I have been an Indepedent Contractor for Market Force for almost 3 years. I have been an excellent shopper. I was just recently dropped because of an error with my pictures. I did three shops that day and I put them into seperate folders. Well, it seems that I accidentaly attatched the wrong pictures to the wrong report. First, they accused me of fradulent activity and when I asked to provide exactly what I did is when I found out that what I did. They then called it an error, however if I could do this, then who knows what other errors I have made. Their words. Since everyone at Market Force is so perfect, I am glad to be disassociated with them.

They have a point, though mostly it is on the top of their head.

jacklamp, you are not the first and will not be the last. Do a search on the forum for Market force, all dates, and you will see a lot of this. Be happy, move on to higher-paying jobs and companies.

I have not had problems with the blue portal (Marketforce) but the Purple (CRINY) had really poorly written instructions. I notified them and they said to call an 800#. I tried to call the 800# but it does not work in this area. So I messaged them again and told them, "Your 800# doesn't work." Well they then sent me a message to call their 800# about my problem.

On the Blue portal I've had to do the pictures and it is difficult, but so far I have not had any rejections. I did go about 5 months without pay and when I complained they dragged their feet, but that eventually was fixed.

Unfortunately like AustinMom said, do a search and you will see many unhappy shoppers from Market Force, myself included. Over a year ago I posted a thread about them sending out a reminder to their shoppers (who were doing a merchandising project) to make sure their hygiene is taken care of and to wear deodorant. That should tell you all you need to know about who they want as shoppers. They will accept anyone, pay them very little, and as soon as you make an error you are gone. Happened to me too and I've been a shopper on and off for almost 11 years now. I didn't like their shops very much but they were great "fill-ins" when I would make up a route, sometimes providing free breakfast and/or lunch on along the way. Oh well! You are obviously articulate and experienced, and deserve a better company to work for anyway.

I love them as much as I love liver with a side of green bean casserole.

Well, they pay regularly. At least I've had no problems in that department.

MysteryShopSteve Wrote:
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> I notified them and
> they said to call an 800#. I tried to call the
> 800# but it does not work in this area. So I
> messaged them again and told them, "Your 800#
> doesn't work." Well they then sent me a message to
> call their 800# about my problem.
>
>
I worked for their sister by a different mother, CERTIFIED.

I will do a sneak preview shop for Saturday. I need to call the 800 number with the results. I have also experience there no answer calls, too., It concerns me. No one seems to answer the PROMPT OPTION #3.

We will see!!!!!!!

They have always paid me. Like most people I schedule MarketForce shops as "fill-ins". They have fairly simple and quick reports to input, I think. However, the CPI/Receipt status needs to be watched because I have had paperwork marked as received or verified and then marked as not received dayslater.

sojo917 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I worked for their sister by a different mother,
> CERTIFIED.
>
> I will do a sneak preview shop for Saturday. I
> need to call the 800 number with the results. I
> have also experience there no answer calls, too.,
> It concerns me. No one seems to answer the
> PROMPT OPTION #3.
>
> We will see!!!!!!!


... and when they don't receive your report because THEY did not answer, YOU will not get paid. Been there.

Yup, I got an email request for sign up with the Purple Portal (Certified) yesterday. I just chuckled as I hit the 'delete' button.

I've pretty much given up on the purple side as they leave out some very pertinent info until you actually commit to the shop. I still have good luck with blue side though.

I agree 100%. In the past I was disabled from shopping because of what they say "No receipts". I know there is no way they could have gone 4 months into the year without receipts and still paid me. But anyway I was reinstated but this week, I faxed my CPI's and receitps as promised. They emailed me about one of the receipts. I responded and told them that I had faxed them on such and such day, is it my fault someone is not checking the fax on their end. Anyway, I checked the status and saw it was rejected because they could not read the receipt. I then scanned it and now waiting.

I keep shopping because I am working toward a goal. Not a big fan of the fast food shops but I love the bonus toward the end of the period.

I now have a photo shop coming up and what I have been doing is maybe 2 shops a day and then only downloading the pictures from each shop one at a time.

I learned that from doing the Maritz photo shops. I used to mess those up when I was getting used to my camera. Maritz would just email you and ask for the right receipts.

Good luck though.

I'm not a fan of the fast food shops either. They are problematic when you don't yes them to death!! I quit doing these , because once you say something bad, they inquire your report to death!!

