I've never gotten a single job from them although I've received several e-mail offers. I have received " this was given to another shopper" e-mails.
This morning I decided to do some further checking and guess what? I wasn't registered with Kerns. Kerns was sending e-mails based on the fact that I was registered with the companies they were representing. You would think they could have sent a "You're not registered with us" e-mail at some point. But it's actually my fault for not checking on this. I still haven't registered with them and am not sure I want to.

Well, as a few have said here, they've been good to us.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/07/2011 04:32PM by TechSavvy.

Greg is very responsive. I just wish that there were more offers in Memphis TN.

I do many jobs through them, but very tired of the continuous emails for jobs I didn't test for, or are not on my radar, even after changing email offers to NO!

I like Greg and Jillian.

I just got an e-mail from them for convenience shops in my area - lots of them. Are they a MSC or a scheduling company? I do a lot of shops but never heard of them. I had to take a test. At that site, I notice the contract amount was one dollars amount, but it states the shopper is paid half the contract amount. Anybody know what's going on here?

marg704 Wrote:
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> I just got an e-mail from them for convenience
> shops in my area - lots of them. Are they a MSC
> or a scheduling company? I do a lot of shops but
> never heard of them. I had to take a test. At
> that site, I notice the contract amount was one
> dollars amount, but it states the shopper is paid
> half the contract amount. Anybody know what's
> going on here?

They're a scheduling company. The only way you're going to get an email from KSS is if you're signed up with them, or with the company for whom they're scheduling. Can't speak to the discrepancy -- are you SURE the recruitment email was legit?

I as well like them, and Jillian is my daughter's name, so I've bonded with her. AustinMom Wrote:
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> I like Greg and Jillian.

Hi all!

Hopefully, I can "shed some light" on this situation.

1. KSS (our name back in 1998 was Kern Scheduling, but we no longer use that name, and are incorporated under KSS International, Inc.) is not a mystery shopping provider. We do not set shopper payments, we don't write forms or guidelines. Mystery shopping companies contact us to help fill their assignments because usually they don't have enough shoppers in their own database to fill 100% of their shops. Our shopper database is more than 700,000 shoppers, so we are able to help them fill the "hard" locations.

2. We post shops on our job board at [www.sassieshop.com] ... HOWEVER, no shops are actually SUBMITTED on our site! You apply there, and then, if you are the shopper chosen for the assignment, we email you directly and give you a link to our client's site to register to actually SUBMIT the report. Sometimes, you may already be registered there, so will simply assign you.

3. The reason why your applications are "pending" on our site is because we don't assign shops there. We collect applications there. Many times we get 20 to 200 applicants for EACH JOB. We email the most qualified shopper, but we keep the other applications there and reach out to the next shopper on the list if the first shopper does not complete the shop, or if the client orders a reshop, etc. This way, we know who the other shoppers that were interested in that location was. We will then contact the other applicants to see who is available for the new time frame.

4. We do get 100% completion on all of our projects, every month. We work with more than 75 mystery shopping companies, and in 2010, we scheduled just over ONE MILLION mystery shops. 2011 is going to be even bigger. But again, these shops aren't "assigned" on our site, they are assigned on each individual mystery shopping company's individual site.

If you ever get anything that seems "fishy" please email us! The owner of our company is very responsive and will definitely let you know if there is anything weird!

I hope this helps. I'll try to remember to check back on this board for a few days in case anyone has any other questions!

Good. You do just that. As the poster of this topic, I wish you would respond to my complaints about your scheduling service. Lets see how "Responsive" you are now...:p

I have still never had a single job through them. They are also being quite deceptive in their latest barrage of e-mails asking you to accept a "health and wellness" shop without even the most basic description on what's required.

I book work through Greg. No problems.

mrcomputer101 Wrote:
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> Good. You do just that. As the poster of this
> topic, I wish you would respond to my complaints
> about your scheduling service. Lets see how
> "Responsive" you are now...:p



Hi mrcomputer, I thought I DID respond and explain why the shops are showing pending on our site... that was because we had ALREADY assigned you on the client site. You would not get ANY notification of being assigned on our site.

