ACL a closer look reimbursement and pay
Regular fees are $5-$15 on dining for some clients.@Niner wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
@Niner wrote:
@komalagarwal695 wrote:
I have stopped doing shops for this MSC few months back..they want very detailed reports and hardly pay anything..
They don't pay for restaurant shops.
Not true. I am not even talking about a bonus, some have a fee.
I have never seen one, it's good to know that they exist somewhere though!
That’s true most don’t pay you in addition to the reimbursements. I’ve done a lot of Shops for ACL over the years and the restaurants are usually nicer ones. I don’t get paid in addition to a $95+ reimbursement unless it’s a bonus. Personally I like them a lot I’m used to detailed reports. If I was the client paying for the service I would want details.
I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!
@succeedin2 wrote:
If I was the client paying for the service I would want details.
If I was a client paying for the service I would want a Mystery Shopping Company that pays its employees instead of one like ACL who recruits people who are crazy enough to work for nothing! I don't believe people who are foolish enough to work for nothing do near as good of work as people who are being properly paid. I'm not sure the opinions of people who will work for nothing are anything close to the opinions of normal people.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2019 11:00AM by Sobrokeigot2dothis.
I am getting a $100 meal. This would take me earning about $158 at work to pay for this. I would rather write a report and have the meal for free, and put the $100 into an investment account. Now, I would spend $25-30 for dinner, not $100, but I am still saving money. If they paid me $10, that would not affect my life that much. So, this trade seems logical in my life. I pay about 35% in federal and who knows what in NY state tax. I am not crazy, and I write a quality report.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2019 11:51AM by Niner.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2019 11:51AM by Niner.
@Niner wrote:
I am getting a $100 meal. This would take me earning about $158 at work to pay for this. I would rather write a report and have the meal for free, and put the $100 into an investment account. Now, I would spend $25-30 for dinner, not $100, but I am still saving money. If they paid me $10, that would not affect my life that much. So, this trade seems logical in my life. I pay about 35% in federal and who knows what in NY state tax. I am not crazy, and I write a quality report.
Our economy and government could not even function if they operated on ACL's and your twisted models of economics. Are you claiming that $100 dollar meal as income? Is ACL claiming that free meal they got you as their own $100 dollar deduction? Under IRS scrutiny this strange and odd twisted economic model would melt like an ice cream cone on a hot July day.
Why would I claim this as income? It's a reimbursed expense.
Maybe this does not make sense in your life and circumstances. In mine, it does. I don't do this for income. I do it for lifestyle enhancement. I have "spent" about 10k in restaurants that are all reimbursed. That does not come out of my bank account.
Maybe this does not make sense in your life and circumstances. In mine, it does. I don't do this for income. I do it for lifestyle enhancement. I have "spent" about 10k in restaurants that are all reimbursed. That does not come out of my bank account.
This thread is making me laugh that one shopper's perception can be so different than the perception and experience of other shoppers. I have done my share of the ACL reimbursement only shops, but I have also done jewelry store shops that paid well and did not require a purchase or pictures. I've done an eyeglass store shop that reimbursed me enough for 2 pairs of glasses and also paid a reasonable payment to me. I've done a tour of a senior living community that paid out $65. I have done grocery store shops that reimbursed enough for a few meals worth of food and also paid a small payment. Shoppers who complain about ACL and say that they don't pay have not been paying attention lately. Maybe it's time to take A Closer Look.
It is definitely regionally based. Obviously every client isn't available in every area. Where my parents live, I can find shops with them with reasonable payments and reimbursements. Where I live, no so much.
@Niner wrote:
Why would I claim this as income? It's a reimbursed expense.
If you are not claiming the $100 dollar meal as income and ACL is claiming the $100 dollars they reimburse you for the meal as an expense.............then the IRS is getting taken to the cleaners. The IRS is the government which is us you do know I hope! Its a tax fraud scheme almost guaranteed.
You really like arguing about this. Find someone else. I am not interested. Sorry you are broke. Let it go. Get an hourly job.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2019 09:18PM by Niner.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2019 09:18PM by Niner.
@Niner wrote:
You really like arguing about this. Find someone else. I am not interested. Sorry you are broke. Let it go. Get an hourly job.
Settle down I am not going to turn you or ACL into the IRS.
I do a lot of shops for ACL. I've had some returned for clarifications, but never for a redo. I find the schedulers very helpful and easy to talk to.
I do ACL shops and other dinner shops all the time. I could care less what someone is thinking if they see me taking pictures. If it's required for the shop, then it's required for the shop. I gots to get paid. 
"I don't believe people who are foolish enough to work for nothing do near as good of work as people who are being properly paid. I'm not sure the opinions of people who will work for nothing are anything close to the opinions of normal people."
