Market Force

I did a shop for them the other day and when it came to my timings, my watch was still set to daylight savings time (can't for the life of me figure out how to change it). So I put the correct time on the dine in part but forgot to subtract an hour on my drive thru timings. Now they are refusing to accept my report even though I told them to please check the receipt and see that I did indeed do it during the time frame given. AHHHHHHH!!!

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No - once you enter the time on the report, MF will not allow it to change. I fought that one with them and lost. I did both a drive-thru and inside on a Sunday and mistakenly put one hour off on both my entry and my end times, although my receipts showed the correct time. Didn't get paid for that one. Oh, well, I learned from it and I proofread the Summary, especially the times.

Always check the receipt time against what you are entering. Sometimes you have to note that their clocks are fast or slow. Use the clock on your GPS. BTW, It's almost been an hour, where are you? (Just kiddin)

Does anyone know how to get reinstated with Marketforce?????????

Several have posted that they were reinstated after being deactivated by just asking to be reinstated. Some of them posted later that they had been deactivated again. You might do a search and read everything posted on Market Force to see what specifically they said about the reinstatement. If you are able to get reinstated, please post and let us know. I have not been deactivated but it seems to come around to all Market Force shoppers sooner or later.

This is the email they sent. I have no idea what it means. I have no association with any other shoppers. Is this just BS? I've been with them for 8 years.

One of these reports identified an association between you and another Shopper who was formerly in our database. We cannot go into more detail concerning the nature of the association since that is proprietary information and it cannot be released to the general public.

Love the comment about how it cannot be released to the general public. How are you the general public? In a perfect world they would be obligated to provide you enough information to dispute their claim. In Market Force world you are screwed.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

I'm still active on the purple side but not the blue. Does that make sense?

Actually it does make sense as the various portals operate as separate companies under the Market Force name. When I used to work for the Green and the Blue portals I was paid separately. I believe that both the pay cycles and payments are issued separately by the different portals. I don't even think the portals combine your fees across them to determine if they need to send you a 1099. I just don't work for the Purple portal because the 'corporate culture' is so different between Purple and Blue.

I was deactivated (blue side- no warning, it just wouldn’t let me look at shops one day) and questioned it over and over trying to get an answer. I got some pretty rude answers from certain people but no resolution --then I was reactivated with a slight apology. Kind of ‘we are sorry for the mistake please try the site again’. Now it works but only for new shops. (Not any of the ones I did for them for about 8 months). I do a shop now and then when one (and I do mean only one) pops up.

The best part: I just got an email and a big silver star congratulating me on completing 100 shops for them !!!

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually it does make sense as the various portals
> operate as separate companies under the Market
> Force name. When I used to work for the Green and
> the Blue portals I was paid separately. I believe
> that both the pay cycles and payments are issued
> separately by the different portals. I don't even
> think the portals combine your fees across them to
> determine if they need to send you a 1099. I just
> don't work for the Purple portal because the
> 'corporate culture' is so different between Purple
> and Blue.

I remember reading that for this year, they will combine fees for purposes of issuing 1099s.

Ok. It would certainly make sense. I don't know how closely the companies are entwined in the corporate structure. Where there is a holding company the parts are usually treated separately. Thus if you worked for Kmart for part of the year and Sears for part of the year I suspect you would get W-2s from each of them rather than just one from "Sears Holdings" which owns both. It strikes me that Market Force is more on the holding company model rather than a single company with multiple departments that are the various portals.

Any body notice a there "major" fast food chain is no longer showing up?
Wonder if they lost it..

jadaugh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Any body notice a there "major" fast food chain is
> no longer showing up?
> Wonder if they lost it..

Could be they are done for this year....

I see a few for January, but nothing like normal.

are the ones you see at the airport?

barbage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see a few for January, but nothing like normal.

THE WORST company to work for as they will not work with you...............

I have had great success with marketforce and have never faced any of the issues outlined on these boards. The surveys are easy to fill out and the payment is fair. I have completed 18 shops for them and have enjoyed lots of free meals. I think if you just follow the instructions, you shouldn't have any issues.

I would say with Market Force, it is "CRITICAL" to follow the time guidelines, because if you don't, your shop could be rejected.

I have found them fair, my accuracy is 100% and I am paid every month.

A few wacky schedulers who don't communicate with each other and with the company, is my only gripe.

I enjoy the fast casual shop, the tool stores, the audits. I can't think of one I will never do again....OH YES... I FORGOT! I despise the Burger FF shops because they are a pain and they have you order 2 times...That is a waste of my time and money.

However, if you have kids or a hubby, doing this shop, hopefully you could bring the food home...

beatlesfan1964 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have had great success with marketforce and have
> never faced any of the issues outlined on these
> boards. The surveys are easy to fill out and the
> payment is fair. I have completed 18 shops for
> them and have enjoyed lots of free meals. I think
> if you just follow the instructions, you shouldn't
> have any issues.

