I have been shopping with Trendsource a few times a week for the past six months. After doing ten or so shops I started consistently getting text messages from schedulers 2-3 times a week offering PAD for some of the less desirable locations, some I took and some I didn’t as I also work full time. I was told by two different schedulers that I’m one of the top shoppers in this region, if that’s true or not who knows. I haven’t flaked on any shops and I’ve never had any issues with my inputs either. The past 3 weeks have been crickets. No texts from any schedulers and I’m seeing those undesirable stores in “backup” so I know someone is taking them. I won’t do those without PAD. Do you guys think people are just accepting those for less PAD or no PAD because Christmas is coming up? Any experience with this with Trendsource? It’s strange to go from being begged to shop to nothing. Thanks!

Yes, they probably found a shopper who would do the shops for less.

Why not be proactive and call one of those schedulers yourself? I have found their schedulers to be very, very helpful.

I guess I never realy thought that was an option! I will for sure now! Should I just contact them if I see a shop I’m willing to do for PAD?

Sure. They used to post their shop rounds on Wednesdays (I don't know if they still do). So that's usually when I would ask for PAD on shops for the prior round, as they are really anxious to get them done. If you don't know the specific scheduler for a specific shop, just tell the operator the type of shop it is, and she'll get you to the right scheduler.

Great, thanks so much! So if I’m not seeing any shops that the dates have passed on (which i was seeing before) do you think people are just claiming them without being offered PAD? I’m wondering if since it’s almost Christmas people are taking shops they normally wouldn’t for no PAD.

I texted a super nice scheduler who had been texting me quite often and just got 3 shops with great PAD. Now I feel silly for not reaching out sooner! Haha. Thanks for all your help!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/2018 04:02PM by kryfo87.

Terrific. You just made my day!

What is their new web site please??? www.msishopper.net is dead...

Thanks Much

The Source.

@Arch Stanton wrote:

What is their new web site please??? www.msishopper.net is dead...

Thanks Much

Try this, Arch: [www.thesourceagents.com]

I've been turned off by the source because they want me to pay background checks etc. and they don't pay much from what I see available. Maybe I need to ask for PAD?

Most likely, theres a new shopper in your area thats accepting the jobs left and right for the rediculously cheap pay amount, and not requesting PAD, bcuz they think its only for milage. I'd give it a few weeks, and i guarentee things will pick up after the "newbie" realizes that the projects arent as easy as they thought. I have encountered this on several different occasions, and its only temporary. I will not accept most jobs unless Im approved for a reasonable requested PAD. I know that I do very thorough and complete projects, am always courtious and respectful of the client, and am very reliable, and the schedulers know it as well. Even though there was a period of 2 or more months that I wasnt able to accept any work due to circumstances with my vehicle repairs with GM, and bcuz I kept them updated on what was going on the whole time, the "newbie rush" doesn't last long, and as soon as they stop accepting the jobs for peanuts, the schedulers are right back to contacting you as before, and usually with a decent PAD offer, or very willing to accept any reasonable PAD request from you. This type of thing is going to happen often bcuz they are also in the business to make money, and want to get the job completed for the least amount of money possible. I do jobs for quite a few different companies, so when a "newbie rush" does happen with one, I still have plenty of opportunities to work and make the same amount of money as always. As long as you do good work, the schedulers will definitely keep turning to you when they need a project completed.

@Sherril1 wrote:

Most likely, theres a new shopper in your area thats accepting the jobs left and right for the rediculously cheap pay amount, and not requesting PAD, bcuz they think its only for milage. I'd give it a few weeks, and i guarentee things will pick up after the "newbie" realizes that the projects arent as easy as they thought. I have encountered this on several different occasions, and its only temporary. I will not accept most jobs unless Im approved for a reasonable requested PAD. I know that I do very thorough and complete projects, am always courtious and respectful of the client, and am very reliable, and the schedulers know it as well. Even though there was a period of 2 or more months that I wasnt able to accept any work due to circumstances with my vehicle repairs with GM, and bcuz I kept them updated on what was going on the whole time, the "newbie rush" doesn't last long, and as soon as they stop accepting the jobs for peanuts, the schedulers are right back to contacting you as before, and usually with a decent PAD offer, or very willing to accept any reasonable PAD request from you. This type of thing is going to happen often bcuz they are also in the business to make money, and want to get the job completed for the least amount of money possible. I do jobs for quite a few different companies, so when a "newbie rush" does happen with one, I still have plenty of opportunities to work and make the same amount of money as always. As long as you do good work, the schedulers will definitely keep turning to you when they need a project completed.

Thank you for your insight! This is what I assumed may be happening. There are a few in my immediate area that I will do without PAD because I shop there anyway and they are close by. Glad to know it is most likely temporary. I’ll keep trucking a long. Thanks again!

