I have been mystery shopping since 1993, off and on. I started in Tucson in the 90's, then in Michigan and now in the Seattle area. Boy have I been busy. I mainly do apartment shops. I have burned twice in the last month. First was with Bestmark. They called and asked me to do a rush shop and were extending it a few days for me. It was for a casual chain restaurant. First time with them. They said they would pay up to $25 plus a tip. I said I would do it and we agreed on a certain day and I had to take a friend. I also signed up to do a car dealership. So I do the shop. Get in touch to find out why my check was so low, tip wasn't reimbursed plus they said I was late. First I call the woman who called me, and no reply. I call & talk to someone, she would check, never called back. I finally leave an email. In the meantime get a nasty email about the car dealership being late and I have already entered the info but was waiting like they said, to enter the follow-up. I left a msg, no reply. Left them a detailed email saying I would never shop with them again.

Welcome to the Board!

Bestmark and I go back a few years. I occasionally get a shop out of them. I find the reports are repetitive and far too long for the compensation that is often far too little, especially with the price of gas.

We are independent business people, and we can say no when the value of the shop is not worth the value of my time. I like at least more than $2 an hour when you figure the time it takes to read the shop, perform the shop and answer the questions that go on and on and on....

Thanks Annie for the info.

This seems better suited for a thread regarding individual companies, not in the Member Introductions forum. Nice to meet you, at any rate.

annie33 Wrote:
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> I have been mystery shopping since 1993, off and
> on. I started in Tucson in the 90's, then in
> Michigan and now in the Seattle area. Boy have I
> been busy. I mainly do apartment shops. I have
> burned twice in the last month. First was with
> Bestmark. They called and asked me to do a rush
> shop and were extending it a few days for me. It
> was for a casual chain restaurant. First time with
> them. They said they would pay up to $25 plus a
> tip. I said I would do it and we agreed on a
> certain day and I had to take a friend. I also
> signed up to do a car dealership. So I do the
> shop. Get in touch to find out why my check was so
> low, tip wasn't reimbursed plus they said I was
> late. First I call the woman who called me, and
> no reply. I call & talk to someone, she would
> check, never called back. I finally leave an
> email. In the meantime get a nasty email about the
> car dealership being late and I have already
> entered the info but was waiting like they said,
> to enter the follow-up. I left a msg, no reply.
> Left them a detailed email saying I would never
> shop with them again.

Oldtimer, welcome to my world...age and Bestmark, we have two things in common, except I can live with my age.