would love feedback on this company

This link below should help give you some info. If you have specific questions, several of us have done projects for them.

My initial feedback would be that if you want to be a full time merchandiser, you should consider other companies that have those roles as that would likely give you benefits and more consistent work. If you want to do part time or "gig" work with a bit more flexibility than a full time position, then CI can be good for that. They have some ongoing projects and some that come up once or twice.

Their CEO (I think that's his title) will also come visit and/or give feedback on this forum, which is nice to have.

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

They are ok, especially with many new projects they have. They pay timely and are responsive to questions and feedback.

They do tend to start out with low fees on projects. If you are interested in something that is recurring, I suggest taking one and trying it out and deciding for yourself it is worth the fee offered or should you hold out for more. Some projects are easy, others have hidden details that they don't tell you about until after you are reading those guidelines.

Overall, I give them a good rating, just know your worth.

Know and understand their pay schedule. Some jobs won't pay until the following month. Let's say you do the job on December 3rd. You may not get paid until late January. Other projects pay faster but you need to understand which job you are signing up for.

Something to keep in mind: if you flub up a job and they tell you to go back to fix it and you refuse, not only will you not be paid for that job, you won’t be paid for any other jobs you completed for that client.

Do 10 stores for company XYZ, don’t fix the one you messed up, don’t get paid for any.

And NEVER do their jobs on a route where time is a factor.

I dumped them after a quoted 20-minute visit turned out to be a 2+ hour project because the retailer had not done their job(s), and CI refused to adjust the pay.

Their quoted times are usually not remotely accurate, even for the easiest stuff (prepaid card rack jobs).

I've done a few. My criticism would be their communication. The task isn't always what it appears and can take longer than expected.

Everything requires using the GSC app for geo location and uploading photos on site. This is something to be aware of if you aren't on an unlimited plan. Some locations don't offer free WiFi.

They hide the full extent the work until you take the shop. I took a chance, then found out from the store (in a covert way as a customer) there was no display set up for the accessory. So it wasn’t just a restock, it required building the display first. For the pittance they offered there was no way I was going to go through with it. I told them that since there were directions in the notes for assembly, that shouldn’t have been omitted in the initial shop description. They must know the store doesn’t handle it. No squabble from them at least after I dropped it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2024 05:35PM by Minime.

Do not expect any communication from them on weekends, even if they post on a Friday for that weekend.
The time commitments have never been anywhere near correct.

Important feedback, thanks.
What would happen, as an example, in the case of stocking/restocking prepaid cards and they send you the cards beforehand - but when you get to the store and find the rack where cards/giftcards are displayed - and there are no openings? all the rack prongs are already full of cards from other vendors? other companies?

Would you just take photos showing there's no open room for further cards? do you have to send their cards back to them? Do you still get paid?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/13/2024 11:33PM by BarefootBliss.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Important feedback, thanks.
What would happen, as an example, in the case of stocking/restocking prepaid cards and they send you the cards beforehand - but when you get to the store and find the rack where cards/giftcards are displayed - and there are no openings? all the rack prongs are already full of cards from other vendors? other companies?

Would you just take photos showing there's no open room for further cards? do you have to send their cards back to them? Do you still get paid?

I have always gotten paid for any shop I attempted even when I couldn't place the cards. (For example a store re-branded and no longer had a Netspend contract). If you can't leave the cards you just dispose of them. Stores that carry the cards are contracted to provide a certain amount of pegs according to a planogram, and the guidelines will contain detailed photos of where the cards are to be placed. Most of the time the pegs are labeled and there is no issue. You are not just randomly going into the store and sticking the cards somewhere-it is very specific. If there are extra cards that don't fit you add them to back stock which is often inside the card racks, or you leave them with an employee to place where ever they store cards.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2024 12:32AM by bradkcrew.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

Important feedback, thanks.
What would happen, as an example, in the case of stocking/restocking prepaid cards and they send you the cards beforehand - but when you get to the store and find the rack where cards/giftcards are displayed - and there are no openings? all the rack prongs are already full of cards from other vendors? other companies?

