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EPMS

August 13, 2012 03:26PM
I was not allowed to direct dial, and could not get through on their call #.
I assume they don't want you to get follow up calls, that's the way it is here, making it difficult and really 40.00 adds up to about 10.00 when all time is taken into consideration...although the actual tour is easy, the rest is impossible. Agents have always been polite once contact is made.

Live consciously....
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August 13, 2012 03:29PM
Irene -- The fact that we're not allowed to direct dial is the reason I asked about having to block our phone number. Furthermore, the shops I've done in the Chicago and West Palm Beach, FL areas all required to provide valid contact info so they can follow-up with you. So, at least for the shops I've done, the comment about follow-up calls isn't valid.
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August 13, 2012 04:23PM
I've never done a shop for them that allows a direct dial so that's why I asked the question.
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August 13, 2012 04:43PM
I know, I said "I assume", otherwise couldn't figure out a reason for not just calling direct.

Live consciously....
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August 13, 2012 04:52PM
If you call direct, then they don't get the recording.

Bob -- I'm not incorrect in the fact that I was basing my comments on my experience which is all I can base my comments on.
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August 13, 2012 05:20PM
Avitoots,

You made the below comment, but nowhere did you state it was based upon your experiences:

I really don't get why you need to block your phone number since the call goes through their recording system and it supposedly generates a bogus number.

BOB"S comment--I replied so all Ellis shoppers wouldn't assume what you experienced was the standard. Just as with this situation, Ellis pays radically different fees predicated upon the area in which the assignment exists. I wasn't in any way attempting to bring negative or disrespectful attention to your post.
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August 13, 2012 06:57PM
You know what, Bob, you said I was mistaken and that's what I was responding to. So, sorry that I didn't realize that I had to be so specific to say that it was from my experience. Thought most people would get that was implied. But, then again, some people need to have everything spelled out in details they want to accept anything without saying someone was wrong. Good for you, Bob, you proved I had no right to make the statement I made even though there was some validity in it.
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August 24, 2012 05:01PM
I think I'm done with them too. I accepted a declined shop and reached the target that same afternoon. However, the shop due date hadn't changed, and it was due that day. Within hours, unknown to me, I'd received an email stating that I had 24 hours to update them on the shop. When I saw the email that night, I checked the time and figured I had a good 18 hours left and could get to the report in the morning. Well, as I was working on the report, it was deleted from my system..about 12 hours after that "24 hour" garbage. I emailed the recruiter and all she said was "you can try to see if the shop is still available"..which it wasn't.

If they are constantly going to bombard us with this 24 hours bs, they need to stick to the EXACT time on the email. 24 hours does not equal anything less than 24 hours.
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August 24, 2012 05:21PM
AnonymousGirl -- The schedulers are very flexible at EPMS. All you had to do was respond letting them know that you were working on the report and they would have extended the deadline. At least that has always been my experience.
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August 24, 2012 05:27PM
Actually, you're both right.

Speaking from 75+ shops -

Some are recorded through the EPMS system (the 1-866 number, followed by the seven-digit shop code. The agent sees a randomly generated number on the caller ID.

Others have instructions to dial the property directly, and use *67 to block your number.
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August 24, 2012 05:54PM
I was curious if EPMS ever considered giving a $5 bonus for targeted shops. Some targets are near impossible to reach so that takes a lot of time out of several days.
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August 24, 2012 06:23PM
Avitoots, then what's the point of telling me that I have 24 hours to submit or respond? I shouldn't have to let them know that I am working on the shop within that time frame if I am in the process of submitting. They would have received the shop well within 10 hours of that time frame THEY gave me.
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August 24, 2012 08:06PM
I just did a video shop for them. It was my first shop ever for them.

I had done 9 shops that day and all the previous video shops I have done, have not needed a long evaluation form because everything is on video. I was shocked at the form I had to fill out.

I thought if this is the form for a video shop, I will never do a regular shop for them.

It seems after reading this thread, I had to fill out a regular shop form.

Boy was I aggravated when I was filling it out. I kept thinking "They have the video, why these questions?"

