I have to say, it was good to find this forum and see what y'all have been saying about various companies. Although I dont know many of them, I am learning quite a bit just reading some of these posts Thank you to all you experienced shoppers!

We at Goodwin & Associates have read your posts on this forum and feel that is our responsibility to respond. We would first like to thank all of the valued shoppers that provide us with quality reports. We enjoy working with you and appreciate your hard work. The reality is that we have over 50,000 shoppers. We pay all of our shoppers that submit valid reports within the defined payment terms. Due to our quality assurance measures, there are numerous shop reports that we reject every day. If the shopper went to the wrong location, didn’t follow order requirements, didn’t get a receipt, failed to provide details, turned in the report after 24 hours, we questioned the integrity, etc. then we simply discard all of those shops and redo them. We only submit quality reports to our clients and we only pay the shoppers for reports that we can use. If they don’t follow instructions or don’t produce quality work and we can’t use the report, then we can’t pay for it. We are not "scamming" our shoppers. We’ve been in business for 11 years and have over 500 clients. We have a BBB rating of an "A". We didn’t build our business on scams. There are also shoppers that don’t receive payments for reasons outside of our control, like they moved and didn’t update their shopper profile with the mailing address for checks or they changed PayPal email addresses and didn’t tell us. We eventually catch up with those shoppers, but it takes a while. Then, when you are paying a few thousand shoppers each month, there are always bound to be a few shoppers that slip through the cracks. When that happens, we jump on it and pay them right away when it is brought to our attention. If anyone on this forum has any questions or concerns about their payment for shops they completed, please contact our office directly to get it resolved. Posting complaints or threats on a public forum will not help expedite your payment, as our accounting office does read these forums. Your comments may hurt the brand image of a quality company built by hardworking individuals. Please contact our office directly at 603-223-0303 and a member of our team will gladly assist you. Thank you.

Goodwin & Associates Mystery Shopper Program
603-223-0303

Seems in direct conflict with the words of Amy Melanson here:
[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Missing even one shopper's payment is just not OK. Not being able to tell shoppers when they will be paid is even less OK. It seems to me that the actions of companies speak louder than the posts.

The Goodwin post of Aug 11 is a bunch of hooey! I have never had a shop rejected or questioned by them and I still wasnt paid until after 90 days and after many emails to them. It's not a matter of my work not being of good quality, they just do not pay in a timely manner. It took me many emails to the company to get paid and never in any email was I told my work wasn't of good quality. That was never in question. It is them. They are holding onto their money for as long as possible. And I did contact the company for payment. And I have never threatened the company. I will simply never shop for them again. And I know there are new suckers every day that sign up with them and will shop. That will always be the case. But it won't be me. There are too many companies that pay me in 30 days, with me not having to nag them for my money.

Goodwin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We pay all of our shoppers that
> submit valid reports within the defined payment
> terms.


This just backs up my claim that Goodwin has no respect for shoppers.

Brushing aside claims by numerous people that payment has not been within the contract terms with a suggestion that shops were not performed within guidelines or that some just "slip through the cracks" seems to me a blatant lie, especially considering the posts by Amy apologizing for the delays.

I think a retraction and apology is in order here if Goodwin expects to be respected in this industry.

Hi AustinMom I can sure identify with you, yesterdy I signed up with a company and..... so dumb...... I never saw how much they pay..I was working within the hour with 15 evaluations to do in 2 days. This is a ONLINE mystery shopping company. After 3 emails of asking the same question "How much do you pay?" and getting no response....I'm skeptical. Any Ideas?

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Has anyone worked for Goodwin lately? I never
> have, but recently saw postings by one of their
> schedulers/managers, AMelanson, and I was
> impressed with her willingness to work with
> shoppers, so I signed up. Didn't see any shops
> but not long after that I got an e-mail from
> "szec" about my Goodwin account. She notified me
> that, until I passed a shopper test, I wasn't
> eligible for shops. She said due to the way their
> website is set up, access to the test was not
> straight forward. Her e-mail said to log in and
> "Once logged in, you will see a grey box in the
> right hand corner. Click on the last link that
> says “Show Me Forms I Can Enter Directly”. This
> will bring you to our shopper test. Please read
> the test instructions carefully! If you pass your
> test, you will then be eligible for our shops."
> OK, so I did it and when I click the forms link, I
> get the message "(There are no forms you may enter
> directly.)" E-mailed her back but no response. I
> still have her e-mail and have tried a few times
> over the past 3 weeks but still the same "no
> forms" message. I just e-mailed again. If I
> don't hear back, I guess I will delete her e-mail,
> enter the site and delete my personal info, and
> write this company off............ If they are
> this hard to get started with, don't respond to
> new shoppers, and have had payment problems, do I
> really want to work for them?

