I know it is easy to kick the guys, the forum is full of complaints, but one thing keeps me taking Market Force jobs. It isn't the fee (low), it isn't the website (gimpy), it isn't the lack of variety (how many wireless shops can one do in a lifetime?)

The one thing that keeps me going with Market Force is the lightning fast online evals. I did the pancake place today for no fee, but I got a big brunch (totally paid for including tip) and a report that took me under five minutes to write. It was approved in the time it took me to file the CPI (under 10 seconds.)

This beats the MSCs that make shoppers:
- apply for shops (and never respond when the application falls off the list);
- write evals that take more than an hour to do (how many ways can one say the burger was cooked and the tomato was red), and
- wait up to a week to find out that the shop was just approved without comment.

The other reason MFI beats the competition is that I get paid on schedule. I am still waiting for checks/PayPal from other MSC early June shops (most won't pay until mid-late August.)

I couldn't pay the bills with Market Force fees alone, but it does provide basic training for beginners. I will take one of its nearby $4 five-minute reports over another company's $10 evals that take 1 1/2 hours to write, require multi-photos, and make me quote, describe and name every employee I encounter (and ask in the bedding department if they carry fish tanks!)

@PuaM wrote:

I know it is easy to kick the guys, the forum is full of complaints, but one thing keeps me taking Market Force jobs. It isn't the fee (low), it isn't the website (gimpy), it isn't the lack of variety (how many wireless shops can one do in a lifetime?)

The one thing that keeps me going with Market Force is the lightning fast online evals. I did the pancake place today for no fee, but I got a big brunch (totally paid for including tip) and a report that took me under five minutes to write. It was approved in the time it took me to file the CPI (under 10 seconds.)

This beats the MSCs that make shoppers:
- apply for shops (and never respond when the application falls off the list);
- write evals that take more than an hour to do (how many ways can one say the burger was cooked and the tomato was red), and
- wait up to a week to find out that the shop was just approved without comment.

The other reason MFI beats the competition is that I get paid on schedule. I am still waiting for checks/PayPal from other MSC early June shops (most won't pay until mid-late August.)

I couldn't pay the bills with Market Force fees alone, but it does provide basic training for beginners. I will take one of its nearby $4 five-minute reports over another company's $10 evals that take 1 1/2 hours to write, require multi-photos, and make me quote, describe and name every employee I encounter (and ask in the bedding department if they carry fish tanks!)

well said by the one who is in it for the free breakfast, the taker of the $4.00 fee(s) and the partaker of the low-hanging fruit.

One thing positive I will say about MF...I love their reschedule option. Several times I've needed to reschedule shops, and this feature makes it easy and convenient.

@parkcitybrian wrote:

well said by the one who is in it for the free breakfast, the taker of the $4.00 fee(s) and the partaker of the low-hanging fruit.

Yup. It was such a relief to face a 5-minute eval after doing so many that can take up to 1 1/2 hours (or more) to write. It made me rethink all the low-hanging fruit I haven't been taking for months now in favor of the higher-pay (but with o-so-long to report) shops. My time at the keyboard is worth something, too. In this case, I did the "free brunch" while I did two other shops that paid me a total of $25. I batted out the "free brunch" shop in five minutes and then spent nearly two hours writing up the two other shops.

This isn't a debate. It is my opinion that sometimes it is worth taking the lower-pay shops just because they are easy and no stress.

I love the schedulers who call and offer good pay even though the shop is still at base pay on the website.

I haven't done a job for MF without a significant bonus in at least 5 years.

I am a fan.

@ceasesmith wrote:

I haven't done a job for MF without a significant bonus in at least 5 years.

I am a fan.

You made a good point here. I just talked a MF scheduler into a $6 bonus for one of those 5-minute phone store shops. No time in the store and no time to write the report. If that's low-hanging fruit, I will take a case of them.

They are my favorite and I have done more for them than any other company so far. I'm relatively new, are there any other companies that are similar in your opinion with regards to the positives you mentioned like being quick, easy and reviewed super fast?

jdivver, I'm signed up with around 100 companies. I've been doing this for 8 years. 70% of my income is
from MarketForce.

However, in other parts of the country, this could change. I live in the middle of nowhere, and they are the only company I've found in 8 years that consistently has shops within 200 miles of my home. I see on the maps all the time companies that have literally hundreds of shops -- if you're close to a metro area.

I'm in a similar situation, I live in an out of the way place and I guess a lot of the companies I signed up with don't have work since there are not too many spots that can be shopped!

I enjoy doing Market Force shops. The reports usually do not require writing a novel, the guidelines and questionnaire are together and easy to follow and the reporting is quick.

I love your post. I am totally with you on all your points!

I like working for Market Force. i do a lot of those fast-casual restaurant shops just because they pay enough for a very good lunch (plus the shop fee).

BUT, you're right...how many ways can you say, "The bun was fresh."

@jdivver wrote:

They are my favorite and I have done more for them than any other company so far. I'm relatively new, are there any other companies that are similar in your opinion with regards to the positives you mentioned like being quick, easy and reviewed super fast?

Nothing comes to mind that is quick and simple like MF. You might want to sign up with JobSlinger or ISecretShop. ISS gives an attached list of all the MSCs it works with. You go through the list and sign the agreement etc. You won't want to do Nevada shops as they require a PI license. The benefit of using these MSC multiple listings is that you can get an idea of what shops there are without actually applying for them. Then, take a deep breath, and as Al Franken would say, tell yourself You are Good Enough, You are Smart Enough, and Doggone, People Like You. Spread those wings!

