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LisaOV
Star Contributor
MN
USA
2296 Posts |
 Posted - 01/29/2009 : 05:50:08 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Servanne
The accounts for Bestmark are set up in such a way that the "household" is one shopping unit.
I did not know that! Wow, then that makes sense why, about four years ago when one of the schedulers, who is long gone now, thought that I should still be able to get my shop done when I called him from the hospital to explain that I just had a baby (she was almost four weeks early). I guess he figured my husband could do it! LOL!
Other then that one particular scheduler, who is now gone, I love working for Best Mark. They have had some really unsual jobs in the past - including once renting a car for me!!! That was a lot of fun. |
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CherieN
Valued Contributor
MD
USA
234 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 07:35:15 AM
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| As crazy or even unfair as people may think it sounds, Bestmark is not the only one with this policy. It always includes family and close friends. I have seen other companies do a pre-screening and if you have worked in a certain industry then you cannot do assignments with them. |
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LisaOV
Star Contributor
MN
USA
2296 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 12:16:17 PM
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That is true. I too have heard from a few companies that if you've worked in banks or drug stores that you can't do certain projects fro them - but I think it is rare that you can't sign up and do anything.
I do consider Best Mark one of the best in the business - so it must work for them. |
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Rebecca Hendrix
Valued Contributor
Headland, Alabama
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2009 : 06:13:18 AM
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| I like this company, they pay quick, great schedulers and editors. Just wish they had more jobs in my area. |
Rebecca |
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Dave Mayo
Apprentice
Maplewood, NJ
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 07:31:00 AM
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I am not familiar with the shop that is being discussed but BestMark has great shops and they pay quickly. They also have some "stinkers" where the client expects you to do two shops in one (evaluating two departments) which sometimes was tricky as the person you evaluated also wanted to escort you to the other department and assist you in that other department.
The questions never ended. They seemed to redundantly go on and on.
When you think the shop can not get worse, you realize the pay for this shop was super low and you had to buy an item at your own expense, they did not reimburse you for the item.
Only rookies take this shop or I took them when I was offered a very great shop where you had maybe six questions for a shopping spree and check out. The shop was so bad that they had to offer the very great shop as a reward.
You must read what you are getting into. If shoppers refuse to take a shop because the pay is "slave wages" 3 hours of work (including the shop itself and the report and the time it takes you to get to the shop and the gas you spend) reject it.
When the gas was $4 a gallon and you had to pay for an item to prove you were there at your own expense, the expense actually exceeded the amount they were offering and you did the shop and report for free (no compensation). |
Dave M |
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LisaOV
Star Contributor
MN
USA
2296 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 08:55:59 AM
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I know what shop you are talking about Dave and I like them - but that's just me!! BTW I got all excited because I saw you live in Maplewood, but oops - wrong state!!
But seriously I happen to like doing those particular shops - and I take them often. I'm usually in and out in 30 minutes, but I always seem to learn something new during them. |
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ValricoConnie
Star Contributor
FL
USA
743 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 4:13:06 PM
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Dave, Not "only rookies take this shop..." I've been shopping for over 4 years, gold certified and I gladly do those 2 dept. shops. I hope BestMark gets them back. I still check BestMark daily to try and pick up shops; they are one of my favorite msc!  |
::¤Connie¤:: >^..^< ::¤Gold Certified¤:: |
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LisaSTL
Star Contributor
St. Louis, MO
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 6:48:39 PM
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I'm totally with Dave on this one. Those things only pay $10 and don't forget the purchase. Let me see,30 minutes plus to shop, 30 minutes plus to report, 30 minutes round trip drive time, $1.50 for something I don't want or need,hmmmmm, about $5.65 per hour |
Lisa
"Undercover Video Specialist" |
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Randi H
Star Contributor
Charlottesville, Virginia
USA
917 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 7:07:50 PM
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| I have said it before, I liked these shops. After doing quite a few of them, I was in and out the store in less than 30 minutes, I go right past it for other jobs I am doing and after awhile you get use to the report. My first few I was giving way to much information, I learned to keep it to a few sentences with the details needed. I never did this for the fun shops, but they were nice when they were offered, but it was never my main purpose in doing them. I too wish they would come back, and like Lisa I found them fun as even when doing the same department I had done six times before I would learn something new. It would depend on the salesperson you got and each one was good at telling me something the one before hadn't. |
Randi
Silver Certified |
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LisaOV
Star Contributor
MN
USA
2296 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 7:14:31 PM
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I always take them when I have something else to do near them, so the drive time isn't the issue (and remember they are based here in MN so maybe we have more of them) and I always buy something I want or need anyhow. It has never taken me 30 minutes to do the online reporting - 20 minutes tops. Besides to each is own.