Attention Goodwin: This board was started by shoppers who can post whatever they please within the stated guidelines as it remains a public forum.

Your industry refuses to police itself, so the shoppers have to do so whether you like it or not. If msc's had their own forum, would shoppers be permitted to post their own comments on it??? I doubt it.

I have heard the lame, tired excuse of non payment due to "Accounting problems" from other companies that refuse to pay shoppers--Channelwatch.com, Freeman and others. Why can some msc's pay shoppers the same day?? Yes, it's true, I-Spy in PA pays the same day the shop was performed.

Does your company like waiting for payments from it's clients and vendors for unreasonably long periods of time???


The unusual number negative postings against your firm are circumspect. "Where there's smoke, there's fire."

Amy Melanson posted on 7/19 on Violation (see: [forum.volition.com]). It is the last entry on the page. Although it appears that some positive changes had happened since she had posted here, it was very apparent that they were still behind on shopper payments and the economy is affecting them still.

But some nameless person from Goodwin came here and blamed shoppers or "things slipping through the cracks" due to the 50K shoppers they have to pay.

I was paid for my shops for them late, and after I contacted Amy directly, but I was paid within a couple of days of contacting her. However, I had to be the squeaky wheel. At that time, which was late last fall, nothing was mentioned about the "unuseability" of my reports, nor that I "had been inadvertently missed."

This post from "nameless Goodwin employee" is an attempt to deflect blame onto shoppers while still getting new shoppers to take shops other shoppers decline due to no pay/slow pay.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2010 06:28PM by dee shops.

dee shops,

Good for you and regarding their AAA rating from the Better Business Bureau.
That may have been issued by default, as the BBB now charges customers to file complaints against businesses, believe it or not, so most people skip the BBB and rely on their local consumer protection agaencies, Attorney Generals, etc.
Has the MSPA ever received any complaints????

Lastly, the Goodwin poster claims they have over 500 cleints, yet when I checked current shops for several states, I see only 2, not 500 plus. Maybe the 500 number comes from their other business related services separate from their mystery shopping division. Big Difference.

Arch, as to their BBB rating, it is not an A. It is a B+. [www.bbb.org]

There have been 6 complaints closed in the last year. For most the company responded, but for one they did not (according to the BB. Yes, their business involves more than just MSing, and their rating most likely reflects that as well.

As to charging for complaints, I have only filed a complaint one time, and that was again Restaurant Evaluators. I did not have to pay. I did not expect them to resolve the claim, and they didn't (I did.) I just wanted that black mark there as they were impossible to reach via email or phone. Only threating AG action got me paid in that instance. But I digress. This thread is about the outrageous claims of unidentified Goodwin employee.

Goodwin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Posting complaints or threats on a
> public forum will not help expedite your payment,
> as our accounting office does read these forums.
> Your comments may hurt the brand image of a
> quality company built by hardworking individuals.
> Please contact our office directly at 603-223-0303
> and a member of our team will gladly assist you.
> Thank you.
>
>
Thank you, Goodwin, for your comments. We shoppers might be more impressed if the individual posting was willing to sign his name and stand behind his comments. The purpose of posting complaints about late payment on this forum and any other is NOT to get immediate payment. Shoppers can pick up a telephone or e-mail to demand payment which is overdue. The purpose of posting about chronic lateness/nonpayment is to warn other shoppers about a slow- or no-pay MSC. I'm sure the comments about Goodwin's payment history have ALREADY hurt the image of the Goodwin company and will probably do further damage unless Goodwin begins to pay its shoppers timely. There are many shoppers who refuse to accept Goodwin's shops because of reports by experienced long-time shoppers (and valued posters on this forum and Volition) of very slow payment. I'm sure you won't run out of shoppers, because new shoppers sign up every day, and, not knowing about the late payment problems, will accept shops. But many of the more experienced shoppers will not. And shoppers will continue to post about late payments, keeping other shoppers up to date. On the other hand, if Goodwin begins to pay on time, shoppers will post that you are paying on time. If I were a hardworking member of the Goodwin team, my first priority would be to improve my payment record.