Silver certified
hidden video shopper - I have my own equipment PV500 lite
Full time professional shopper - it is my job.
I will travel to get the job done.
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August 24, 2012 09:23PM
We had the exact same experience. Apparently for some of their clients the report is minimal, but not in my neighborhood. Because of that I won't do their written shops either. Reports for video shops have run the gamut for me, but that one was out of control.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
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August 27, 2012 06:30PM
I am doing a target tomorrow....guess what, I made appointment after one call.
Will miracles never cease, ready to gaze into Agents eyes (for color) and do a super duper job.

Live consciously....
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August 27, 2012 06:44PM
EPMS is a very professional company. Whenever I had a question there was always an answer from the office. I shopped for them in Texas and now again in Florida. They pay on time and it is good work.

However, getting the targeted person can be very difficult. They ask that you not call repeatedly but it is difficult to think of a fast question and not hang up saying it's the wrong number. So, be prepared with a question such as "How late are you open today?" or you'll be tongue-tied when the wrong person answers again. Try to call at lunch hour when that same person who always answers the phone is out and perhaps your person will be on the phone duty.

Also take a look at the form before your shop since companies vary their forms. And I do agree. Questions are unnecessarily redundant - but the pay is good.

sail2sunset
Delray Beach FL
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August 27, 2012 11:16PM
I like EPMS as a company even though I dread their grueling forms and target shops. I only do their shops if I can't find other shops first.
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August 28, 2012 10:37PM
Cannot reach target, three days now, I give up. Another agent said I didn't get property, she makes appointments and gives out info.....so, if my target is at property and I reach another building through their #, what am I supposed to do?

Live consciously....
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August 28, 2012 10:44PM
Irene,

I would definitely call the company for their advice. They might be able to check inside for you.

sail2sunset
Delray Beach FL
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August 29, 2012 02:43AM
As I've successfully completed assignments for Ellis, almost 200, since 2006, and never needed to return a job due to inability to speak with the target, I'll share what's worked for me:

1-I use a southern accent and inquire about a furnished efficiency unit.
2-Next comes my ghetto voice that asks if "James stay there?
3-It's now time for my gay imitation that states "I'm terribly sorry as I was calling my aunt."
4-One, and only one hang-up can be effective.
5-In a high pitched falsetto, I say "Whoops, wrong number."

If none of the above are effective, which is rare, I request and have always been given permission to ask for the target.


I've read that several shoppers have problems with the staff at EPMS, but that's never been the case with me. The only glaring situation I would alter is the repetition of the reports. I've submitted extremely long work for MSCs, but I had information to write; repetition is very time consuming because to re-state using entirely different verbiage is a pain.
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August 30, 2012 05:31AM
It's my understanding, too, that if after a few days and several attempts to reach the target, you can request and get permission to ask for the target. Now that I've done a few of their reports, I don't find them quite so difficult as I did the first ones. And also now that I know I need to describe the leasing office and the agent's eyes so I can answer those questions. First report I did not know that so doing the report sucked.
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August 30, 2012 01:15PM
plmcut is correct.
It is easy to get permission to ask for the target, especially if it appears that you are just reaching a gatekeeper such as a receptionist or a scheduling/marketing call center.

Best advice: read the report form before you commit to the shop. Second best advice: when you forget (or don't know) to observe a target's eye color or the exact location of the bathrooms in the model, just say so in the report. I have NEVER has EPMS reject a report when I stated that I had not observed a couple of items!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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August 30, 2012 06:50PM
Please can someone tell me what does EPMS stand for?
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August 30, 2012 07:16PM
Ellis Partners Management Solutions.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
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August 31, 2012 12:46AM
Irene_L.A. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am doing a target tomorrow....guess what, I made
> appointment after one call.
> Will miracles never cease, ready to gaze into
> Agents eyes (for color) and do a super duper job.

and

> Cannot reach target, three days now, I give up. Another agent said I didn't get > property, she makes appointments and gives out info.....so, if my target is at > > property and I reach another building through their #, what am I supposed to do?


Irene, are these two different shops? I'm assuming so, since the former post indicates you reached the target and scheduled an appointment.

Regarding your latter post, don't give up. Contact your scheduler at EPMS and relate the events. She/He will help you get the assignment completed.
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