Intellishop - $7.00 shops that used to pay $15.00 Are you kidding me?

Insulting to their shoppers.

Some of the phone shops went down too. I got an email a few days ago that had a $10 fee, then another email today for the same shop that had $9 fee. I'll wait, thanks!!

They change according to the time of the month. On the first shops are set to the lowest pay. Then as shops don't get done, the pay goes up every days or once a week.

I did one of those phone shops a few months ago. It said it would only take around 20 minutes. However, I was on the phone with the guy for about 30 minutes (I would guess he was about halfway done) and we got disconnected. The instructions said to call back and make sure you speak with the same person. I called back and they said they couldn't transfer me. So I called Intelli-Shop and asked them what to do. Mr. Rody said it was the client's fault so it shouldn't be a problem. I answered everything he told me to, even a follow-up question and still never got paid for it. My advice: These phone shops aren't worth $9, $10 or even $20

I received an urgent e-mail asking me to do some shops for $10 plus a $1 bonus. I wrote back to the scheduler (who I knew from several prior interactions) that I would do them for $15. No word. So I didn't do them, until they really got desperate... I ended up doing them for $20 each.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/2017 07:11PM by Rousseau.

I did an (name of client removed) audit this weekend. BIG MISTAKE!!!! It took me about 3 hours total between drive time, audit, and report writing and it only was going to pay $10.00. I printed off the guidelines before I left the house so I wouldn't miss doing anything i had to do particularly required photos. It said in the guidelines to take pictures of any non-compliant areas (like overflowing trash cans) and photos of the entrance, food court, and charging stations. I also noticed later in the guidelines water fountains, vending machines, parking lot where I parked, security and maintenance staff if spotted. I got a picture of all these things and went home. When I started doing the form it also asked for photos of the RESTROOMS!!!!! There were some others that weren't listed in the guidelines as well but this one I couldn't believe. It seems to me if someone spotted you taking pictures in these public restrooms you'd probably get the police called on you. I filled out the form as best as I could and sent an email to the scheduler pointing out all of these things and really complaining about the restroom photo requirement. I have not gotten a response yet. But I noticed on the job board for my area (Arizona) the same property is listed again for the same price. I'm probably going to get dinged in my score pretty bad and I probably won't get paid since I could not complete this shop. This will probably be the last month I do any shops for Intelli-shop. Oh and I have an ongoing beef with one of the schedulers. My very first shop for them was back in August and it was an anywhere phone shop that could be done once every 90 days. I scored a 10 on it and looked forward to doing another one in November. Back in October I had a shop that required me to fax a receipt copy (I don't have a scanner and the photos I took weren't clear so I faxed instead). I put the information on the fax so that it could be identified with the proper shop report. Unfortunately, at the same time I did the same thing with a receipt for another shop. Again, it had the proper shop id information for that shop. Apparently whoever uploaded the faxes to the reports mixed them up. I was the first one to notice that was what happened and emailed both schedulers to let them know so it could be fixed. One of the schedulers just told me to resend and she got it fixed. I offered to do the same for the second scheduler and he asked me to do it. I resent them but he still kept complaining that he didn't have them. I told him I'd sent them for the second time and told him I'd do it a third time if he'd add $2.00 to my shop because that's how much it cost me each time I faxed them. I also said I had the fax confirmation proving that I'd sent them the first 2 times and again I would send them if he would reimburse me. He didn't respond back. Well anyway it turns out he's the same scheduler who does these phone shops and they have to be applied for. He keeps sending out requests for people to do these shops but when I apply, he rejects them. I've emailed him asking why he won't accept my application when he's so desperate but he hasn't answered.back.

Mod note: Name of client removed to conform to Forum rules of not linking MSCs with clientele (and also to probably prevent a breach of your ICA with Intellishop)

A piece of advice: Don't ever get on Mr. Rody's bad side. He's the one I'm talking about above.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2016 06:27PM by sassymm.

Arguing with a scheduler, or asking them to do their job can get you deactivated from Intellishop.

The clients name is still in this.

