I’m very detailed oriented and meticulous about my work and reports. I’ve done dozens of residential assignments for different MSC’s on several platforms and am really frustrated with the Ellis platform, report structure.

There are outdated/contradictory/unclear instructions on several points, and the form is very glitchy; I’ve wasted hours of time and focused effort, only to have multiple narratives and uploaded files disappear even when I “save” them, received error messages no one can seem to explain, had input submitted as finalized without doing so, and received the message they can’t be “returned” once that takes place, so the main report is incomplete and unedited for grammar and spelling.

I’ve reached out in the report e-mail form as directed and received partial answers, so tried via separate email including email addresses for all the departments concerned to address all of the facets, so all of this time and effort isn’t declined, and am still waiting on workable fixes…after several days.

Have advocated for needed extensions due to expire tomorrow.

I’ve literally put 12 hours into this assignment plus 3 hours of round trip driving, plus a great on-site tour, and cant complete/submit, and what has been deemed “finalized” isn’t complete.

This is not how I work. I communicate well, reach out when clarity is needed so I can do it right, and finish on time.

Appreciate any insight about who I can reach out to for a more “global” support perspective, and tips on how to circumvent the incessant glitches so I can get this done.

Maybe this why the “primary shoppers” are declining assignments?

Thank you.

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 07/14/2025 08:25PM by SBP.

I'm sorry no one here was able to help. Were you able to get any support from the MSC?

ellis sucks i got irritated by their lack of communication and they canceled my account the moment i showed one sign of frustration. i begged for it back and they would not do it

They have arguably the worst online experience of any MSC.

I've become mostly immune to their silliness.

I only take jobs with bonuses of at least $100 to ensure I get paid appropriately for the time and frustration involved.

That being said, the most I've ever spent getting a shop completed was around 3 hours for a video shop.

I completed my first of approx. 180 shops of the traditional, audio, video and property inspections, in 2006. All went well for a decade, until I was notified 31 days after submitting a report, I had visited the wrong location. While that could be possible, it does not take 31 days to discover such an error. I disputed the claim of a mistake on my end, they refused my appeal and I terminated the relationship. It was, and is, my opinion someone at their office erred and the blame was assigned to me.

Communication with Ellis via the envelope icon AND via phone is incredibly frustrating. I rarely get a response to my email in a timely manner, and I NEVER get a return phone call. Their shop forms are tedious and redundant. I will only do their shops when they are bonuses well, and they are “shop anyone.” Trying to reach a specific person using their recorded call system is too time consuming. Rant over.

It has been many years since I worked for EPMS, I think right around the time Grace Hill bought them is the last time I did. I did a couple apartment shops here in AL. But the apartments were just plain disgusting and I couldn't get over it enough to convince the rep that I was interested in living there.

I haven't had all of these bad experiences with them. The worst thing I ever had to deal with was trying to reach a named rep who wasn't a rep at all but the head sales manager at the location. He didn't sell or show properties to prospective residents, and another one who was a janitor at the property. Those were uncomfortable situations, but I got through them, and I got paid.

Thank you for the validation. This is my first experience with Ellis. I’ve done dozens of assignments for Grace Hill and received complements.

I’m still trying to get a straight answer about the platform dysfunction. It looks and behaves like it was created before Y2K. Tried every avenue of communication to get timely help as deadlines approached and passed… even called the home office in Texas. Got disconnected 2x while listening to the voicemail menu, 2 more times when I opted for the operator. Every extension offered a recorded message from “Steve,” who didn’t answer any of the extensions, so I left a message as requested.

I’m beginning to think he’s the only one there…like a lone hamster running endless rotations on a wobbly wheel …

No one will speak directly. The email addresses provided in the FAQ are useless…returned as “undeliverable,” and the in-assignment emails sent, if they’re replied to, only tell me to repeat what hasn’t been working….and demand the same info I’ve been trying to provide.