Would you just take photos showing there's no open room for further cards? do you have to send their cards back to them? Do you still get paid?

If they have a spinner, there should be a specific spot for those cards. If other cards are on it, I move them to their correct spot and make sure that the cards sent to me go in the correct place.

Some stores don't have spinners, just random pegs in front of the register somewhere. In those cases, I ask the cashier if they have extra pegs, they usually do. Or they will tell me just move stuff around. I have always been able to place the cards one way or another. Sometimes it doesn't match their planogram but as long as I get them in there and they look neat and presentable, all is good.

Another thing to know is that many of their projects require shipments to your house. They use the cheapest method possible, so deliveries are usually in the late afternoon and often times the day the project is due. They seem to think that everyone is waiting around for their CI delivery, and then will rush out to complete a bunch of $10 shops the same day. Its a bit wonky.

So you just have to follow along with the tracking they will send you, and be clear with the scheduler when you need more time. This shipment thing makes it near impossible to build a route with any CI projects included.

Why post in the mystery shopping area rather than the merchandising area?

A couple of other things:

They leave the office at 3pm on Fridays. If you're planning to do work over the weekend, check your GoSpotCheck app before they leave the office on Friday to make sure your jobs are there.

If they say you can do a job from 7am-7pm, don't count on the job being in GSC at 7am on the first morning. In fact, I make It a point to not plan to do any shops on the first day of the project. If shipping is involved, half the time you won't receive the materials until sometime on the first day anyway.

@Rousseau wrote:

Why post in the mystery shopping area rather than the merchandising area?

And such are the questions of life.

I recently did a long route of urgent last-minute jobs for them, and the materials did not arrive until after the project's final due date, and they were unable to extend it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2024 08:05AM by mjt9598.

Given all these details and nuances, I (personally) have to question whether it's worthwhile. I know what shopperbob would say LOL.....I know it's a YMMV thing and maybe a route of nearby places, but as mentioned upthread even that sounds ....not often feasible.

@Cassiespark wrote:

Another thing to know is that many of their projects require shipments to your house. They use the cheapest method possible, so deliveries are usually in the late afternoon and often times the day the project is due. They seem to think that everyone is waiting around for their CI delivery, and then will rush out to complete a bunch of $10 shops the same day. Its a bit wonky.

So you just have to follow along with the tracking they will send you, and be clear with the scheduler when you need more time. This shipment thing makes it near impossible to build a route with any CI projects included.

This is excellent advice. My property has a gate. I have found packages in the ditch, the hinge side of the gate, stuck in the fencing on the gate, middle of the driveway, tossed over the gate and my favorite of all time is the FED EX idiot who decided stuffing my packages in the garbage can which had garbage in it was a good idea.

Another reason to track is Fed Ex never bags the packages even if it’s pouring down rain.

I leave the gate open, but all the out buildings are locked up tight.

How were you able to do a long route for them without the materials? Do you mean you signed up for a long route, but couldn't complete it because you didn't have materials?

@mjt9598 wrote:

I recently did a long route of urgent last-minute jobs for them, and the materials did not arrive until after the project's final due date, and they were unable to extend it.

Consider this company as a filler of the month....when your normal MSCs has died down in the middle of the month and you have nothing to do ...it's more like keeping some cash coming in but it won't make you rich or you can't fully rely on them. Based on some posts you can keep your "routes" rather easily, making them a stable cash flow.....as long as you willing to make their base fee.

Many ppl are against it saying it isn't worth their time, but sometimes extra 80 a day is extra 80 bucks in your pocket none the less, especially when it's earning 0 vs earning 80.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2024 10:16AM by kisekinecro.

