Mert, this one was worth it for me as I have to be back in the mall for another shop. Yes, I do what you . I will not do a shop, purchase an item, then go back and return and waste time and gas unless I have another shop. And yes, it is a shame for the high dollar associates who are trying like I am to survive will not get there commision. In my situation I need to think about my child, and yes it does hurt me to take away money from another person who may be going through the same. Now I feel so BAD. If ICCDS would rather not to pay me and give the associate a better score, even though she had only ONE NO on her report then I don't want to get anyone laid off or worse. I just tell it like it is. Not trying to be mean. But we all know what associates are A.H'S and others are who are not from other MSC.

I love ICCDS. It was the only company I shopped for until recently. The only problem I have with them is the lack of a job board. I sent an email out more than a week before I left for vacation requesting assignments away from home and did NOT recieve anything in response. That upset me a little, but that is a small price to pay for having a company whose standards remain consistant and pays on time.

In response to OP, this is not a job to get rich at.

Charlene, try not to think of it that way. For one, a salesperson may find a review a real eye opener and may learn better sales techniques; that could result in her having even higher sales, more than making up for your return. Plus, there are always going to be customer returns by others, if not us.

ICCDS makes your print a bar coded form with receipt attached and a signature. You cant print you cant print the form. Then you have to scan and send as an e mail attachment. Have no problem with them, they rarely if ever complain bout a shop and send you an email when money goes into your paypal account. They provide a shop for a majot player here in ohio based in MI. Never a problem.
Just to clarify why a printer is needed.

I have done a few shops for them and I have been paid on time. I find that, even though some of their jobs don't pay a lot, they are pretty straight forward in their requirements and their reports are not confusing. I really do like them. Better a $10.00 shop that goes well than a $20.00 shop that is very time consuming and turns out to be a pain in the rear and doesn't pay for six to eight weeks.

Especially if you can get five or six of those $10 shops on the same day. I love them!

bmac Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have done a few shops for them and I have been
> paid on time. I find that, even though some of
> their jobs don't pay a lot, they are pretty
> straight forward in their requirements and their
> reports are not confusing. I really do like them.
> Better a $10.00 shop that goes well than a $20.00
> sonthe same day.hop that is very time consuming and turns out to
> be a pain in the rear and doesn't pay for six to
> eight weeks.
Totally agree. As someone posted here the OH-MI grocery big stores pay off. If you are patient you can do multiple dpmnts. Ask me for how to.

I have done a few shops for them. They have easy to use website and pay on time.I have no problems with them at all. I am doing another shop for them today. I think the shops are easy and pay is great.

I've got five more tomorrow. Love them.

I'm confused, is the reimbursement money you've laid out ?

I accept purchase/return shops, that's what the client is paying for- a report on the attitude and skill of the sales person.
I shy away from optional return shops unless I really need the item or the fee makes the purchase palatable.
Returns to me are a pain in that I get debited immediately but credited after 3-5 days even if the return was within half an hour of the purchase.

I my former life as a retail manager, I learned that many high end stores do not commission, even so sales associates strive for a final sale to meet their quota/ personal best/ contest. Store management is aware that shoppers are being unleashed and do not punish for the "return" but rather reward for a shopper review describing a strong win-win attitude.

marijaldm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm confused, is the reimbursement money you've
> laid out ?
>
> I accept purchase/return shops, that's what the
> client is paying for- a report on the attitude and
> skill of the sales person.
> I shy away from optional return shops unless I
> really need the item or the fee makes the purchase
> palatable.
> Returns to me are a pain in that I get debited
> immediately but credited after 3-5 days even if
> the return was within half an hour of the
> purchase.
>
> I my former life as a retail manager, I learned
> that many high end stores do not commission, even
> so sales associates strive for a final sale to
> meet their quota/ personal best/ contest. Store
> management is aware that shoppers are being
> unleashed and do not punish for the "return" but
> rather reward for a shopper review describing a
> strong win-win attitude.


Hey my former life was also retail mngmt. We could exchange ideas re this lovely and amazing occupation??
Anyway reimbursement is what they are willing to add to your pay for a purchase. You are correct. Commission in retail is rare. Jewlery and menswear maybe.
Later
cyn

mmcgoldrick Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am sorry to hear this as it sounds like you had
> a bad experience with ICC/DS. We pride ourselves
> on paying quickly and our shop fees and
> reimbursements vary by shop or audit. We offer
> mystery shops to Field Reps based on rotation and
> what we currently have available in each area.
> Feel free to contact me at 1-800-631-1617 ext. 214
> with any questions. I am happy to help.
>
> Marti McGoldrick
> Director of Quality Assurance


I really appreciate this level of "customer service" to the IC community. Thank you!

