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What is the actual deal with TrendSource

November 30, 2023 03:21PM
I get, without exaggeration, at least 3 emails, 1 text and 1 voicemail a day from them asking me if I'd like to do shops "in my area" that are hours and hours away. They seem to think an $8 Property Condition Project located 195 miles away is "in my area" and gee maybe with $10 PAD this would be great! I've confirmed my profile says I shop only within 50 miles of home. I've turned off calls and Texts. I have politely, and less politely responded to their schedulers with links to maps, ideas for how to find the closest metro markets so they can look for shoppers there, requests to simply stop...and nothing changes.

Is it just me? Are they this inept?
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November 30, 2023 07:23PM
Their mapping system must stink. I get similar messages but usually more like 50 miles.
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November 30, 2023 07:26PM
It's not just you. I washed my hands of TrendSource/The Source several years ago because of rotten interactions with their staff. It was like I had to beat them off with a stick.

Bare is almost as bad with the "shops in your area!" emails. I don't even bother opening them anymore because I know they'll be 100 miles away.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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November 30, 2023 07:48PM
I only see the 2 letter computer company printer ink scenarios from Trend Source. Do they have any other clients? I don't bother logging in and looking.
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November 30, 2023 08:33PM
I've got one ink location and a couple of their on-site inspections. Hard pass for me.
@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I only see the 2 letter computer company printer ink scenarios from Trend Source. Do they have any other clients? I don't bother logging in and looking.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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November 30, 2023 08:37PM
I don't see much in terms of actual shops. Most things I see are related to building inspections.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I only see the 2 letter computer company printer ink scenarios from Trend Source. Do they have any other clients? I don't bother logging in and looking.
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December 01, 2023 12:01AM
They had a Medicare advantage provider in my area for about two months that paid well but even though there were 50 shops, there were only 2-3 agents being shopped at all those locations. So 2-3 shops per shopper max.
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December 01, 2023 01:08AM
I get so much from then outside of my area but i contributed it to the fact that i traveled in those areas so now it just thinks i routinely go there. My settings are correct as well. It can be annoying because sometimes i get 20 emails from them in rapid fire.
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December 01, 2023 04:22AM
GAPbuster Worldwide was nearly as bad as The Source. I ended my relationship with them due to rude and forceful tactics to get me to do audits of this common oil change place.
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December 01, 2023 05:27AM
My issue is, if I didn't accept the first 10 times you sent me the $8 ink inventory shop, what makes you think I'll accept it the 11th time?

Oh wait, that's mostly true for all the MCSs. But at least they allow you to ask for PAD of whatever you feel will make doing the shop worth it to you. And the reason I put in the box to justify the PAD is, that's what I need to do it.

On the inspection shops, I refuse to pay for the required background checks they require without reimbursement if I complete the shop.
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December 01, 2023 06:05AM
I almost want to delete my account because of all the useless texts they send. I don't understand how they find people to do the work for <$10. Even if I'm in the store, I don't want to do the shop.
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December 01, 2023 03:10PM
i was too recently. The SAME GUY kept texting and emailing. And I kept telling him IF he wanted to pay me for the airline ticket and hotel, i'd do it.. it was 2,000 miles away.
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December 01, 2023 05:02PM
I have done many jobs for them but always with PAD. Those 10 jobs i did once but it included a 50 pad fee so it was good. Also have done many property inspections but again, I negotiated a higher fee. They want to pay way too little and some of these jobs are more than 30 miles away

@Mellifluy wrote:

I almost want to delete my account because of all the useless texts they send. I don't understand how they find people to do the work for <$10. Even if I'm in the store, I don't want to do the shop.
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December 01, 2023 07:07PM
@Datagirl wrote:

I have done many jobs for them but always with PAD. Those 10 jobs i did once but it included a 50 pad fee so it was good. Also have done many property inspections but again, I negotiated a higher fee. They want to pay way too little and some of these jobs are more than 30 miles away

@Mellifluy wrote:

I almost want to delete my account because of all the useless texts they send. I don't understand how they find people to do the work for <$10. Even if I'm in the store, I don't want to do the shop.

This! I refuse to work for base rate and usually get a very nice PAD if I wait long enough. And I usually ignore the text messages until they're willing to pay me what I'm worth. I normally get it too but I don't mind not getting all the projects because I'm getting 6 to 10 times the original price once they get desperate enough.
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December 02, 2023 06:01AM
@foodluvr wrote:

@Datagirl wrote:

I have done many jobs for them but always with PAD. Those 10 jobs i did once but it included a 50 pad fee so it was good. Also have done many property inspections but again, I negotiated a higher fee. They want to pay way too little and some of these jobs are more than 30 miles away

@Mellifluy wrote:

I almost want to delete my account because of all the useless texts they send. I don't understand how they find people to do the work for <$10. Even if I'm in the store, I don't want to do the shop.

This! I refuse to work for base rate and usually get a very nice PAD if I wait long enough. And I usually ignore the text messages until they're willing to pay me what I'm worth. I normally get it too but I don't mind not getting all the projects because I'm getting 6 to 10 times the original price once they get desperate enough.

I have gotten some very nice PAD, too. Once, I got $100 PAD to drive 25 miles and ask an employee about a certain product. I was in and out in less than ten minutes. Did the 3-minute report in the car before heading back home.
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December 04, 2023 02:04AM
@ServiceAward wrote:


I have gotten some very nice PAD, too. Once, I got $100 PAD to drive 25 miles and ask an employee about a certain product. I was in and out in less than ten minutes. Did the 3-minute report in the car before heading back home.

I literally will not drive into San Francisco for under $100. I refuse Oakland and Richmond because my car is too nice. There's no amount of money that interests me in having my windows bipped.

I'll do some of their jobs with a nice PAD, but not in certain cities.
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