Hi all,

I wanted to summarize my experience with HS Brands. I want to first state that I did not take one of the requested photos, and I noted this in my survey after the shop. I was upfront and explained why that happened. I spent a considerable amount of time and money on this shop, so I was acting in the good faith that being honest and upfront would act in my favor, but it didn't. My experience with other MSCs is that they work with you if you provide context.

They returned the survey and asked for additional information. They did not ask about this photo. I responded promptly and showed where the guidelines covered their questions. It was then returned this morning and the contact I have had with them shows that it will not be paid for the reason of the missing photo. I was surprised that they requested additional information and did not note this issue at all. I have requested clarification as to why they requested additional information if they were going to deny the shop.

This required additional work on my part that was unnecessary and makes me wonder if they will use my information and feedback even though I will not be reimbursed. This is a red flag to me, and I just wanted to share my experience. I understand not being reimbursed because I forgot one photo, but it looks bad on them to ask for additional points if they were just going to deny it.

Hi if you missed a required photo then most likely they can't use it and you should not get paid. This happened to me. I forgot a photo of the bathroom of all things (thought it was odd request) and I was told that since the client requests these we can't use your survey or send it to the client or pay you.

With certain projects, if I forget a photo, I don't even bother submitting it because I know from experience it will be rejected. In this case, they asked for other details. Maybe the editor was trying to get to shop approved without the photo, and wanted everything else to check out, but someone up the chain said no.

I see how this would be frustrating. We all know shops may be rejected when we forget to perform part of it, but having to deal with follow-up questions before having it rejected is silly.

That said, I imagine it is more likely lack of communication, disorganization or incompetence that caused this, rather than a plan to use your visit and pocket your pay.

Perhaps the editor jumped the gun and sent the revision request before noticing a picture was missing, or they intended to ask about it along with the other issue and mistakenly left it out. Who knows.

HS Brands has a couple of issues, mainly the extremely long pay schedule, but I've never had any problems with them.

I am wondering what caused you not to get the requested photo. What did you tell them as to why you didn't get it? That would help me understand their decision or not.

I'm not sure how much information is okay to disclose. It was my own fault for not getting the picture. I simply forgot and I understand that I'm responsible for performing the job and following the guidelines. I did get a picture, but it was too late and did not show what it was supposed to capture. I provided the reasons (got distracted during the shop with the staff). My issue is them following up for more information on other things, which required more time and effort, to then totally reject the shop.

If you did not get the required photo, then you did not complete the assignment, you did not get pay. Simply as that. What's there to complain about.

This is the issue with our education system and that stupid "Participation trophy" where it make people thinks that as long as you put in "some effort" you should be rewarded even if it is a half ass job. The @#$%& reality is you would only get reward when you complete your job 100%.

Welcome to the real world.

I suspect they asked for more information in an attempt to persuade the client to accept the shop with the error. If you are supposed to, for example, take a photo of your food untouched? And then you took the photo after you started eating? That's going to be totally unusable for a client evaluating the visual appeal, portion sizes, etc. for consistency. Sure, they could have rejected it out of hand. But they gave an opportunity to explain in case, IDK, maybe the steak was cut because the server stood watching to be sure the cook was correct? That might be a reason the client would accept for the food not appearing as served? But, whatever happened was not a good enough reason from the client's POV. I would not presume HS is at all to blame, here, it may be they tried very hard to make it work.

If you read the post and comment, I stated I was at fault. What is wrong here is that they asked additional work, did not ask about the issue related to why it was going to be rejected, and then rejected it. If they had just rejected it outright, then sure it would suck, but at least they wouldn't be requiring more of my time to just reject it.

In the 20 yrs. I have been contracted with this company, the only negative comment I recall ever reading on any forum, concerned their payment times. As that was never an issue with me, I have continued our relationship. I agree with the possibility they were attempting to save the job. but I also understand the logical conclusion of the OP.

Posting a red flag warning because the editor asked questions is unfair. They gave it some of their time, there had to be a reason. But, you seem to want people to agree that they stole from you or at least jerked you around which is absurd. Maybe you should have abandoned the shop the moment you realized you had missed an essential element rather than submitting it and wasting the editor's time reviewing that report? They could, after all, make the same complaint about you wasting their time.

I get what you're saying. The missing photo meant you weren't getting paid, so why did they ask you to put more time/effort into the shop.

They could have made it clear if they were attempting to get the shop approved when they asked for more work.

Anyway, I've certainly missed payment due to a missed photo. Life.

Here's the deal:

Ipsos takes too long to edit your shops.
Sentry made you answer all of the questions and you don't like how they pay
HS Brands denied your shop after making you edit it.

Summary: it's you, not them.

@couponanimaniac wrote:

Hi all,

I wanted to summarize my experience with HS Brands. I want to first state that I did not take one of the requested photos, and I noted this in my survey after the shop. I was upfront and explained why that happened. I spent a considerable amount of time and money on this shop, so I was acting in the good faith that being honest and upfront would act in my favor, but it didn't. My experience with other MSCs is that they work with you if you provide context.

They returned the survey and asked for additional information. They did not ask about this photo. I responded promptly and showed where the guidelines covered their questions. It was then returned this morning and the contact I have had with them shows that it will not be paid for the reason of the missing photo. I was surprised that they requested additional information and did not note this issue at all. I have requested clarification as to why they requested additional information if they were going to deny the shop.

This required additional work on my part that was unnecessary and makes me wonder if they will use my information and feedback even though I will not be reimbursed. This is a red flag to me, and I just wanted to share my experience. I understand not being reimbursed because I forgot one photo, but it looks bad on them to ask for additional points if they were just going to deny it.

_________________________________________

The entitlement in this post.

You did not follow instructions, no matter the reasoning you stated. If it is required, it will be rejected.

Ive had this happen, and worse. We have no recourse as shoppers. It's just the way it is. Thats the deal with this work. It's especially frustrating when editors are anonymous. Names are never attached.
to their emails or anything else. We can take it or leave it.
I have been allowed to go back to the shop and take the picture, before. I don't understand how that helps them, if it's verifying the location, but it would help them if they wanted to see the grounds, etc.

I've never performed a shop for HS Brands due to their horrible payment schedule.

@whosear

Their casino shops can be worth it. The dining shops, I am willing to pass on because I can do other dining shops. But the casino shops is something mostly unique to them and I have done some and enjoyed them.

I do agree their non-Nevada payment schedule is one of the worst when compared to other MSC.