I have been doing the totes assignments for this company for 3 years I never accept the posted fee I negotiate a higher fee and consideration of location and environment of the store. Have recently been doing the ty and have found it difficult to get a higher pay rate. I generally scope out the stores to see how much of a mess they are before I get involved with them. Overall they pay monthly but negotiate a higher fee based on your distance and other factors I recently had ty sites deleted that were higher pay and was told that the previous merchandising company have the assignments for the for the balance of November. Which is odd cuz I've always asked the managers at these locations if they've been serviced in the past and they've always said no

I did part of the route, but could not do the entire route that I planned since not all materials arrived on time. I had to return home to wait for the materials instead of doing the entire route all at once. The materials did not arrive until seven days after they were sent, which was after the client deadline.

@Cassiespark wrote:

How were you able to do a long route for them without the materials? Do you mean you signed up for a long route, but couldn't complete it because you didn't have materials?

@mjt9598 wrote:

I recently did a long route of urgent last-minute jobs for them, and part of the materials did not arrive until after the project's final due date, and they were unable to extend it.

@kisekinecro wrote:

Consider this company as a filler of the month....when your normal MSCs has died down in the middle of the month and you have nothing to do ...it's more like keeping some cash coming in but it won't make you rich or you can't fully rely on them. Based on some posts you can keep your "routes" rather easily, making them a stable cash flow.....as long as you willing to make their base fee.

Many ppl are against it saying it isn't worth their time, but sometimes extra 80 a day is extra 80 bucks in your pocket none the less, especially when it's earning 0 vs earning 80.

I think a lot of shoppers feel that way, and companies are aware of the financial need and know they can fill a certain percentage of the shops with low ball fees. From a business perspective I can't fault them. I also don't fault those taking the shops at base.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

A couple of other things:

They leave the office at 3pm on Fridays. If you're planning to do work over the weekend, check your GoSpotCheck app before they leave the office on Friday to make sure your jobs are there.

If they say you can do a job from 7am-7pm, don't count on the job being in GSC at 7am on the first morning. In fact, I make It a point to not plan to do any shops on the first day of the project. If shipping is involved, half the time you won't receive the materials until sometime on the first day anyway.

I've run into this before. Seems to only be a problem with certain schedulers, imo.
If it is a project I have done before and I generally know what pics to take, I will proceed but just use my regular phone camera and email the pics to the scheduler. There is no reason for it to take a long time to get into GSC.
I have had some last minute assignments given to me but the scheduler didn't put it in GSC. I called them and spoke to one of the other schedulers, he had it in my app within 30 seconds.

@Sandy2 wrote:

I have been doing the totes assignments for this company for 3 years I never accept the posted fee I negotiate a higher fee and consideration of location and environment of the store. Have recently been doing the ty and have found it difficult to get a higher pay rate. I generally scope out the stores to see how much of a mess they are before I get involved with them. Overall they pay monthly but negotiate a higher fee based on your distance and other factors I recently had ty sites deleted that were higher pay and was told that the previous merchandising company have the assignments for the for the balance of November. Which is odd cuz I've always asked the managers at these locations if they've been serviced in the past and they've always said no

I think Ty had their own reps within the past few years, so if it is a newer manager, they might not know. Two stores I visited, the managers were recent hires (within the past 4 weeks or so).

this is definitely a thing. i've dealt with jobs not going on the app too. your experience will vary based on your scheduler. when i started with CI in 2016, what actually got me to say "this is a company i'm gonna drop most of the others for" was their incredible communication. i'll never forget my first job i completed with them, they had this scheduler named Xanthe, who typed me 3 long paragraphs praising how happy she was with the job at a supermarket(i think it was a simple job of taking photos of a balsamic vinegar reducer or something lol). you want to know that your work is noticed and appreciated so this made me want to work hard for them. and all their schedulers were like this for awhile. the ability to email or call, and either would be answered quickly almost every time. always a respectful, helpful tone on their end. over time, the employees have become more hit or miss as far as dealing with merchandisers imo. there are still some good ones, but it's like the southern charm took a hit, and things down there are becoming more like the northeast where i'm from haha. like last week, i called one of them to see if i could get a tracking number for stickers that were sent to me, and she's like "what, what do you want? i didn't call you." i say i want to know when i was gonna receive stickers, she says "i'm not even on that project anymore" ok, but you were the project manager and you assigned me shops 5 days ago lol. one thing i will say is that i have ALWAYS gotten paid for any location i've visited. there has been many unsuccessful ones on my behalf where the location no longer has cards, or they're out of stock of what i need to work on, etc... so it's just data that would be mostly useless to them, never had a rejection. at the end of the day, being paid is what matters most, and they've always delivered for me. was really surprised to read drdoggie's message about not getting paid for all shops when one went wrong.

