I saw a retail shop not far from work on Market Force's website. It was advertised at $28 and I had the option to "Make an Offer." The very brief description did not include the name of the store - only the name of the shopping area. I didn't like how vague the description was, but I was going to be there tomorrow anyhow and, besides, how much trouble could I get into? I offered $35 and it was accepted. Okay, cool. The first thing I noticed was that I was not familiar with the store I was shopping... An Italian designer store that sells $2000 backpacks and $400 sunglasses. Hmm... It was not really my style, but, whatever. I have the clothes to dress for it and I can pretend to be in the market for something like that. Then, the kick: I read the guidelines.

I needed to make a purchase of over $400 and return it the next day.

First, I wasn't available the next day. Second, that makes it two trips and two shops - which really needs to be disclosed before we take shops. Third, not everybody has over $400 with which to make such a purchase, so this really needs to be disclosed up front as well. Not cool.

I looked a rescheduling. I could potentially do this Thursday-Friday next week. I'm currently not scheduled those days and that would give me enough time to transfer the needed funds to my shopping account without incurring a bank fee for an expedited external transfer. But that's NOT a $35 shop. Of course, I couldn't reschedule for a date that far in advance. So... I cancelled the shop.

This is EXACTLY why I have only done one shop for Market Force...#?@!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2017 08:33PM by MFJohnston.

Wow.. Now that is redic.. I've done Market Force in the past and I mean way back. I've never known them to ask for someone to buy a product of over $50. $400. That is crazy, and your right. They need to pay more if they expect you to buy and then go back and return. That's gas being used and time out of the day that's beyond nuts...

I've been reading a lot more about requirements being hidden until after a shop is assigned. Did this go hand in hand with the new website? They always seemed to be more forthcoming with details.

It was on the new website... The available description was something to the effect of, "Easy retail shop where you will evaluate the customer service and sales presentation of the associate." That's about it. There was no mention of a purchase and return. There was certainly no mention of having to spent several hundred dollars up front. The darn thing about it, is that I would be willing to do such a shop. I just don't use credit and don't keep a lot of money in my shopping account. I just need to know what such a shop entails so that I can juggle money appropriately.

@LisaSTL wrote:

I've been reading a lot more about requirements being hidden until after a shop is assigned. Did this go hand in hand with the new website? They always seemed to be more forthcoming with details.

I prefer credit for P/R shops. I also don't do many of them and only in areas I visit on a weekly basis so it won't mean an extra trip. I will also be avoiding any shops on the new website if they will no longer provide the name of the store or any details. With it often being a year or more between shops with them, I don't think I will be missing much, LOL.

My husband made an offer of $75 on that shop last month then cancelled when the full guidelines were made available and it turned out to be a purchase & return the next day. The shop description said NOTHING about purchase & return the next day.......

The majority of their assignments provide sufficient information. For example, the cell phone shops that are two part. I too would have cancelled. I just do not agree that this is normal for MF as implied in the closing sentence

@isaiah58 wrote:

The majority of their assignments provide sufficient information. For example, the cell phone shops that are two part. I too would have cancelled. I just do not agree that this is normal for MF as implied in the closing sentence

I agree with you that this is not normal for MF. The majority of their assignments DO provide sufficient information. That begs the question "WHY is such substandard information being provided on these particular shops?" I saw these shops and there is NO mention of a huge required purchase OR a mandatory visit the next day to return the merchandise, both of which would be very relevant to an IC's decision to accept or pass up the shop AND would require a much higher fee for most shoppers.

Note to MF Shopper Advocates who are reading here on the forum: MF, I love you but I'm really disappointed in this. Hope you'll zip right back to work and fix this so shoppers don't get the idea that MF is being deliberately nebulous about very involved guidelines in order to get shops done at a cheap rate. MF, you're better than that.

I have heard of PR shops where they did not take the purchase back, due to some reason or another. No way could not afford that hit.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/19/2017 10:05PM by sbobgal.

Due diligence is checking on return policies before any P/R.

I'm surprised Market Force Johnston is so upset!

