Good morning. I have read other topics concerning Bestmark, but does anyone know what is going on.
I have shops from April, May, and June that have not been paid. I was paid for many other ones from them.
I especially have shops for an online auction company and an online pet store for which I made purchases that have not been reimbursed. I have contacted the payment department and just get probably a form response that they send anyone. They say they don't have any information concerning the individual shop that I inquired about since the form only allows one shop reference number per inquiry. I don't mind waiting, but they did not even make a mid-July payment at all? Am I endanger of being out almost $800 in pay/reimbursements, or do I file a complaint somewhere? I have received no communication that any information was incorrect, and most of the shops were reviewed in April and May! I really would appreciate any insight that you have. Thank you, Debbie

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2022 02:23PM by retiredteach.

I experienced this with them as well and was holding my breath on nearly $500 in reimbursements. It took about 9 weeks, but the ultimately paid me. I still have jobs outstanding from May. I gave up on contacting them because I didn't get any meaningful responses and they would just change my expected pay date. I hold out hope that they can figure out the payment piece because I like everything else about the company, including their jobs.

Thank you for letting me know. I have only shopped eith them since about January. I have liked them up to this point too!

Looking forward to the day when Bestmark GOES AWAY!!!

I haven't done any shops with them in many years, but they seem to be DRAMA. Time for them to go away and let a quality MSC take over.

Debbie

I have exactly the same issue. I have called and emailed regarding my shops from April. No one has any information. It’s terrible.

Bestmark is unlikely to pay you, let alone respond to you. Its best to work for others.

[www.bbb.org]

Ugh, I am waiting for payment from a June shop that was supposed to be paid on July 31st (and was not). And I did another one in July. Sounds like I want to avoid shopping for them in the future.

Update -- emailed the scheduler, no response. I guess now I know why he has trouble getting people to do what seemed like an easy shop.

I had to stop doing shops from BestMark after the same thing happened to me back in the fall of 2019. I did not know it at the time, but the company apparently became insolvent and they were trying to build it back up again. Until then, they had always paid on time. Then in October or November of 2019, I did a few small shops that added up to a little over $50 total, and several email requests for payment updates went unanswered. I don't recall the specifics, but eventually someone did respond and claimed that payments were not guaranteed to be issued by the payment due dates. That response did not sit well with me. I asked her to explain why the shopper was expected to meet deadlines but the company could breach their contract and fail to issue shopper payment. Then I contacted the company's CEO, Dana Stetzer, via messenger through Facebook. I made it clear that if I was not paid promptly, I would file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Affairs in the state where the company is located. She did not respond, but she read the message. Very soon after that, I was paid in full. And many other people were posting similar complaints on Facebook on Bestmark's home page. If Bestmark is still having money troubles over 2.5 years later, I would not take the risk of spending money out of my own pocket on their shops.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2022 07:29PM by digikiss.

The scheduler forwarded my email and I got this response:

Hello Bill,

Thank you for your email.

The projected payment date is generated automatically and is not a promise of payment – it is an estimate created by our system.

Payments are issued within 2-6 weeks of the shop date, dependent upon when your survey completed the QA/Editing process and when it was actually approved/submitted.

We are still within this timeframe.

If your payment is not received by August 15 for your June shop, please reach back out to shopperpaymentinquiry@bestmark.com.

Please be advised that Cory does not work in our payment department.

I'm going to have to stop doing shops for Bestmark also. The last one that was paid wasn't paid until 8 weeks after it was approved. I now have 3 pending, 1 which is now 10 weeks past completion. Their guidelines on their own website say:

"At BestMark, payments are processed on the 15th day of each month, and on the last day of each month (or the closest business day if the 15th day or last day falls on a weekend). Shops completed by the 5th of each month will be processed on the 15th, and shops that are completed between the 6th and the 20th of the month will be processed on the last day of the month. Shoppers can choose the method of payment that works best for them. The available options for payment include: Direct Deposit, PayPal (via Tango Card), Gift Card(via Tango Card) and a paper check. Depending on when during the cycle your shop is performed and reviewed, you can typically expect to receive your payment 2 to 4 weeks from the date the shop was performed."

Every time I email to ask why my shops aren't paid, they just push the estimated pay date farther out. I hate to cut ties with them because I like their jobs, but this is getting ridiculous. I have to wonder if no one from the company monitors the negative online posts about the company's payments.

