to it cause it's part of all of this!

For the majority of us it is not about negotiating. It is about life style and competency. It is also about knowledge, realistic expectations, and developing skills.

The company's are automating everything they can. Eventually they will just add cameras with audio recorders. A couple of people at the home office can gather most of the info we are gathering. The MSCs, those that survive, will employ a small subset of exempt employees that perform whatever needs personal interaction.

Or, those that understand will work for what is fair while those in less populated areas benefit from good bonuses.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2016 12:12AM by isaiah58.

@spicy1 wrote:

I don't really enjoy hearing about anomalies, like I earned $247.50 for yesterday because it's like owning a Rolls Royce, very rare and people are starving so I would never own one anyway.

A large payday at the end of the month is not an anomaly. It is the result of negotiating and is a normalcy. I don't get your connection to a Rolls Royce, people starving, and your not wanting to own one.

@Rizzily203 wrote:

Why do people take $9.00 + $5.00 contractor fees= $14.00 grocery shops when its not even worth the gas to get there. Trendsource sucks and needs to boycotted because you are working for free people. Thes scheduler's pay depends on the shops they fill! When you guys take low paying sh*&ty shops, the MSC companies love it and they will continue to undercut the shopper. Demand pads to make it worth your while unless you live right next to the grocery store. Even then the time to input and do the actual shop is still really long. For crying sakes, unite againt these cheap MSCs like Trendsource, Maritz, Marketforce and Bestmark!

Mod note: It is against forum rules and an ICA violation to link the client with the MSC.

I don't see the problem, if I have to go grocery shopping anyway then why not use a free $14.00?

@pammie8223 wrote:

@Rizzily203 wrote:

Why do people take $9.00 + $5.00 contractor fees= $14.00 grocery shops when its not even worth the gas to get there. Trendsource sucks and needs to boycotted because you are working for free people. Thes scheduler's pay depends on the shops they fill! When you guys take low paying sh*&ty shops, the MSC companies love it and they will continue to undercut the shopper. Demand pads to make it worth your while unless you live right next to the grocery store. Even then the time to input and do the actual shop is still really long. For crying sakes, unite againt these cheap MSCs like Trendsource, Maritz, Marketforce and Bestmark!

Mod note: It is against forum rules and an ICA violation to link the client with the MSC.

I don't see the problem, if I have to go grocery shopping anyway then why not use a free $14.00?

Because you are going to spend your time going from department to department asking questions, taking notes, looking for employees and typing up a report. So even if you were there anyway, you've added probably an extra hour of work, maybe more. I do better using coupons and not wasting my time running around for minimum wage.

And $14 is not like $14 cash if you have to buy things that you don't need from each department.

There are many grocery shop opportunities available across many companies. I have evaluated those I have come across. I found a few that work for me so I request and perform them. The market will work itself out naturally, apparently there are enough people that see value in the lower paying shops that supply meets demand.

I specialize in restaurant and to some extent marketing and small audit opportunities. Just because I do not see value in an opportunity does not mean it is not valuable to someone else. I am not going to upset myself or judge others over this.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2016 03:38PM by isaiah58.

@isaiah58 wrote:

There are many grocery shop opportunities available across many companies. I have evaluated those I have come across. I found a few that work for me so I request and perform them. The market will work itself out naturally, apparently there are enough people that see value in the lower paying shops that supply meets demand.

I specialize in restaurant and to some extent marketing and small audit opportunities. Just because I do not see value in an opportunity does not mean it is not valuable to someone else. I am not going to upset myself or judge others over this.

I am aware that you are not likely referring to my post, but it does not upset me. There will always be people who work harder and not smarter. There will always be somebody sitting next to me in on the airplane who paid 3 times what I paid. The person behind me pays 100% retail for their groceries. I will get anywhere from 25-90% off every time. I can't help people who run all over town doing jobs for minimum wage. They are hobbyists.

@SoCalMama

We all began somewhere as shoppers. Those that already travel often are better positioned to take advantage of travel related opportunities. Those restricted to local opportunities take advantage of them. In return, yes if and where possible the companies will take advantage of the supply of able shoppers.

In reality, higher fees do not equal higher monthly income at an individual basis. More people will be applying as the incentives increase. There is a reasonable balance that will naturally happen.

We do not need an explosion in shoppers like Uber has created in transportation alternatives. Uber has lowered the income of experienced drivers, spreading it out across many people all earning less per trip/person.

I have a route of seven grocery stores I shop for Trend every other week. It takes me two days- the shops have to be done in a four hour window- and 125 miles in this rural area. The scheduler spreads out the PAD over all seven shops so it doesn't look excessive on any one shop. If I add up the shop fee/reimbursement plus the PAD, then deduct the cost of groceries and gas, I come out slightly ahead on cash, but with a stack of groceries. It's been months since I bought groceries without filling out a report!

I LOVE BESTMARK, &TREND SOURCE, the shops are ALWAYS worth doing, the pay is ALWAYS great. Sorry you had a bad experience with them.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2016 11:50PM by redvettemama.