shopperbob Wrote:
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> Rucker,
>
> I've been with Ellis for almost 8 yrs. and have
> completed in excess of 300 apt. shops for 5 MSCs.
> My experiences in attempting route shopping which
> required a targeted visit(s) were so unsuccessful,
> I no longer will accept that work. The only
> exception I'd make would be if the target shop(s)
> were doubled in fee, I was permitted to ask for
> the specific individual AND the MSC agreed to
> readily drop any visits that were problematic
> without a ding on my record. As you're no doubt
> aware, sometimes targets are easily reached, but
> then we must also deal with those requiring
> numerous attempts. When I'm engaged in completing
> a route of several hundred mls., there will
> probably be problems I couldn't possibly
> anticipate; I don't want to be aggravated by those
> of which I have knowledge, unless, of course, I'm
> being compensated for my troubles. For me, it's
> ALL about the money.

AMEN!!

I just found out about this company. It's double what others pay but they have a better set up. I just wish it wasn't double the work with all that writing. Oh well, more time at home with the kiddos when I do these.

I have over 6 years experience as a mystery shopping contractor with over 30 companies. I am a highly rated evaluator and have been accepted by selective companies such as Coyle and LRA B Business Solutions. The only company I refuse to work for is EPMS.

I did several apartment shops for them long ago. The first appointment, on a day I was doing 3 apartment shops, went smoothly but the male agent did not score well and I had no choice but to report his errors and omissions on the report. I usually find the good in all shops but it was not to be found on this one.

I then proceeded to an appointment an hour away with a targeted female agent. Lo and behold she reported shortly before I arrived that she knew I was a mystery shopper coming and EPMS called to say I wouldn't be paid. However I didn't get that message until the second evaluation was completed. It turns out that the male from the first job knew the female at the second apartment complex. They compared notes and names and realized I must be a shopper since the locations were 60 miles apart. By both calling in that they knew I was the shopper, BOTH reports were nullified with no pay.

How convenient and lucky for the male who realized after the fact he didn't perform well. How unfortunate for me, who had put in many hours to get the appointments with these targets, drive there, and perform the shops. I formally made a complaint about this scenario to EPMS who was uncaring and simply said there would be no pay. I feel sorry for anyone else who they convinced to do these two complexes in the following months and got "caught" the same way, uncompensated. Of course, if the male did his job as expected, I'm sure they would have let those reports get filed. This situation was a scam and a setup with the loser being me and no support from EPMS.

I never worked for them again and have enjoyed working almost full time now as an evaluator for all other companies. Good luck with Ellis!

What gave the first agent the idea you were a mystery shopper? He would have had to realize either during or shortly after you left in order to call the other agent.

EPMS is certainly not the only MSC that won't pay for apartment or new home shops if the targets report the shopper. That's SOP. I once did something really dumb on my fourth video new home shop of the day on a long summer route. I was ID'd of course, and that sales agent called her buddy, who I had shopped a couple hours earlier and told her. Since they both then claimed to have spotted the shopper, I lost both fees and the significant share of the travel funds for that route. Live and learn; and education is expensive in this business. BTW, both of the sales agents in those cases did exceptionally well and would have gotten great reports. We have to understand that in many industries, the targets take greater pride in outing the shopper than in performing well and getting a high score. In the apartment and new home industry, they know full well that the shopper won't be paid if caught.

Irene - that's the way EPMS works. I still think the editor gets a bonus or a percentage for every dollar they save EPMS from paying out!

Call me cynical!

I like EPMS. The only downside is the targeted shops because there's no way you can count on getting them on a certain date. I have never had problems with them and they pay exactly when they say they will by direct deposit. The report is long, but what else are you doing at night while watching the Bachelor? So far, none of the leasing agents has thought I was a shopper. But, that being said, I sure would hate to have spent all that time and not get paid.

walesmaven Wrote:
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> EPMS is certainly not the only MSC that won't pay
> for apartment or new home shops if the targets
> report the shopper. That's SOP. I once did
> something really dumb on my fourth video new home
> shop of the day on a long summer route. I was
> ID'd of course, and that sales agent called her
> buddy, who I had shopped a couple hours earlier
> and told her. Since they both then claimed to
> have spotted the shopper, I lost both fees and the
> significant share of the travel funds for that
> route. Live and learn; and education is expensive
> in this business. BTW, both of the sales agents
> in those cases did exceptionally well and would
> have gotten great reports. We have to understand
> that in many industries, the targets take greater
> pride in outing the shopper than in performing
> well and getting a high score. In the apartment
> and new home industry, they know full well that
> the shopper won't be paid if caught.

They should make it known to sales associates and employees that shopper will be paid regardless, which will take the incentive for them to out the shopper. They can ban the shopper from doing future shops for the specific location, but don't give incentives or praises for outing a shopper.

Exactly!

Hi,
I am very brand new at this, so brand new haven't done anything yet. Just reading and learning. Can you explain what a video shop is? Do you just watch a video about ???
Any imformation anyone gives me would be great!!
Thanks

It has nothing to do with watching video, that's for sure. The shopper wears covert video equipment and the entire shop is recorded.

I do a lot of apartment mystery shops, and today I became quite frustrated with EPMS for the second time (shame on me)! The first shop I did with them, it took me almost a week to connect with the target. It was frustrating, because it wreaked havoc with my daily schedule. However, I finally finished the shop - and the lengthy report - and received payment.