Experienced shoppers BS people all day long with unworkable scenarios given to us by some MSC's (though not all MSC's - not the *good* ones. They know better.)
As such, experienced shoppers have exceptional skills at sniffing out BS when we smell it. Some of us certainly smell it in the post of "unidentified Goodwin employee." My guess, if I had to, is that it is the owner who posted. He has the most to lose having his name go down the toilet. That also means he is the one least paying attention to reports of late payments by shoppers, since *this many shoppers claiming late payments* are NOT a blip on the screen, they ARE the screen.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2010 05:24AM by dee shops.

We have always been open and honest about our shopper payment situation from the beginning. We were behind in shopper payments earlier this year. That is no secret and was publically acknowledged. That was caused by staff in our account office, which has since been replaced, and systems problems. That is the truth and that was shared with all shoppers. We have since rectified that problem and are paying shoppers on time. In fact, we are paying many shoppers very early. Has anyone on this forum done shops for us in the recent past?

Yes, we have over 500 active clients. Not every shoppers is eligible to see every shop available. Eligibility is based on a shopper rotation, our internal shopper rating system, MSPA certification, tenure, industry experience, and demographics.

Arch - Are you certified by the MSPA? If so, then you should know that is not permitted to share the identity of clients of a mystery shopping company with others...especially not on a public forum.

Goodwin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We have always been open and honest about our
> shopper payment situation from the beginning. We
> were behind in shopper payments earlier this year.
> That is no secret and was publically
> acknowledged.

Hmmm. It sure was NOT acknowledged in secret identity Goodwin's first post. In fact, you blamed shoppers. Now you backtrack and try to cover up your harsh and misspoken claims?

So you are up to speed and early? Seems like folks that shopped for you in the past two months both here an on Violation do not have that perception. I sure wonder why that would be.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/2010 04:02PM by dee shops.

Goodwin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We have always been open and honest about our
> shopper payment situation from the beginning. We
> were behind in shopper payments earlier this year.
> That is no secret and was publically
> acknowledged. That was caused by staff in our
> account office, which has since been replaced, and
> systems problems. That is the truth and that was
> shared with all shoppers. We have since rectified
> that problem and are paying shoppers on time. In
> fact, we are paying many shoppers very early. Has
> anyone on this forum done shops for us in the
> recent past?

Hmmmmm. When exactly was the problem rectified? On Volition, about 3 weeks ago, Amy Melanson responded to shopper complaints "Posted - 07/19/2010 : 12:05:49 PM
We are currently paying late due to a variety of things that happened last year,...." So 3 weeks ago Goodwin employees were acknowledging late payments, and were saying there is no quick, easy fix for our late payments, but suddenly Goodwin is caught up and paying early? And somehow when Amy posted on 7/19 she didn't know the payment problems were fixed and that shoppers were being paid on time and even early? Pretty lame.

Steve hit the nail on the head. The Goodwin problems go far beyond their payment issues. Looks like a blatant disrespect for shoppers.

Yup.

Edited to add: AM, the only person being deluded by the mystery Goodwin poster is the poster himself. :-) Shoppers are WAY too savvy to be so misled.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2010 01:08AM by dee shops.

Goodwin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We have always been open and honest about our
> shopper payment situation from the beginning. We
> were behind in shopper payments earlier this year.
> That is no secret and was publically
> acknowledged. That was caused by staff in our
> account office, which has since been replaced, and
> systems problems. That is the truth and that was
> shared with all shoppers. We have since rectified
> that problem and are paying shoppers on time. In
> fact, we are paying many shoppers very early. Has
> anyone on this forum done shops for us in the
> recent past?<<<<<<<

>>>>>, when you are paying a few thousand shoppers each month, there are always bound to be a few shoppers that slip through the cracks.<<<<<



I have worked for GAH in the recent past. I expect to be paid b4 the ninety days is up, B/c I fear by the ninety-first day, I would have blown my chances or rights to get paid. 90 days is a long time to get paid for one shop. I don't want my pay to get loss in the cracks.

GAH shops are not really that favorable. They don't have 10 to 15 shops per month. GAH comes off as a law firm. They act like "we will sue YOU, if we want to." Thats why they try to use our MPSA cert against us.