Just want to know if you do MS shop for living or can it make you living?

Hello Lisa - Welcome to the forum. There are some shoppers who do this full time and make it work for them. It is probably true that for most of us, it is less than full time work by choice. It is my personal opinion that if you were going to do this full time, you might get hungry before you work your way up to a full time living income. If you have a day job, it might be best to hang on to it until you get going in mystery shopping/merchandising. If you live in a metropolitan area, there will be a lot of jobs and also a lot of competition for those jobs because there will be a lot of shoppers. If you live out in the country, you'll see less jobs and less competition for them, combined with a necessity for more driving. It's best to feel your way along carefully, start slowly, and get your bearings.

I love ICCDS!! They offered me 2 harware shops at a bonus for tomorrow and I took both of them.

Thanks so much lucky7s! Enjoy the mystery shops and hope you have a great weekend!
Marti

mmcgoldrick Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks so much lucky7s! Enjoy the mystery shops
> and hope you have a great weekend!
> Marti


Hey Marti
I am a long term shopper for Iccds and have posted positive stuff re your co. I am glad that you are with us and wondering why other employees of MSCs do not avail themselves of this great free opportunity. Care to comment?
Also re the hardware stores I do one a ways a way but there is one in my neighborhood. Maybe it is franchised and not shopped. Also a couple of retail clothing clients that I used to do and do not hear about anymore. I had my purse stolen a couple of years ago and lost the receipts. Maybe I have been taken off these. How can I find out?
Cyn

Hi Cyn,
I am unsure why other MSCs do or do not paritcipate in the forums but am happy to hear that you find my participating on behalf of ICCDS helpful. I enjoy being a part of the forum and glad I am able to assist. We conduct thousands of mystery shops each month for various clients in mulitple locations. It could be that you are not receiving offers for past clients due to rotation or we may not be conducting those shops currently. If you would like to email me with regards to the shops with which you are missing payment, I will try to assist. My email is mmcgoldrick@iccds.com.

I've had great experiences with ICCDS and the scheduler named Eileen. She seems to be the one who handles the clients in my area. If I can do three shops the same day at the same store with the blessing of the client and the scheduler, it's a win-win. Some are stores I'd visit, anyway, and some are ones I like to visit sometimes, but don't think to.

Regarding purchase/returns I agree with others who bring up how feedback from shops, when heeded, can increase a salesperson's effectiveness and raise their sales.

One video shopping company posted a testimonial from a new home salesperson who got a 17/100 rating on a video shop. She was devastated! She honestly thought she'd been doing a great job. She took the advice, though, and now is a lead salesperson for the company and trains others.

If no one gives feedback, neither the client or the salesperson may have a clue about how to improve.

I've done several shops for them in the past two months and have been paid promptly by PayPal. Also, have found the scheduler to be helpful and prompt when I need a question answered. I like them.

YES yes. That is what I mean. Consistently positive comments onthis forum. They have a unique and smooth system; it is shopper friendly. Please other MSCs take note. I think they have been around a while and there is a reason for that.

I look forward to working with them as well.

Don in Memphis and Vegas

TechSavvy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Marti, Courtney is right.
>
> I know MSCs want to recruit new shoppers through
> these means, but the benefit is one-sided. We
> can't afford for local friends to take jobs from
> us and can't afford for word to get around to
> friends of friends who might work at shopped
> locations.
>
> A shopper could create a secondary profile just
> for connecting with MSCs, but who has time to
> hassle with monitoring multiple accounts?
>
> Plus, even if one did create a fake profile,
> Facebook is cracking down, removing profiles which
> don't represent real people. They can see where
> multiple acounts are created from the same IP
> address. I for one don't want to jeopardize my
> real account for the sake of seeing jobs posted!
>
> Google+ would work better for social networking
> with shoppers since it allows selective publishing
> and more privacy options. No one else sees who
> someone follows.
>
> Unfortunately, it is still by invitation only.


You can sign up for google plus now, without invitation.

I'm not real thrilled with ICCDS's website. It feels 'clunky' and is sometimes downright ornery. But it has not caused me major pains. Checking to make sure they credited my invoice/receipt is usually a multi-visit deal because it is not very prompt. But when push comes to shove I don't need to hound them for payment. I have had few interactions with folks who work there, which is also a plus in my book because usually interactions are because there are either problems on my side or theirs.

There are companies that thrive and grow (ICCDS is NOT one of them) and make money on others mistakes. They will change the report that they say you screwed up and send it in for their payment. You worked, they could have helped you to do a better job, and they still get paid. These problems exist and the companies that grow based up on ido as well.