The wonderful thing about shopping is we all have likes and dislikes and can pick and choose what we want to do or don't want to do. So leave these shops for me, cause I love them. |
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TinaMarie
Star Contributor
USA
1388 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 7:21:03 PM
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| I think it's been discussed to death that instead of buying something for $1.50; it's best to purchase a gift card, which is allowed. |
~*~TinaMarie~*~ |
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PamInCa
Star Contributor
CA
USA
6013 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 7:22:52 PM
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I think it is kind of funny they are still being talked about and haven't been on the job board for so long.
I love this company. The schedulers I work with there are really great. |
PamInCa
Author of: "The Essential Guide to Mystery Shopping" |
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LisaSTL
Star Contributor
St. Louis, MO
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 7:27:10 PM
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| I agree about the schedulers, they really go out of their way to help you, especially Ron. And they do have a few shops I really like. Obviously, I haven't taken any of the electronics shops for a while, but I could've sworn I saw some in my area within the past 2 months. Anyway, I'm interested to hear from somebody about the changes with the increased commission and easier report. |
Lisa
"Undercover Video Specialist" |
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ValricoConnie
Star Contributor
FL
USA
743 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 7:32:05 PM
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| I saw the jobs mentioned in JobSlinger, but either missed them all or they have not been posted yet. |
::¤Connie¤:: >^..^< ::¤Gold Certified¤:: |
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LisaSTL
Star Contributor
St. Louis, MO
USA
496 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 7:38:54 PM
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| I checked Jobslinger again and it appears they haven't been posted yet. They're recruiting new shoppers but it says in the post that priority will be given to current shoppers. Cool. |
Lisa
"Undercover Video Specialist" |
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BigMikeyP
Valued Contributor
Chicago, IL
USA
202 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2009 : 8:30:53 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by LisaSTL
I agree about the schedulers, they really go out of their way to help you, especially Ron. And they do have a few shops I really like. Obviously, I haven't taken any of the electronics shops for a while, but I could've sworn I saw some in my area within the past 2 months. Anyway, I'm interested to hear from somebody about the changes with the increased commission and easier report.
I have to agree that I like the schedulers a lot....course it helps at the beginning whenever I got a list from my scheduler I would email her to let her know what i would be interested in....and now that shes gone thats sort of carried over to my current scheduler...but like others have said, its been slim pickings lately....the shops are at times when I work my full-time job although i see the Coffee Shops are on the weekends again *cheers*
As far as the electronic shops go, I see a few here and there in the Chicago area...and the mobile shop this same chain has comes up for a nearby mall....I tried to snag one this month but was told I could only do this every three months.....oh well! |
Making my way around Chicago and Northwest Indiana by Mystery Shopping and silver certified!! |
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EKimak0930
Valued Contributor
NJ
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2009 : 4:22:07 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by LisaSTL
I agree about the schedulers, they really go out of their way to help you, especially Ron. And they do have a few shops I really like. Obviously, I haven't taken any of the electronics shops for a while, but I could've sworn I saw some in my area within the past 2 months. Anyway, I'm interested to hear from somebody about the changes with the increased commission and easier report.
The electronic shop was available in my area last month. I was able to pick up two. Same commission, same form.
I still like them, and will pick them up when I see them. 
None are listed for next month yet |
Erin
Gold Certified
Shopping Central NJ |
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EKimak0930
Valued Contributor
NJ
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - 02/24/2009 : 1:29:39 PM
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I was able to pick up one 2 Dept Electronic Store in NJ. They may be listed in other states. I know they have one in Princeton NJ that is listed as well. Wish there were more  |
Erin
Gold Certified
Shopping Central NJ |
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David Richard
Valued Contributor
Providence, Rhode Island
USA
140 Posts |
Posted - 03/05/2009 : 10:13:56 PM
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An update on disqualifying persons who have worked in the restaurant industry in the past five years.
I applied to Bestmark before reading the portion of the thread stating the company will not accept shoppers who have worked in the restaurant industry (among others) in the past five years. I did not see any such notification on the site before I applied.
At least I will know why my application will be denied.
Thanks for posting. |
Happily shopping
Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts.
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SteveB
Apprentice
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2009 : 07:50:36 AM
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| I did my first mystery shop in over 20 years and did it with Bestmark. They were great to work with and paid quickly. |
Steve |
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