epms -- elliss partners in mystery shopping
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I have written EPMS about some of the complaints that have been logged on some of these forums. I feel that a company can not fix what they do not know. Us talking about it in these forums is unproductive and will only be corrected if enough people complain to them on thier site. This game of I don't want to disclose the company is making it easier and easier for these companies to continue doing what they are doing.
Us not shopping for the company is only hurting us as an employee trying to make a living, not them. Shadow shopper needs to know also what kind of company they are sending shoppers to. Also MSPA needs to be told. Its time all of us start doing something about this and stop complaining to eachother on a forum that the companies themselves could care less about, as long as they continue to get newbies.
Us not shopping for the company is only hurting us as an employee trying to make a living, not them. Shadow shopper needs to know also what kind of company they are sending shoppers to. Also MSPA needs to be told. Its time all of us start doing something about this and stop complaining to eachother on a forum that the companies themselves could care less about, as long as they continue to get newbies.
And you think the company is not aware? And you think Shadow Shopper is not aware? And remember that although you may purchase a certification from the MSPA it is an organization of the COMPANIES that offer shops, NOT of SHOPPERS. Happy crusading!
I'm still fairly new to the game - and I could be wrong - but from my perspective, I don't think the majority of the MS companies care about their shoppers or the complaints. There are just too many people in and out of this business. C'mon, you know how easy it is to sign up with a company and get a shop the next day.
I've only had a couple of issues so far (although within the same company) and I wrote a letter, too. I was very diplomatic and even requested a response - but I never got one. That doesn't say much (or maybe it says a lot) about the company. epms
When I worked full-time for a large corporation, I answered every letter and phone call within 24 business hours. That is only good business and my employer expected nothing less than excellent customer service. Which is funny b/c that is the whole concept of a business hiring a MS company! Hello!
Anyone else find that ironic?! LOL!
I've only had a couple of issues so far (although within the same company) and I wrote a letter, too. I was very diplomatic and even requested a response - but I never got one. That doesn't say much (or maybe it says a lot) about the company. epms
When I worked full-time for a large corporation, I answered every letter and phone call within 24 business hours. That is only good business and my employer expected nothing less than excellent customer service. Which is funny b/c that is the whole concept of a business hiring a MS company! Hello!
Anyone else find that ironic?! LOL!
Yes. Ironic and sad at the same time. Shoppers are the expendible part of the equation because of their infinite replaceability. No customer service is needed when you have an endless line of those who haven't dealt with you before.
Has anyone had a problem with the criteria for apartment shops ? I am new and both apartment shops I've had were disasters because I could never complete the 1st part .... the telephone shop. None of the named reps ever answered the telephone !!!!!
JackDaniels - I've shopped for epms for a couple of years, exclusively. Regarding your question about the Telephone part of the shop: You just do what they say.. call a few times a day, if you can't reach them, you email your scheduler. They will give you the go-ahead to call and ask for your target by name. This is usally after about 3 days.
There are reasons they have to say in their guidelines that you must do it this way or that way. Mainly because they have signed a contract with their client and that is the way their client wants it done. I have made many mistakes and have been in every situation possible. Just know that if you always tell them the truth (which I am sure most do) and let them know where you are in the shop, they are VERY flexible.
Also, after you have completed many of these apartment shops, believe me, you will get very good at it and will be able to complete the reports much faster.
Does that make sense?
Good Luck!
Suz
There are reasons they have to say in their guidelines that you must do it this way or that way. Mainly because they have signed a contract with their client and that is the way their client wants it done. I have made many mistakes and have been in every situation possible. Just know that if you always tell them the truth (which I am sure most do) and let them know where you are in the shop, they are VERY flexible.
Also, after you have completed many of these apartment shops, believe me, you will get very good at it and will be able to complete the reports much faster.
Does that make sense?
Good Luck!
Suz
Flash - I know you weren't pointing fingers 
and I know that ShadowShopper and others like it need to be watched out for, especially to new shoppers. You are right!! It's a rough world out there. That is why these forums are so important!