Last Friday, I decided to sign up for two more apartment shops. They were both rush shops, which were due Monday. After calling all day Saturday and part of Sunday, I finally went on the apartment website, only to find that the apartment office is closed on Saturday and Sunday! I contacted the scheduler and she extended the deadline, so I continued to call all day yesterday. This morning, I received an email that the client has cancelled the shop. I know, I know, such is the life of a shopper!

The kicker is that I have been trying to contact the target at the other apartment shop since last Friday as well. I thought it was strange that every time I called, I would get a completely different person - sixteen calls, sixteen different people - however, the scheduler kept extending the deadline, so I kept calling. Finally, this morning, the scheduler told me I could ask for the target by first name. When I called, it turns out that the number was to a centralized leasing office that is not even located in my state, consequently it was impossible for me to reach the target! I have spent four days calling in between other appointments, to no avail. I was never going to be successful! I have now spent several hours that I will not be compensated for, so I think I have learned my lesson.

My lesson was: I want to work for MSC's that provide me with the information I need to complete the shops I have been assigned. Things like, knowing if I am calling a centralized leasing office, or the days the target is working are critical to making the best use of my time - and theirs!

I have had a terrific experience with doing apartment shops for Cirrus Marketing! I completed seven apartment shops for them in three days last week. They knew when their targets were working and gave me the correct numbers to call, so that's where I will spend my time from now on!

Donna,

After reading your comments about Cirrus Marketing, an MSC of whom I was not aware, I, because of interest, accessed their website and read their FAQs. According to "How and when I get paid," if you were to complete an assignment this Fri. March 1, you would receive your money after June 15; that's at least 107 days! I state at least, due to the table showing after, which could be ???? I immediately became disinterested. Strictly from the standpoint of curiosity, were you aware of this payment time frame?

If you completed your shop during this month... You will be paid after the 15th of this month:
January April
February May
March June

The above is a partial cut and paste.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/2013 01:41AM by shopperbob.

shopperbob Wrote:
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> ...I, because of interest, accessed their website
> and read their FAQs. According to "How and
> when I get paid," if you were to complete
> an assignment this
> Fri. March 1, you would receive your money after
> June 15; that's at least 107 days!

Sorry, 60 days to receive payment is about my limit. Having to wait over 107 days is unreasonable. And can you imagine trying to resolve a payment dispute after all that time?

I've never shopped with Cirrus. They have the infamous furniture store shop. Because that shop is such a dog, I don't even look at their job board. I did sign up for a shop with them when I was starting out and hadn't heard about the furniture shop. I agreed to do a visit on a Monday. I drove 25 miles to the site and the location was closed on Mondays.

No compensation or apology from the MSC. Next!

As if anyone needed another reason not to shop that furniture store, has anyone heard what is really in their beef meatballs?

I have read a few people posting that they make $40 for an apartment shop. Would it be breaking rules for me to ask people to post what they make for apartment shops with EPMS and what state they are in? I'm curious because I have seen some pretty different figures so far.

I don't take their apartment shops at the regular rate. In fact, I don't take their written apartment shops until a scheduler calls and offers more than $40 and I will take video shops. Their site is fairly easy for you to check other areas because it allows you to search 250 miles out.

Goofy,
EPMS apartment shop rates vary by location. Deep South pays the least, in my experience.

It is $35 in my area (Utah).

EPMS pays $25 in Corpus Christi.

They start at $30 here in NM and will go up when bonused. I dislike the shops because it seems to me when they are bonused the editor will go out of their way to ding you dollars for what they deem as incorrect.

Same day appts with targeted apartment shops on the weekend are very difficult because many agents put all calls to voice mail on weekends.
In general.
Same day appointments are very difficult in any major metropolitan area because if the target does not answer the phone until late afternoon its almost impossible to get there before the close for the day.
And I'll add with that MSC talked about above,. I find more than 75% of the time there instructions are FLAT OUT WRONG
From giving the wrong phone numbers to having the wrong days the target is available. They then take a week to respond when you notify them of this.

I did three shops for Cirrus a year or so ago. It took so long for them to pay that I have not done any since. Everytime I see an email from them, I remind myself about the 90+ days they take to pay and delete.

I go nuts when the targets are managers who never answer the phone themselves. I had one once that I tried to reach for weeks. Finally I got her on the phone after asking for her (with permission) several times. Right after I gave her my name she immediately transferred me back to her leasing agent.

DanceMom,

I just ran into the Cirrus 90 day pay cycle. They say it is in the FAQs on their website, but it is not in their shopper agreement nor is it in the shops. Add to that the fact that most shoppers do not hook up with companies through their main website, but rather through Sassie, and you have a situation where the shopper has no reasonable way to know about the 90 day + turnaround.

Mountain Beachboy

Mountain Beachboy: That's what happened with me. I took the jobs and didn't know about the 90+ days so I submitted the invoice, and when I wasn't paid within 60 days, emailed them, and was informed that it would be another 30 days at least. They usually don't have targeted shops like EPMS, but their reports are just as long. And EPMS pays on the 22nd of every month by direct deposit.

I've done about 5 shops for them. Some recorded with audio only.... others were video. I was paid for each with no problem. I love working for them.

I've completed about 25 shops (i.e., telephone, recorder and video) over the last 60 days or so.

^25! Wow. I do 3 or 4 shops for them about every 3 months. I only see shops available in my area every 3 months or so, and when I see them, after I pick up 3, the remaining shops disappear. I must be reaching their limits.