I wish this forum had a big header listing the shady MSPs (BestMark, Cirrus, etc.) that are risky to shoppers.

Wonder if there's some lawyer who would like to go to bat for all of us? I'm waiting on some payments and really not too happy about it. I also wonder how the big online retailer would like to know that their mystery shop company isn't paying.

@digikiss wrote:

I had to stop doing shops from BestMark after the same thing happened to me back in the fall of 2019. I did not know it at the time, but the company apparently became insolvent and they were trying to build it back up again. Until then, they had always paid on time. Then in October or November of 2019, I did a few small shops that added up to a little over $50 total, and several email requests for payment updates went unanswered. I don't recall the specifics, but eventually someone did respond and claimed that payments were not guaranteed to be issued by the payment due dates. That response did not sit well with me. I asked her to explain why the shopper was expected to meet deadlines but the company could breach their contract and fail to issue shopper payment. Then I contacted the company's CEO, Dana Stetzer, via messenger through Facebook. I made it clear that if I was not paid promptly, I would file a complaint with the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Affairs in the state where the company is located. She did not respond, but she read the message. Very soon after that, I was paid in full. And many other people were posting similar complaints on Facebook on Bestmark's home page. If Bestmark is still having money troubles over 2.5 years later, I would not take the risk of spending money out of my own pocket on their shops.

Turns out Dana Stetzer doesn't work there any longer. So I woudln't advise trying her.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2022 09:56PM by olympia tennenbaum.

Hey everyone! I was paid for all of my back shops ($800)Were you paid for yours? If not, I filed an inquiry with them for each shop, and told them that I took screenshots of each one and was saving them for evidence in the event I was forced to take legal action. I did indeed take screenshots, and I indeed would have taken legal action....

Wow, good news! I still haven't been paid for June shops but if they are still paying off April and May shops, I guess it will be awhile. I was sad to read this thread. They were very reliable ten years or so ago though I haven't worked for them much in the last years until this past June.

I saw Cory email yesterday about some August shops. I don't even bother opening them. This company needs to go away. The quicker people stop shopping for them...the sooner they will fold and the shops will be with a legitimate company.

They obviously have some real issues. My last shop with them was prior to 2010. I don't ever see myself shopping for them again.

I'm having the same problem with them. I have emailed them several times, and no one responds. I won't pick up anymore jobs until I am paid.

I don't get why shoppers on this forum are still shopping for Best Mark as problems have been reported for over a year. I know I had a problem getting paid for a shop I did in Nov. 2021 and reported it here. It's best to be cautious in situations such as these. It's not a good sign. They may come back in ok shape, but why take the chance?

There are multiple instances in the history of mystery shopping where a company has gone completely under and ceased to be in business. Many shoppers never got paid for outstanding shops when that happened. There is a very real risk that this situation could happen with this company based on evidence. I strongly suggest that no one puts themselves in a situation where they could never get paid for their work. As stated in the post above, why Chance it.

Absolutely a fair point.

I'm completely broke. I have a full time job, and a lot of expenses that are out of my control. I really need to fit certain shops in -especially when they cover the costs of things I would have to do anyway.

I'm signed up with dozens of companies (maybe 70-90), but often forget who has what.

I am doing my best to work hard for my family. In short, I'm completely relying on people to act in good faith (just like I am).

When JitB stopped allowing breakfast, I stopped that income stream (maybe $300 - $400 a month profit).

I found that I really needed that extra cash.

So, yes they were late last time -very late. But I was forgiving, and hopefully they come through again.

It's difficult to afford things in this economy, as nearly every single item is 30% - 100% more money than 2 years ago (meanwhile most of the JitB shops aren't even getting into the $22 - $25 sweet spot any more).

What I like about Bestmark is their auto shops save me a lot of cash, their reports aren't bad at all, and they have unique offerings that pay better than most other companies.

Meanwhile -just as JitB dried up -all of my Marketforce money is drying up. Is anyone else seeing this? Everyone is tightening the purse strings.

@MsJudi wrote:

I don't get why shoppers on this forum are still shopping for Best Mark as problems have been reported for over a year. I know I had a problem getting paid for a shop I did in Nov. 2021 and reported it here. It's best to be cautious in situations such as these. It's not a good sign. They may come back in ok shape, but why take the chance?