Coming from a fool who works for "nothing", please note: "do near as good of work..." is not grammatically correct. I realize my opinion isn't as valuable as yours or that of other normal people. Grammar is grammar, however and that is not my opinion.
Seriously, though, it is fine if you choose not to take reimbursement only shops. Disparaging those who do does not reflect poorly on us.
Coming from a fool who works for "nothing", please note: "do near as good of work..." is not grammatically correct. I realize my opinion isn't as valuable as yours or that of other normal people. Grammar is grammar, however and that is not my opinion.
Seriously, though, it is fine if you choose not to take reimbursement only shops. Disparaging those who do does not reflect poorly on us.
I know for a fact that not taking the pictures yourself may get you disqualified from working for ACL
I haven't done a shop for them in many months. In my area the only shops available are reimbursement-only or very low pay ($5) for fast food restaurants. Don't need that in my life. Their upscale clients seem to have fallen off, at least where I live.
I have decided to maybe try to do this shop again. Has anyone ever done a carryout for this company. I saw that there was a carry out job available/
@lisaromie wrote:
I have decided to maybe try to do this shop again. Has anyone ever done a carryout for this company. I saw that there was a carry out job available/
Carry out always is easier than dine in.
Much shorter report.
@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:
If you are not claiming the $100 dollar meal as income and ACL is claiming the $100 dollars they reimburse you for the meal as an expense.............then the IRS is getting taken to the cleaners. The IRS is the government which is us you do know I hope! Its a tax fraud scheme almost guaranteed.
I don't know where you learned how to do your taxes, but another post of yours referring to MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES gives us a better picture of your state of mind when you post on this forum.
@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:
"I have been to a few in Colorado and I have sampled enough of their product to have a pretty good idea what is going on."
This quote of yours puts it all into perspective!!!!
Depending on the shop, you'll still need pictures of the food but it is easier to do when not in restaurant.
@lisaromie wrote:
I have decided to maybe try to do this shop again. Has anyone ever done a carryout for this company. I saw that there was a carry out job available/
A reimbursed item from a work expense is NEVER taxable. The meal is the item, because you were working. Uggg, people, if you are that bad go hire a tax person, maybe then you would get a return that would help with your broke-ness.
Orlando - lightly shopping NC
I LOVE their take-out shops for ME food. Enough for three meals!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@yoya301 wrote:
@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:
This quote of yours puts it all into perspective!!!!
Concrapulations you are the first genius that jumped on that!. Now back to the story at hand. I will double down on the FACT that many/most of these mystery shopping companies would be in serious trouble if the IRS ever started looking at them real hard. About the only mystery shopping company that is even halfway legit is Marketforce. Marketforce is about the only mystery shopping company that 1099's you for the fees you collect and not for any of the reimbursement.
@walesmaven wrote:
I LOVE their take-out shops for ME food. Enough for three meals!
I did my first one this weekend. I wish I had known that I was getting 2 pounds of food. It made fir a nice second meal for sure.
I have decided to maybe try to do this shop again. Has anyone ever done a carryout for this company. I saw that there was a carry out job available/
I might be broke but I don't have to save my food for the next day! LOL! Leftover restaurant food stinks! I'm not a high roller like you folks but I can afford fresh food. Doggie bags are for the old ladies I always say.
@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:
About the only mystery shopping company that is even halfway legit is Marketforce. Marketforce is about the only mystery shopping company that 1099's you for the fees you collect and not for any of the reimbursement.
Is Marketforce the only company you work for? I get 1099's from many companies that only state the fees as income. (That is the purpose of the 1099.) Even the companies that I don't work for enough to trigger a 1099 still have the fees vs. reimbursements broken down on my shop history.
At the end of the year I compare my shop history for each of the companies with my personal records from the year to make sure everything matches.
As far as my shop history with ACL... over the past few years my fees and reimbursements are almost equal. I work for money, but I also like it when I can work for free stuff that I would normally pay for. There is no shame in that!!
Like @Niner stated..... $100 reimbursed is worth more than that if you worked an hourly job to earn $100 post taxes.
@yoya301 wrote:
@Sobrokeigot2dothis wrote:
About the only mystery shopping company that is even halfway legit is Marketforce. Marketforce is about the only mystery shopping company that 1099's you for the fees you collect and not for any of the reimbursement.
Is Marketforce the only company you work for? I get 1099's from many companies that only state the fees as income. (That is the purpose of the 1099.)
You are ignorant of the facts or confused or both. Don't feel so all alone most people do not understand taxes or simple accounting principles.
Our confusion can be resolved. Lets start with this: Does A Closer Look 1099 you for every cent and dollar that they send you a check for? Yes or no?
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