Mystery Shopping Thread 23 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES

weeg

first78 wrote: »

Thanks, I've started reading it and taking down a few notes. One question I would like to ask is if I register with a MS company like Market Force am I then employed by them? I don't want to have to register as self-employed and there seems to be quite a lot about that on the first page of this thread.

If you work for Market Force - or any of the other companies listed on the first post you so so as an independent sub-contractor, not an employee and will have to register as self employed.

whitelabel

gemz25 wrote: »

hi everyone, i just joined retail maxim just wondered if it was any good? i saw it on a job website so thought i would join i am also member of a few other compaines but wanted to know your thoughts on this company.... i have been acepted but they told me in email that jobs are signed only over the telephone not sure about this as the companies i am with u log on and chose the job you want. anyways just wanted to know your thoughts on them thanx

some like them some dont

thats how they work many do email only, some phone only some have astest finger first (usually lowest fee) and others apply online and they choose who gets them

System

was the TNS Sassie fast supermarkets a full upload or just a small upload. If it was a full upload, they have all gone already within my area

whitelabel

have those tns fast supermarkets been reduced in fee ?

not done done for a few years and thought it higher but seriously not worth my time or effort for what they are offering, as quick as they are when you factor everything in

j0annepsi

Anyone here doing more than one pledge job for ESA? Are you as paranoid as me that the shop staff can see you've pawned the same item one or more times with them?

whitelabel

mskitten2904 wrote: »

I agree, I think mf are fantastic for beginners as they tend to query everything and this gives you experience for the future, just don't take it personally as they do it a lot if you read through the pages on here you can see its not personal. I liked GAPbuster when I started too as I made a complete hash of a few calls and they were brilliant in guiding me. HTH

I dont think they are fantastic for any one but MF

they encourage people to accept low and no pay jobs to fund their profits, which drives clients to seek to reduce their costs and move to them when approach them to undercut their current provider
this lowers fees payed by other decent companies as they have to be more competitive
they accept anyone and quantity over quality will always be a bad thing
even "filler" jobs shouldnt be taken when you are experienced as they just encourage it further and cause the loss of decent jobs
eg european discounter which payed a fee +mileage with another company now wont and will reduce even further

serendipity2706

whitelabel wrote: »

I dont think they are fantastic for any one but MFthey encourage people to accept low and no pay jobs to fund their profits, which drives clients to seek to reduce their costs and move to them when approach them to undercut their current provider
this lowers fees payed by other decent companies as they have to be more competitive
they accept anyone and quantity over quality will always be a bad thing
even "filler" jobs shouldnt be taken when you are experienced as they just encourage it further and cause the loss of decent jobs
eg european discounter which payed a fee +mileage with another company now wont and will reduce even further

I am selective with them as well as other companies. Most of the jobs I do for them are twice the over 21 hourly minimum wage (as I cant mention the money) this would be for a job taking around 15-30 mins plus write up. I wont take the low paid pittance ones, for them or anyone, as it does encourage them to pay poor fees. (eg betting etc)

misssarahleigh

whitelabel wrote: »

I dont think they are fantastic for any one but MF

they encourage people to accept low and no pay jobs to fund their profits, which drives clients to seek to reduce their costs and move to them when approach them to undercut their current provider
this lowers fees payed by other decent companies as they have to be more competitive
they accept anyone and quantity over quality will always be a bad thing
even "filler" jobs shouldnt be taken when you are experienced as they just encourage it further and cause the loss of decent jobs
eg european discounter which payed a fee +mileage with another company now wont and will reduce even further

That may work for yourself and your situation. If you can turn a decent profit without having to bother with MF jobs than thats fine.

But for most of us who want to maximise the money we make, and don't have the option of turning the MF work down for something nicer and better paid, then I'm afraid it will be taken.

I believe we all have a line. When we look at a job andthink "not on your life will i be accepting that" (may I note at this point. I've seen jobs I would say this about on various companies job board. The alert about the swedish furniture comes to mind)

At the end of the day it's a balance between morals and money.

I would personally prefer to bob into town on my lunch hour. Gain a lunch with a few quid on top than make my own and sit at my desk.

I don't believe I should be judged for that. And I feel your post is somewhat looking down on those that accept MF jobs, which, I don't find fair.

PeteW

whitelabel wrote: »

I dont think they are fantastic for any one but MF

they encourage people to accept low and no pay jobs to fund their profits, which drives clients to seek to reduce their costs and move to them when approach them to undercut their current provider
this lowers fees payed by other decent companies as they have to be more competitive
they accept anyone and quantity over quality will always be a bad thing
even "filler" jobs shouldnt be taken when you are experienced as they just encourage it further and cause the loss of decent jobs
eg european discounter which payed a fee +mileage with another company now wont and will reduce even further

The problem for me is that MF offer me way, way more assignments than anyone else. I'm signed up with ~20 agencies, but 75% of my work is with MF. The fees aren't always great and there are plenty of assignments I won't take - eg the bed and bookie ones that are sat unwanted in my 'available' list. But for most jobs, a free lunch and a few quid in my pocket is a more tempting lunchbreak than sitting at my desk with a packed lunch.

They're also the sort of jobs where you're in and out in 5 minutes, rather than any of these 'sit down in a bank/phone shop for an hour' jobs which I personally can't be bothered with.

Which agencies do you think pay much better then? Other than the odd crappy job, I've found that MF fees are pretty much in-line with their competitors.

samtastic7

PeteW wrote: »

The problem for me is that MF offer me way, way more assignments than anyone else. I'm signed up with ~20 agencies, but 75% of my work is with MF. The fees aren't always great and there are plenty of assignments I won't take - eg the bed and bookie ones that are sat unwanted in my 'available' list. But for most jobs, a free lunch and a few quid in my pocket is a more tempting lunchbreak than sitting at my desk with a packed lunch.

They're also the sort of jobs where you're in and out in 5 minutes, rather than any of these 'sit down in a bank/phone shop for an hour' jobs which I personally can't be bothered with.

Which agencies do you think pay much better then? Other than the odd crappy job, I've found that MF fees are pretty much in-line with their competitors.

there are some good paying firms one pays the age you leave school + decent milage
one I just did for another firm was a golden anniversary payment with travel.