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Elite CX - Elite Shopper Force - Payment and Communication Issues

January 06, 2018 05:22PM
Just a heads-up:

I received payment on 5 January 2018 for a video shop that I performed on 21 September 2017.

That works out to a 105-day pay period. This is a violation of our ICA.

I emailed the scheduler Marguerite Turner and the company owner David Hartley beginning on December 29 after the payment went over 90 days and never received a reply.

Based on the payment and the communication issues with this company, I would seriously caution other route video shoppers about accepting work; they are not holding to their ICA, and are not answering emails on payment. Not a good sign.

I rarely post in this forum (too, too busy) but I have been burned in the past by companies stretching out payment until it never arrives. I don't want to see my fellow video shoppers burned on assignments as I have been.

Are other shoppers seeing this pattern with this company? If so, it would be a good idea to let us know; I performed a route in California last month (December 2017) for Elite CX and now am wondering if my anticipated fees are going to be paid in March, April, or - ????? At the time I accepted the work, they were answering communications and the September payment was not in question.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2018 05:29PM by ColoKate63.
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More Discussions About Elite Shopper Force (All Companies)
More About Payment
January 07, 2018 08:37PM
Kate, this was the only time something like this has happened. Try and be forgiving, maybe it was just a one time mistake and it won't happen again.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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January 07, 2018 08:46PM
please keep us posted.
thank you.
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January 14, 2018 07:28AM
No this has happened repeatedly with this company! I ended up canceling 2 shops after completing 2 after finding out I had to wait 90+ days for payment (which I am still waiting for). I did 2 shops 10/11/17 and was told my Marguerite that it will be 90 days before I received payment. We are now at 94 days and no sign of the money. I wrote MT back in October and kindly told her I couldn’t afford to work for them - 1 hr prep, 2 hour drive to shop (round trip) and 1 hour report and upload video. That’s 4 hours for $50, minus gas. Their scheduler also doesn’t seem to care about trying to save me time and miles - and scheduled me driving to the same general area 2 days in a row. Then - waiting 90 days! No frinkin’ way! I have no regrets about quickly quitting them...as I continue to wait for my money. I think this company is taking a nose-dive. Hey obviously have a cash flow problem and I don’t see any more of their shops listed on GigSpot.
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January 14, 2018 03:32PM
oh boy. glad I UN-subscribed from this MSC .
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January 14, 2018 04:07PM
I can't find the official payment police for Elite CX Solutions - only a once sentence blurb found by clicking a link on the pay history page that states that they pay within 90 days of being accepted. When I look at my (albeit very short) pay history with them, it appears that they invoice all shops approved during a month at the end of that month. They then pay on the third month after that statement. My August 12 shops, for instance, was invoiced on August 30. I received payment through PayPal November 6. I performed a December shop as well, which was invoiced December 30. I am anticipating payment in early March.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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January 14, 2018 04:15PM
@CAGB33
It does sound like you should have received payment about a week ago for October shops. Have you viewed your invoices online? Do they give you any indication of what's going on? I would view them an print them out, just in case.

As for the scheduling... It's not the scheduler's job to be watching out for your gas usage and driving times. Only you can do that. I've dumped GigSpot, so I don't remember all the processes, but you should be able to give the MSC dates that you can do a particular shop. If the MSC doesn't like your availability, they simply don't assign you the shops. If you request one date and they give it to you on another (it happens, they are human), a simple email should remedy the situation.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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January 14, 2018 05:00PM
MFJohnston,

I do not think you are understanding the entire problem with Elite CX:

1. “a simple email” will not work when they are ignoring emails and a request for a payment that went beyond 90 days, as was my experience, and

2. By paying at 94 days (CAGB33’s experience) and at 105 days (my experience), they are in violation of their ICA.

I’ve been in the industry for 9 years now, and have seen the “death spiral” of several MS companies over these years. Payments are extended, communication is cut off - then they go under.

I put this up to warn fellow shoppers about this company. It sounds like serious issues are occurring. Unfortunately, I accepted and performed 14 shops for them last month - because I hadn’t heard any negatives through “the grapevine.” I would like to spare others my negative experience.

In addition, I have also found out that Elite has withdrawn from IMSC membership and that they no longer are a recommended IMSC company.

In a word: beware.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2018 05:04PM by ColoKate63.
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January 14, 2018 08:56PM
ColoKate:

I’ve been in the industry for 9 years now, and have seen the “death spiral” of several MS companies over these years. Payments are extended, communication is cut off - then they go under.

ShopperBob:

It's been just shy of 15 yrs. for me and I completely agree with Kate. I have been fortunate in that an MSC folding has never cost me a cent, but shoppers beware! There are but two reasons for a 90 day payment period and neither are favorable for those of us who work.
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January 15, 2018 12:10AM
thanks for the heads up. my experience w/this MSC was good, and the scheduler pleasant and professional until the editor "critiqued" my video shop, unnecessarily mean spirited and unprofessional IMO. Video shops can fail or be rejected. It happens, and no one feels worse than the person who performed the video shop, but to rip the shopper ? I felt bad enough the the aim was off. I did not need a scolding, with insults thrown in for good measure.
I will not shop for them after that and with this pay issue, I know I did the right thing by de-activating my account with them.
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January 15, 2018 01:16AM
@ColoKate63
I find the withdrawal from IMSC and no longer being a recommended company distressing and concur that concern is in order.

Here is why I did not find either of the first two posts alarming:
* The ICA says that payment is made 90 days after the shop is approved, not after it is done. It is not uncommon for shops to be approved a week (or more) after they are performed. (We periodically see complaints about it on this forum.)
* I was paid on time (in December for my August work. So, if there is an issue, it really just came to a head this last month.
* It is common to have ill-founded messages of "Beware" on the forum regarding mystery shopping companies - even from shoppers who have been around for a while.
* Elite CX strikes me as being a smaller company... A delayed payment or lack of email response could have a simple explanation, such as somebody having the flu, being delayed in an airport after traveling on the holidays, a software issue, etc.
* As of today, they are still offering video shops for a national client.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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