They have few shops. They change reps all the time and do all they can not to pay. They do not even pay minimum wage for their shops.

What is considered minimum wage for shops?

I do several simple shops from them a month. Theres another thread on here that was created recently from someone who works for the company. He's asking for feedback. Maybe you should go over there and tell him how you feel.

easygoing Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They have few shops. They change reps all the time
> and do all they can not to pay. They do not even
> pay minimum wage for their shops.


That's odd. ICCDS has not changed their base of reps in the 8 months I've shopped them. They rotate the reps to different areas to freshen the approach, it seems, but I hear from mostly the same people. I've never had a shop rejected.

If you want more than minimum wage, I suggest you look for an actual JOB. You can make more money MSing, but you have to be a little more experienced and apparently a lot more patient.

I am sorry to hear this as it sounds like you had a bad experience with ICC/DS. We pride ourselves on paying quickly and our shop fees and reimbursements vary by shop or audit. We offer mystery shops to Field Reps based on rotation and what we currently have available in each area. Feel free to contact me at 1-800-631-1617 ext. 214 with any questions. I am happy to help.

Marti McGoldrick
Director of Quality Assurance

I wish there was a way to search shops - I travel quite often and shop while I'm traveling.

I asked about it and was told I could add another address - but I really travel for MS so - there's a lot of cities I would accept shops in.

Cyber, I wish we could search, too!

Hello,
We do not currently have a job board but we do have a list of available locations on our Facebook page. Please be sure to “like” our page. If you click on and select “ICCDS Info,” (in the left margin.) You will then see “ICCDS currently has jobs available in following areas - click on the links to see the list:” You can then select your region and look into mystery shops. Although you will be unable to accept the mystery shop from our Facebook page itself, you can contact your Field Coordinator if you are interested in conducting the shop.

[www.facebook.com]

Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy your day!!
Marti

Marti - you'll find that most dedicated shoppers definitely don't "Like" associating with MS companies on Facebook. There is an inherent risk in doing so - our anonymity is our business.

Marti, Courtney is right.

I know MSCs want to recruit new shoppers through these means, but the benefit is one-sided. We can't afford for local friends to take jobs from us and can't afford for word to get around to friends of friends who might work at shopped locations.

A shopper could create a secondary profile just for connecting with MSCs, but who has time to hassle with monitoring multiple accounts?

Plus, even if one did create a fake profile, Facebook is cracking down, removing profiles which don't represent real people. They can see where multiple acounts are created from the same IP address. I for one don't want to jeopardize my real account for the sake of seeing jobs posted!

Google+ would work better for social networking with shoppers since it allows selective publishing and more privacy options. No one else sees who someone follows.

Unfortunately, it is still by invitation only.

Thank you both so much for the helpful feedback. I appreciate your concerns regarding your anonymity as shoppers as well. Currently, since we do not have a job board, the best way to find out about shops/audits in a location where you would be traveling would be by contacting your Field Coordinator. We are always happy to assist you with finding more shops/audits. If you need the contact information for your FC, just let me know, I can help you with that.
Thanks again and have a great weekend!
Marti

I was fascinated to receive an e-mail today indicating that paypal payments had been delayed for a few days. It seemed appropriately apologetic and the delay is not outrageous.

Hi Flash,
We do apologize for the minor delay and sincerely appreciate your understanding. Thanks so much and enjoy your weekend!

Just don't make it a habit LOL! It is nice to get a 'heads up' when there is an issue, especially when there are overall so few issues with payment with your company.

I love love love shopping for ICC/DS. It is one of my absolute favorite companies. I check the job board several times a day, just to see if I can snatch up jobs right before the e-mails come out. I need a new camera so I can take more shops!

Communication is outstanding, and self-assigning is the best. Being able to reschedule without penalty (if done within the shop time frame)is one of the best features, as things are constantly changing every day in a shopper's life.

Thank you for being the best!!!

easygoing Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They have few shops. They change reps all the time
> and do all they can not to pay. They do not even
> pay minimum wage for their shops.

It sounds as if you are not happy with their practices. If you need to re-examine the relationship you should do so.

I have a few companies that I do not shop for. And i shop for airlines, travel agencies and some of our casinos here in Vegas. If they are not good to work with, drop them. We have bilateral relationships.

Don in las vegas

Communication and rescheduling have been uncharted territory for me. I'm sure both the MSP and I appreciate that! I have not experienced self-assigning as such, as with other MSPs. Emailed assignments do not always appear on their site. Frequently, it's hit or miss and honestly I don't bother searching their site for that very reason. I have gotten bonused assignments that were previously sight unseen.

I've never had a problem with them, knock on wood.

I have a shop that is due today and my printer is on the blink. Can't scan or print anything out, but it will let me make a copy. I emailed Belinda about the scanning problem last week and she said I could fax it to them on Monday. This morning I wanted to check to see if all else was working o.k. that's when I found out it is not printing. I did email Belinda this morning to see if I have to print it out or if I could just write it down on paper for my records, but have not heard from her as of yet. I tried to call the 1-800-444-1717 and the 1-800-631-1617 and both numbers have been disconnected or is no longer in service. Has anyone tried to call these numbers? If these numbers are disconnected I am wondering if the 1-888-212-6180 fax number is disconnected also. I don't have access to a fax at the moment, so I can not try that number. If anyone out there could try those numbers please let me know if you get the same recording.