Many audits call for pictures of the restrooms. That's nothing new for the gas station shoppers. I even did one audit that was only checking restrooms. It's not fun, but it's important to keep those places nice and evaluate them. You just have to wait until no one is in there.

I steer clear of the $9/$10 phone calls. I did 1 of them and spent over 30 boring minutes on the phone and then did the report. An hour of my time is worth more than $10... I get the emails regularly, but I ignore them.

Regarding Intellishop, I was performing car dealership shops. I was paid 1 out of 3. The Scheduler kept coming up with reasons not to pay me. After emailing her several times, I finally was able to speak with her over the phone. She did not care that I was not paid. I asked to speak with her supervisor. She said, "okay but I am deactivating your account," and hung up on me! I called back and left a message. No one has ever returned my calls or emails. My account is still deactivated. Absolutely unprofessional and ridiculous! BEWARE.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2016 02:26AM by souxsiebanshee.

If I was in charge of Intellishop, I would be terminating those schedulers left and right for being unprofessional.

Most of us know what Intelli pays for their shops. Just don't do them! I have shopped only about 36 shops for them since 2011. All paid well, and I got a 10 on all but one shop. From $25. to $70.

I did the same shop requiring all the photos for $10. The summary of the shop was very deceiving! It took me almost an hour to read all the guidelines and take notes of all the items to be photographed. At that point, I emailed the scheduler and said that the rate was not fair for all the required work. They added a $10 bonus. It took me over an hour to do the shop and probably another 45 for the report. Never again!

@sassymm wrote:

I did an (name of client removed) audit this weekend. BIG MISTAKE!!!! It took me about 3 hours total between drive time, audit, and report writing and it only was going to pay $10.00. I printed off the guidelines before I left the house so I wouldn't miss doing anything i had to do particularly required photos. It said in the guidelines to take pictures of any non-compliant areas (like overflowing trash cans) and photos of the entrance, food court, and charging stations. I also noticed later in the guidelines water fountains, vending machines, parking lot where I parked, security and maintenance staff if spotted. I got a picture of all these things and went home. When I started doing the form it also asked for photos of the RESTROOMS!!!!! There were some others that weren't listed in the guidelines as well but this one I couldn't believe. It seems to me if someone spotted you taking pictures in these public restrooms you'd probably get the police called on you. I filled out the form as best as I could and sent an email to the scheduler pointing out all of these things and really complaining about the restroom photo requirement. I have not gotten a response yet. But I noticed on the job board for my area (Arizona) the same property is listed again for the same price. I'm probably going to get dinged in my score pretty bad and I probably won't get paid since I could not complete this shop. This will probably be the last month I do any shops for Intelli-shop. Oh and I have an ongoing beef with one of the schedulers. My very first shop for them was back in August and it was an anywhere phone shop that could be done once every 90 days. I scored a 10 on it and looked forward to doing another one in November. Back in October I had a shop that required me to fax a receipt copy (I don't have a scanner and the photos I took weren't clear so I faxed instead). I put the information on the fax so that it could be identified with the proper shop report. Unfortunately, at the same time I did the same thing with a receipt for another shop. Again, it had the proper shop id information for that shop. Apparently whoever uploaded the faxes to the reports mixed them up. I was the first one to notice that was what happened and emailed both schedulers to let them know so it could be fixed. One of the schedulers just told me to resend and she got it fixed. I offered to do the same for the second scheduler and he asked me to do it. I resent them but he still kept complaining that he didn't have them. I told him I'd sent them for the second time and told him I'd do it a third time if he'd add $2.00 to my shop because that's how much it cost me each time I faxed them. I also said I had the fax confirmation proving that I'd sent them the first 2 times and again I would send them if he would reimburse me. He didn't respond back. Well anyway it turns out he's the same scheduler who does these phone shops and they have to be applied for. He keeps sending out requests for people to do these shops but when I apply, he rejects them. I've emailed him asking why he won't accept my application when he's so desperate but he hasn't answered.back.

