Hi!
Is trend source a good company to start with? Is it safe to upload my ID and my address? Does any one have any experience with being a field agent?
Thank you!

Trend Source is a legitimate company but most companies have had scammers highjacking their names at one time or another.
If you are planning on signing up with Trend Source (or any company) do it by going directly to their website. Do not do it by following a link provided in an email. Also do not sign up with anyone who offers to sent you money up front. Honest mystery shopping companies don't do that.
You will find lots of good information in the New Mystery Shopper's and Mystery Shopping Companies areas.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2016 12:35PM by Bena.

I just renewed my background check and they are legit, never had a worry about being paid....my top 5
companies.

I have never had a problem with them.

They are a very legit company, and pay every two weeks, as long as you do the shops as required. Never have had a problem with them.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2016 03:31PM by guysmom.

I love doing their shops.

I've been with them for about 14 years. No worries, they are safe!

I am beginning to wonder if Trend source is Legit. They never seem to answer questions that I send them fully. I signed up awhile back but have not done any mystery shops yet. They seem to make it complcated, atleast to me. I am not sure what they mean by p4 and p5 shops, mutiple visits, can not print out valuation forms before 24 hour start of completing shop. Do you have any aswers to these questions. I have tried to get answers from trend source, but they seem to avoid my questions.Help!
Thanks,
Dennis

Are you using the contact feature on the website?

I don't understand your questions. You can always call them. They are on West Coast time.

Actually, there is no company with the name of "Trend Source" anymore, so........this is weird.

@spicy1 wrote:

Actually, there is no company with the name of "Trend Source" anymore, so........this is weird.

It's actually not so weird. Although TrendSource has changed their name to The Source, most of their e-mails still show TrendSource as the email sender. I received one just this morning that also shows TrendSource in their subject line, announcing "submit your distance pay request" and they are still using the e-mail address TrendTeamSupport@trendsource.com

So the name "TrendSource" is still all over the place.

I worked as a mystery shopper and field inspector for TrendSource for a number of years. They were fine to work with and I never had any problems.

But, I agree with den1955. As I try to get my paperwork in order before the start day of a shop, not being able to print the reports until 24 hours before the job was sometimes inconvenient.

I know I've said my piece, but just to add, they are one of the easiest companies to work for...and I got paid the 4th, instead of the 6th (who does that)?

@ceasesmith wrote:

I don't understand your questions. You can always call them. They are on West Coast time.

Their in San Diego, CA.

I've been with Trendsource now for several years, using direct deposit with them the whole time. I've never had a problem with them.

They are one of the fastest paying MSC i've ever worked for. I've been shopping every month for them and I love them! Never had any issue and they usually answer within 48 hours (that is if they're late!)

I signed up for a FF shop where you buy lemonade and then reveal yourself before taking pictures. At the time of sign up, there was only a general description of the shop with no detailed instructions. I thought the required purchase was originally 1/2 gallon of lemonade (they do sell the container from their cooler) but when the final instructions were released the required purchase was apparently changed to a 20 oz cup of lemonade. The photos and details required on the report do not justify the small fee plus the reimbursement for a cup of lemonade. I have shopped with Trendsource for many years with no problems and issues. I will continue to do so, but will now hesitate to accept shops before all of the details/instructions are known, particularly for a new shop/client. .

I wrote to customer service about the lemonade purchase requirement changing . They only apologized and offered to remove the shop. I already did it so will live with it.

Thanks for replying. I have some issues with Trend Source, but nothing major except I have not started yet due to not knowing all the functions I need to know that are stated in the contact. Are you ready! Here they are! Question 1 What is a spread? 2. What if you donot have a printer and have to rely on the library to be able to print out the evaluation forms. Library closed after 5Pm. on Saturday and not open on Sunday. 3. There was a recent shop sent to my e-mail wanting someone for Nov 6th and Nov7th to do a shop. Do I go both days or just pick a day? 4. If you suspose to be a secret shopper I would assume that you do not reveal that you are a shoper, so I would not think you would take the evaluation sheet into the store with you to do the shops. You have to take notes somehow. 5.Do you have to take a picture of the evaluation sheet and upload to internet?
6. Where do you actually submit your answers to on the Trend Source Website? 7. Is there a Icon to click on that states online evaluation? Sorry for the many questions, but I sent these questions to Trend Source and they did not answer none of them. They always want me to call. Sounds like the field rep in charge of my area is too lazy to answer them. They do not have an 800 number I wonder why. Bestmark does. I live in Illinois and they are in California I believe, costs money to call them. IF ANYONE HAS ANY ANSWERS TO THESE QESTIONS I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH! I WOULD LIKE TO GET STARTED SOMEDAY! IT SEEMS HOPELESS! THANKS!