And I thought it was just me

@LisaSTL wrote:

I've been reading a lot more about requirements being hidden until after a shop is assigned. Did this go hand in hand with the new website? They always seemed to be more forthcoming with details.

Right after launch, the descriptions were skimpy, but MF has improved them so you know what you're signing up for, at least for most shops. Not mentioning a $400 purchase and a next day return is a big omission. I'd return that shop to MF with no hesitation. It is not a keeper.

I was more annoyed than anything. I hate sending shops back once I've accepted them. Typically, if I feel that a shop is a bit of a rip-off after I've accepted it, I'll do the shop and simply learn from the mistake. It's was simply really annoying to see that the brief overview didn't mention some extremely vital details.

I hear great things on here about MarketForce and would like to find some of their shops that work well for me. However, their burger shops have zero appeal for me and I don't have a good sense for what is involved in their gas station shops. I took this one because it looked "safe" Ooops. It makes me wonder what other surprises are lurking behind the overviews for their shops?

@bgriffin wrote:

I'm surprised Market Force Johnston is so upset!

@MFJohnston wrote:

... Typically, if I feel that a shop is a bit of a rip-off after I've accepted it, I'll do the shop and simply learn from the mistake...

The mistake isn't yours to learn from; it's MF's. If shoppers do the shops even after learning "vital details" were omitted, then MF learns that hiding details is an efficient way to get shops done.

Returning assignments immediately after seeing the full scope of work lets MF learn from their mistake. Don't deny them the opportunity to learn

And I'm not sure where you are hearing such great things. Sure, they are a great starter company, but beyond that?

From the sounds of it, they'd be a great source of filler shops... As for being a great company... If they consistently pay on time, offer reasonable pay, and have clear directions, they're great.

@LisaSTL wrote:

And I'm not sure where you are hearing such great things. Sure, they are a great starter company, but beyond that?

They certainly pay on time and have clear directions

I like Market Force pretty well. I was mostly just poking fun at the fact that usually Market Force is abbreviated MF here and your initials in your username are MF and so it appears you are Market Force Johnston and complaining about Market Force.

Unfortunately, the schedulers don't take that into account when I request bonuses....

@bgriffin wrote:

I like Market Force pretty well. I was mostly just poking fun at the fact that usually Market Force is abbreviated MF here and your initials in your username are MF and so it appears you are Market Force Johnston and complaining about Market Force.

I recently started with MF. They have fired me and then rehired me. hmm... Not a good start. LOL You know we all have those situations where everything seems to go wrong. Well, that's me & MF. It seems like almost every shop something happens-

What is happening ? Please shed some light.

They're great for me, not a starter company at all. I take the 5 gas shops allowed at their base rate and complete them the first day allowed. And then I wait. And then they call and my bank account gets filled up!

@spicy1 wrote:

They're great for me, not a starter company at all. I take the 5 gas shops allowed at their base rate and complete them the first day allowed. And then I wait. And then they call and my bank account gets filled up!

I schedule mine for the last possible day and wait for the next round to be listed. When I am near a location I simply reschedule or use them as fillers on my route. Yesterday I was to complete an on-site inspection. The client supplied a false address which left 3 hours open in my schedule, was able to reschedule and complete 4 shops.

I only use MF, only because I've signed up with 4 others in my area and the distance is just too far. (1 hour to 1 1/2 hours one way) so MF is what I consider local for my area. That being said, the only problems I have is the response time when contacting regarding a problem or question. Most times is is 4 days or better for a response. I also now have a shop that has been in QC since July 5, I'm assuming they are short handed because of summer vacations? I also hate to accept an assignment and then cancel when the complete instructions are revealed but sometimes the scenario is just too complicated for the compensation. I wish you could view the total scenario before accepting.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2017 01:16PM by bichonmom.

It usually takes MF about a week to get back to me and most of the time the answer isn't helpful at all. After you do a few different kinds of assignments from them, you can get a feel for what those kinds of shops are like. That is what I did. I found ones I liked and ones I didn't like. If you have a question about a particular kind of shop you can ask the forum here, someone most likely will chime in.