Grassroots - Now closed
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
Now to see who picks up their clients...
I thought it was a great company and very reliable. The reports were also reasonable and actually fun to do after you got the hang of it. It's sad to see them go. I will miss those clients and hope they get picked up soon. I don't mind the same gift card payments.
I just received a Gift Card for a dinner shop that I completed in February. I tried to call them but of course the inbox is full.
@myst4au wrote:
JillMarie -
They are defunct. Out of business. No more bank surveys. Unfortunately, the likelihood that you will get paid is low. That is the sad fact, and reflects what happened when other MSCs went bust. But remember, any cost you incurred for mileage or even for meals which are not reimbursed are businesses expenses which you can deduct on your income tax. Even if you used a gift card, and you were not reimbursed, it is a legitimate business expense.
@jillmarie13 wrote:
I actually did quite a few bank surveys with them, I wonder if they are still doing that, and hopefully I will get paid as I did them recently.
They are not Defunct or out of business. They simply decided to close down the mystery shopping branch of the business. The parent company is much alive and still operating. They are liable for all payments and everyone should be paid for jobs that are reimbursed to the Grass Roots Visa debit card. The mystery shopping branch of the company is not an LLC.
They are still doing MS in the UK and the main business branch in NY is answering the phone.
I am really curious to see who picks up their clients.. And if they, too, will opt for gift card payment for the one client I had in mind.
Somewhere in the Midwest, shopping / auditing full time since 2014. Will use PV-500 for food! 
I'm confused. Do I need to sign up with them in the UK? Do I need to live in the UK to work for them?
Probably they lost the major client they had for years and decided to close the mystery shop division. The major restaurant client was being shopped by other companies in late February so the contract must have been up for review and may be it was awarded to another company with long experience in restaurants and chains. If you read the profile of the executive team of the major client you can figure out very easily who might have picked this client. I think that is plenty of help.
thanks for the hint . I can't find anything on there, but I'm sure somebody will figure it out.
. I can't find anything on there, but I'm sure somebody will figure it out.Somewhere in the Midwest, shopping / auditing full time since 2014. Will use PV-500 for food!
Hey. Has anybody noticed the message on their home page saying they've closed? 
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
How come new member's questions get ignored? I am trying to read posts that have been attacked so much they don't even make sense. Real questions get ignored so other members can repeat things that have already been said. Thanks alot people.
Perhaps none of the people who have posted understood your question or knew the answer to it? I, for one, am confused by it. What exactly are you asking?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2015 11:41PM by bgriffin.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2015 11:41PM by bgriffin.
I just went back and found your question. If you live in the UK, it appears likely IMHO that you should sign up on that website for workj in the UK and whatever other locations that the UK may serve. If you live in the US, the US mystery shopping division is now closed. Is that what you were asking?
@MSNinja wrote:
How come new member's questions get ignored? I am trying to read posts that have been attacked so much they don't even make sense. Real questions get ignored so other members can repeat things that have already been said. Thanks alot people.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
@MSNinja wrote:
I'm confused. Do I need to sign up with them in the UK? Do I need to live in the UK to work for them?
I'm confused, too. Since almost all of us live in either the US or Canada, I'm not sure anyone here would know that. Do you live in the UK? If you find out that answer, please post it and let us all know.
Normally I don't post just to say I don't know and figure most of us are the same. Not knowing the answer and ignoring are two different things.
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 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.
@KateH wrote:
Probably they lost the major client they had for years and decided to close the mystery shop division. The major restaurant client was being shopped by other companies in late February so the contract must have been up for review and may be it was awarded to another company with long experience in restaurants and chains. If you read the profile of the executive team of the major client you can figure out very easily who might have picked this client. I think that is plenty of help.
After taking a Closer Look at the executive team bios, are you suggesting that W. Douglas Benn is the key executive in figuring our where the major client may go? If it is, I didn't see any shops listed with them last month. Or am I mistaken about which was their major client?
