I note that a kalend has joined the forum from Albatross and is soliciting shoppers. I did a quick check and indeed there is an Albatross Global Solutions out of Shanghai, China that is mentioned in a couple of resources I check and they are members of the MSPA. I was, however, sort of aghast that one shop posted wants shoppers to purchase an $11,000+ watch to be FedExed to them and they will reimburse "by bank transfer within 2 days" and pay a $90 fee.

I doubt that many shoppers will take them up on this offer because the risk is so enormously huge for a relatively small reward, even if the shop was 2 blocks from your residence. $11k+ at risk for $90????

In any event, it would appear that the company is legitimate, though I would certainly go very very slowly with an offshore company as it is difficult enough to get paid/reimbursed when things go bad within the US and internationally it could readily be virtually impossible.

Flash Wrote:
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> I note that a kalend has joined the forum from
> Albatross and is soliciting shoppers. I did a
> quick check and indeed there is an Albatross
> Global Solutions out of Shanghai, China that is
> mentioned in a couple of resources I check and
> they are members of the MSPA. I was, however,
> sort of aghast that one shop posted wants shoppers
> to purchase an $11,000+ watch to be FedExed to
> them and they will reimburse "by bank transfer
> within 2 days" and pay a $90 fee.
>
> I doubt that many shoppers will take them up on
> this offer because the risk is so enormously huge
> for a relatively small reward, even if the shop
> was 2 blocks from your residence. $11k+ at risk
> for $90????
>
> In any event, it would appear that the company is
> legitimate, though I would certainly go very very
> slowly with an offshore company as it is difficult
> enough to get paid/reimbursed when things go bad
> within the US and internationally it could readily
> be virtually impossible.


I have done high end stores for this company. They paid well, $60 a visit and did not require a purchase. They paid on time, using Paypal. They emailed me to confirm the address before they sent the payment. I would shop for them again, though I would not do this particular shop, as I could not afford a watch like that, even on a P/R, and I would never put that much at risk anyway. But I liked the company.

Thanks Athens. I had not heard of them and the expensive out of pocket I saw was my first introduction to them, which frankly sent me scurrying to see if this was another scam. It would take a whole lot of trust and experience working with a company to even consider doing that kind of P/R. It is good to know that your experience has been good.

I don't have first hand knowledge, although I recall a thread from last year, July 2010. [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Mert Wrote:
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> I don't have first hand knowledge, although I
> recall a thread from last year, July 2010.
> [www.mysteryshopforum.com]
> #msg-58575


Whatever the negatives others stated, I can only state that I had a great experience and was highly paid and on time (and as a new to them contractor.) I still would not do the $11,000 watch shop, and wonder why kalend posts all over the place without stating her affiliation.

If I could afford lending out $11,000, I wouldn't be shopping. Would anyone do this legit or not?

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> If I could afford lending out $11,000, I wouldn't
> be shopping. Would anyone do this legit or not?

The OC resident who introduced me to mystery shopping did this exact shop (fee was higher). She got the money wired in to bank as promised. I personally don't have that kind of risk tolerance and there is no way I would have done that.