Certified is my favorite site to shop for. In the 15 months I've been MSing, the majority of jobs are from them. I've found them to be the most accsssible, and easiest to talk to when I have a question. They reply promptly, and I enjoy the merchandising jobs the best.

THAT'S INTERESTING. I FOUND THAT THEIR SHOPS PAY LOW AND I HAD TROUBLE WITH THE FIRST SHOP I DID. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM A SECOND CHANCE! TOO LATE NOW. I THOUGHT THE MERCHANDISING SHOP I DID WAS EASY BUT DIDN'T APPRECIATE BEING PAID $6 FOR IT!

I just enrolled and all I can find is merchandising jobs. Seems like mystery
shops are going to be few and far between in my area. I got one phone call
about a shop, returned it, and left message. I was not called back. I am
not a happy camper. If they call me, fine,buy doubt if i will pursue them.

Since March I did now 15 jobs and I still have 4 jobs outstanding.
I like the jobs itself, but there is a lot of paper work to print.
The jobs are easy but the instructions are difficult to read.

The problem with them is that you schedule the job, but then comes a delay = paper work not ready for download, accessories not mailed etc.
You have to change your schedule very often, and when you combine it with other mystery jobs, then you are messed up.

They have an understanding, I needed an inventory, but was not able to reach the manager for a week. The report was 7 days overdue, but because I informed them - no problem.

I have the problem, that most of my e-mails are answered days later, or they don't understand what I am asking.

One time, the evaluation form did not give me a way to input the job correct, so I e-mailed, received a call and was able to input the job per phone.

I still have one job which was due 5-12-8, but I didn't receive the material yet,
I updated: Waiting on shipment = no problem.

The only problem is my schedule.
I deceided now, I do my schedule without them. If a job comes up and fits in my schedule then it's ok, but I don't change my schedule because of them.
Almost every project was delayed.

They also changed their search page, they said it's easier now.
I liked the old page, it was more easy. Now I have to search the entire state of Texas instead of only my area. = Time consuming.

I'm surprised that so many have problems with Certified. I too have had problems with needed material not shipped in time for scheduled shop. But when that has happened, I updated my assignment status, informing them of the problem. It's only happened twice in the 15 mos. I've worked with them, but each time I was simply told to do the job at my earliest convenience after shipment arrived.
I've learned to check their message boards everyday, that way I get the jobs I want, and am upto date on any changes to scheduled jobs. I also find their reports to be much shorter than most others that I've done.

I signed up, but found their softeare, just looking for assignments, totally cumbersomne. Doubt if I will job search for them any more. If they need me,
they know who I am.

I mystery shop for them and had a problem once. The car blew up and I was unable to complete a assignment. I was then removed from their database. After a couple of months I wrote them and was re-instated. I'm disabled and can only do the movie shops but I'm assigned at least once a month. I've never had any problems receiving my pay. I enjoy the free movie date.

They have a few assignments in the Minneapolis area. I have done five assignments for them and would consider doing more if they paid better. The only complaint I have with this company is that they keep calling me and leaving me messages.

"This is [name] from Certified and I'm calling regarding a position we have in your area. This assignment is at [store name] and pays $8.50. It requires a partner and about two hours of your time..."

Right, so I'm going to make $2.13~~ for this assignment that involves physical labor? Certainly not!

I wrote them an e-mail to only contact me by e-mail, except if their is an emergecy, then they can call me.
I received 2 calls.

I call them all the time and request assignments. Did so today and got two assignments.

Never have had a problem with them. They call me all the time with assignments especially when others do not complete them. Love trailer checking and being able to watch movies for free.

I was wondering about trailer checking...you get to stay for the movie? Is this everywhere or does it depend on the management?

This company has a lot of stocking in my area - phone cards at Dollar General, phone inventory at Sams, displays at Wal Mart, etc. What is done on these...do they mail the new cards, or are they in the back of the store somewhere? Are there ever any differences between what the instructions say and what the manager will allow as far as displays? What about standees at theatres...any specific skills for this type of thing? Sometimes see some pricing assignments. How long do these typically take?

Thanks for any info. I don't see this kind of info on the website and I didn't want to sign up for them and then see it is something I did not want to do.

