I just received an email from Bestmark stating I was approved to be an auditor.(See Below) I have done other shops for them in the past. Has anyone else received an email like this or done audits for Bestmark? It says audits may take up to 5.5 hours and sometimes 12 hours for a large store. There is no note on pay range. I am to pay upfront for background check and short. Is this legit?

Thanks in advance for any input.

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Steps to becoming a BestMark Merchandising Auditor:

Complete the Auditor Skills and Suitability Assessment
Indicate your preferences for regularly scheduled audit locations
Complete the online training and pass the Certification Test
Pass a background check (cost: $14.95)
Complete a 5 to 10-minute telephone interview.
Order your logoed shirt (cost: $11.95 for short-sleeved and $14.95 for long-sleeved, plus shipping)

Reimbursement policy: You will be reimbursed up to $15 for the cost of your background check, if applicable, and up to $15 for the cost of one shirt after being an active, dependable auditor for 3 months and effectively executing 8 Audit Visits according to instructions. (Each Audit Visit consists of 3-6 audit components and requires 1.5-5.5 hours of in-store time.)
STEP ONE: The Auditor Skills and Suitability Assessment

Here at BestMark, we feel that applying for a position shouldn’t just be about whether or not you meet our needs; we want to make sure our position is going to be a good match for you as well. In order to determine if you are well-matched for the Merchandising Auditor position, we would like to invite you to complete the Auditor Skills and Suitability Assessment.

To access and complete the assessment, please follow these steps from your Main Menu page:

Click on BestMark University
Click on Take Skills and Suitability Assessment
After submitting your assessment you will be immediately prompted to indicate your preferred locations


Please complete the Skills and Suitability Assessment and select your preferred locations within 48 hours in order to be considered for the Merchandising Auditing program.

Scheduling Audits and Audit Pay

Currently, a full store audit takes approximately 12 hours to complete in an average-sized store, depending on your efficiency. The full store audit has been split into 4 Audit Visits to allow for scheduling flexibility. Each Visit takes approximately 1.5 to 5.5 in-store hours to complete, depending on the components in that Visit. Auditors may sign up for more than one Visit at a time, and some Visits can be completed on the same day, at the same store.

They have asked for the background checks for some of their work. Obviously many folks have ponied up the money, though I still get a fair number of repeat emails looking for someone to do the work and I refuse to play. This is obviously another shop and a different background check as it is twice as expensive. And no, I would refuse to play with this one as well. Further, to register with them you need an EIN and in my area that causes issues with local authorities about permits, licenses, site inspections etc. etc. so I have written Trendsource off.

I have not terminated because I hope one of these days they will come to their senses, but meanwhile we will go our separate ways.

Thank you for your quick response. I agree, I am not interested in paying for a background check and obtaining an EIN. The couple of shops I did for them did not require such information, but as I log onto their site I see there are a wave of new "agreements" one must accept to continue. Their site notes 12 hour audits pay $140 - $170 depending on the level of detail involved. Add in drive time and probable paperwork, and that makes it a big "No thank you."

I appreciate your quick response.

I received the same email from Bestmark. I did notice that they will reimburse us for the $14.95 background check and the shirt purchase as well. I am still curious about these jobs. I have never had a problem getting reimbursed for any expenses I have paid in the past. Why question them now? As far as the mileage goes, I am already recording ALL mileage for each shop anyway to use as a deduction for my taxes. This is no different. Any thoughts from someone who has already done any audits?

Well, I was curious I guess because other "audits" I have done did not require me to pay for anything. However, I just realized as I read your response, that they were totally different types of audits.

Oooop, thanks for the notation about jotting down your mileage that you can write off. I have not done that and whoop, that's a big one.

Anyway, I'm not trying to bugger on about Bestmark because they were good, easy shops for me. I just hadn't ever received an email about paying for a background check or a corporate shirt before so I was not sure that was legit or a scam. I serached the forum and found a thread about Bestmark offering Audit Certifications over the summer so this must be the initial wave of emails going about.

Many thanks!

My apologies, ThornsRun. When I read your post I was thinking "Trendsource" when you were asking "BestMark". BestMark is NOT the company asking for EINs and indeed on audits they have done where background check was required they did reimburse for it after you had completed I think it was 2 audits for them. I did not do those audits, but in that case background and drug testing were obviously specific requirements of the client that were imposed on employees and vendors alike.

I just went on the site and completed the initial portion for the audits. At this point nothing about paying for background checks, etc., that comes later. I found it interesting that they wanted to know how many hours a month you could devote to their projects, hours of availability and if your schedule is subject to change, the type of questions one would expect when being hired as an employee isn't it? What I found more interesting was them asking what companies and retailers I had performed audits for in the past. I pointed out that my Independent Contractors agreement strictly prohibits me from disclosing that information

I have completed many assignments for Bestmark and was accepted as an auditor for these waves of audits. I believe the requirements are more astringent because the client and audits will be performed in a big box store. And if they are going to reimburse the cost of the background check and shirt then what's to lose....The job pays $152.25 for 11-14 hours work, over two days...can't beat that! I got six stores...I'm a happy camper and feel privileged.

The previous MSC originally did not require auditors to pay for background and drug tests. At some point they changed it and reimbursed after a specific number were completed. Business casual was required, but not a specific shirt which had to be purchased. Thank goodness, because I had a lot of stores and would have either spent money on additional shirts or been doing laundry constantly. They certainly don't pay any better than the old company if it is still only in the $10 to $13 range. They should pay $15 an hour and include the reporting time.