>>>Posting complaints or threats on a public forum will not help expedite your payment, as our accounting office does read these forums. <<<

If this is so, then why can't they get it together? The accounting office is getting paid, because they are not shoppers.,...they are employees.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I had to complain about a MSC that was closed when I went to a shop. Well they told me I would get paid. But the kicker is they removed all of their shop from me, I just checked my email from them.

I know they didn't removed me b/c I complained to YOU the forun, but to the CLIENT Services Manager. She should know her job better than I do. Why would she send shoppers out to a business that is closed.

That's okay. This is the MSC and if they keep messing with me I spill the beans about whom the client is.

I am not certified and I not interested. I'll just wait ninety days for my check and go from there.

Interesting that in the days that "anonymous Goodwin" has been proved wrong here, he has not come to try to defend his ill-proclaimed statements here, either.

We KNOW you were incorect, goodwin. DO YOU belive your own lies?

Maybe the reason he was anonymous is that he knew what he was posting wasn't true? OR, maybe Goodwin the Company has identified Goodwin the anonymous poster and fired him for posting bogus company information and showing a total lack of respect for shoppers. Whoever the anonymous Goodwin poster is has really given his company some bad advertising. To quote the anonymous Goodwin poster, "Your comments may hurt the brand image of a quality company built by hardworking individuals." And my comment to Anonymous Goodwin is you sure have hurt the brand image of your company in the eyes of shoppers.

AustinMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> maybe
> Goodwin the Company has identified Goodwin the
> anonymous poster and fired him for posting bogus
> company information and showing a total lack of
> respect for shoppers.

Wouldn't that be the bomb? Do you think the CEO fired himself?

Well I am a new victim of Goodwin and Associates. I wish I had known and researched about them earlier. I have completed four shops for them totaling $221. My first reimbursement of $15 is over the 90 day period. I have sent several emails and left one phone message. Has anyone every contacted the companies you have done the shops for? I plan to do so if I do not hear anything back from this company. Oh... thanks for letting me vent!

Goodwin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
If
> anyone on this forum has any questions or concerns
> about their payment for shops they completed,
> please contact our office directly to get it
> resolved. Posting complaints or threats on a
> public forum will not help expedite your payment,
> as our accounting office does read these forums.
> Your comments may hurt the brand image of a
> quality company built by hardworking individuals.
> Please contact our office directly at 603-223-0303
> and a member of our team will gladly assist you.
> Thank you.
>
> Goodwin & Associates Mystery Shopper Program
> 603-223-0303


I would give them a call. Sometimes squeaky wheels are what gets greased.

Personally, I would search here for Amy's posts and contact Amy directly. She got me paid. But, I would hold off on doing ay more till you see shoppers reporting here that they have gotten paid on time and without having to contact them (unlike anonymous goodwin's claims, which at this point have not been proved by any shoppers posting here.)

Thanks for the responses. I did contact them again last night threatening to contact the companies I have shopped. I did get my full payment of all my shops today. I should not have had to go to those lengths. After being paid today, I asked them to remove me from databases and emails as I do not want to deal with a company that cannot pay on time. Amy said she understood and had heard stories similar to mine. Good thing is that I got the money due to me. I am so glad to have seen this forum as it really informed me of what I needed to do to get paid.

I am delighted that you got paid and terribly sorry that you had to resort to hounding them. That is just not right in so many, many ways. I have not terminated with them because there is always the hope that a company will make it through bad times, get themselves reorganized and return to civilized business practices. But there are a few on my list that I will probably not be shopping for any time soon.

>Then, when you are paying a few thousand shoppers each month, there are always >bound to be a few shoppers that slip through the cracks.

Haha. Somehow my day job company that employs 80+ thousand people hasn't missed one payment to me for 8 years. And I haven't heard my co-workers have any issues either. When someone makes a statement like that, it shows what type of standard the company holds itself to.

But of course to them we are "vendors", not employees. Employees need to be paid without hassle or the labor law comes down on them pretty hard. They have specific due dates for the payroll taxes and such, which need to be accurate if they aren't going to get grief. But "vendors" can wait until there is money to pay them.

I work for them now. You are right they do take too long to get the pay. I'm trying to find something else to do.

I just did an ice creme store for them after not working for them in two years....we'll see what happens, I was promised to be paid within 60 days, saying they have a new payroll person and things are speeding up. Will let you know, I wanted the ice creme anyway, so, for $3.65 I can wait.