I can't seem to get off of here! I keep reading and feeling like I need to respond! Anyway, Good Afternoon folks!! Have a good one!
Suz
and I know that ShadowShopper and others like it need to be watched out for, especially to new shoppers. You are right!! It's a rough world out there. That is why these forums are so important!
I can't seem to get off of here! I keep reading and feeling like I need to respond! Anyway, Good Afternoon folks!! Have a good one!
Suz
To all,
I am one of those newbies that have gottten suck in (I guess). My first real job was a job from epms. I was able to get my contact person on the second call, and I was able to get the shop portion done the same day. The report was a little long, and I learned that you have to be exacting. But I have to say that it has been an pleasant experience, and a learning experience.
One thing that seems to be missing here is the realization that we are all independent contractors. We technically work for our selves, and we have the power to take a job or not. If EPMS is that bad, then we have the power not to take their jobs. Let them traini newbies, and take longer to get reports completed.
The other comment is true however, that MS shops really could care less about the shoppers, and that understood, why can't we develop our own orgaization to represent the actual shoppers? I mean to pay 15.00 to get a silver MSP certificate is a bit crazy, and if you want to spend 99.00 you can order the gold DVD's and get your gold certificate...that is even funnier, so what is the certificate really worth, and can we come up with a certificate programe that would be much better, and one that could show how professional we really are?
And now this newbie will get off the soap box, and learn by the more professionals from the profession.
I am one of those newbies that have gottten suck in (I guess). My first real job was a job from epms. I was able to get my contact person on the second call, and I was able to get the shop portion done the same day. The report was a little long, and I learned that you have to be exacting. But I have to say that it has been an pleasant experience, and a learning experience.
One thing that seems to be missing here is the realization that we are all independent contractors. We technically work for our selves, and we have the power to take a job or not. If EPMS is that bad, then we have the power not to take their jobs. Let them traini newbies, and take longer to get reports completed.
The other comment is true however, that MS shops really could care less about the shoppers, and that understood, why can't we develop our own orgaization to represent the actual shoppers? I mean to pay 15.00 to get a silver MSP certificate is a bit crazy, and if you want to spend 99.00 you can order the gold DVD's and get your gold certificate...that is even funnier, so what is the certificate really worth, and can we come up with a certificate programe that would be much better, and one that could show how professional we really are?
And now this newbie will get off the soap box, and learn by the more professionals from the profession.
The idea of a shopper organization has been batted around over forums over the years and here are some of the realities it would face:
a) Acceptance by MSPs as being valid. Because there is an endless stream of new shoppers and we are all independent contractors, any working with a shopper organization by the MSPs is just another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy for them. This would seriously limit the effectiveness of the organization to resolve issues between individual shoppers and MSPs or get improvements in the work environment for all shoppers unless it improved the profitability of the MSP.
b) A shopper organization certification of some sort would need a common body of knowledge to be useful. MSPs are very different in their dealings with ICAs and jobs. The signup procedures are not the same, the information required is not the same, the client requirements are not the same, the payscale for similar jobs is not the same, the observations required are not the same, the reporting requirements are not the same, the methods of reporting are not the same, the evaluation of reports is not the same and the editing even within the same MSP of similar jobs is not consistent. Then you get to the payments, where neither the timing nor the methods are the same across the industry. What is common to all seems to be that you agree to the individual MSP’s ICA; you have to self assign or be assigned a job, based on your request, to have the job be “yours” to do; you have to do it within the agreed time frame following the instructions given; and you have to report the job within the agreed time frame with all receipts, photos, etc. that were required. Assuming you have done all this correctly and honestly, you can expect payment. What of these pieces is trainable? If you are or are not honest is beyond training if you are old enough to shop. If you are or are not reliable is also beyond training. If you cannot write or spell or use the appropriate tools to help with that, no short training session will cure that. That reduces any “certification” to common sense and broad generalizations, and that is not going to do much for a shopper. Perhaps training in photo editing and uploading could help. Perhaps other techniques such as video recordings, digital recording, note taking, shopper organization and record keeping could be addressed. These most frequently are addressed on forums in response to questions asked.
