I don't understand what the problem with low payouts is with this company. If the payouts are too low, just don't do them. There are hundreds of companies out there to do business with, so why get so upset over this one? If they are not paying like they should, then that's another story. But I see all these complaints about the low pay. I've only done 40 shops for this company in 7 or so months and only 3 have been below $10, with the highest being $39.88 for a pizza shop. So if don't have patience to wait, maybe you should consider other companies and their high pay and plentiful assignments. Truth is that there are not that many out there. So have patience and get paid; or move on.

I have never gotten anything less than a 5 for a shop either. And I'm dealing with Teal. I've dealt with others tho and I know that different people may help more but honestly to outright lie to me? Thats just wrong and I dont want to work for a company that lets it employees do that.

I've never dealt with Teal, what area are you working?

I complain about the low pay because I'm ready and willing to do gas shops and the fact that they do pay quickly is enticing. However, seeing $3.00 per shop is insulting. I complain that they pay low and people are still picking up these shops. Then what happens? Other companies follow suit and lower their pay because people out there will work for the insulting wages. What a joke!

Just don't work for them unless it is a shop that pays what you want it to. Works for me. Completed a huge 3 shops for them over 5 years. Not interested since they go cheap here, except I will put myself as BU for the burgers, which covers the cost, and I love them and don;t go there as I think it is too pricey. So for their *super easy* report, and the repayment, I will do that one. Both of them I got I got by being a back up. One within minutes, and the other in a couple of weeks. I don't know if folks are flaking or what, but for this shop, for their pay scale, I don't get why, if so. As this one pays fairly. But apparently not as well as the other MSC that is competing for the contract, as heard here.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2010 07:59AM by dee shops.

topaz74 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I complain about the low pay because I'm ready and
> willing to do gas shops and the fact that they do
> pay quickly is enticing. However, seeing $3.00
> per shop is insulting. I complain that they pay
> low and people are still picking up these shops.
> Then what happens? Other companies follow suit
> and lower their pay because people out there will
> work for the insulting wages. What a joke!

Topaz,
Why do consider $3 for a shop insulting? Why are complaining over something that someone else sees as desirable is not desirable to you. People have any number of reasons why they accept these shops at a low price and not all of them are newbies. Some people take them because they are convenient to other shops that they will be doing and so they use the shops to "top off" a day. They do them for various reasons, but they don't do them all. If someone else chooses to do them, well that's their burden. I'm not insulted if you take a job for $5 instead of $10 or $15, but I won't do it under most circumstances. If I did decide to take a job at a cheap price, that's on me and not your concern. I may need $35 or $40 next Friday to pay a bill. CRI knows this; That's why they are in business. My goal is to make sure I do the jobs at a price I can live with. What you are comfortable with has to to be your concern, not mine.

Emdisco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> topaz74 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I complain about the low pay because I'm ready
> and
> > willing to do gas shops and the fact that they
> do
> > pay quickly is enticing. However, seeing $3.00
> > per shop is insulting. I complain that they
> pay
> > low and people are still picking up these shops.
>
> > Then what happens? Other companies follow suit
> > and lower their pay because people out there
> will
> > work for the insulting wages. What a joke!
>
> Topaz,
> Why do consider $3 for a shop insulting? Why are
> complaining over something that someone else sees
> as desirable is not desirable to you. People have
> any number of reasons why they accept these shops
> at a low price and not all of them are newbies.
> Some people take them because they are convenient
> to other shops that they will be doing and so they
> use the shops to "top off" a day. They do them for
> various reasons, but they don't do them all. If
> someone else chooses to do them, well that's their
> burden. I'm not insulted if you take a job for $5
> instead of $10 or $15, but I won't do it under
> most circumstances. If I did decide to take a job
> at a cheap price, that's on me and not your
> concern. I may need $35 or $40 next Friday to pay
> a bill. CRI knows this; That's why they are in
> business. My goal is to make sure I do the jobs at
> a price I can live with. What you are comfortable
> with has to to be your concern, not mine.


I have to disagree with this. This kind of thinking is why fees remain low. $3? Please. It costs anyone more than that to do a shop. The question for me there is WHY would anyone take it at that price?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/12/2010 09:17AM by dee shops.

dee shops stated;
"I have to disagree with this. This kind of thinking is why fees remain low. $3? Please. It costs anyone more than that to do a shop. The question for me there is WHY would anyone take it at that price?"

