The owner of NSS died unexpectedly in late February of this year. As of now, nobody knows how or when the business will be dissolved, or if shoppers will be paid in full, receive partial payments or none at all. Joan Gingras has done some research. Although little information is available, she is trying to monitor the situation and providing updates as they become available.
I am including a copy of the article that alerted us to the owner's death. I am requesting this thread be limited to updates only. There is another thread with an ongoing discussion. [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
"Independent contractors nationwide say they are owed money after the death of the CEO of a mystery shopping service based in Rocklin.
That company, National Shopping Service, has apparently shuttered its headquarters at 2510 Warren Drive. The location was closed during normal business hours last week.
The office of National Shopping Service at 2510 Warren Drive in Rocklin.
Sonya Sorich | Sacramento Business Journal
Matt Wozniak, National Shopping's president and CEO for nearly 30 years, also owned two other businesses: the Amour Privé winery and Auburn wine bar Sip, according to his LinkedIn page. A Feb. 28 post on Sip's Facebook page confirms Wozniak's death.
National Shopping used independent contractors — "mystery shoppers" — to anonymously patronize businesses including restaurants and retailers and provide feedback to help them determine their strengths and weaknesses.
City records show the company's Rocklin office employed 25 people, according to a business license issued last August. A city official said National Shopping still maintains a business license that's scheduled to expire on July 31.
In recent weeks, mystery shoppers have left comments on the Facebook page for National Shopping and other online forums, saying the company owes them money.
Pamela Olmstead, president of the Independent Mystery Shoppers Coalition, estimates at least 1,000 independent contractors are affected. In general, those shoppers are individually owed $10 to more than $1,800 for jobs between February and May, according to Olmstead, who is based in Arizona.
Shoppers also report having checks from the Rocklin company returned for insufficient funds, Olmstead said.
Most the money that's apparently owed is for reimbursements — for example, for a shopper who spent his or her own money to buy food for an assignment, Olmstead said. Clients such as restaurants pay fees to National Shopping Service, which should then be used to pay shoppers, she said.
National Shopping Service began in 1972 as a private investigation firm under a different operator. Wozniak later bought the business. Its corporate office moved from Los Angeles to Northern California in 1999, according to the company's website.
National Shopping used "a network of 450,000 trained mystery shoppers around the world," according Wozniak's LinkedIn page.
In the mystery-shopping industry, it's not common for companies to shut down in a manner similar to National Shopping Service, Olmstead said. There are approximately 1 million mystery shoppers in the U.S. and about 300 mystery-shopping companies in the nation, according to Olmstead.
Phone calls to the business went to a message saying "all circuits are busy now." Meanwhile, Sip — the Auburn wine bar Wozniak owned — announced its temporary closure with a May 22 Facebook post. The business has a phone message confirming it has closed as a result of "the loss of the owner." Phone calls to Amour Privé — where Wozniak was owner and winemaker, according to his LinkedIn page — went to a voicemail message last week.
Wozniak's death was ruled a suicide, according to Dena Erwin, public information officer for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Wozniak's family declined to comment on the future of National Shopping Service."
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2017 07:36PM by LisaSTL.
I am including a copy of the article that alerted us to the owner's death. I am requesting this thread be limited to updates only. There is another thread with an ongoing discussion. [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
"Independent contractors nationwide say they are owed money after the death of the CEO of a mystery shopping service based in Rocklin.
That company, National Shopping Service, has apparently shuttered its headquarters at 2510 Warren Drive. The location was closed during normal business hours last week.
The office of National Shopping Service at 2510 Warren Drive in Rocklin.
Sonya Sorich | Sacramento Business Journal
Matt Wozniak, National Shopping's president and CEO for nearly 30 years, also owned two other businesses: the Amour Privé winery and Auburn wine bar Sip, according to his LinkedIn page. A Feb. 28 post on Sip's Facebook page confirms Wozniak's death.
National Shopping used independent contractors — "mystery shoppers" — to anonymously patronize businesses including restaurants and retailers and provide feedback to help them determine their strengths and weaknesses.
City records show the company's Rocklin office employed 25 people, according to a business license issued last August. A city official said National Shopping still maintains a business license that's scheduled to expire on July 31.
In recent weeks, mystery shoppers have left comments on the Facebook page for National Shopping and other online forums, saying the company owes them money.
Pamela Olmstead, president of the Independent Mystery Shoppers Coalition, estimates at least 1,000 independent contractors are affected. In general, those shoppers are individually owed $10 to more than $1,800 for jobs between February and May, according to Olmstead, who is based in Arizona.
Shoppers also report having checks from the Rocklin company returned for insufficient funds, Olmstead said.
Most the money that's apparently owed is for reimbursements — for example, for a shopper who spent his or her own money to buy food for an assignment, Olmstead said. Clients such as restaurants pay fees to National Shopping Service, which should then be used to pay shoppers, she said.
National Shopping Service began in 1972 as a private investigation firm under a different operator. Wozniak later bought the business. Its corporate office moved from Los Angeles to Northern California in 1999, according to the company's website.
National Shopping used "a network of 450,000 trained mystery shoppers around the world," according Wozniak's LinkedIn page.
In the mystery-shopping industry, it's not common for companies to shut down in a manner similar to National Shopping Service, Olmstead said. There are approximately 1 million mystery shoppers in the U.S. and about 300 mystery-shopping companies in the nation, according to Olmstead.
Phone calls to the business went to a message saying "all circuits are busy now." Meanwhile, Sip — the Auburn wine bar Wozniak owned — announced its temporary closure with a May 22 Facebook post. The business has a phone message confirming it has closed as a result of "the loss of the owner." Phone calls to Amour Privé — where Wozniak was owner and winemaker, according to his LinkedIn page — went to a voicemail message last week.
Wozniak's death was ruled a suicide, according to Dena Erwin, public information officer for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Wozniak's family declined to comment on the future of National Shopping Service."
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2017 07:36PM by LisaSTL.