@joanna81 wrote:

@drdoggie00 wrote:

A couple of other things:

They leave the office at 3pm on Fridays. If you're planning to do work over the weekend, check your GoSpotCheck app before they leave the office on Friday to make sure your jobs are there.

If they say you can do a job from 7am-7pm, don't count on the job being in GSC at 7am on the first morning. In fact, I make It a point to not plan to do any shops on the first day of the project. If shipping is involved, half the time you won't receive the materials until sometime on the first day anyway.

I've run into this before. Seems to only be a problem with certain schedulers, imo.
If it is a project I have done before and I generally know what pics to take, I will proceed but just use my regular phone camera and email the pics to the scheduler. There is no reason for it to take a long time to get into GSC.
I have had some last minute assignments given to me but the scheduler didn't put it in GSC. I called them and spoke to one of the other schedulers, he had it in my app within 30 seconds.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2024 05:53PM by jay225.

It’s not just if something goes wrong. Stuff happens that they don’t think is big enough that you need to go back. This comes into play if you do five Company A locations, mess one up, and they determine it’s big enough of a mistake that you need to return to fix it. If they tell you to go back to the one, and you refuse, you will not be paid for that one or the other four. That’s why I say never do their stuff as part of a route unless it’s local.

Verbiage for this is buried somewhere in the shop details. I can’t believe I’m the only one to notice. Over the years, there have been two times I’ve had to go back or forfeit all pay.

@jay225 wrote:

this is definitely a thing. i've dealt with jobs not going on the app too. your experience will vary based on your scheduler. when i started with CI in 2016, what actually got me to say "this is a company i'm gonna drop most of the others for" was their incredible communication. i'll never forget my first job i completed with them, they had this scheduler named Xanthe, who typed me 3 long paragraphs praising how happy she was with the job at a supermarket(i think it was a simple job of taking photos of a balsamic vinegar reducer or something lol). you want to know that your work is noticed and appreciated so this made me want to work hard for them. and all their schedulers were like this for awhile. the ability to email or call, and either would be answered quickly almost every time. always a respectful, helpful tone on their end. over time, the employees have become more hit or miss as far as dealing with merchandisers imo. there are still some good ones, but it's like the southern charm took a hit, and things down there are becoming more like the northeast where i'm from haha. like last week, i called one of them to see if i could get a tracking number for stickers that were sent to me, and she's like "what, what do you want? i didn't call you." i say i want to know when i was gonna receive stickers, she says "i'm not even on that project anymore" ok, but you were the project manager and you assigned me shops 5 days ago lol. one thing i will say is that i have ALWAYS gotten paid for any location i've visited. there has been many unsuccessful ones on my behalf where the location no longer has cards, or they're out of stock of what i need to work on, etc... so it's just data that would be mostly useless to them, never had a rejection. at the end of the day, being paid is what matters most, and they've always delivered for me. was really surprised to read drdoggie's message about not getting paid for all shops when one went wrong.

@joanna81 wrote:

@drdoggie00 wrote:

A couple of other things:

They leave the office at 3pm on Fridays. If you're planning to do work over the weekend, check your GoSpotCheck app before they leave the office on Friday to make sure your jobs are there.

If they say you can do a job from 7am-7pm, don't count on the job being in GSC at 7am on the first morning. In fact, I make It a point to not plan to do any shops on the first day of the project. If shipping is involved, half the time you won't receive the materials until sometime on the first day anyway.