If you like pizza, Sinclair's pizza shops are very simple. And, if you're in southern California, by any chance, u/k has the easiest shops I've ever done for Baker's!
Mod note: Welcome to the Forum. Just a quick note...Linking an MSC with its clientele is a violation of Forum rules and probably also a breach of your ICA.

@aydeedont wrote:

If you like pizza, Sinclair's pizza shops are very simple. And, if you're in southern California, by any chance, u/k has the easiest shops I've ever done for Baker's!
Mod note: Welcome to the Forum. Just a quick note...Linking an MSC with its clientele is a violation of Forum rules and probably also a breach of your ICA.

Probably not a good idea to mention specific MSCs. Yes, the one you mentioned is really simple. So is the other burger place it has. But they are not as frequently available as those MFI burger shops that seem to go begging (at least they do in my SoCal area.)

Oops! I'm a newbie to the forum. Thanks for the admonition PuaM

@aydeedont wrote:

Oops! I'm a newbie to the forum. Thanks for the admonition PuaM

Sorry, didn't mean it to be an admonition.

Another easy shop would be Papa John Pizza. The form is simple and it provides photo experience. No money, though. It is just reimbursement.

Oh, I'm good. I appreciate your reminder is all. Thanks!

I especially like their new app for smart phones. I had to pick up DH on the way home, I let him drive, and the report was entered before we reached the house!

Is the app just for certain shops and clients right now?

Thanks for reminding me about Market Force. I haven't done a shop for them since I was a newbie. I just applied for a 9.00 cell phone shop which is across the street from two other shops I'm doing Monday. The 9.00 will pay for my lunch!

MF is still paying $7.50 for a grocery shop same as 10 years ago when $7.50 would buy two bags of groceries. They do not give you money, they give you food that does not cost THEM $7.50 so they are actually paying you less. They have other shops now that pay $30 $15.food and $15 fee by you have to do a ton of work. Their movie shops are a joke. No way Jose!

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

MF is still paying $7.50 for a grocery shop same as 10 years ago when $7.50 would buy two bags of groceries. They do not give you money, they give you food that does not cost THEM $7.50 so they are actually paying you less. They have other shops now that pay $30 $15.food and $15 fee by you have to do a ton of work. Their movie shops are a joke. No way Jose!

Never have seen those in my area. Another MSC has one in my area for shopping an upscale grocer. It pays about $10 and gives about a $5 allowance. The shopper has to talk to a person in deli, bakery, produce, floral, seafood and meat departments, get help finding something plus get names and quotes from the cashier, manager and bagger - all without revealing that you are shopping them. I spent $5.88 for two apples and said, "Never again." The shop took hours to write.

My point is that I will take the five-minute-to-write reports for $5. I agree, it has to be worth my time or be something I want to do. The "wireless" MFI shops are brain-numbing but with bonuses the pay can be pretty good for a 10-minute shop and a five-minute report.

Someone else can speak with more authority than I regarding who reimburses for the groceries/burgers/pizzas/gasoline. I assumed it was the client, not the MSC. Anyone know?

My pet peeve is when we apply or bid on a job would it really take that long on the Schedulers part to answer one way or another,? Instead, we sit and wait to maybe get a response. My time is valuable as their time is to. Let us be considerate of each other ,we are after all supposed to be a team. Have fun

I like them too but the pay doesn't even cover my vehicle costs much less my time.

First, let me say that I love most everything about MF except the low pay. Gas and time precludes me from doing some shops that I will even pass by, as I feel the compensation is too low. But one thing is now really bothering me about their low paying sandwich shops. I used to do these, occasionally, for $5 if I was going near there, as I really like the sandwiches. Now, however, they are requiring a specific meal for purchase. They won't tell you what they are going to require, until you agree to do the shop. Since there are many things I would not enjoy at this restaurant, I no longer am interested in doing a $4-$5 shop there. I tried to find out, but they told me the requirements for menu items differ between shops. Would someone who has done these please tell me what they were required to eat? This would give me an idea. I still doubt I would do a shop for $5 if I could not choose the menu item, but I am curious.

Bravo!!!! I love M.F. always paid on time reports short and sweet agreed not going to Rio for the games, but good fun and belly full when shop completed.
Boxer girl

Wow. The PJ in my area usually pays a bonus if you wait until near deadline. I am doing a $12 delivery bonus today and another that pays $20 carryout later (I have to pay a $3 toll to get there -- so really I am being paid $17.00). These are not MF jobs though- it is another company.

I have noticed that since MF lost thier biggest FF burger company -the overall bonuses are much fewer and they are very miserly on the website fees. I do get decent bonuses for the big burger place they still have. Marketforce fees are much worse -sometimes I see them raising the fee by 25 cents! Really - why do they bother? A quarter is not going to make a difference to me. They have lost other clients too like the financial payday loan place that I loved to do-- and the paint shop where I got a $60 free can of paint. I used to get $20 fee for the cell phone shops -- now they are $7.00 on the site. I am not going to do a narrative intensive cell phone shop for $7.50 (cell phone.) MF just does not have the good variety of shops and decent pay like they did before they lost the big FF place this year.

i would do their shops but i noticed that most of the days are when i'm working i love weekend end shops. the shops they offer are difficult to get to after work.