EPMS ratings/feedback??
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Yeah, try Remington. You will have a new appreciation for EPMS!
The fact that the EPMS system accepted the report don't mean the editors have given their approval. If you don't hear anything, then you are fine. If you do, it will be a slap on the wrist.
The fact that the EPMS system accepted the report don't mean the editors have given their approval. If you don't hear anything, then you are fine. If you do, it will be a slap on the wrist.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
@HonnyBrown wrote:
Yeah, try Remington. You will have a new appreciation for EPMS!
The fact that the EPMS system accepted the report don't mean the editors have given their approval. If you don't hear anything, then you are fine. If you do, it will be a slap on the wrist.
Ha, that kind of makes me not want to try Remington. It's not the long narratives that actually annoy me, it's the redundancies and the unnecessary and repetitive questions. I just did another shop for them and this one was a bit different and not as bad as the first one. Looks like the reports differ a bit between the property management companies?
Anyway, I wouldn't mind a slap on the wrist, just a non-payment. Thanks for the input HonnyBrown.
The EPMS reports are the same for all shops. Maybe they have gotten simpler for you?
I highly suggest that you give Remington a try. At the very least, you will be able to compare the requirements of the two companies.
I highly suggest that you give Remington a try. At the very least, you will be able to compare the requirements of the two companies.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I'm almost certain this report was different than the fist two I did. The questions about fair housing were phrased differently and so was the summary part. There is some message on my thing about implementing a new advanced system or something, though. Maybe they changed it a bit? Ah well, it doesn't matter. The last report wasn't that bad so I'm sure I'll do more.
Thanks for the tip, I'll give Remington a try. Just out of my curiosity, how many reports do you typically fill out in one day? For Shoppers Inc I don't mind doing up to 3 or even 4, but for EPMS I don't even want to think about doing more than one or MAYBE 2 under the right circumstances. Maybe if they continue to get easier I'll do more but right now they're way too tedious.
Thanks for the tip, I'll give Remington a try. Just out of my curiosity, how many reports do you typically fill out in one day? For Shoppers Inc I don't mind doing up to 3 or even 4, but for EPMS I don't even want to think about doing more than one or MAYBE 2 under the right circumstances. Maybe if they continue to get easier I'll do more but right now they're way too tedious.
There are a few different reports for EPMS, depending on the management company. Lots of them are almost exactly the same but there are at least 2 I can think of that have very abbreviated reports compared to the regular EPMS version. I do tons of shops for them and they are terrible about the information they provide. One person spending a few minutes a day confirming people still worked at the properties would be immensely appreciated.
Okay, I didn't realize they had more than one format for the reports. I'm glad you are going to continue with them and give Remington a try as well.
For shops with light narratives, I will do as many as I can get. For apartments and test drives, one per day or two!
For shops with light narratives, I will do as many as I can get. For apartments and test drives, one per day or two!
@Tocino wrote:
I'm almost certain this report was different than the fist two I did. The questions about fair housing were phrased differently and so was the summary part. There is some message on my thing about implementing a new advanced system or something, though. Maybe they changed it a bit? Ah well, it doesn't matter. The last report wasn't that bad so I'm sure I'll do more.
Thanks for the tip, I'll give Remington a try. Just out of my curiosity, how many reports do you typically fill out in one day? For Shoppers Inc I don't mind doing up to 3 or even 4, but for EPMS I don't even want to think about doing more than one or MAYBE 2 under the right circumstances. Maybe if they continue to get easier I'll do more but right now they're way too tedious.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Looks like I may have spoken too soon. The fist shop I did, only just now was was marked as "completed" from received. Damn, that took a long time. So I guess it is still possible I get docked or even fired for the F bomb in my report.
If your report is now in complete status, I think an editor will send you an email saying not to use naughty words.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Does anyone know if you have to the phone portion and onsite visit the same day? I emailed but haven't heard back from them.
EPMS suggests that you do both on the same day.
Because of the difficulties in reaching targets, I make the calls on one day, and visit the next. I have not had any issues doing this.
Because of the difficulties in reaching targets, I make the calls on one day, and visit the next. I have not had any issues doing this.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Guidelines about telephoning and visiting on the same day are nebulous. I go with the suggested guidelines. EPMS has always been willing to extend dates, in the event of difficulties reaching the target. While it does not seem that EPMS receives pertinent information regarding agent availability, they do communicate difficulties that a shopper reports, to the client, and respond accordingly.
Yes, there are different reports for different clients. Some have an Executive Summary, some don't. Some have fair housing/security questions, some don't. Some require a recorded call, some don't.
Yes, there are different reports for different clients. Some have an Executive Summary, some don't. Some have fair housing/security questions, some don't. Some require a recorded call, some don't.
Ok, I just got the video equipment for my first video shop. Maybe they're not not mad. If this is a display that they have a sense of humor, I just decided I like them a whole lot more.
Let me know how the video shop goes!!!!