If you've only done 18 shops for them, you've not had time to encounter the insanity that the blue portal can be.

I've been trying to burn my bridge but they keep blowing out the flame. I did 2 shops and when I got home that night I tried to put the report in. Well there site was down for maintenance. How do I know that, when I emailed the helpdesk they responded and told me that. The next day, I get an email saying that if I keep turning in late reports then I may be deactivated. Really, I sent a nasty email because they can be A--holes and I was ready to end the relationship. They won't let me go so as long as they are offering those rediulous bonused shops I will take them.

I shop over 20 shops a month for Marketforc and they are my major source of groceries since they shop the largest grocery store in my area.

I have never had any issues with them and even when I shopped astore an hour earlier they told me to be more aware of my times but accepted the report anyway.

I have always found them fair and have even been given the phone number of a scheduler who said if I don't see a shop call.

~~*~~*~~*~~ kal ~~*~~*~~*~~
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just forget to load the film.

Lindazane Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I did a shop for them the other day and when it
> came to my timings, my watch was still set to
> daylight savings time (can't for the life of me
> figure out how to change it). So I put the correct
> time on the dine in part but forgot to subtract an
> hour on my drive thru timings. Now they are
> refusing to accept my report even though I told
> them to please check the receipt and see that I
> did indeed do it during the time frame given.
> AHHHHHHH!!!

You will be deactivated soon........ They are too critical

I have worked several years for Market Force. I know many other shoppers who have worked many years for them. They do cut their shopper force on a regular basis for reasons known only to them. Making a mistake on one shop will not get you deactivated. I would just move on and not worry about it. Do the work, get paid, and try not to develop an emotional attachment to the company. I'm not sure I would call them critical. They do have some areas requiring very precise info (timing is one of them), and they are very demanding in those areas. But in some areas I find them pretty lenient.

Ha! We could hope. Then I could do them again!

jadaugh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Any body notice a there "major" fast food chain is
> no longer showing up?
> Wonder if they lost it..

Okay, so maybe not so much critical as unfair. Insane. Impossible. If you have a great working relationship, it may not last. I did. I don't now. Haven't been able to work for them for several years. I write to them about every 6 months asking sometimes to just be reactivated, sometimes to know the reason for my deactivation.

Here's my communication I received from them today.

ME:
I would like to shop with you. Several of the companies I have shopped for in the past have been acquired by Marketforce. I would like to continue to do those jobs, but I need my account activated. Is there any way you could please be willing to do that for me?
Thanks,

THEM:
We have opted to discontinue our Independent Contractor Agreement and will no longer be offering you any future assignments. Thank you for your past efforts on our behalf.

Thank you.
Patricia
Help Desk Shopper Advocate
helpdesk@marketforce.com
www.marketforceshopper.com

vadershereo, if you find Market Force "not so much critical as unfair. Insane. Impossible," why would you continue to go back every six months for several years asking to be reactivated? Although I currently shop for MF, I fully expect someday to be deactivated. After being deactivated, I would walk away. If I really, REALLY loved the company and really wanted to be still working for them, I might ask one time if I could be reactivated, but I would certainly not go back multiple times continuing to court rejection. Are you hoping that one day whoever is manning the Help Desk might mistakenly activate you again? I don't understand repeatedly requesting reactivation.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> vadershereo, if you find Market Force "not so much
> critical as unfair. Insane. Impossible," why would
> you continue to go back every six months for
> several years asking to be reactivated? Although
> I currently shop for MF, I fully expect someday to
> be deactivated. After being deactivated, I would
> walk away. If I really, REALLY loved the company
> and really wanted to be still working for them, I
> might ask one time if I could be reactivated, but
> I would certainly not go back multiple times
> continuing to court rejection. Are you hoping
> that one day whoever is manning the Help Desk
> might mistakenly activate you again? I don't
> understand repeatedly requesting reactivation.

I think vadershereo stated they have taken over companies he/she worked for before and would like to continue doing assignments for them. If a company is becoming a monopoly in the business and the MAJORITY of people (yes we know not you) have issue with their practice, then MAYBE, just maybe,there is a problem with their practice.

If a "MAJORITY" of folks had problems with their practices they would be spending a lot more on bonuses and paying them a lot more often. Shoppers who visit forums and learn that there is something possible beyond a MF FF and a CORI gas at list price are a definite minority in the business!

Okay I needed to clarify after reading Flash's post. The majority of people who have faced deactivation do have a problem with their practices. Until someone offers a viable solution then telling them to stop beating their head against a brick wall and move on to bigger and better things is not such bad advice. People have been reporting these mysterious deactivations for years now. As long as Market Force continues to keep the reason or reasons top secret there is nothing to directly address.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2012 11:22PM by LisaSTL.

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