They have been stiffing shoppers for years and still do. I am owed HUNDREDS! Same with so many others. Google them-"Elite doesn't pay." You will see for yourself. Shoppers are fighting back. BBB in Florida won't list them. Their list of clients drops as shoppers write directly to them exposing their fraud. I noted that two long term banks clients have quit them recently.
If you have been scammed, get revenge. Write to the CEOs of their clients. Send them the Google links. Their clients' pay includes our fees, but Elite just pockets our money-for almost 10 years!
If you've been stiffed too, Fight! Fight! Fight!

My plan works for me.

1-Before accepting work for a company of which I am ignorant, I research.
2-If I am satisfied, I accept and complete ONE job. If all goes well, I cautiously increase my shop load.

As it is always possible a "leopard could change its spots," I accept that as an unavoidable part of business. In addition, from not a single MSC on our planet, would I apply for work requiring me to front more than two digits of dollars.

There are countless threads here about that. You can use the search function for further reading.

LEOPARDS DO NOT CHANGE THEIR SPOTS. I have never been stiffed by any of the two dozen or so MSPs I have worked for in the last 15 years. I was totally blindsided by their scam. And please, don't blame the victim.

OK, here’s some tea:

David Hartley, co-founder of Elite CX, used to be a shopper. Back in 2013, David asked for multiple extensions and eventually flaked on a route of about a dozen luxury auto dealership/auto service shops back in 2013. He was incredibly unprofessional and left the MSC hanging. It took a massive effort to mend the relationship with the client. I saw all of this happen firsthand.

Ever since then, I’ve avoided David Hartley and everything else he’s been involved with, including the MSPA. If you are ethical and honest in your evaluation reports, you may be shocked that someone can act as he does. It doesn’t occur to us to do these things. But it doesn’t trouble unethical people one bit, unfortunately.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2025 02:40PM by ColoKate63.

So what have you done about it? We need to band together and write to his customers. Send them Google links. BBB and MSPA are not helpful. He doesn't belong. Act!

“So what have you done about it? We need to band together and write to his customers. Send them Google links. BBB and MSPA are not helpful. He doesn't belong.”

1. I took care of my wallet first. I pursued Elite CX for my overdue fees and had an attorney friend type up a demand letter. I was relentless and was paid in about a month. I was owed just under $1,000 for a weeklong route of several complicated shops, and was paid the full amount… six months late.

2. At the time, David Hartley was in the MSPA leadership. AFTER I WAS PAID, I contacted the MSPA owners that I personally know by email and let them know that multiple shoppers were going unpaid. He is no longer in the MSPA, as noted earlier.

3. I have posted multiple times here, being sure to use David Hartley, Marguerite Turner, and Elite CX in the text so that Google algorithms and web crawlers pick up their names and show these type of posts when a search is performed by either a client or a shopper.

If you Google “David Hartley Elite CX” right now fourth or fifth entry on the front page is a Reddit post titled “Avoid David Hartley and Elite CX - doesn’t pay.” Clicking the Reddit link leads to a long thread of shoppers discussing the shady business practices.

If we all wrote reviews on Reddit, Yelp, and Google we could influence and inform the community of clients, schedulers and shoppers.

4. I have told my mentees to completely avoid David Hartley, Marguerite Turner, and Elite CX. (See what I did here?)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/15/2025 02:35PM by ColoKate63.

Good job. You got tough. You got your money. I gave up trying to collect. So I seek revenge by encouraging shoppers to go after Elite's clients and encourage them to seek other MSPs. Hit 'em in the wallet.

A class action lawsuit has been started. Info is on the Reddit mysteryshopping forum. You can search the forum for you.

@Droidx wrote:

So what have you done about it? We need to band together and write to his customers. Send them Google links. BBB and MSPA are not helpful. He doesn't belong. Act!

Apparently scammed shoppers have been fighting back. People have been writing to their clients exposing their fraud. I've been watching their job offers. They have lost two banks and a huge car wash company.
If you've been scammed, write to their clients. Ask them to Google
' Elite doesn't pay"

'

Is that car wash client a regional chain based in the NY/New England area? I'd love to do that shop but have avoided it thanks to all the warnings on here. I was last sent a notice about the openings on July 1. I'd be thrilled if it popped up with an honest MSC.

LOL. Received today: Cruise from Athens, Greece with reimbursement of airfare, cruise, excursion, entertainment, and dining costs!

I got that too. I can only imagine being stuck with those expenses.

There is a class action lawsuit started against them. You can find info on the Reddit for Mystery Shopping. Hope you are able to get some of your money.

@Droidx wrote:

LEOPARDS DO NOT CHANGE THEIR SPOTS. I have never been stiffed by any of the two dozen or so MSPs I have worked for in the last 15 years. I was totally blindsided by their scam. And please, don't blame the victim.

And they're still posting shops!

How does this company even have so many clients nationwide????

helena inquires--How does this company even have so many clients nationwide????

Bob replies--That's the $64,000 question!

Still waiting for a September shop. Thankfuly it was a NOOPIE. Just irritating that I didn’t get paid for my time.

Still waiting for July shop payments -- my fault for not checking here first before taking the work.

I've been waiting for a payment for over a year. Don't think it's going to happen. It's just so annoying!

Ya know what's so unfortunate for me and probably some MSCs that I could work for is this...because I can't keep all these companies with CX, CSX, CSSX, etc., straight, I avoid them all unless I can make the association with their former name...ie. Customer Service Experts. Why oh why can't they use unique names?

Yet they still have new clients every month or so.

On a side note, I wrote a letter (and mailed it anonymously from a far away zip code) to the president of one of their clients at the time. That client is now with a reputable MSC. Probably nothing to do with the letter but satisfying all the same.

I've often thought of mailing that same themed letter to all clients of theirs. Truth is, in this day of instant information, there is no way for any potential client to NOT realize that this MSC is fraudulent.

Helena opines--....in this day of instant information, there is no way for any potential client to NOT realize that this MSC is fraudulent.

Bob absolutely agrees--If anyone ever learns HOW they are able to remain in business, this inquiring mind would appreciate a sharing of knowledge.

And on the same note, there is no reason for any SHOPPER to not know that they are fraudulent...

Takes two to tango, both shoppers AND clients should be able to put them out of business. But somehow they are still plugging along.

@sestrahelena wrote:

Yet they still have new clients every month or so.

On a side note, I wrote a letter (and mailed it anonymously from a far away zip code) to the president of one of their clients at the time. That client is now with a reputable MSC. Probably nothing to do with the letter but satisfying all the same.

I've often thought of mailing that same themed letter to all clients of theirs. Truth is, in this day of instant information, there is no way for any potential client to NOT realize that this MSC is fraudulent.