Running a shopper organization would require salaries because none of us wants to work for free. We do enough of that helping in forums. A shopper organization would have expenses such as continuous advertising to get it known especially to new shoppers entering the business. It would also have space, equipment and supply costs. All of which means that it would need to charge a membership fee. And as soon as a fee is involved it would, or at least should, become unattractive as an option especially to those who would need it most. Without universal shopper acceptance and membership such an organization would have little clout and even then the clout would be significantly weakened by shoppers who remained independent in their decision making.
Somehow free forums, such as this one Jacob has established here, where there is an open exchange of “how to” knowledge are most likely the best educational tools that shoppers could hope for beyond the training and sample shops and specific instructions offered by the various MSPs for their specific jobs. And with the PM messaging system, shoppers can ask questions of other shoppers about their specific situations.
a) Acceptance by MSPs as being valid. Because there is an endless stream of new shoppers and we are all independent contractors, any working with a shopper organization by the MSPs is just another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy for them. This would seriously limit the effectiveness of the organization to resolve issues between individual shoppers and MSPs or get improvements in the work environment for all shoppers unless it improved the profitability of the MSP.
b) A shopper organization certification of some sort would need a common body of knowledge to be useful. MSPs are very different in their dealings with ICAs and jobs. The signup procedures are not the same, the information required is not the same, the client requirements are not the same, the payscale for similar jobs is not the same, the observations required are not the same, the reporting requirements are not the same, the methods of reporting are not the same, the evaluation of reports is not the same and the editing even within the same MSP of similar jobs is not consistent. Then you get to the payments, where neither the timing nor the methods are the same across the industry. What is common to all seems to be that you agree to the individual MSP’s ICA; you have to self assign or be assigned a job, based on your request, to have the job be “yours” to do; you have to do it within the agreed time frame following the instructions given; and you have to report the job within the agreed time frame with all receipts, photos, etc. that were required. Assuming you have done all this correctly and honestly, you can expect payment. What of these pieces is trainable? If you are or are not honest is beyond training if you are old enough to shop. If you are or are not reliable is also beyond training. If you cannot write or spell or use the appropriate tools to help with that, no short training session will cure that. That reduces any “certification” to common sense and broad generalizations, and that is not going to do much for a shopper. Perhaps training in photo editing and uploading could help. Perhaps other techniques such as video recordings, digital recording, note taking, shopper organization and record keeping could be addressed. These most frequently are addressed on forums in response to questions asked.
Running a shopper organization would require salaries because none of us wants to work for free. We do enough of that helping in forums. A shopper organization would have expenses such as continuous advertising to get it known especially to new shoppers entering the business. It would also have space, equipment and supply costs. All of which means that it would need to charge a membership fee. And as soon as a fee is involved it would, or at least should, become unattractive as an option especially to those who would need it most. Without universal shopper acceptance and membership such an organization would have little clout and even then the clout would be significantly weakened by shoppers who remained independent in their decision making.
Somehow free forums, such as this one Jacob has established here, where there is an open exchange of “how to” knowledge are most likely the best educational tools that shoppers could hope for beyond the training and sample shops and specific instructions offered by the various MSPs for their specific jobs. And with the PM messaging system, shoppers can ask questions of other shoppers about their specific situations.
Flash,
Having served in the Submarine force for nearly twenty years, I am used to having "qualification card". Every person entering the submarine service and serving aboard a submarine is expected to completed more than one of these cards. So bear with me here.
Roger everything you stated, and being a newbie, and probably nive to the way that things are done, or not done, we have the power to change what.
So what is the answer??? We throw up our arms, and then this becomes as many fourms, just a bunch of unhappy shoppers feeling like they are getting rig off by the shops, and having no where to go.
All that you pointed out are true, but are they really something that could not be over come or worked around?
