@ french farmer
With all the miracles, positive, negative and crazy things that happen in the world, I can buy into "never say never". And, fair enough for one to be concerned if/when shops are edited or paid outside the 3 week window.
As one other poster mentions, the consistency, or lack of, seems to be the crux of it all. Personally I do not feel our pay grade is high enough to absorb a ton of energy into theories on how Ipsos decides what shops get edited when and how they might be keeping their books. I agree with the probable business reasons other posters have stated, but do I think it is a proposed plot, carried on in secret, by a powerful group of executives who have some kind of sinister goal? No, sorry, my brain just can't digest that thinking.
What I do care about is if I got paid the amount agreed upon, on time. If I see a pattern of late editing and payments developing (beyond the 3 week window) that is when I will become concerned. I'm elated when they pay faster, but can also live with the longer editing cycles provided the payment is made on time.
Back to the crux -- when the MSC edits and pays faster it sets a pattern and some shoppers begin to "expect" it. I get it, but it really is not a late payment, its just not when the "shopper expected" they were going to be paid.
In terms of the late payments you said you have experienced this year, how many has it been 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 29, 25, 50 ? The number is relative to a pattern being established. And, are you saying payments were 3-4 weeks beyond the 3 weeks guaranteed ?
To your rhetorical question, likely the partnership would eventually dissolve. I will be the first to admit I have zero tolerance for late payments. For me, its not cash flow, its the principal that payment is due when it is due. I fire off a communication on the day a payment becomes past due. If I was not getting a response from the payments folks, I would go to the scheduler, and if no avail, in the case of Ipsos, I would have no qualm reaching out to the VP contact Karen Holland gave us in another string a few weeks back to facilitate a resolution.
I think for you, you just have to decide if its one more strike on your con list for Ipsos or not. Maybe then you will have some additional clarity as to whether to continue your partnership with them or not.
I would agree with you (beating up the MSC). However, over this past year (I keep a monthly spreadsheet of when the shop(s) was performed versus when payment was received of the shop), I have found that as the year has progressed, IPSOS has become later and later in editing and payment. It seems to have become a trend.
Yes, payment has been received, albeit later and later. I have shops over the year where payment was over 3 to 4 weeks late. Were there many of them? Not enough that I worried too much. As you say they (the MSC) are "contractually obligated to make payment within 3-weeks from the date a shopper submits a report). Just what do we (the shopper) do when they (the MSC)fail to meet their contractual obligations? Sue them?
BTW, that question is rhetorical.
However, I see a trend developing of slow editing and hence later pay. In my mystery shopping world, I am becoming concerned.
As someone who worked in corporate at a higher enough level, I know enough about the various division "buckets" that cash is kept, to understand where cash flow from one department can be fine whereas another department is suffering for whatever the reason. Sure, that is just an accounting trick, but those divisions that were suffering, I saw how upper corporate cut corners and or later closed down the department not hitting their goals.[/quote]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/2022 06:17AM by Zek.