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Ok, so that particular shop sucked, but it wasn't the fault of EPMS. The leasing agent flaked on me twice and the person that showed me the facility didn't have any business cards, which concerned me. Also, the shirt they sent was garbage, as the way it was constructed had the camera pointing straight up and got mostly ceiling. Not a major problem, I inspected the shirt, noted the design and converted an old shirt where I fixed the flaw. The result was perfect video. Anyway, I was also concerned because for a month it showed no change where my other shops show completed and then it only showed HOLD/TYPED and I thought I wasn't going to get paid. Eventually they changed it to completed. Incidentally, They seem to have a reputation for sending back reports. That has not been my experience. They've accepted every one of my first drafts and my first payment went off without a hitch. I've completed 10 shops for them, so far, and plan on doing more, but only when there are bonuses. The tediousness isn't worth it for less than $40-$50, IMO.
However, I came away as a fan of EPMS. Yes, their shops are more challenging, and their reports tend to be unnecessarily long, repetitive and redundant, but they pay better than most and are on time.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2017 12:50AM by Tocino.
However, I came away as a fan of EPMS. Yes, their shops are more challenging, and their reports tend to be unnecessarily long, repetitive and redundant, but they pay better than most and are on time.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2017 12:50AM by Tocino.
Also, I think they are tolerant or have a sense of humor. When I got snarky about some dumb or repetitive questions I was never docked or reprimanded, not even for the F bombs.
Tocino, do you mind mentioning what they generally pay for video shops? I have worked for EPMS in the past but decided not to because I hate trying to get ahold of the target, and their reports were too long and repetitive. Is there also a lot of writing as well?
Kona Kathie
There is just as much writing with the video reports as with the regular reports. The redundant and repetive reports are quite frustrating but it helps to mentally prepare yourself and to copy and paste everything you write onto a word document so you can copy and paste for the inevitable redundancies. Also, the target was very difficult to reach by phoneindeed, and ended up flaking twice for the onsite portion. It was quite frustrating. It took over a week and several phone calls just to reach her. It paid $50, but I wanted to gain video experience. Overall, I would say that in this situation, it was worth it, but barely.
With EPMS, if you don't already own the equipment, they will loan it to you.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
How do you find apartment shops or any other good shops? I am completely new to this! If you can't say then I understand, I'm just trying to figure out if this is for REAL or not... Thank you for sharing with newbies like me. janaduluv
janaduluv, since the exact apartment shop client was not named, people in the forum posted the name of the MSC. If the name of the client had been given (XYX Apartment Services) it would be against the rules to link the MSC name in the same thread. You have to go to the EPMS website and sign up with them. EPMS = Ellis Property Management Services.
I did two shops for them and I drove 4hrs round trip. The target was supposed to be in office until noon that day. I called her at 10:45 am to tell her I was going to a few min late. She did not answer, so I left a message and I called back 5 more times on the way with no answer.
She was not there when I got there!!! I followed guidelines and then called EPMS. I left and put everything in my report including the fact that all my business contacts are recorded and time stamped on my cell phone. after 2 weeks I got an email 2 days ago and I was told they canceled my shop because I made no effort to call the client and say I was running late. That meant I was not getting paid the shop or the bonus they offered me. I responded, but no answerback....WOW, That is definitely not a company I am willing to work for and not get paid for a 4-hour trip.
She was not there when I got there!!! I followed guidelines and then called EPMS. I left and put everything in my report including the fact that all my business contacts are recorded and time stamped on my cell phone. after 2 weeks I got an email 2 days ago and I was told they canceled my shop because I made no effort to call the client and say I was running late. That meant I was not getting paid the shop or the bonus they offered me. I responded, but no answerback....WOW, That is definitely not a company I am willing to work for and not get paid for a 4-hour trip.
phat, the calls have to be recorded through their website. The records on your phone are meaningless. They are a great company if you follow the guidelines, which you didn't.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I'm doing my first shop for them this Week...Hope it goes well. This is a new branch of mystery shopping I'm getting into. I'll let you know. Keep looking at this report form, I hope it's not as bad as you all sound.
Shopping Southern Georgia, Valdosta, Waycross, Quitman, Thomasville and North Central Florida I-10 & I-75.
@Justalicia wrote:
...You can also use copy and paste because different portions go to different departments in the company...that's why it's so repetitive....
It's almost never OK to copy and paste, including in these reports.
Jamie
Editor and shopper
Jamiesan, some time ago, one of Remington's critiques was to use copy and paste to keep the repetitive portion of the narrative consistent. I used that advise in my EPMS reports, and it hasn't been an issue.
Repeating the information in the same report is fine. Using pieces of the same narrative for different reports is never okay.
Repeating the information in the same report is fine. Using pieces of the same narrative for different reports is never okay.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
You don't actually know that it hasn't been an issue. Just because you weren't told about it doesn't mean editors don't have to change your pastes. A lot of editors don't tell shoppers how to improve because it takes more of the editors' time to do so even when it could potentially be beneficial to editors. You might be surprised at how many of the same issues many shoppers share.
Jamie
Editor and shopper
Jamie
Editor and shopper
Jamiesan, I say it was not an issue because Remington specifically told me to cit and paste so my narratives would be consistent.
If editors don't tell shoppers there is a problem, then the shopper will repeat the same mistake. At that point, it's their problem, not mine.
If editors don't tell shoppers there is a problem, then the shopper will repeat the same mistake. At that point, it's their problem, not mine.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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