I really miss working for Bestmark. They kept my car running smoothly with their service shops, and had shops coast to coast so I could shop while traveling. Even their reimbursement-only shops were great. It's too bad they are having their problems, whatever they are.

@retiredteach wrote:

Hey everyone! I was paid for all of my back shops ($800)Were you paid for yours? If not, I filed an inquiry with them for each shop, and told them that I took screenshots of each one and was saving them for evidence in the event I was forced to take legal action. I did indeed take screenshots, and I indeed would have taken legal action....

I was paid for back shops. I also used some strong language about it. I'm going to be avoiding them now.

I respect your situation and prerogative 100%. In this case, it might be a calculated risk as long as you are not putting up a bunch of upfront expenses that need to be reimbursed later.

As some of the major mystery shopping companies are attempting to aggressively lower pay, the sad thing is that it affects shoppers in your situation the most. They hope that their shoppers will be put in a bind and will accept shops at lower pay because they badly need the money. I got the ax of death from market Force a few years ago, and attempts to reapply have failed. So I'm not sure what's going on with them. Hang in there and do the best that you can. Let's hope that best mark remain solvent and you continue to make money with them.

@Tanischri87 wrote:

Absolutely a fair point.

I'm completely broke. I have a full time job, and a lot of expenses that are out of my control. I really need to fit certain shops in -especially when they cover the costs of things I would have to do anyway.

I'm signed up with dozens of companies (maybe 70-90), but often forget who has what.

I am doing my best to work hard for my family. In short, I'm completely relying on people to act in good faith (just like I am).

When JitB stopped allowing breakfast, I stopped that income stream (maybe $300 - $400 a month profit).

I found that I really needed that extra cash.

So, yes they were late last time -very late. But I was forgiving, and hopefully they come through again.

It's difficult to afford things in this economy, as nearly every single item is 30% - 100% more money than 2 years ago (meanwhile most of the JitB shops aren't even getting into the $22 - $25 sweet spot any more).

What I like about Bestmark is their auto shops save me a lot of cash, their reports aren't bad at all, and they have unique offerings that pay better than most other companies.

Meanwhile -just as JitB dried up -all of my Marketforce money is drying up. Is anyone else seeing this? Everyone is tightening the purse strings.

@MsJudi wrote:

I don't get why shoppers on this forum are still shopping for Best Mark as problems have been reported for over a year. I know I had a problem getting paid for a shop I did in Nov. 2021 and reported it here. It's best to be cautious in situations such as these. It's not a good sign. They may come back in ok shape, but why take the chance?

I was originally contracted with SpeedMark Web, who sold to Shop 'n' Check and they to Market Force; I was dumped by MFI in Nov. of 2010. As is their practice, I have never known the reason and since I am not WHY oriented, I simply moved on.

I totally agree with Thunder's premise.

You can email their new CEO directly. He responds and has been getting people paid quickly.
Don't bother contacting Cory or any of their auto email lists - those are completely dead ends. CEO's email is: Jeff@bestmark.com. Good luck!

I noticed that my June and July shops now have estimated pay dates of 8/15. For the June shop, that's late, but for July it's early. I wonder if they actually intend to pay me then. Guess I'll find out soon enough. They have a delivery shop in my area that I've done the last two months and which they seem to have a lot of trouble filling, so maybe they're going to play nice with me to get me to keep doing it.

Update -- still not paid for June. Their email said to write back if I was not paid by 8/15, so I just did. Will try the CEO if that does not get results.

Obviously I was wrong in my previous post.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/18/2022 10:20AM by MisterBill.

Never got a response to my last email, but I just noticed that I'm receiving an ACH payment today for June's shop. I had responded to a shop email from the scheduler telling him that I would not take any more shops until I was paid, but told him not to bother forwarding the note.

Now to decide whether I should take an August shop,

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/25/2022 07:10PM by MisterBill.

I just got paid yesterday for shops from June and early July. And I didn't nag them at all for it, so that's a positive sign.

Interestingly, on the "Payment History" page it lists 8/31 (next week) as the expected date for that payment. Which, again, I received yesterday. So those dates really are computer generated with no bearing on the actual payment schedule.