Is there something else I can help you with?

ces1948 Wrote:
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> I have still never had a single job through them.
> They are also being quite deceptive in their
> latest barrage of e-mails asking you to accept a
> "health and wellness" shop without even the most
> basic description on what's required.


Hi ces1948,

If you will let me know what "health and wellness" shops you are referring to (or which scheduler is sending out the emails) I will get on this right away. I am not aware of this program, but we definitely do not want any of our schedulers sending out anything deceptive!

That would be Liz Mues and the subject line is "Health and Wellness shops near you"
Not one detail is given except they are "easy"

ces1948 Wrote:
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> That would be Liz Mues and the subject line is
> "Health and Wellness shops near you"
> Not one detail is given except they are "easy"


The client has not sent us the guidelines yet for that program, as it will not start til September 1.. they just wanted us to start recruiting.. but I do know that they are for "Complete Nutrition" stores, if that helps any.

The client has said they would provide us with full program information by Friday of this week and then we can update the shop postings with more details.

Because these will be submitted on one of our client sites, right now we are just recruiting shoppers in those cities and trying to get them registered at the client site, so that when the program is ready to roll, we will be "ahead of the game".

Does that make more sense? Sorry for the confusion!

That's fine I appreciate the clarification. I would point out that you are asking shoppers to "apply" for these shops which to me means that I am obligated to accept the assignment should my application be accepted. If by applying I will be sent information on registering (in case I'm not already)and still have an option once the details are posted that's different.



KSS International, Inc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ces1948 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > That would be Liz Mues and the subject line is
> > "Health and Wellness shops near you"
> > Not one detail is given except they are "easy"
>
>
> The client has not sent us the guidelines yet for
> that program, as it will not start til September
> 1.. they just wanted us to start recruiting.. but
> I do know that they are for "Complete Nutrition"
> stores, if that helps any.
>
> The client has said they would provide us with
> full program information by Friday of this week
> and then we can update the shop postings with more
> details.
>
> Because these will be submitted on one of our
> client sites, right now we are just recruiting
> shoppers in those cities and trying to get them
> registered at the client site, so that when the
> program is ready to roll, we will be "ahead of the
> game".
>
> Does that make more sense? Sorry for the
> confusion!

WOW! to many arguments and disagrements about them. Hope I did not over look what I am about to ask.I keep getting these sewer back up, electrical phone shops/ (Super Easy!) Some shops are super easy, then other super easy can be a pain in the rear.Any feed back please. Don't want to make a call, then have to fill out a long report when they already have it on a recording for dimes and nickels . I just think it is so darn stupid to have to fill out a report if they already can hear the recording. Been there, done that.

I've neither any idea when I completed my first shop scheduled through Kern nor the number, but I'm guessing it's at least 5 yrs. and 200 jobs; I've never had a speck of a problem. One of her ladies, Cindy, is in a rare class of 3 for whom I would extend myself if she were in need.

Good Morning. Such a fast response from Kern, I almost choked on my Wheaties!
Your email response did not give me a warm fuzzy feeling that the problems with some of your folks were being addressed. You have been responsive and I have had limited dealings with Greg. He has been very responsive, also. My problems have been with some of your other employees and your automated system that needs a button pushed every now and then.

These problems have also ticked off several MSC's that you schedule for. One in particular very severly. That worked out good for me. I was able to go back and self schedule shops I had been doing for years. I was amused by scheduling one shop with both an MSC and Kern. I completed and reported this shop. My application @ Kern still remained unanswered for days after that.....

Hi mrcomputer101,

We are sorry that you may have had a bad experience with one of our staff members. Unfortunately, without specifics, we are obviously unable to address the situations or correct them.

You are welcome to email any of our management staff in the Cincinnati office directly if you have concerns. We also respond to shoppers promptly. You can find our emails and phone numbers here:

[kernscheduling.com]

If it was just one scheduler, I would blow it off. My poor experiences have been with several. Rest assured if this continues I will email and post again...

mrcomputer101 Wrote:
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> Rest
> assured if this continues I will email and post
> again...

I never had any doubts