Who knows, but people have needs that you are not aware of and therefore are not in a position to judge them for taking a shop at any price. I just know that I won't do it. If someone wants to work a that level, it doesn't insult me. It would be a problem if I had to take a shop at that price, but not someone else. The goal is to educate and help people do better. If they don't accept the knowledge, then they are the worst for it, not me. So I am not insulted by your actions if they are not directed towards me.

Yoyoshopper: I work in South Dakota.

MerissaA Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yoyoshopper: I work in South Dakota.


Okay. We are in completely different areas (I'm in VA), so our people might be different.

Well good luck with them. I wish it didnt have to be this way, I liked how fast I got paid and they had a decent amount of shops in my area. To me its just not worth it though. I dont want to support a company that thinks lying is ok.

I don't get why people get "insulted" by a fee. If it is too low, then don't take the job. I agree $3 is too low and I have yet to sign up for any of the new gas stations even though I go there often. But for people to say they are insulted by it is a little ridiculous.

dee shops Wrote:

> The question for me there is WHY would anyone take it
> at that price?


I think sometimes it's people that are stopping at that gas station daily anyway. I often see a lot of the lower priced gas station shops go quickly in my area too and I always figure it's more of the casual shopper stopping at that gas station on their way from work to begin with. So for them it's worth it to take a few pics and make a few bucks on something they were already doing.

Emdisco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dee shops stated;
> "I have to disagree with this. This kind of
> thinking is why fees remain low. $3? Please. It
> costs anyone more than that to do a shop. The
> question for me there is WHY would anyone take it
> at that price?"
>
> Who knows, but people have needs that you are not
> aware of and therefore are not in a position to
> judge them for taking a shop at any price. I just
> know that I won't do it. If someone wants to work
> a that level, it doesn't insult me. It would be a
> problem if I had to take a shop at that price,
> but not someone else. The goal is to educate and
> help people do better. If they don't accept the
> knowledge, then they are the worst for it, not me.
> So I am not insulted by your actions if they are
> not directed towards me.


I did not JUDGE them. I asked why they would do it. That is two entirely different things. Think about it.

The latest prices in my area for 6 names and 3 interactions:
$5.54
$8.63
$7.96
$8.36

Uhm, nope! :-)

dee shops Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The latest prices in my area for 6 names and 3
> interactions:
> $5.54
> $8.63
> $7.96
> $8.36
>
> Uhm, nope! :-)

And no one is saying you have to take them. I don't really see the point in listing the prices of shops and then putting a snide "uhm, nope" when no one is trying to tell you to accept them. I can think of several companies right now with shop prices lower than those that require far more intensive reports, but I just don't take the jobs.

Overall the real issue with Corporate Research is the disrespectfully low prices and the assumption that 62 cents or 94 cents really makes a difference in whether an outrageously underpriced shop will be accepted or not. Obviously not all shoppers feel this way as the $4 gas and other junk shops in my area are snagged as fast as they hit the boards. If people are willing to volunteer for a non-charitable organization, that is definitely their choice. But I rarely even open a CORI email because I get so disgusted when they seem to think a price increase of under 50 cents will make a difference. If I am that hard up I need to be doing something else with my life.

To me, and how I schedule my shops, sometimes the extra 50 cents or so does make a difference. There are rarely shops in my area so I usually travel at least 20 miles or so to the next closest cities. To make the trip worth it, I need to do at least 5-6 shops in one city. A lot of the CoRI shops are close to other stores I would be shopping. Therefore, a shop for $5 here and $6 there can add up and make the trip worth it considering I would be passing the stores to begin with.

Bascially, they are paying below minimum wage.

The point is lisams901 that you are making business decisions of expediency which you should not have to be making. Each job that you take should in and of itself be worthwhile--perhaps not to go to another city to perform, but at least be fair payment for its requirements. We rationalize too much in allowing ourselves to take the junk shops. I had a real eye opener on that one last year when I picked up a bunch of junk shops on a 60+ mile trip with mileage reimbursed for two $40 shops. At the last minute the two $40 shops needed to be delayed several weeks and I found myself running the 68 miles, without reimbursement, for $23 in fees and basically worthless reimbursements.

lisams901 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dee shops Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The latest prices in my area for 6 names and 3
> > interactions:
> > $5.54
> > $8.63
> > $7.96
> > $8.36
> >
> > Uhm, nope! :-)
>
> And no one is saying you have to take them. I
> don't really see the point in listing the prices
> of shops and then putting a snide "uhm, nope" when
> no one is trying to tell you to accept them. I can
> think of several companies right now with shop
> prices lower than those that require far more
> intensive reports, but I just don't take the jobs.