Hey ThornsRun,

I did have to pay for my background check and t-shirt up front. This would only be required for becoming an Auditor not for mystery shopping. The money will be reimbursed after 3 months of being active and completing 8 Audits.
The other thing I found out about the shirts is that if your have not been mailed yet then you can wear any Polo type shirt as a sub.

Hope this helps!

Hmmm, I'm considering signing up to be an auditor. I am really debating the breakdown of the hourly rate and then having additional paperwork, if any, at the end of the audit. I'd hate to spend 8-10 hours somewhere only to come home and do a few more hours of inputting. What have you experienced?

Thank you for your input.


ladyquita Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hey ThornsRun,
>
> I did have to pay for my background check and
> t-shirt up front. This would only be required for
> becoming an Auditor not for mystery shopping. The
> money will be reimbursed after 3 months of being
> active and completing 8 Audits.
> The other thing I found out about the shirts is
> that if your have not been mailed yet then you can
> wear any Polo type shirt as a sub.
>
> Hope this helps!

The report was what made me the most hesitant and I'm curious as well. With the former MSC the absolute best I could do was an hour and a half. That included one section done separately which usually took me about half an hour because I'm really fast at inputting numbers. Others said that portion alone often took an hour or two easily. Averages for the whole shebang were reported at anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. That said, the report has major flaws such as not being able to save and re-enter at the point where it was left off, not being able to skip around and it timed out in as little as 15 minutes making it virtually impossible to leave your computer for much more than a quick potty break

I actually just finished my first visit and it was nice. I have to say it really depends on the store management. The group I had were Awesome. They knew I was coming and were prepared. They walked through with me showing where everything was, which saved a lot of time. Entering the report was pretty easy. You just want to make sure that your pics are very clear and take them for everything required. For me it was worth it I really enjoyed the work. To be honest, for entering purposes it’s about the same amount of work for MS reports. I would prefer the audit work.
Let me know if you have any other questions

ThornsRun Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hmmm, I'm considering signing up to be an auditor.
> I am really debating the breakdown of the hourly
> rate and then having additional paperwork, if any,
> at the end of the audit. I'd hate to spend 8-10
> hours somewhere only to come home and do a few
> more hours of inputting. What have you
> experienced?
>
> Thank you for your input.
>
>
> ladyquita Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hey ThornsRun,
> >
> > I did have to pay for my background check and
> > t-shirt up front. This would only be required
> for
> > becoming an Auditor not for mystery shopping.
> The
> > money will be reimbursed after 3 months of
> being
> > active and completing 8 Audits.
> > The other thing I found out about the shirts is
> > that if your have not been mailed yet then you
> can
> > wear any Polo type shirt as a sub.
> >
> > Hope this helps!

They keep asking me to perform the auditor jobs as well. I"m just not sure if the pay is going to be worth the hours after taxes. Maybe I'm way off mark here..but it seems to average maybe 10 bucks an hour. After I calculate gas money, hours, driving time, reporting time,taxes, etc. the pay rate is much, much lower. What do you guys think?

peachgirl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They keep asking me to perform the auditor jobs as
> well. I"m just not sure if the pay is going to be
> worth the hours after taxes. Maybe I'm way off
> mark here..but it seems to average maybe 10 bucks
> an hour. After I calculate gas money, hours,
> driving time, reporting time,taxes, etc. the pay
> rate is much, much lower. What do you guys think?


I know shoppers who love these, but when factoring time spent and overhead they just don't seem worth it to me.

Today I was in a big box store (on my own time) with my kids. One of them said loudly to me, "Mom, look, that lady has a BESTMARK shirt!" Sure enough, someone wearing a green polo-style shirt with a BESTMARK logo was entering information into a handheld electronic device. I wanted to talk with her, but I didn't want to "out" myself in the store.

I just started doing some of the big box audits for BestMark. I also did them for the last MSC that was doing the audits, and I had the same trouble with their online report system....SO. Frustrating! This company is a lot better on that aspect, BUT I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the "fees" they deduct for issues. Every other MSC just pays you a flat rate, none of this "Well, if this happens you lose $2, if this happens you don't get paid for this part which is $35."I am feeling like I'm putting in all this time and effort, and being rewarded with docks in my pay. Why can't they just do a flat rate like all the other MSCs? I'm not sure it's worth it. Anyone else feeling it?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2012 07:42PM by NicMatt81.

PS I didn't have to do the backround check b/c I had already done work for the prior company, but I did have to buy a shirt, so I'll update you if and when I get reimbursed! I'm sure it will be fine though.

i've been doing shops with bestmark for 2 months now and haven't recieved an email like that the email you got must've been a scam for there a better business bureau acredited business i would look into that email as a scam for i never got one from them like that

What e-mail? The one regarding background checks and a shirt?

NicMatt81, I didn't realize they would accept the background check from the previous MSC. That's interesting. I do find it insane they are keeping all of those deductions in place for this project. It is so different than a regular MS job. WTH can they deduct $35 for anyway?

NicMatt81, Yikes - deducting $$$ here and there sounds like a no-go for me. Seems like it would make the hourly rate drop significantly and not be worth your time in the long run. Maybe.

LisaSTL, I agree -- interesting that BestMark accepted a background from the old company.

Thanks for your input :-)

When I got approved to do BestMark audits there was no mention of paying for a background check. The time estimates they gave for time to complete the audits was about 30% less than how long it actually took. The manual said not to take photos where a photo would not show the problem (like for audio mdse), then the survey demanded photos, so I had to take a picture of a blank wall and use that, then explain it in the notes. The store had a lot of non-compliance issues and I was exhausted after 7 hours on my feet without a break. I would hesitate to do this again.