Mod note: Name of client removed to conform to Forum rules of not linking MSCs with clientele (and also to probably prevent a breach of your ICA with Intellishop)

Intellishop gets a lot of hate on here... I really have no issues with them. I only take shops when I feel comfortable with the pay... I know their editors can be a bit picky and want more detail than most. That's fine: I know that when I take the shop. When they've asked more more detail on a shop, either I've goofed (I sometimes forget to save while typing up a longer narrative and lose my work...), or I didn't make a statement such as "And those were the only two things that the salesmen discussed. He mostly sat next to me and quietly let me drive."

Yes, I generally wait until shops have a nice bonus.... Still, it's all about what I want to do for what pay.

Hello I am a new mystery shopper so i was just curious the company intelli it is legit right, i see that some of you have gotten paid so it's to save to say i can do there shops and expect a payment.

@anamzafar777 wrote:

Hello I am a new mystery shopper so i was just curious the company intelli it is legit right, i see that some of you have gotten paid so it's to save to say i can do there shops and expect a payment.

.

They are well-established and absolutely legitimate. If you follow their shops properly, payment will not be in issue.

However, be aware that they are very particular about following their directions. Make absolutely certain that you perform the shops correctly and, as you are doing you write-ups, if you are wondering if you have written enough or given enough detail, you likely have not. Be very thorough.

Thank you so much for your feedback.

Intellishop wants quality work. I try to give quality work on every job I accept... so at their beginning rates I don't do very many. I have never had any issue with any of the shops I have performed for them, from the easy pizza shops to the car shops and a few random things in between. I am always paid promptly and the schedulers communicate well.

Don't take shops that are going to require too much work or travel for the pay. You can determine that upfront. Work out your mileage before you apply for a shop. When you are assigned one, read the guidelines immediately so that you can make an educated assessment of the work involved, that way you can contact the scheduler if you need to cancel.

If you do these two simple things, plus make sure your work is top notch, meaning re-read the guidelines after completing the report and making sure there are no mistakes of any kind before submitting,then you should have no problems with them. These are the 3 basic things to being a successful mystery shopper, IMO, and they are your responsibility. It's not the schedulers responsibility to work out your mileage.

Go forth and conquer.

Coffee Queen...Of course, you are right. We are independent contractors and must take responsibility for planning, mileage, payment amounts, etc...
...but Intellishop OFTEN deceives us when describing the ("easy" shop. It is also true that Intellishop has substantially lowered most of the payments listed for the shops, mainly because they feel there is an inexhaustible supply of mystery shoppers out there, and they are adding to their bottom line.
I disagree regarding their communication. I personally have reviewed the shop requirements after receiving the assignments, and have felt compelled to cancel because the compensation does not justify the effort. (What you said). Intellishop has held that against me, calling me a 'flake', or worse, withholding future shops specifically because of my previous cancellations (yes, I was told this by an IS scheduler). In other instances, IS has not returned emails and calls that were critical to assignments I had accepted.
I find them to be an unethical company with poor communication, and will not work with them anymore.

MFJohnston...

I read your post, and that's great you've never had an issue. However, I did have an issue with Intellishop. Mind you, I had already performed over 70 shops for them when my issue came about. I am not "new" to mystery shopping. No company is perfect, and yes issues can arise. My situation may have been just that, "situational", because it had to do with the same Scheduler for all 3 of my shops where there was a problem. I decided to share my story so others are aware that this DOES happen.

Just be careful and be thorough, double check and ask questions. Make sure they are holding up their end of the bargain, as your time is valuable!

@teriraia wrote:

Insulting to their shoppers.

I have shopped for Intellishop for probably over 10 years. In my mind they were my favorite company to do shops for. I took all kinds of shops for them. One one shop I took the shop, and do to a misunderstanding I did not do it on the day they requested it. I asked the scheduler about it and they told me to send email when I had a hard time getting it done. I did that and asked for the shop again. It was a shop that I had done for them about 4X before with no complaints. They could not find anyone to take the shop so they increased the pay. I put in for it, and the scheduler refused to give it to me. When I told them I might have to quit, the scheduler told me to have a nice day. I have done about 300 shops for them.