Trendsoure Doing Virtual Inspections

Trendsource has posted a virtual onsite inspection. Using a smartphone or computer, the inspection is done offsite. Interesting and might be a better way of doing them anyway. Another person picked it up but it will be interesting to see if more of these show up.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

That is interesting. I wonder how sketchy activities and observations will be addressed.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Haven't seen any of those yet in my area.

Just saw this on their web page.

"X MS will suspend all on-site inspections until March 31, 2020. At or before that time, we will review the matter for further action and possible extension.
In the meantime, we are looking to offer other variations of on-site inspections such as a Virtual Site Inspection."

This might be the future of onsite inspections. Schedulers could do them from their location. No need for a shopper to do them.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2020 07:47PM by iagal.

Is that the client you just named?

Kim

Oops. Changed it.

Trend source keeps telling me I need to get an EIN. I do not see why I need to do this as I do not work in California. What happened to the fair trade clause in the constitution.

This is a Trend Source requirement. it has nothing to do with California. This explains why they require an EIN and how to get one from the IRS for free: [www.thesourceagents.com]

@2stepps wrote:

Trend source keeps telling me I need to get an EIN. I do not see why I need to do this as I do not work in California. What happened to the fair trade clause in the constitution.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

You can do it online. Make sure you take a screenshot of the number when it's issued.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I had to get one last year for them when I approached $600. I had purposely limited my earnings to under that amount with them because I did not ever wont to get an EIN. I got too close to that amount last year and they blocked access to more shops and so forth. In the end, I did not reach $600 for the year. I was irritated that I got that unwanted EIN.

But if you forgot the screenshot, you can look it up online later. (Please do not ask why I know this.)

@HonnyBrown wrote:

You can do it online. Make sure you take a screenshot of the number when it's issued.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

I was not able to find it online the same day that I applied for it. I had to call the IRS the next day to get it...during tax season!

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

. . .Ahem . . . back to the actual topic of virtual inspections. I have four normal (usual) inspections that I am assigned and each wanted to wait to schedule. All were put on hold. One cancelled, two are still on hold, and one today was changed to a virtual inspection. I took another which was also assigned as a virtual inspection. As best I can tell, I conduct them over video chat with the contact. I take screen shots of the items which require photo as submit as the pics or I ask the contact to send me the pics after I verify via the video chat. The signature form is omitted, replaced by both me and the contact separately verifying we met via video chat. I submit the rest of the report with the pics or screen shots as usual. The scheduler does not conduct the inspections.

I love OSI's and basically hope to do them again someday, (when this is all over). The EIN is no big deal and I don't really understand why you don't want one. Someday I will have my other business affairs going and will need to pay people to do work for me so I didn't really mind. I didn't realize the OSI in my area was converted to video chat until it was gone so I applied to be a backup. For this crisis, I think it's fine. But permanently I don't think it's a good idea because it's easy for people to set up a phony scene.

I do not think a Virtual inspection is any harder to set up than an in-person fake office.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Trendsoure Doing Virtual Inspections

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine