Yeah I have been emailing with that address. Just wondering if the info they are giving me sounds realistic or even likely?

It can't hurt to go to the orientation and see what they have to say. Scammers certainly are not doing them, and if you have been emailing with their contact listed with "whois," it sounds safe enough to attend. Perhaps they have a special project.

can i get some assisgnments for next mondays thru wednesday.

haris, this is a forum for shoppers to talk about shopping. No assignments are given out here. To get assignments you have to go to the mystery shopping providers' websites.

Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Both CoRI and Maritz do a lot of gas stations, MFI
> does a lot of fast food shops. But there are
> other companies that do gas and other companies
> that do fast food.


MFI has a lot of gas station audits in my area.

You can get some good pay from CRI, but you have to keep watching their pay - they increase it almost daily.

Integrity Consultants is a Market Research Service Provider with projects throughout the United States. We currently are working with Extra Eyes Nationwide, Inc. and Sales Quality Research Group on Mystery Shopping projects in the Financial Services industry and managing Demo and Merchandising projects for LP-In-Store Services. There is never a fee to register with Integrity Consultants or receive assignments. Extensive training and support services are provided at no cost to the Mystery Shopper, Demonstrator, Event Staffer, or Merchandiser-collectively referred to as Field Service Representatives(FSR).

In an attempt to support the Market Research Industry and promote continuing education, Integrity Consultants has developed Market Research Pros, a free resource available on Facebook, Brightfuse, and XING. All online locations are accessible from our Blog which also includes articles, additional resources, and a job board powered by Simply Hired. Integrity Consultants invites all providers and schedulers to post your opportunities on Market Research Pros as we strive to increase the number of opportunities available to all FSRs.

KTruelove Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Integrity Consultants is a Market Research Service
> Provider with projects throughout the United
> States. We currently are working with Extra Eyes
> Nationwide, Inc. and Sales Quality Research Group
> on Mystery Shopping projects in the Financial
> Services industry and managing Demo and
> Merchandising projects for LP-In-Store Services.
> There is never a fee to register with Integrity
> Consultants or receive assignments. Extensive
> training and support services are provided at no
> cost to the Mystery Shopper, Demonstrator, Event
> Staffer, or Merchandiser-collectively referred to
> as Field Service Representatives(FSR).
>

If it is a "free resource", why do you charge posters $30 for 30 days?
Also, when I look under Mystery Shopping, I see your firm's legitimate postings, but there is another category called "Additional Postings from the Web." In that section, I saw two postings that seemed like scammer or pay to shop posts (or both.) For example:

************************BEGIN POTENTIAL SCAM POSTING***************************



:Earn $250 weekly working as a Secrete/Mystery shopper, This is a flexible job offer, does not disturb your present Job if you have one.

Heres your chance to get paid for shopping and dinning out.Your job will be to evaluate and comment on customer service in a wide Variety of shops, Stores, restaurant and services in your area. Mystery shoppers are Needed.

Youll be paid to shop and dine out-plus,you can also get free meals, Free merchandise,Free services, free Entertainment, Free travel and more. Great Pay. Fun Work.Flexible Schedules. No experience required.If you can shop-you are qualified!

JOB REQUIREMENTS
*** Good business Skills
*** The Applicant must be 18Years and above
*** Honest, responsible, industrious
*** PC, e-mail and the Internet skills
*** Ability to check e-mail daily
*** No less than 2 working hours per day.


Employer Information (email or apply online only)
Company Name: **************
Address: **************
Address2: **************
City: **************
State: **************
Zip: **************
Telephone: **************
Fax: **************
Email: **************
Website: **************
Employer Description Description not Available


OR

Job Description:

We have a mystery shopping assignment in your area and we would like you to participate Secret Shopper® is acceptingapplications for qualified individuals to become mystery shoppers. Its fun and rewarding, and you choose when and where you want to shop. You are never obligated toaccept an assignment. There is no charge to become a shopper and you do not need previous experience. After you sign up, you will have access to training materials via e-mail, fax or postal mail.You will be required to interact with the shop clerk.You may conduct the shop alone or as a couple.The assignment will pay $200.00 per duty Kindly Fill Out the application form below and we will get back to you shortly with the assignment: forward to our email secretshopper1000@yahoo.com PERSONAL INFORMATION: First Name.............................................Middle Name.............................................Last Name.............................................Street Address.............................................City, State, Zip Code .............................................Cell Phone Number .............................................Home Phone Number .............................................Age....................................................................Current Occupation......................................................Alternate Email Address .............................................AVAILABILITYays/Hours AvailableMonday .............................................Tuesday .............................................Wednesday .............................................Thursday .............................................Friday .............................................Saturday .............................................Sunday .............................................Hours Available: from _______ to ______We await your urgent response.Thank you for your help.We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Sharon WhiteSecret Shopper®[email removed]df-lj

Keywords: Secret Shopper??, New York, Costumers Service And Representatives, Office, New York, New York


***********************END POTENTIAL SCAM POSTING*******************************

Strangely, there is also a post for a Physician, in this same Mystery Shopper search.

To me, is quite disturbing to see legitimate postings interwoven with what seriously appears to be illicit shopper ads and potential scams, replete with all the poor English and posting errors these types of scams usually hold. Because the link to them is on your site (which does hold authentic jobs) it inappropriately and inadvertently may lead some potential shoppers to view those scammer's ads as genuine. Not only may some potential shoppers end up getting taken in by them, but it also could lead other people to the conclusion that shopping is just a scam, etc.

[i][small]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2009 12:42AM by dee shops.[/small][/i]

Hi Dee,
I do not see this posting anywhere on our site, but you're right, that would come from the section, "Additional Postings from the Web," which is self-explanatory. While I am not responsible for all postings on the web, I share the same views as you do and do not want illegitimate postings mixed in with ours. I do my very best to limit the parameters in such a way that only legitimate opportunities can be shown. However, this is a Simply Hired job board, meaning that postings can come from the web itself, and ALL Simply Hired job boards, of which there are thousands. They can also change frequently, which creates a situation where constant attention and revision are required. The opportunities on the home page are the ones that have been specifically posted to this board. It is very much a free resource for shoppers and providers, as you do not need to pay to post or view jobs. However, there is a paying option for those wishing to have a featured listing. Shoppers, Demonstrators, Merchandisers, and Event Staffers, collectively referred to as Field Service Representatives, are never charged for any reason. All online locations of Market Research Pros, including the job board, are maintained by me. All suggestions are appreciated, and the possibility of even one bad post getting through has caused me to alter the parameters yet again, so that another cannot get through. My goal is that Market Research Pros will become a resource of resources, including opportunities and job postings, as well as companies and providers, support companies, and continuing education, Thanks very much for your diligence and efforts to assist with this endeavor. You are appreciated!



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2009 11:47PM by KTruelove.

Many a good MSC has had part or all of their site and/or name hijacked by scammers in the recent past.

I think that we should give a well estalished MSC, such as Integrity Consultants, an opportunity to rid themselves of the scammers, just as the industry has done f0r other companies unfortunate enough to have a site/name hijacked.

As for the paid area, it seems that is is not the shoppers who are being asked to pay, but the companies that advertise on the site. Is this not the norm for advets by companies?
Why should this MSC be any different?

Walesmaven,

I appreciate your fair and extremely objective views. You are absolutely correct. Scams abound in this industry and make the jobs of legitimate companies and shoppers that much harder. It seems that we have two choices in this industry. We can deal with things how they are and allow the legitimate professionals to continue to work twice as hard to prove that they are legitimate, or work together to make positive changes and alert each other when something seems amiss. To go above and beyond, in any industry, you often open yourself up for more challenges and difficulties. I began as a shopper and am working each and every day to make things easier for those trying to enter and get ahead in the field of Market Research. I am attempting to make education and opportunities more accessible to FSRs, providers, and the retailers who utilize our services. I do appreciate your understanding while these resources are developed into all that they can be and appreciate any feedback on how Integrity Consultants and Market Research Pros can meet the industry's needs. You are also correct that only providers and schedulers have the opportunity to purchase advertising in the form of a featured listing on the Simply Hired job board. However, they are not required to do so; their posts will still be included from the web, and any poster who contacts me can also obtain a free or discounted featured listing on the job board. Providers and schedulers have also been invited to post, free of charge, at the Facebook, XING, Squidoo, and Brightfuse MR Pros locations. I wanted all visitors to have choices. While the core content is the same at all online locations, depending on which location you visit, there are certain options. You have the opportunity to visit a social or professional venue that you may already be using on a regular basis, such as Facebook, XING, or Career Builder's Brightfuse. You also have the option of not joining a group or developing a profile, like some of these media require, by visiting the Squidoo page. As a shopper, you can take advantage of the job board or view individual job postings by companies at the other locations. You can also take advantage of the articles, resources, discussion topics, news and industry updates. As a provider, the same benefits apply, but there is also the option to post to the job board or each of the individual online locations.

As a provider, Integrity Consultants offers extensive training and support, which includes additional resources such as those found on MR Pros. We also offer a referral service to assist colleagues and are proud sponsors of the 2009 and 2010 IMSC. I was honored to present three topics at the 2009 IMSC in Las Vegas and am proud to serve as Communications Director for the 2010 IMSC.

I truly appreciate the welcome that we have received and the faith that has been placed in us by all of our colleagues, strategic partners, FSRs, and friends. I invite you all to share your feedback with me as we move into 2010 and work with me to make this the best year yet.

I make good money right now but need jobs after the 18 of each month. I find I run out of work each month by the 18th.

Hi
I am from Puerto Rico. I want to know if someone of you know which company made mystery shop for Hard Rock Cafe. Let me know.

Thanks
Wanda

We cannot tell you who does particular shops; that would violate the ICA's we sign with companies. However, this company does not have a job board to get that shop. You have to be on their mailing list, and the shop is done in Word. Keep signing up and you will find it; if you do one an wait months and months, you might even get paid by them. If you are lucky, or vocal.

Hi, I would like to know if anyone knows a mystery shopping company that does WalMart, HEB, Einstein Bagels.

I live in San Antonio, Texas.

This is a great group.

Mary

The problem is, mwert, that our Independent Contractor Agreements with companies indicate that we cannot disclose who the clients are of the companies. What I can tell you is that WalMart is not shopped but rather some of the 'stores' or products inside of Walmart are shopped--such as Lube & Oil Express by the oil company, photo by a film company, the burger place, the tax prep, etc. But Walmart is not the client for the shop.

I will add that Einstein Bagels is shopped directly, but you don't get to choose what you order, so I rarely take those shops.

The jury is still out on HEB. There's a post elsewhere about this and it seems like they may have discontinued their shopping program for now.

One of the few things I miss about living in MD...Einstein's Bagels was there. We don't have one here.

You have to weigh that against better weather and getting reimbursed for added pineapple in your breakfast, dee :^)

LOL. True dat. :-)

Is ShadowShopper a legit company? They want me to upgrade and pay a few in order to shop. What do you think? Is it too good to be true?

Mary

Shadow shopper is a service that aggregates jobs and accepts postings from schedulers. It is not a mystery shopping company.

As a general rule, there is no reason for you ever to pay a penny to shop--not for leads, not for certifications, not for referral services nor for any other pick pocket scheme that comes down the pike. It just is not necessary. Yes, you will need to pay small sums, most often just to provide a receipt to prove that you were in the right place at the time required, but these most frequently are reimbursed. Otherwise you are in this business to MAKE money, not to PAY money.

Hi,

Is it a good idea to get certified in certain functions that a Mystery Shopper does?

Take care,
Mary

mwert, "in certain functions"? Although I don't understand exactly what you're asking, my opinion is NO. If you read this forum, shoppers with years' experience will tell you they have never had to pay for certification to get shops.

Hi Mert this is Mwert,

Is Mert your real name? My cat is named Mwert, my name is Mary. How interesting our names.

Nice to meet you Mert,

Mwert (Mary)

What is your favorite Mystery Shopping Company? I'm asking because I'm new and don't want to get burned. So far, I like Market Force and Secret Shopper.

This is really fun work so far. I'm retired, get a pension and look forward to doing shops.

Take care,

Mwert (Mary)

Greetings mwert from Mert! Not my real name, Mert is a nickname my Dad gave me umpteen years ago.

Welcome to this forum, mwert. I hope you'll find it enjoyable and helpful.

I have a question about a company called Market Force.
I am new to the mystery shopping community. I have completed a few shops with other companies. However, I am very uncomfortable giving out my social security number. So many reasons for this..this least of which is giving out my social security number online to a company seems dangerous. Many companies do not ask for a social security number. How do I know that it is safe to do so.
I am signed up with Jancyn and Montery Mystery Shopping. They pay through Pay Pal.
I dont feel comfortable giving out my social security number. Can someone let me know if asking for your social security number is the norm...and how can I be sure that the it is safe to do so and the company is legit.
Thank you for any info you can provide...again I am new at this and just want feedback.

Yes, it is the norm to hand out your social security number. I am assuming that YOU went to the website to sign up rather than responding to a link in an email or sending your social sec through an email.

If you got the web address of the company off of a list from here, you can assume you actually made it to a legitimate company website. If you look in the address bar at the top you should see "["]; and/ or a little lock, either of which should indicate that the application page is a secure one.

There are several reasons companies require your social security. The first of which, obviously, is that if you earn $600 or more with them during the year they need to send you a 1099. The second is that shoppers are only allowed to sign up once with a company. They do not want you signing up multiple times under different names to try to beat rotation requirements on shops. And if for some reason they terminate your relationship, they don't want you trying to sneak back in.