Anybody want to talk about the changes at Marketforce?

If we're allowed to, within the constraints of our ICAs?

Bonuses gone, gone, gone. I asked for my usual $100-$125 for a shop 4 hours from home, and was told they'd only pay $40. I said I would do all 3 shops in that town for $125, $90, and $110. They countered with $40, $60, and $70. Don't know about you, but I'm not driving 8 hours roundtrip for $170....one audit takes 2 hours, the second shop takes a minimum of an hour prep and 45 minutes on site, the 3rd was a gas station on the way there (but otherwise in the middle of nowhere). Plus reports, that's 15 hours. That's assuming, of course, that I find all the shops without getting lost, there's no road construction, etc.

I get the feeling those good old days, when I could be on the road 22 hours and do 7 shops for $560 are going, going, gone.

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I've noticed changes on the lower end of the scale: in October, shops are paying 1/2 to 3/4 of the amount they paid in September for the same job, or shops pay the same but add responsibilities.

They called me today and asked me to shop a location about 40 miles away for $7. I said I'd do it for $35 and they declined. I won't go across the street for $7.

A few weeks ago i was getting phone calls every day from them. They refused to offer any decent amounts so i declined. Let someone else take the shops for piddly.

I have never had such large bonuses from MF before, but I haven't seen fees or bonuses decrease here, either.

Yes, I've noticed that too. I'll let them rest on them for a while.

MF is my first love...but I have had to venture out to other MSCs lately. I am signed on with quite a few, but MF is (was) my "main stay." And here we are... almost at the end of the month... where oh where are those lovely bonuses!?

TinaMarie

Let us know if you are still getting calls and/or bonuses.

A scheduler yesterday told me mgt. is cracking down on bonuses. He said in a meeting last week they were told, "NO MORE" high dollar bonuses. He said if you used to get $40 for a shop, and there is another shop nearby, they will only pay $10 for the second shop.
Let them sit on the board. It's our only way to get the point across.

I stopped getting the daily MF shop emails for a month or so. They recently started showing up again, but there's never anything interesting there, so I just delete.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

'Tis the Season for bonuses in Merchandising. The same with the source who cut the bonuses on the shops in, through and around the mountains. Well, if it's worth it for you to pay the new people $15 less and give them the assignments I used to get, I'd like to see what happens when the heavy rains and snow and hail hits and I'm the only one with a 4-wheel drive and snow chains and the tenacity to drive to those regions. I'll be needing enough to cover the dumped Fall $$ that was lost in the four corners area. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one with a heated jacket, rescue trained dog and a satellite phone. yes, I'm a little upset. However, it's best to diversify and find companies who are concerned about accounts going to a different msc and take it seriously. And, yes, I know merchandisers who live in those areas and NO I won't give you their phone number or tell them about the shops!

They called me yesterday for a wireless shop 20 miles form me for $7. I asked the guy if he would do it for $7. He then upped it to $15. I passed. When I checked the same shop on their website, it was $18. Yes, they have gotten very cheap and argumentative when you decline.

I think their starting fee for the phone shops are the cheapest of any msc out there.

Over the last 4 years Marketforce has been lowering the shop fees and the bonus money was the only postive addition. Now they are cracking down on offering a decent bonus for the low paying shops. Kinda glad they gave me the ax.

I just received a phone call and they wanted me to do a reveal gas station shop today or tomorrow for $7. I said no and she offered me $14. I said no that I would do it for $25. She said the most she could offer was $18. Do they think that I cannot see that they've had that shop on the board for $22 for a week? I'm not blind and there is a reason I haven't taken it for $22. I "made an offer" of $30 a week ago.
If you are going to bother to call you at least need to offer more than what's posted online. Gads.

Apparently they are trying to weed out shoppers who can read. And count.

Think of all the employees they have calling people to make offers. I think I had a different named person each call. If they would only look and see what prices shoppers did these things at and then offer them those prices, that may save them time/money.

We were discussing a few days ago. There is a shop that I used to get on bonus for $15-$20 but it seems they've just allowed more shops per person now... ugh. Instead of getting a bonus on the restaurant, they're just letting people do more of that particular restaurant at base. Ah, all about the money on all ends I suppose. Still, I'm not going to go do these at $4. I was hard pressed to make myself do them at $10. Meh

MegglesKat

The person who called me earlier this week was very rude. I said I could not do a shop and she kept asking "why not?"after I told her I did not have time. I finally hung up.

@Nyer1234 wrote:

The person who called me earlier this week was very rude. I said I could not do a shop and she kept asking "why not?"after I told her I did not have time. I finally hung up.

I had one ask me to shop and I said I was not able to; I had to pick my husband up from work. He was like okay I call you back after you get your husband, you can ask he will let you shop (obviously ESL). I was very agitated at the end of the call. It was not getting through their head that I had to leave at 4PM to pick him up at 6PM and then drive home and would not be able to help with their 5-8pm shop.

MegglesKat

Still getting the pay I want on my end. ☺

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

Phone call: Can you do xyz burger place for lunch by Sunday for $10 plus reimbursement
Me: No, sorry but I'm not available
Caller: How about for dinner
Me: No, I'm not available
Caller: So you won't have any time in the next three days
Me: That's correct, I'm not available
Caller: Oh, not even for either dinner or lunch
Me: That's what not available means
Caller: You can choose either lunch or dinner
Me: (STILL trying to be cordial) Well, not available really does mean not available
Caller: ------silence------ Oh, well, okay, I guess you aren't able to help us then.

Yea, no, I dont have access to the military base.

Are you available for late dinner (15-30 minutes before closing) ?

@Iamme wrote:

Phone call: Can you do xyz burger place for lunch by Sunday for $10 plus reimbursement
Me: No, sorry but I'm not available
Caller: How about for dinner
Me: No, I'm not available
Caller: So you won't have any time in the next three days
Me: That's correct, I'm not available
Caller: Oh, not even for either dinner or lunch
Me: That's what not available means
Caller: You can choose either lunch or dinner
Me: (STILL trying to be cordial) Well, not available really does mean not available
Caller: ------silence------ Oh, well, okay, I guess you aren't able to help us then.

For $2 bonus

Oooooh is that the ones that keep flagging for special access/clearance-- military? I spotted those but didn't bother opening any up.

MegglesKat

That one (eta: which was today) was for a cell phone companies competitor shop. Here, it is an Airforce base and it can take 30-45 minutes just to enter if you only have a pass. I can get a pass for my cosmetic assignment but I need to be paid for the time. You have to get out of the car and walk into the little office where they check your ID, pass and do an instant background check on you!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2017 01:26AM by spicy1.

I don't even answer the phone when they call anymore. I have scaled back and am back in the job market, 9-5 gig. I used to do this full time, but gas has gone up and I put 35k miles on my new car in 16 months. Time for a change.

Mod note: Post removed as it breached the Forum guideline which states, "Do not reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies". Additionally, it is usually an ICA violation to name both the MSC and client.

It seems like the cell phones shps USED TO BE maybe $15 starting... or at least $10. I USED to grab up a lot at the begiining and get working. Now I have to wait until there are slim pickin's with bonuses. I too have been expanding my horizons. One must! Nothing pays like it used too.

TinaMarie

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