I've run into this before. Seems to only be a problem with certain schedulers, imo.
If it is a project I have done before and I generally know what pics to take, I will proceed but just use my regular phone camera and email the pics to the scheduler. There is no reason for it to take a long time to get into GSC.
I have had some last minute assignments given to me but the scheduler didn't put it in GSC. I called them and spoke to one of the other schedulers, he had it in my app within 30 seconds.

Random observations..

1. It's worth calling them. Especially for a long route you can usually negotiate a larger fee, especially if you've been with them for a while.

2. Overall be polite. Most of the people who take your call will be nice...and if they aren't you can always post a factually terse but not rude or insulting message on the board here. They do follow things here and are generally supportive.

3. In terms of the churn well..they are located in College Station TX.... *shrugs*

4. They will pay and do mostly take our feedback.

Hi all,

I'll preface this by saying yes we do read the board, but my rule is always that this is YOUR board and the only thing I ever want to be is an asset to you all. I have thick skin, I know we're not perfect so I don't take anything said on here personally about CI, and welcome all opinions. So for most threads I like to just stay out of it so you all can get the benefit of the discussion that you all deserve, which is with each other.

However, I want to address one post here because I feel it deserves a reply by me...the quote was:

"If they tell you to go back to the one, and you refuse, you will not be paid for that one or the other four."

That should NEVER happen by my staff and is not consistent with our standards. If this has happened I need someone to reach out to me directly and I will handle immediately. If you do 4/5 correctly and are unable to go back and fix the 5th location, that would be the only location that our PM might have to decide they can't pay for. The other 4 are always eligible and deserving of pay. I can't stress enough that this should simply never happen by my team so please reach out if you ever see it. I'm also going to speak directly to my team in the meantime to make sure there's zero confusion over this topic.

Now a couple updates/discussion points for anyone who wants to read on.

We’re currently seeing a lot of expansion from our customers which is going to be good in the long term, but always leads to short-term headaches. Problems on getting clean store lists/instructions from customers, problems with our staff handling expectations, problems with managing newer reps who may not be fully familiar with our processes, etc. I wish none of those things would ever happen, but if they didn’t then I also know we wouldn’t be growing and be able to provide more and more opportunities for you all.

Second, I wish our systems ‘spoke’ to each other much better but the unfortunate thing is we have to manually add assignments into GoSpotCheck after SASSIE and that will always lead to a mistake here and there. We love the utility of GoSpotCheck and any time we’ve asked our reps for feedback, they tell us they prefer it most* of the time to the other apps they use for other companies. In 2025 we’re going to be looking into how we can automate processes more so it removes the frustration some of you mention.

Communication is key! Our team is growing here in the office and very busy, but as mentioned by others on this thread…call us, talk to us, negotiate if you need or want to negotiate pay and situations. All PM’s and schedulers are a little different of course, so if you ever feel like someone hasn’t addressed your needs or has been overbearing or unfair, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or my VP of Ops Valerie Scott. I promise we will give it a review and if we determine our team was at fault, work to not only correct, but coach for future work.

For my 2025 communication wish-list on how we can deliver better service to y'all, we're hoping for some night and weekend support lines for you to call if you need help in the field, or a location didn't show up in your GSC, etc. Fingers crossed here.

Along with better automation to the overall scheduling/assigning process, we’re looking to possibly implement new pay schedules in 2025 to get you all paid quicker. Some of you may have or do work on projects where we have increased pay frequency already. Doing it company-wide has long been a goal of ours and something that I truly hope we can solve for 2025.

Sorry for the long post, and as always, I welcome anyone to reach out to me directly if you ever have any issues that you feel strong enough about that I should know and I will look into them for you.

Thanks to all who work with CI for everything you do.

Daniel Price
Chief Operating Officer
Customer Impact, LLC.
dprice@customerimpactinfo.com

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2024 02:43PM by dprice.