Charlene Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have a shop that is due today and my printer is
> on the blink. Can't scan or print anything out,
> but it will let me make a copy. I emailed Belinda
> about the scanning problem last week and she said
> I could fax it to them on Monday. This morning I
> wanted to check to see if all else was working
> o.k. that's when I found out it is not printing. I
> did email Belinda this morning to see if I have to
> print it out or if I could just write it down on
> paper for my records, but have not heard from her
> as of yet. I tried to call the 1-800-444-1717 and
> the 1-800-631-1617 and both numbers have been
> disconnected or is no longer in service. Has
> anyone tried to call these numbers? If these
> numbers are disconnected I am wondering if the
> 1-888-212-6180 fax number is disconnected also. I
> don't have access to a fax at the moment, so I can
> not try that number. If anyone out there could try
> those numbers please let me know if you get the
> same recording.


I'm confused -- can't you submit the shop online? If you're talking about faxing or emailing the collateral, that should be fine. As long as it's in by the end of the month, you're okay.

Thank you so much for assisting Charlene with her inquiry.
Charlene, your report should be submitted online. If you cannot access a printer to print up your invoice now after you submit your report that is okay. You can access your invoice from your "History" tab on your Field Rep page at a later date. All paperwork (invoice and receipt) does need to be submitted within 60 days though. The phone #'s you are trying to call are correct but you need to dial 888 instead of 800. That is why you are receiving a disconnected message. The fax # you are dialing is correct but you can also try 973-890-8615. Please let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to help.
Marti

Ah, and here I thought it was by the end of the month! Thanks, Marti.

You're welcome. Have a great weekend!

mmcgoldrick Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You're welcome. Have a great weekend!

Just a comment:

My Mom used to do Mystery Shops decades ago before the internet, fax machines, scanners, heck,,,,,,maybe even before the Big Bang . She filled out the reports and "mailed" them into the company. And waited....and waited...and waited. Finally, the checks came through and letters of refusal as well. I remember her doing this and I asked her about it. I learned a few weeks ago that she was a Mystery Shopper.

Don

Interesting how times have changed! Thanks for sharing Don!

That's interesting to hear about. I bet they paid more back then.


Strevel Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mmcgoldrick Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You're welcome. Have a great weekend!
>
> Just a comment:
>
> My Mom used to do Mystery Shops decades ago before
> the internet, fax machines, scanners,
> heck,,,,,,maybe even before the Big Bang . She
> filled out the reports and "mailed" them into the
> company. And waited....and waited...and waited.
> Finally, the checks came through and letters of
> refusal as well. I remember her doing this and I
> asked her about it. I learned a few weeks ago
> that she was a Mystery Shopper.
>
> Don

Considering the cost of living, not really. It is a very competitive market for them as well. Grocery store shops she said were 2, and apartment shops were 5. Some places gave you pre-stamped envelopes after you had credibility and they knew you were going to stick around. The draw back is that if you mailed reports back to late...they would be process to late and you may never get another job with them again. Thank God for scanners, the internet, faxes, etc...

Gas was .27 cents a gallon as well hahahaha

TechSavvy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That's interesting to hear about. I bet they paid
> more back then.
>
>
> Strevel Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > mmcgoldrick Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > You're welcome. Have a great weekend!
> >
> > Just a comment:
> >
> > My Mom used to do Mystery Shops decades ago
> before
> > the internet, fax machines, scanners,
> > heck,,,,,,maybe even before the Big Bang .
> She
> > filled out the reports and "mailed" them into
> the
> > company. And waited....and waited...and waited.
>
> > Finally, the checks came through and letters of
> > refusal as well. I remember her doing this and
> I
> > asked her about it. I learned a few weeks ago
> > that she was a Mystery Shopper.
> >
> > Don

nicelytwicely Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Charlene Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have a shop that is due today and my printer
> is
> > on the blink. Can't scan or print anything out,
> > but it will let me make a copy. I emailed
> Belinda
> > about the scanning problem last week and she
> said
> > I could fax it to them on Monday. This morning
> I
> > wanted to check to see if all else was working
> > o.k. that's when I found out it is not printing.
> I
> > did email Belinda this morning to see if I have
> to
> > print it out or if I could just write it down
> on
> > paper for my records, but have not heard from
> her
> > as of yet. I tried to call the 1-800-444-1717
> and
> > the 1-800-631-1617 and both numbers have been
> > disconnected or is no longer in service. Has
> > anyone tried to call these numbers? If these
> > numbers are disconnected I am wondering if the
> > 1-888-212-6180 fax number is disconnected also.
> I
> > don't have access to a fax at the moment, so I
> can
> > not try that number. If anyone out there could
> try
> > those numbers please let me know if you get the
> > same recording.
>
>
> I'm confused -- can't you submit the shop online?
> If you're talking about faxing or emailing the
> collateral, that should be fine. As long as it's
> in by the end of the month, you're okay.


This has nothing to do with my PC. I can submit this report
online. I am sure you know that there are alot of MSC that
want you you to PRINT out your report after you are done. ICCDS is a
very easy MSC to work for unlike some of those MSC.You can scan, fax,
or mail anything. I just was not sure if I HAD to print out the report
after. That is why I was asking if I could write it down on paper for
my results of the shop so I could have a record of names, time in/out
etc.. Was not aware, OR had forgotten their rules about how to send
the receipts.

I have cute PDF on my computer and just save all my reports as a PDF file after completing them so that in case there is a question, I have a copy of my report to look at. Saves on cost of printing and finding a way to save paper. If I would need a printed report, I could do so from the pdf.

Shelly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have cute PDF on my computer and just save all
> my reports as a PDF file after completing them so
> that in case there is a question, I have a copy of
> my report to look at. Saves on cost of printing
> and finding a way to save paper. If I would need
> a printed report, I could do so from the pdf.


Sorry, not computer savy. Just check emails, do reports, scan, easy
junk. Would love to know how to do that as ink is Killing me. As I am
thinking about it now there MIGHT be a place to store that after I am
done with a report. Will see after next report. Thanks for the info.
Will save you in my Fav's if I need help.