Okay Lisa, that's you. I personally think it is laughable and worth posting. YMMV. I understand.

Bascially the ones in my areas have been $5.00 and they take fees out of that. Like I said below minimum wage and I do not take them.

I have been berated for saying nasty things about this non company so I will not do so. I think they are absolutely wonderful and pleasant to work with and they specialize in shoppers with a maximum IQ of 89. If you qualify, then please apply. I can promise you that the job will be available to you and they will pay on time. Wait unitl you get your gas credit card bill to see what negative shopping really is.

My last 5 jobs for 6 names and 3 interactions, all this month;

13.75
22.29
13.55
13.75
22.48

I had to do some travel to do them all, but it was worth it. No $4.00 shops for me!

This discussion may belong under some other thread, as not all of us are solely referring to CoRI. But . . .

To each his own. I have taken the cheapest of the cheap, as well as some plums. Minimum wage? Not always, by the time I add shop searching, applying, checking for assignment, driving, on-site shop, reporting and possible aftermath. CoRI, specifically, is low. Take them, leave them, watch and wait for them to get bonused. My best-planned routes have also fallen apart, infrequently enough for me to categorize that event as "stuff happens".

Personally, I no longer take shops below $10, rarely below $15. Unless, I can make them work and yield a nice day's pay. Well, there is an $8 shop I'll do because it's on my way to anywhere. I'm talking fees. In my book, reimbursements don't count the same as fees.

I don't want any of us to be made to feel guilty, or that we have to justify or defend.

Emdisco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My last 5 jobs for 6 names and 3 interactions, all
> this month;
>
> 13.75
> 22.29
> 13.55
> 13.75
> 22.48
>
> I had to do some travel to do them all, but it was
> worth it. No $4.00 shops for me!


We don't have that many of the store here, and they rarely make it over $9. At $22, we're talking! :-)

Mert Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In my book, reimbursements don't count the same as fees.

I agree, except sometimes for groceries I will consider that as part of the fee since buying groceries has to be done.

sella Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bascially, they are paying below minimum wage.


EXACTLY!!!!! This is why it's insulting. I have done $4.00 gas shops when I can do 3-4 of them along with other shops, simply because I can do the shop in 5 minutes. However, the report takes at least 15 minutes, then uploading all the photos etc. takes even more time. To see the price drop an additional dollar on all of the gas shops is just insane. I have done gas shops for another company that did the same thing - dropped fees by a dollar or two, and they are down to just under $8.00 a shop now. I find that somewhat insulting, and that is more than twice as much as CoRI pays. What is also insulting is the fact that the CoRI is surely getting paid WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY more than that, as they do need to make a profit, but come on.

Each month CRI begins nearby gas shops at $4...with test review time, printing, drive & shop and so-slow reporting that is an absurb offer. Lowe's open at $5. What I've noticed over the past 4 months is that no one selects, then at month's end, shops jump couple times to maybe $10 and the local favorite, who is playing CRI, takes it. Based on the amounts paid, I believe more of the story Emdisco tells concerns those type of shops.
Truth is long as these $4/5 shops are accepted, they will continue. How can a $4 shop become $20/30 at month's end without coming from the allocated budget?
I vote no on considering reimbursement as revenue.

lisams901 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To me, and how I schedule my shops, sometimes the
> extra 50 cents or so does make a difference. There
> are rarely shops in my area so I usually travel at
> least 20 miles or so to the next closest cities.
> To make the trip worth it, I need to do at least
> 5-6 shops in one city. A lot of the CoRI shops are
> close to other stores I would be shopping.
> Therefore, a shop for $5 here and $6 there can add
> up and make the trip worth it considering I would
> be passing the stores to begin with.

I agree, a $5 and $8 shop here and there can add to a trip. In fact, I would take their shops as "fillers" on other routes. However, when they drop to $3.00 a shop, they are worthless even as fillers. So far no one in my area has taken these shops. Wait, I lie, I have seen these shops taken, then they reappear immediately because they are flaked on.