I am going to call Miami BBB and FL Attorney General's Office to see if there is any resolution/hope for us to receive our owed compensation. I always found it odd that my 6 digit shopper "PIN" was always the same of another longtime FL MS'ing company. I called them today and there is no business relationship, strictly a coincidence so I have ruled out the either company was aligned with the other. Will post when I have an update, $90 I am out but all about the principle!!
@mysterymom,
Why do not you try first the NYC office? The company is still operating, and it is profitable. Only the USA mystery division ceased operations. I think the amount owed to shoppers is peanuts compared to the bad publicity of comments constantly appearing online about them. BBB and DA can not do anything.
Why do not you try first the NYC office? The company is still operating, and it is profitable. Only the USA mystery division ceased operations. I think the amount owed to shoppers is peanuts compared to the bad publicity of comments constantly appearing online about them. BBB and DA can not do anything.
Just received today's mail, gift cards for $90 dessert restaurant evaluations that I was owed from March. A shocking ending but a happy ending.
I'm curious, were those on time, late or early?
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 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 received my March gift card in the mail today, too. I normally get it about 30 days after my shop, but I got it much earlier this time around =)
I appreciate people being concerned about receiving fees after shut down. It sounds as if the company didn't waste time beginning the process of settling accounts if some have already received March payment on the fourth business day since they closed.
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 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.
Looks like some people were getting their panties in a twist for no reason at all. Getting the BBB or a lawyer involved when technically the payment date was not even due yet was definitely jumping the gun.
I received my gift card for my March 17 shop.
Kate H, Sybil2 This is a business we are involved in; Kate H. the BBB and any given state's Office of the Attorney General needs to and wants to know sooner versus later when businesses have wronged their employees. The bigger pictures is that simply not just the shoppers are in need of updates but the employees of the now defunct Miami office that counted on steady paychecks and benefits. And the editors and the suppliers, the trickle down effect must be kept in mind. Again this is business and not a pursuit to be taken lightly, our time, energy and commitment means something.
I received my GC today for a shop performed on 3/15. A week or so earlier than normal.
Everyone's point was there had been no indication the company was not going to pay outstanding shopper fees. Most March fees were not even due yet so reporting them to any agency would be akin to Chicken Little saying the sky is falling. I don't think shoppers should take this lightly and should pay closer attention than they might otherwise. An article in today's Mystery Shopper Magazine asked shoppers owed fees to keep everyone posted.
If the BBB would get involved at all, and that is a big if, they probably won't be inclined until you have actually reached and passed the date when fees should have been received. I say if because the BBB is more of a consumer protection organization. Our contracts with MSCs are business to business transactions with us being a vendor.
If the BBB would get involved at all, and that is a big if, they probably won't be inclined until you have actually reached and passed the date when fees should have been received. I say if because the BBB is more of a consumer protection organization. Our contracts with MSCs are business to business transactions with us being a vendor.
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 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.
mysterymom, I've been doing this for almost 10 years so I know all about business. Today is April 6th. Forum members are stating that they have been receiving payments for shops performed in mid-March. A three week turnaround time for payment from almost any MSC is considered quite fast. Many MSCs pay in terms of 60-90 days so once again, 21 days or so is a gift.
As for the Miami employees, how do you know what their job status is? Maybe some of them were offered relocation to New York or another office. Some of them may have been offered different positions in other parts of the company. Some may have received a hefty severance package. Unless you work for them or knows someone directly who works for them, you really don't know. Why create a panic when there really does not seem to be a problem?
And as another poster mentioned, we are only four business days into the new month and the notification of them ceasing their MS'ing portion of the company. No pantie wadding is called for at this time.
As for the Miami employees, how do you know what their job status is? Maybe some of them were offered relocation to New York or another office. Some of them may have been offered different positions in other parts of the company. Some may have received a hefty severance package. Unless you work for them or knows someone directly who works for them, you really don't know. Why create a panic when there really does not seem to be a problem?
And as another poster mentioned, we are only four business days into the new month and the notification of them ceasing their MS'ing portion of the company. No pantie wadding is called for at this time.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.