“Steve” actually emailed me asking where the required attachments were (which upload but the system won’t save), so I emailed them right back (and offering proof everything requested has been provided), and captured screen shots of every section of those tedious forms, and at least 30 unproductive back and forth communications and automated emails no one responds to.

Explains why shoppers are cancelling so often, and they’re forced to offer such… unusual bonuses.

Now, I’m being prevented from viewing the map of available jobs, so, based on what’s been shared here, its logical to surmise I’m being shut out for being a squeaky wheel… who did my best to…do my best and produce the quality of work I’m accustomed to providing.

I logged 375 miles round trip in awful Bay Area traffic and worked my butt off on 4 reports with a payout of over $600 I NEED to be paid for timely, and really hope that doesn't glitch and freeze too.

I really appreciate the wisdom and kindness here.
Next time I consider adding a new MSP I’ll reach out here before I say yes.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2025 07:03AM by SBP.

@pfedders wrote:

ellis sucks i got irritated by their lack of communication and they canceled my account the moment i showed one sign of frustration. i begged for it back and they would not do it

Same result. Guess they're monitoring this forum.

If they're not willing to help when we ask, where else are we supposed to go ?

Ellis is under the Grace Hll umbrella. They recently installed a bunch of "hatchet wo/men" posing as schedulers to make the numbers look better by screwing those of us who were loyal, and rightfully asked for bonuses when they tried to low ball us for extended mileage and very lengthy, entailed, narrative-heavy reports with 7 days of work, travel, and follow up involved.

Ellis' strategy has been the "last minute bonused rush job" approach after skilled contractors cancelled for all of the frustrating reasons shared by many.

I've very much appreciated the wisdom here, and offer it honestly in return when asked. Life isn't all unicorns and butterflies and this isn't pleasant, but it's very real.

Rather than banning those who seek help and articulate the problems they've ignored for so long, wouldn't it make more sense (and be more profitable for all) if they used these comments to improve rather than punish those who've earned them far more that they pay us who tried working with them to address the issues?

Nothing will change if we say nothing. If you speak up you get banned.

These tactics are no different than the corporate grind many of us walked away from except there's less pay and no benefits.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2025 06:22PM by SBP.

@pfedders wrote:

ellis sucks i got irritated by their lack of communication and they canceled my account the moment i showed one sign of frustration. i begged for it back and they would not do it

Same here and with the GH affiliate, because I stood up for myself.

Aaaaand…I’ve been banned by parent company GHill as well and they are dragging their heels paying me over $1,000 in submissions.

They've now put themselves in the same category as Cirrus.

Last listing I saw was paying $30 for what used to be offered at $60. That won’t even cover fuel costs, much less the time on site, days of follow up, and those long detailed narratives they require.

I find this post to be enlightening. I have quite a few friends and family that do mystery shopping, and I will make sure I inform them to never work for Grace Hill or Ellis.

It sounds like they lack business and personal ethics. Not paying a shopper on time because they're mad about negative comments shows that they're petty and lack professionalism. It also shows a lacck of personal character and integrity from the person or persons in charge. I think it's important that we make sure that as many mystery shoppers as possible know what's really going on and know what they'll be getting themselves into. I think it's important that we as shoppers only work for companies that treat their workforce fairly and have solid business and personal ethics. They are definitely added to the never in a million years list.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2025 12:54AM by thunderdeacon.

They are also banning people who speak out on social media like this forum. I hope the owner of this forum protects our free speech.

I thought the Ind. contractor areas were private for contractors but I suppose anyone can get in with an email address and username.

In reality, nothing online is private, and it would be a nightmare for the kind soul who admins this gem of a forum {defined by Webster as: “a medium (such as a newspaper or online service) of open discussion or expression of ideas”} to try to screen out all of the trolls.

In the end, by taking punitive action towards those who post in a forum they’re not supposed to be in, they’re just confirming what we’ve provided testimony of for all to see.