Den,

What is your mystery shop experience? Have you done any shops for other companies? I would suggest you pick up a small paying job with Trend Source or Marketforce and work your way through the process. Most of the answers to your questions are available on the website. Not even having a printer could be a problem. However you usually have enough lead time to get this done at the library ahead of tine when it is required. The only form I print is the one the manager signs on a reveal shop. I just make notes on the other requirements and bring them with me on a 3 by 5 card. I take notes on my smart phone. You can also learn a lot by reading through this forum.

Im. Not so sure anymore. I did 6 shops for them back in september and have not been paid to this day. Before anyone makes some smart aleck remark...yes they were completed and submitted with no issues. I guess you chalk it up to experience.

@indianyooper wrote:

Im. Not so sure anymore. I did 6 shops for them back in september and have not been paid to this day. Before anyone makes some smart aleck remark...yes they were completed and submitted with no issues. I guess you chalk it up to experience.

Did you click on Project History? That will show all of the projects you have completed and the paid date. It also shows if there are any issues. Have you contacted them through the Support/Contact Us link? They have always responded to me within 24 hours, except on weekends. Also check the Messages and Feedback links. This company is the one of the fastest paying in the industry. They pay me via direct deposit.

@kenasch wrote:

@indianyooper wrote:

Im. Not so sure anymore. I did 6 shops for them back in september and have not been paid to this day. Before anyone makes some smart aleck remark...yes they were completed and submitted with no issues. I guess you chalk it up to experience.

Did you click on Project History? That will show all of the projects you have completed and the paid date. It also shows if there are any issues. Have you contacted them through the Support/Contact Us link? They have always responded to me within 24 hours, except on weekends. Also check the Messages and Feedback links. This company is the one of the fastest paying in the industry. They pay me via direct deposit.

Yes did all of the above. All my shops except 2 say no issues. The two that say had issues that were resolved. Checked payment history as well and no payment history. So a one off event maybe? Will keep updated on if/when i hear back.

Thanks for your reply. I am in the process of contacting the area manager for my area and getting some questions answered. I read in the forum where someone who worked for trend source did not get payed. That does not sound good. I hope that is not the case.

I did this shop on Monday. I took four pictures and bought a 20 ounce lemonade. The drink was fully reimbursed. The fee was $8. What did you have a problem with?

@kenasch wrote:

I signed up for a FF shop where you buy lemonade and then reveal yourself before taking pictures. At the time of sign up, there was only a general description of the shop with no detailed instructions. I thought the required purchase was originally 1/2 gallon of lemonade (they do sell the container from their cooler) but when the final instructions were released the required purchase was apparently changed to a 20 oz cup of lemonade. The photos and details required on the report do not justify the small fee plus the reimbursement for a cup of lemonade. I have shopped with Trendsource for many years with no problems and issues. I will continue to do so, but will now hesitate to accept shops before all of the details/instructions are known, particularly for a new shop/client. .

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I did this shop on Monday. I took four pictures and bought a 20 ounce lemonade. The drink was fully reimbursed. The fee was $8. What did you have a problem with?

@kenasch wrote:

I signed up for a FF shop where you buy lemonade and then reveal yourself before taking pictures. At the time of sign up, there was only a general description of the shop with no detailed instructions. I thought the required purchase was originally 1/2 gallon of lemonade (they do sell the container from their cooler) but when the final instructions were released the required purchase was apparently changed to a 20 oz cup of lemonade. The photos and details required on the report do not justify the small fee plus the reimbursement for a cup of lemonade. I have shopped with Trendsource for many years with no problems and issues. I will continue to do so, but will now hesitate to accept shops before all of the details/instructions are known, particularly for a new shop/client. .

The original purchase requirement was one half gallon of lemonade and this was changed to just a 20 oz cup after the full instructions were made available. To their credit they increased the fee from 7 to 8 dollars. I also received an apology from customer service for any misunderstanding.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2016 04:07PM by kenasch.

@den1955 wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I am in the process of contacting the area manager for my area and getting some questions answered. I read in the forum where someone who worked for trend source did not get payed. That does not sound good. I hope that is not the case.

Is it possible they did not follow directions? I signed up and they had to change dates slightly. The client wanted it to be weekday shops instead of a Sunday in my area. I followed shop directions, snapped a few quick photos, and was fully reimbursed for my drink. The employees on staff knew to expect us at some point so when I handed them my authorization letter, they were not surprised.

@kenasch wrote:

I wrote to customer service about the lemonade purchase requirement changing . They only apologized and offered to remove the shop. I already did it so will live with it.

Thanks for letting me know this. I'm emailing the scheduler now to remove my application. The fee+reimbursement was iffy, but I figured that at least I'd have the lemonade and it was a filler. Getting a cup instead of a container tips the scale.