iSecretshop/Goodwin Hospitality

I accepted a shop with this company for a pizza shop paying $13. That's it--just $13 to cover the cost of (part of?) the meal and that's all. For that, I would have had to make a phone call that included a direct quote and a narrative. Then, I would have had to drive there (10 miles each way), order pizza, topping(s), salad, and a drink. I would have had to take a photo of the pizza from above before taking any slices. There were nine series of questions, all requiring narratives, "the more detailed, the better." per the guidelines. Of course, you also had to submit a copy of the receipt.

I ended up choosing to cancel the shop, and I explained to the scheduler why--that it was too little for too much. I guess I'm just getting fed up with putting in for shops that turn out to have ridiculous expectations. Opinions, fellow shoppers?

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Totally agree with you. Some shops are just not worth it. It's good that you realized it before you expended too much effort on it.

There is one MSC in particular who doesn't pay a fee, just reimbursement that doesn't always cover the cost of the item. It's no coincidence that they are always begging for shoppers.

This comment is in no way a "dig" at anyone who does reimbursement-only shops. If you have found a way to make them pay off for you, more power to you.

I won't even take fee + reimbursement shops if the reimbursement doesn't cover the total cost (including tax) of the required meal (5 Guys, Cali Tort). If the client doesn't feel their food is worth paying for, then why would I want to eat there?

It is certainly up to shoppers to decide what works for them and what does not. There are many companies I am registered with who have work in my area that the fee and benefits do not begin to make worthwhile. From time to time I will open one of their emails to see if they have wised up and when obviously they have not, I just continue checking off their emails to delete without opening.

By keeping up with who is being too picky in editing reports, who is taking too long to pay and who is being noxious about trying to schedule work, shoppers can protect themselves from some companies that are just a source of ongoing annoyance. By looking at fee versus expectations, a shopper can also get a sense of in what 'high esteem' some companies hold their shoppers. We are independent contractors and need have no apology for shops or companies that are a waste of our time and efforts.

Did you know the shop requirements before accepting it? If you simply thought about more after accepting the shop and decided it was too much work, I think you're stuck with it. If you couldn't see the details first and it was substantially more difficult than advertised, that's a different situation.

Now scheduling travel shops for the day after Christmas through mid-January.

Yes, Flash. That's how I became not only picky but very discriminating of shops and who I work for. I also became very aware that there is no reason for me to sacrifice my convenience or peace of mind to please a scheduler. I will do the shop if I want to do it. No more going out of my way so I could save someone's flake, especially without a bonus, because I am supposed to be 'nice.' If I don't put any value on my time, no one will. I don't owe anyone any apology. Thanks, Flash. You are a valued mentor.

This is an opposite post. I did and will continue to do a great pizza place, healthy pizza just the way I like it, with one photo, and easy report, a few miles from my house. I would go there anyway on my $. I was put off by the reimbursement not including a drink, so, I'll owe for a drink and tip, about 3 bucks or so. I save 11.00 and have an enjoyable dinner. One has to decide what the payoff is, and if it is worthwhile to you. I have never taken say "Papa Johns", just too much work with those pic's, and nothing I would enjoy.

Live consciously....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2016 02:08AM by Irene_L.A..

Another way to look at it is whether it has paid you to discover a restaurant you now like. There are two that Goodwin has that we go to whether I get paid or not. When it is my rotation and I get the meal paid for, that's nice. Good thing is that the reports and photos are simple, about 15 minutes to write. I call these my "keep the change" shops. They pay a flat fee, no reimbursement. I "made" 39 cents on one but it paid for dinner out and it was an easy report. Sometimes, it is a trade-off. But a reimbursement would sure be nice, Goodwin!

Shopping SoCal and Maui.

I did do a Goodwin shop because it was for a place I wanted to check out anyway. It wasn't all that difficult....and I am glad I got a free meal essentially because it certainly wasn't worth paying full price to me, and I won't necessarily make a point to go back to that place either.

Red Lobster and Olive Garden are NOT fine dining!

Goodwin makes taxes a bit more difficult the way they do it with no reimbursements EVERRrrrr just flat-out pay. No wiggle room. I find the amount they pay for food shops usually covers food and gas. Other locations like MForce I feel make it easier tax wise when I get the 1099 and it's for fees (and prizes I never win)...when I get the 1099 from Goodwin it's been everything (So, I spend $400 on a shop to make $550 back it shows up as $550 pay and end up explaining the whole $400 break down with receipts, cash tips and what not)... I always think if I get an audit Mforce and the like make it much more easy/explainable than Goodwin.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2016 08:33PM by FlawnMawn.

If you keep track on a spreadsheet properly of pay and reimbursement it should not be a problem with goodwins flat rate. Goodwin has some great money making shops and some that are less than cost of food reimbursement. As with most msps there are shops that are worth it and shops that are not.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

@ChrisCooper wrote:

I won't even take fee + reimbursement shops if the reimbursement doesn't cover the total cost (including tax) of the required meal (5 Guys, Cali Tort). If the client doesn't feel their food is worth paying for, then why would I want to eat there?

Chris, you can't get Five Guys for the reimbursement amount? When I go by myself, I'm always just under the reimbursement, but even if I go over a little bit (like when I get a regular-sized fries so I can bring most of them home to my family), the bonuses I get for doing those shops more than covers the extra I might spend!

I won't do Five Guys at the base fees anymore, but when they call offering a nice bonus, I feel the shops are well worth it. Not at base fee, though.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/24/2016 05:02PM by BirdyC.

@PuaM wrote:

Another way to look at it is whether it has paid you to discover a restaurant you now like. There are two that Goodwin has that we go to whether I get paid or not. When it is my rotation and I get the meal paid for, that's nice. Good thing is that the reports and photos are simple, about 15 minutes to write. I call these my "keep the change" shops. They pay a flat fee, no reimbursement. I "made" 39 cents on one but it paid for dinner out and it was an easy report. Sometimes, it is a trade-off. But a reimbursement would sure be nice, Goodwin!

I agree, I discovered a few terrific restaurants (above) and a Japanese BBQ I adore... small presents arrive when you lest expect it....., but $$ always works.
/quote]

Live consciously....

@BirdyC wrote:

...
Chris, you can't get Five Guys for the reimbursement amount? When I go by myself, I'm always just under the reimbursement, but even if I go over a little bit (like when I get a regular-sized fries so I can bring most of them home to my family), the bonuses I get for doing those shops more than covers the extra I might spend!

I won't do Five Guys at the base fees anymore, but when they call offering a nice bonus, I feel the shops are well worth it. Not at base fee, though.

Even if I buy the small size of everything, the reimbursement doesn't cover it. I tried to make up the difference by eating a lot of peanuts

Plus, I'm not that wild about their burgers. I used the setting on the MSC's website to permanently decline 5 Guys, so I never see the shops any more.

To each their own. I do an Aveda shop (different msc) that doesn't pay but does reimburse $20 for a purchase. Since I purchase their hair care products on a regular basis, and since I get Aveda points for it, I snatch these up anytime they are available. To me it's worth it to save $20 for a 5 minute non-narrative report.

Over the years, I have done enough shops to gauge (for myself, that is) whether the shop is worth my while. For many shops, I have figured out my own system that makes my shopping swifter, worthwhile and easier. I'm sure many of you have done the same.
Like "Flash", I also open up the e-mails from time to time to see if the MSC has decided to pay better or not.

Too often, they have not.

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