I have seen sites that are so slow and "clunky" that they do not work at times. If you run up on a site that is difficult to operate from your end, just avoid that company as it is a view of things to come .

Don






Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not real thrilled with ICCDS's website. It
> feels 'clunky' and is sometimes downright ornery.
> But it has not caused me major pains. Checking to
> make sure they credited my invoice/receipt is
> usually a multi-visit deal because it is not very
> prompt. But when push comes to shove I don't need
> to hound them for payment. I have had few
> interactions with folks who work there, which is
> also a plus in my book because usually
> interactions are because there are either problems
> on my side or theirs.

Strevel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are companies that thrive and grow (ICCDS is
> NOT one of them) and make money on others
> mistakes. They will change the report that they
> say you screwed up and send it in for their
> payment. You worked, they could have helped you
> to do a better job, and they still get paid.
> These problems exist and the companies that grow
> based up on ido as well.
>
> I have seen sites that are so slow and "clunky"
> that they do not work at times. If you run up on a
> site that is difficult to operate from your end,
> just avoid that company as it is a view of things
> to come .
>
> Don '
Please explain how ICCDS changes their reports before they send them to a client. I do not get it. If you are going to make these allegations please support them.I have worked for them for 6 years and have never had a problem and alwys get paid on time.
Please be aware that you are accusing this company and their employees of fraud.
If we are just going around and @#$%& about unfounded practices the whole point of this forum is negated. Please support these claims. I will wait to hear. When you nane a business if falls in the category of libel.
>
> Cyn
>
>
>
>
> Flash Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'm not real thrilled with ICCDS's website. It
> > feels 'clunky' and is sometimes downright
> ornery.
> > But it has not caused me major pains. Checking
> to
> > make sure they credited my invoice/receipt is
> > usually a multi-visit deal because it is not
> very
> > prompt. But when push comes to shove I don't
> need
> > to hound them for payment. I have had few
> > interactions with folks who work there, which
> is
> > also a plus in my book because usually
> > interactions are because there are either
> problems
> > on my side or theirs.

Cyn,

Don said that ICCDS is not one of those companies. He said that there are others that are like that, but ICCDS is not one.

I am excited; I have six shops for them tomorrow!

Cyn, please, go back and read the post again as you missed its point and did not interpret is correctly.



cynb Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Strevel Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There are companies that thrive and grow (ICCDS
> is
> > NOT one of them) and make money on others
> > mistakes. They will change the report that they
> > say you screwed up and send it in for their
> > payment. You worked, they could have helped
> you
> > to do a better job, and they still get paid.
> > These problems exist and the companies that
> grow
> > based up on ido as well.
> >
> > I have seen sites that are so slow and "clunky"
> > that they do not work at times. If you run up on
> a
> > site that is difficult to operate from your
> end,
> > just avoid that company as it is a view of
> things
> > to come .
> >
> > Don '
> Please explain how ICCDS changes their reports
> before they send them to a client. I do not get
> it. If you are going to make these allegations
> please support them.I have worked for them for 6
> years and have never had a problem and alwys get
> paid on time.
> Please be aware that you are accusing this company
> and their employees of fraud.
> If we are just going around and @#$%& about
> unfounded practices the whole point of this forum
> is negated. Please support these claims. I will
> wait to hear. When you nane a business if falls in
> the category of libel.
> >
> > Cyn
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Flash Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I'm not real thrilled with ICCDS's website.
> It
> > > feels 'clunky' and is sometimes downright
> > ornery.
> > > But it has not caused me major pains.
> Checking
> > to
> > > make sure they credited my invoice/receipt is
> > > usually a multi-visit deal because it is not
> > very
> > > prompt. But when push comes to shove I don't
> > need
> > > to hound them for payment. I have had few
> > > interactions with folks who work there, which
> > is
> > > also a plus in my book because usually
> > > interactions are because there are either
> > problems
> > > on my side or theirs.

mmcgoldrick Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am sorry to hear this as it sounds like you had
> a bad experience with ICC/DS. We pride ourselves
> on paying quickly and our shop fees and
> reimbursements vary by shop or audit. We offer
> mystery shops to Field Reps based on rotation and
> what we currently have available in each area.
> Feel free to contact me at 1-800-631-1617 ext. 214
> with any questions. I am happy to help.
>
> Marti McGoldrick
> Director of Quality Assurance

I have done shops for them and have no issue at all with them. I am a happy shopper. I do my part correctly they do the ame.
...a happy camper.

Don

It sounds like everyone is happy with this company. Defending, and proud to work for them. Life would be so great as an MS if every company was like ICCDS!