First, we would not be working for them, we would be working to help them get qualified shoppers. We would decide our own standards, and what standards that we should demand as a profession. I did not know that you could change the pay plan, I was under the impression that what ever the price on the job announcement is what the rate was. If we could develope a basic standard that a shopper should have, the shops would be able to know that the shopper can fill out a basic form, and have a good working knowledge of the fundamentals (like have a good timing device, how to use basic video equipment). Those are items that people could post in a TUTOR section, a newbie could log into the forum and look at what has work for others, and what has not. However, I bet we could come up with a basic form that would teach some one how to do counting in their heads, or how to use a stopwatch or digital watch so that they are not detected as a Mystery Shopper. I bet we could get enought people who have done rental shoppings to come up with some pretty common questions, so that a person can determine if that is what they want to do as their first shop.
If we create within our own group the knowledge sources, and do some public relations...(talking the group up in other forums). We do not need to have a million dollar budget. Word of mouth is more popular than any amount spent on mass advertising.
As I said, I am new to this, and I am not one that just sits back and say "woo is me", I am always looking at ways to improve the system. But it seems as through the system has been looked at and most people are willing to live with the things the way that they are. Hope no one takes this personal, I am just thinking out loud here.
Having served in the Submarine force for nearly twenty years, I am used to having "qualification card". Every person entering the submarine service and serving aboard a submarine is expected to completed more than one of these cards. So bear with me here.
Roger everything you stated, and being a newbie, and probably nive to the way that things are done, or not done, we have the power to change what.
So what is the answer??? We throw up our arms, and then this becomes as many fourms, just a bunch of unhappy shoppers feeling like they are getting rig off by the shops, and having no where to go.
All that you pointed out are true, but are they really something that could not be over come or worked around?
First, we would not be working for them, we would be working to help them get qualified shoppers. We would decide our own standards, and what standards that we should demand as a profession. I did not know that you could change the pay plan, I was under the impression that what ever the price on the job announcement is what the rate was. If we could develope a basic standard that a shopper should have, the shops would be able to know that the shopper can fill out a basic form, and have a good working knowledge of the fundamentals (like have a good timing device, how to use basic video equipment). Those are items that people could post in a TUTOR section, a newbie could log into the forum and look at what has work for others, and what has not. However, I bet we could come up with a basic form that would teach some one how to do counting in their heads, or how to use a stopwatch or digital watch so that they are not detected as a Mystery Shopper. I bet we could get enought people who have done rental shoppings to come up with some pretty common questions, so that a person can determine if that is what they want to do as their first shop.
If we create within our own group the knowledge sources, and do some public relations...(talking the group up in other forums). We do not need to have a million dollar budget. Word of mouth is more popular than any amount spent on mass advertising.
As I said, I am new to this, and I am not one that just sits back and say "woo is me", I am always looking at ways to improve the system. But it seems as through the system has been looked at and most people are willing to live with the things the way that they are. Hope no one takes this personal, I am just thinking out loud here.
I hear what you are saying. I have never heard statistics about what the average age, education level, income level or prior work experience are for new shoppers, though I feel certain that some of the MSPs have looked at this with their own data collection. We are a very diverse group with a very diverse set of needs and expectations from mystery shopping. There are those among us who struggle with two finger typing, there are those among us who dislike using a computer keyboard because it slows down the 180wpm developed on an electric typewriter. There are those among us who have never worked in an office and have little understanding of clerical work and there are those among us who have been executive secretaries. There are those of us who managed to finish high school with the help of the GED and those who have a PhD in English.
The basics needed to do mystery shopping are to be able to read, understand and follow directions and to be reliable enough to get the reports in on time. Some mystery shopping does not even require the use of a computer (though those are getting increasingly rare). It is possible to do this with virtually no skills whatsoever. A lot of information for specific issues, such as stop watch use, are asked and answered in the threads of most every free forum out there. So I am convinced that reading a forum will give shoppers everything except the specifics of "Who shops client X?" and "What companies have shops in my area?" There is a lot of hinting to help shoppers with the first question and with the second question, the best possible answer is to "Go to Jobslinger.com and see who has jobs posted for your area."