I Merchandised for Purple Portal checking on DVD's. Four days later I was told I was being deactivated because I stole a $350 deposit which the cashier gave me when he signed my paperwork. I told Purple Portal that I didn't do it nor did I see any money. I was told I was on video and that the manager wants the money back. I was told to call the company of the store I was in. I called their loss prevention and told him I never saw any money nor did I take it. He asked a bunch of questions. I asked him to call me back next week which he failed to do. I called him back and he didn't return my call. I called again and was told he was out of town at a funural. When I left the message I told him that I lost my job because of false allegation and that he needed to make it right. In the mean time I went out of town and could think of nothing but possibly getting arrested for something I didn't do. I called a lawyer whom believed me and told me I could sue and probably $4000-$5000 which would be my lawyers fees. He also said that they would probably say they lost the tape. I was working 7 days a week and didn't have time to pursue it. Finally someone for the Purple Portal called me back and rudely reinstated me under the condition I didn't go back into that store because I have a problem with that manager. I was also told not to ever call the guy from loss prevention again. I wasn't in the store longer than 10 minutes. I brought nothing in but one piece of paper, a pen, and car keys. I do not bring my purse in any store I work in. When I went to the register to get the signiture I was told the manager just left. I wonder if she took the money and looking for someone else to blame? I am not a fan of Purple Portal because they did not handle the situation properly. I understand why I was deactivated but was rudely reactivateed. They also pay horribly but they do pay. It took me a long time before I would accept another assignment but why should I suffer because of a manager that shouldn't be. I am 48 and never have been accused of any crime.

friend4v, I have never heard anything like that! What an awful, awful story! The company's behavior doesn't even add up! How could they care about DVD inventory, and not about a dishonest manager??!!

I don't blame Purple Portal. They could have handled it better though. They were put in the middle and didn't want to lose an account. And for the manager we will never know but I doubt a cashier would just lose the money or put it in a bag. And apparently the cashier was put on leave for not using procedure. All I know is it wasn't me. I think I wrote the thread so others protect themselves, if possible, from something like this happened to them.

That is absolutely unbelievable! but it did happen to you, and I am so sorry. What a nightmare!

Carol

I do this to handle pictures for multiple shops because I can do 10 - 12 gas shops in one day sometimes. I print out the first page that has the Job ID and address and such on it. Before I do each shop, I take a picture of it's first page of instructions. That identifies each set of pictures #. Then I scan the receipts into the same folder. Whaaa laaaa - Everything stays together that way.

Yes, I do that as well but don't usually bother with a photo of the first page with the job ID. My file tree looks like
MSP NAME
---CLIENT NAME
-----123 MAIN ST
-----456 MAIN ST
-----789 MAIN ST
My notes tell me what time I was in and out of each location and my memory card from the camera shows me the times the photos were taken so I can just cut and paste them into the correct folder. When I open the folder to edit the photos there is always a 'signature' photograph that I have taken first. For gas stations I do, that 'signature' photo is always a photograph of the cashier. If I have no 'signature' photo or 2 'signature photos, I know I have screwed up and need to look at the photo numbers and times a little more closely.

I have had great luck with them. They pay on time and they have never asked a question about a report unlike other companies have.

I noticed they are the ones with the carhop shops in my area now. Can anyone tell me if they bonus these, and if so by how much?

It depends entirely on whether they can find other shoppers to take them, Elmer. In my market they go like proverbial hot cakes so little chance they will ever bonus unless somebody flakes at the last minute.

They go pretty fast in my market, too. I have seen them bonused to $5.75 but not higher.

Interesting. They are not going fast in my area at all. The pay is $5.00 and the reimbursement $5.25, which I suspect does not include a tip which is obviously necessary for car service. Pass.

ShopUntilYouDrop Wrote:
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> Interesting. They are not going fast in my area at
> all. The pay is $5.00 and the reimbursement $5.25,

In my area, it is really hard to get all three required items for under $5.25.

Reimbursement is barely adequate, or a dollar shy. These shops don't get bonused here and the report is pretty long for the fee.

That's what I think. I don't do them anymore. They only reimburse $5.25 so I am short about $1, then it pays $5. Report is longer than the one for the double fastfood.

Funny you guys are talking about this place. I just did one of these 2 weeks ago and it was beyond horrible! Times were just off the chart etc.
I was set to do the same place a week or so later and got a call from the scheduler that there was no need as they had shut down. GO FIGURE.
My daughter now blames me for them shutting down, LOL.
I told her no big loss, that place made my car smell like yucky onion for a week - gross.

Anyone else get multiple phone calls DAILY? They seem to be increasing, and getting earlier in the AM! Seriously annoying!!!