Regarding the trailer checks, the majority of times you just stay to evaluate the trailers and leave. In the event, that you are checking several theaters at different times, then it is possible for you to view a movie in between show times. Once I had a combination audience reaction and theatre count where I go to view the entire movie. In regards to the phone card displays, usually the store receives the stock and you just refill them on the various displays. As far as the standees are involved, they usually require some type of tools and aren't worth the amount of money that you receive for them. The pricing assignments vary anywhere from 5 minutes to 2hrs. As a rule, the company will send you the stickers or items needed for the assignment. If you want more detailed instructions, usually you can speak to someone in the merchandising or marketing dept and they will be more than happy to assist you.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2008 09:29PM by chancesr.

My daughter and I built ono time a standee, but not for this company.
We did it for the movie manager to receive and old standee in return, which my daughter wanted. We did not need tools, but there were 1000 srews and our finger were hurting plus we were crawling on our knees. My daughter even had to climb into the bottom to secure the screws.

Last week they offered me one, and I told them $30 for 5 hrs of hard labor - NO.

It depends on the standee. We saw a movie clerk built one, which was very easy.
But you never know what you get until you are there.

I deceided, when they pay more, then I will do it again.

OMGosh! I signed up with them over a year ago. At that point, in the comments section, I said I was not interested in doing merchandising or Theater jobs. I got an email from them and I took one look at their process for finding jobs and decided they must be stark raving mad! I unassigned myself from their site, but the emails kept coming. I wrote them a rather nasty letter, saying that they had an extremely clumsy and tiresome way for an IC to find a job. I said I was not in the MSing business to play Hide & Seek and to please remove me from their lists.
I'm still getting emails and even desperate phone calls! The last one, and I had to laugh at this, was for a job assembling a 52 lb., 6' tall somethin' or other.
I told him I was 5' tall, weighed 104 lbs and was 67 yrs. old, so I didn't think I would be physically able to do that. I also reminded him I had taken myself off their lists a year ago.
Why do they make you fill out profiles, if they never look at them? They're not the only guilty ones!

Hi,
The new kid on the block jumps right in.
I'm from a fairly small city in MI that forms a triangle with two other small cities.
Anyway, I just started this stuff about a month ago. CFA was one of my first and I have done eleven "merchandising" jobs for them.
1. I went to Walmart Father's Day weekend and counted the CDs on a floor display for $10.
2. They were paying $5 to go to a chain drug store to put on some $1 off stickers on a product line. I elected to do 10 stores in the three cities. I took my time, app. 3 hours, and earned $50.
They have offered things I don't want to do, but these were fast and easy.
Any reading this - I looking for good one to sign on with.
Thanks
Truthsayer

sandilynn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm still getting emails and even desperate phone
> calls!

Their software isn't good at removing shoppers. The only thing you can do is just put them into your email filter, aimed at the Trash. Their fees are comparable to CORI.

sneakers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Their fees
> are comparable to CORI.


It all depends what jobs you take.

I have an assignment once a week $8 for 10 minutes and 5 minutes report. I do this when I am already in town, so I don't waste gas on this job.

This is one reason why I like Certified. I have 3 permanent jobs with them. The pay may not be great ($8.), but their reports, are short, and easy to fill out. Plus I know if it's a slow week, I'll least always heve 3 jobs.

redrose Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is one reason why I like Certified. I have 3
> permanent jobs with them. The pay may not be great
> ($8.), but their reports, are short, and easy to
> fill out. Plus I know if it's a slow week, I'll
> least always heve 3 jobs.



That's what I am talking about. I agree.

I did work for CFA for about a month. They are really complicated. They aren't that great a pay to worry about them so I cut them loose. Maybe you should too.

I stopped working for certified field associates because my pay was late the last two times and I needed money to get to the job.

I signed up for jobs in New York City and spent $22.50 roundtrip train fare each time I went to work.

The last day I worked for them, is 09/20/08, and I haven't received my last check yet.

This is one of the worst mystery shopping companies out there. They will drop you for no reason whatsoever!!! It's almost as if they do it on purpose after you worked with them for a while in order to make room for "new shoppers". You can't even re-activate your account on their website because they KEEP your SS# on file forever. I've heard that some shoppers have been deactivated because they had to cancel shops due to family emergencies! Many reps at Certified Reports have no heart whatsoever! The only positive thing I can say about certified is that they always pay within a month after performing an assignment with them. Market Force (a much friendlier company) recently took them under their wing so hopefully they will merge the assignments on THEIR website eventually.

I have only done 1 horrible shop at a discount store (never again) and several movie assignments (trailer checks and patron counts) for them. Pay is low, but I get to have 2 see a movie for free, free popcorn and soda, and the form is 5 minutes yes/no and name or demographics description. Super easy and worth it for the free movie.