TrendSource has been shuffling around their schedulers. I used to work almost exclusively with one; now, there are six or seven who will text me randomly about shops. I haven't had many texts since Thanksgiving, however, until yesterday. I don't keep my phone on me 24/7. If you are the same, they may not be texting you as often. A few schedulers have mentioned slow response in regards to texting me. My guess is that they want shoppers who are immediately responsive. I need to set up a personalized chime or something on my phone for texts.

Interesting. I work two 10 hour days a week where I can’t have my phone and have an infant so it’s not always possible for me to reply quickly, unfortunately. But that’s good to know!

I stopped doing shops for them because they texted me one day begging me to do a shop that was a 3.5 hour round trip. I took it for $40.00 PAD just to “help them out,” The following day when I was half way to the sho, the scheduler texted me and said “I don’t need you to do the shop, I found someone else to do it cheaper.” I was livid. Never again have I answered a text or phone call! Just my experience.

Oh my gosh! That’s terrible! I don’t blame you a bit!

Trendsource is uber cheap anyway.

I have done four shops from them and get 4-5 texts/calls a week to do a shop. The standard rate in my area for an OSI is $17. This requires calling the contact person and scheduling an appointment for me to visit the site. The site visit typically takes about 20 minutes. I can only assume that when they call me, they are having difficulty scheduling the shop or they up against a deadline. I request $30 for the $17 shop and never get that accepted. Where am I going wrong or are there just too many folks that will work for $10/hr? I like their jobs, but damn they seem to pay really poorly.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2018 04:43AM by crcorrigan.

OK, still new here, what is PAD? Thanks.

Blue Sky, it's their way of saying "travel/mileage/bonus" funds.

@crcorrigan wrote:

I have done four shops from them and get 4-5 texts/calls a week to do a shop. The standard rate in my area for an OSI is $17. This requires calling the contact person and scheduling an appointment for me to visit the site. The site visit typically takes about 20 minutes. I can only assume that when they call me, they are having difficulty scheduling the shop or they up against a deadline. I request $30 for the $17 shop and never get that accepted. Where am I going wrong or are there just too many folks that will work for $10/hr? I like their jobs, but damn they seem to pay really poorly.

People work for cheap. It's pitiful.

A lot of people do this work for "beer money," so to speak. Their grocery shops are fairly easy and I enjoy doing them (as well as getting free groceries). I am more than happy to do their shops in town as my city has several of their stores and they are all within five miles of my home. This puts you on their rotation list for better offers. I once made $95 for three hours of work doing their grocery shops in the surrounding rural areas due to PAD and rotation-related deadlines.

What Fujikochan said. I only buy groceries that I would normally be buying and the stores I do without PAD are stores nearby that I already shop at so even if the project payment is only $5 and reimbursement is $9, I’m making $14 for about 30 minutes of work. It takes a lot of planning grocery wise but last week I did 9 shops in two days (3 had PAD) and made $171 because I just split my grocery shopping into 9 different purchases. It was a total of about 8-9 hours of work, when including the time it took to input, and I didn’t drive very far. I do this on the side for a little extra money. Once you do many of them they’re pretty quick and you get to know the stores and the employees which makes it faster. I imagine this is how most people think about it.

Would someone please explain what PAD stands for ?

Thank you for the explaining PAD. I appreciate it! Not an acronym that makes sense though, travel, mileage, bonus.... should be TMB! Ha, have nice holidays everyone.

Paid Authorized Distance = PAD

@nslinhar wrote:

Paid Authorized Distance = PAD

Which is never more than $3-$5 in Southern CA. Ask Irene.

And no way is $171 for 9 hours of work a good rate. That's a full day of shopping, and most of that is reimbursement for the items you bought. $250 is my minimum if I am going to do that much work. $30-$60 an hour is a decent rate. You've got to pay taxes at a higher rate as an IC.

I as well have been getting jobs out of my distance while there are many within my town (which I used to self-assign). I am not traveling for their pay and their 6.00 max pad is not enough to fill my gas tank. The scheduler said to call and he does assign me grocery stores, but lately, I'm not in the mood to go through loops to get the job, I can afford the 12.00 on my own....hard to compete with the new shoppers that take anything.

@kryfo87 wrote:

What Fujikochan said. I only buy groceries that I would normally be buying and the stores I do without PAD are stores nearby that I already shop at so even if the project payment is only $5 and reimbursement is $9, I’m making $14 for about 30 minutes of work. It takes a lot of planning grocery wise but last week I did 9 shops in two days (3 had PAD) and made $171 because I just split my grocery shopping into 9 different purchases. It was a total of about 8-9 hours of work, when including the time it took to input, and I didn’t drive very far. I do this on the side for a little extra money. Once you do many of them they’re pretty quick and you get to know the stores and the employees which makes it faster. I imagine this is how most people think about it.

Sounds to me like you're doing great.

Don't listen to those who are saying you're not making enough for your work.

The way I look at it is: How many hours would I have to work at my regular job to buy the groceries? Remember, I have to buy groceries with AFTER TAX dollars from my regular job. However, I get that fully reimbursed with NON TAXABLE dollars.

Saving $171 off your grocery bill is admirable, and nothing to ridicule at all.