I did my first video shop this week (3 total) for them. I thought the pay was good ($50) for checking out an office. But as she was describing all the things I had to do - the $50 seemed too low. I had to find and sign up for an alias name, email, and phone number, one for each and every shop (memorize it to recite on a moments notice), make up a business idea I needed an office for (and be able to talk about it intelligently), call and confirm an appointment (which I didn't set and the scheduler who did didn't seem to care about my time and driving all over this city when with a little care would save me hours of driving). All of these things are fairly small but add up in time. Then you do the shop, which takes 45 mins (it is not hard), then the report and uploading the video. MT raved about how short the report was and, yes, it is short in length but one question requires you to give then exact minute/second marks on your video where you talk about 3 different things. Really?!?! That's the editor and scorers job, not mine. THEN, once they review and accept, I WAIT 90 frickin' days for my payment. Halloween will come and go, Thanksgiving will come and go, and so will Christmas and New Years - and then I still have to wait almost 30 more days!! I waited 90 days once for another MSC and it feels like and eternity!! MT said their clients don't pay them on time either so I'm sure this is a cash flow issue within their company. This is not my problem. So to treat your shoppers like this, I think is wrong. I mean, aren't we the ones going out and doing the work? If we didn't do our part, they would be out of business. And I wonder if they (scheduler, owner, etc) have to wait for their paychecks?
I have been doing this business for a long time and have come to a place where I will not work for a company who doesn't treat their shoppers reasonably. And I won't support them either, by doing their shops for them. If they end up this crappy products and few shoppers, then maybe they will wise up and either 1) make the shop less time consuming, 2) pay more money (maybe driving bonus), or 3) pay faster (less than 60 days at the most). This company obviously has a cash flow problem and I don't want to be the one not being paid if they go under. And, by the way I was treated (including the berating email and threats yesterday), their shoppers are not valued. So I'm done with them. It's the goose and golden egg scenario: take care of the goose and you will have plenty of golden eggs. They aren't taking care of their goose!