Especially new shoppers do the "woe is me" about the time necessary to find and apply for jobs, study the instructions and wait for the payment to be sent. There are no shortcuts for these things. They are a part of the business. Over time it becomes easier as you learn what companies have shops in your area and you are doing the same or similar jobs a second, third or twentieth time so study time is less. Once you have been doing this systematically for a few months you begin seeing the systematic stream of payments that help support future shopping.
There is a big difference also between "shopping" and "mystery shopping". When I make a regular grocery store run I am generally in and out in 10-15 minutes and I don't stop and chatter with personnel in each department. When I "mystery shop" a grocery store I spend around 30-45 minutes inside checking everything and making all my observations. There is a different mental attitude when doing a "mystery shop" because it is about them, while regular "shopping" is taking care of my needs.
Folks who are going to succeed at this find the approaches that work for them, the companies that they will work for and the kinds of jobs they will do. For myself I have determined that I will do the shops that I find fun because of my own interests, the shops at places I would go anyway that have a benefit to me, and the shops that the money has made irresistable. Every forum I have seen discusses bonuses. If a shop is just posted with a fee of $10 you are unlikely to see a bonus with it and you are unlikely to have a scheduler call you about needing someone to do the job. Schedulers know what jobs they are unlikely to fill at regular fee because there are no shoppers signed up with them that are in that area. But they will keep the shop posted at the $10 fee until they have little choice but to find someone to do it for a fee that is more fair to the time and distance necessary to do the shop. I do many of my shops at the originally offered fee because that fee is fair to me for the interest, time and distance involved. I do many shops that I found the original fee was not appropriate for me and they were offered with a bonus that made them fair. I shop more with the companies that have shops in my area that start off fairly priced than I do for the companies that start off with low fees. I will do all sorts of favors for the companies that treat me right from the outset, knowing that the favor will be returned should I ever need it. I have no problem whatsoever with exploiting the companies that were trying to exploit me.
But determining what companies will work with you or for you is something that only the individual shopper can do over time and experience. And even then, all it takes is a change of scheduler with the company to ruin the relationship, so it does become an ongoing and fluid process. It is all part of the learning curve.
The basics needed to do mystery shopping are to be able to read, understand and follow directions and to be reliable enough to get the reports in on time. Some mystery shopping does not even require the use of a computer (though those are getting increasingly rare). It is possible to do this with virtually no skills whatsoever. A lot of information for specific issues, such as stop watch use, are asked and answered in the threads of most every free forum out there. So I am convinced that reading a forum will give shoppers everything except the specifics of "Who shops client X?" and "What companies have shops in my area?" There is a lot of hinting to help shoppers with the first question and with the second question, the best possible answer is to "Go to Jobslinger.com and see who has jobs posted for your area."
Especially new shoppers do the "woe is me" about the time necessary to find and apply for jobs, study the instructions and wait for the payment to be sent. There are no shortcuts for these things. They are a part of the business. Over time it becomes easier as you learn what companies have shops in your area and you are doing the same or similar jobs a second, third or twentieth time so study time is less. Once you have been doing this systematically for a few months you begin seeing the systematic stream of payments that help support future shopping.
There is a big difference also between "shopping" and "mystery shopping". When I make a regular grocery store run I am generally in and out in 10-15 minutes and I don't stop and chatter with personnel in each department. When I "mystery shop" a grocery store I spend around 30-45 minutes inside checking everything and making all my observations. There is a different mental attitude when doing a "mystery shop" because it is about them, while regular "shopping" is taking care of my needs.