I feel like I must be working for a different version of CFA. My experience with them has only been positive. The schedulers have been great, the job is exactly what they say it is, and they are generous with bonuses. They call me frequently for jobs others have flaked on and always make it worth my while to take them. I have a number of permanent assignments, they know what I like and call often with offers, always well above what has been posted. I've never waited more than three weeks to be paid.
Maybe it's just the area I live in and they can't seem to find other shoppers around here, but I really can't say anything negative about them.

I LOVE Certified (and sister company Market Force!)!!
Paperwork is easy, they are helpful if you hit a snag.

I just did a weekend theatre assignment in Hutchinson Kansas. Patron count, it was fun! I enjoyed the employees at the theatre that I met. And I still had time between sessions to see a movie (I think they LIKE it when you SUPPORT their theatre, also. Even tho Certified doesn't wish us to watch movies when we're working.) I make sure it doesn't interfere with my audit responsibilites....so when I have time I buy tickets to see one. That assignment for Certified was a bigger pay amount...we'll see how long it takes them to mail a check. (Smile)

The assignments are fun, I like the self-assign option...so I can book a circuit of jobs to do.
Market Force has Direct Deposit, and that's nice. I think when you're "self-employed" you just have to be careful not to book something that runs you in the red. It's a lot of fun working for them.
Certified, Market Force, and Bestmark are my favs!!!

Wow! I'm so curious after reading every one's story, but I don't see the email address for this company. I'm in Florida. I'd like to check them out and perhaps can make a difference for some. If things are so complicated with them, then I won't hesitate to let them know and do the best I can at explaining our problems. I've found with the merchandising jobs I choose, if something takes longer than they initially state, I speak to the area scheduler, then perhaps their supervisor until I get satisfaction one way or another. I've had my pay for merchandising jobs increased as much as 4 times the original price quoted. Frequently, I've discovered it seems they under quote it on purpose just to see what you're made out of. I just let them know the exact truth. If they want me to do more of the same, then they have to adjust for the extra time involved. In most cases, they have.

You may love them now, but I'm telling you.......don't get too comfortable with them. They WILL drop you for no reason whatsoever. One day you'll try to log in as usual and then find out that you've been deactivated. They'll even try calling you 9am on a Sunday morning and beg you to take last minute assignments. God forbid you don't answer the phone or refuse an assignment, they've been known to deactive you for that too. Don't get me wrong, when I DID work for certified, I LOVED it and agree that their paperwork is very easy to upload and complete via their website. BUT, that was until one morning attempting to log into their site and finding out they deactivated me. When I called to find out why, they refused to tell me why and just told me they will no longer be needing me and will NEVER reactivate me again. So enjoy them while they keep you, just don't get too comfortable with them.

Dear njrebel!

I appreciate your input. The more I read the stranger it gets. Sounds like I haven't missed a darn thing. Why subject myself to this craziness. I already have enough of my own. I hate going the extra mile and not being appreciated for it. I have to admit that there is so much controversy over this one company it makes me curious. It's hard to believe they cancelled you and didn't even offer to tell you why. That's just nuts. From what everyone has written sounds like they did you a favor. There are so many companies out there I wouldn't let one worry me.

Joan, it is the oddness with which Certified cancels shoppers that does make them seem a few eggs short of a dozen. I have heard tales from folks I find to be credible sources of the 7AM and 8AM phone calls for shops or merchandising to be done that day when the shopper has never failed to get the work done. Calls from 3 and 4 different people the same day to make sure the shop is going to be done. Being deactivated when you hadn't shopped for them for several months. Being deactivated because of minor infractions and because of errors on their part. My reaction is that it is a heck of a way to run a business but if they have a continuing supply of cannon fodder, what the heck?

When I signed on I sent in all my paperwork (I have copies in my file dated from when I mailed them) and for a year or two I was able to get onto their site only to discover what jobs they had were nothing I wanted to do. About six months ago I discovered I had been deactivated and out of curiosity asked why. It took 3 emails before someone bothered to tell me it was because I had never sent in my paperwork that was due within 90 days of signing up. Ok. I have photocopies of it and if they never received it, why was I able to access the website for a year or two? I did not bother sending in fresh copies.

Flash, I now consider myself downright blessed for not even knowing about this company. I love your expression..."a few eggs short of a dozen". I've never heard that one before. Perhaps a few bricks shy of a full load, but the egg one is precious. I have a farm with all kinds of animals, including chickens and now a new expression to match... THANKS!!