Folks who are going to succeed at this find the approaches that work for them, the companies that they will work for and the kinds of jobs they will do. For myself I have determined that I will do the shops that I find fun because of my own interests, the shops at places I would go anyway that have a benefit to me, and the shops that the money has made irresistable. Every forum I have seen discusses bonuses. If a shop is just posted with a fee of $10 you are unlikely to see a bonus with it and you are unlikely to have a scheduler call you about needing someone to do the job. Schedulers know what jobs they are unlikely to fill at regular fee because there are no shoppers signed up with them that are in that area. But they will keep the shop posted at the $10 fee until they have little choice but to find someone to do it for a fee that is more fair to the time and distance necessary to do the shop. I do many of my shops at the originally offered fee because that fee is fair to me for the interest, time and distance involved. I do many shops that I found the original fee was not appropriate for me and they were offered with a bonus that made them fair. I shop more with the companies that have shops in my area that start off fairly priced than I do for the companies that start off with low fees. I will do all sorts of favors for the companies that treat me right from the outset, knowing that the favor will be returned should I ever need it. I have no problem whatsoever with exploiting the companies that were trying to exploit me.
But determining what companies will work with you or for you is something that only the individual shopper can do over time and experience. And even then, all it takes is a change of scheduler with the company to ruin the relationship, so it does become an ongoing and fluid process. It is all part of the learning curve.
I attempted doing some work for EMPS, but I had target people to reach and after 2 trips to one city and 1 trip to another, I was still unable to locate the target. Everyday I would go online and report my experience, it took a week for tr scheduler to get back with me. I had surpassed the due date twice, even though I was given an extension, no one would even answer the phones at one location. After I dumped $50+ on gas I gave them up, not including the countless time I spent phoning and online. Rumor has it they aren't big on paying, and that made me worried I would put more money and time into them and not make anything. So I cut my losses.
What kind of video equipment is used for these shops? Where can such equipment be purchased?
Jeanne
Jeanne
I have heard about video equiptment, and took the test to use it, but it has never been mentioned or brought up about using it. I do know they send it to ya, at no charge, but we would be responible for paying for it if it got broken. Oh, they are hidden camera's that you wear and a wire. I supose that would really make ya spy! LOL
I bought my own video equipment. It was like 500.00 i have had it a year now and have done about 40 video shops.. They pay you 10.00 more if you have your own equipment, plus it works great...
Whoa.......thats crazy mad. You spent 500$ on your own survielence stuff? I hope those jobs are paying off! I do not like doing jobs for this company. More power to ya!!!!!!
They have been awesome to me... I travel for them also... they pay me more when I go to houston. And anytime I go somewhere they have shops for me and it helps with gas especially if I am going anyways... I have done 39 video shops and about 40 regular shops its not my primary source of income so.... i use the equipment for another job i have also so it all works out and it was a tax writeoff...
Its funny how everyone is different, and everyone likes or dislikes different stuff. I am glad this company has worked out for you! I went to Houston when I was young, it was hot and dry! I remember thinking, I just want to go swimming! Most of the Ellis shops here are in Jax, and I don't do all that metro traffic, my nerves are to bad, plus gas is so high, I am mostly doing demo's with mystery shops before and after for extra money. private message me
I remember thinking, I just want to go swimming! Most of the Ellis shops here are in Jax, and I don't do all that metro traffic, my nerves are to bad, plus gas is so high, I am mostly doing demo's with mystery shops before and after for extra money. private message me
EPMS is a good place to do MS,s they got many clients on California, payments on time, but many restrictions I agree with INCOGNITO, they need to be Mystery Shopped as well. I did a few shops for them, after one been rejected and canceled; they ask for corrections, which I did it online about 3 times and faxed about 3 times, my original report was online, they don't accept my corrections on either way, so after doing an 11 pages report, so many times I ended memorizing and dreaming with the report, don't work to me. But, I can tell them Thank you for the opportunity.
Hi fellow shoppers,
Just wanted to comment on my experience with epms. I have only worked for them for a few weeks, however I got my first check in the mail when it was expected! This was of major importance to me. I do agree that the reports are very long. It usually takes longer to complete the report than it does to complete the shop!
Here's To Successful Shopping
Just wanted to comment on my experience with epms. I have only worked for them for a few weeks, however I got my first check in the mail when it was expected! This was of major importance to me. I do agree that the reports are very long. It usually takes longer to complete the report than it does to complete the shop!
Here's To Successful Shopping
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