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EmilyMtr
Valued Contributor
Vancouver, BC
Canada
184 Posts |
 Posted - 06/26/2006 : 07:43:05 AM
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Susan,
Are you sure about this?!!
I just rec'd an email saying my shop is late, but it's not. The scheduling company told me not to shop it this wknd and to wait for the goahead as the client changed their minds. (Its the ff job)
I immediately called Martiz (got thru right away) and was transfered to Susan. She told me their is a computer problem and shoppers are receiving messages that are not correct.
I've only been with them a few months, so surely your six yrs must account for something.
Could it just be a terrible computer bug?! I hope so. Not a good way to start the day. |
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Bri-in-CA
Valued Contributor
Cloverdale, CA
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2006 : 12:03:28 PM
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| Above the application it states that if it's accepted you receive an email with login information. Either my husband & I haven't been approved or we got an email & accidentally deleted it because it's been a few months & we haven't heard anything. How long does it normally take? Does it depend if they need shoppers in the area a person lives? Do they shop in Northern CA(San Francisco & anything north of that)? Thanks. |
Silver certified & shopping Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino & Lake counties |
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Pat S
Valued Contributor
San Ramon, CA
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2006 : 1:54:37 PM
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| Bri- They do shop in the bay area and north of there. The fact that you haven't heard from them yet is not uncommon. They seem to favor allowing existing shoppers to pick up jobs before they go to their database and look for new people in a given area. It took months and months before I was contacted. Just keep waiting. If they can't get jobs filled near you they will eventually contact you. |
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MaryHays
Member
MO
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2006 : 3:51:30 PM
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If you question it, call them and see if your profile has been accepted.
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AZJoJo
Apprentice
Sierra Vista, AZ
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2006 : 11:01:39 PM
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| I've done some shops for Maritz, not the gasoline ones. I've found them to be good. Some of the info that I needed to have for my specific shop was not included in my paperwork and that was stated in the guidelines, if you don't see it, call them. I've always had fast responses/call backs from them. I've got a good scheduler here in AZ who really stays on top of things, even called to check that I was going to do my shop the next day when I was doing my first shop for them. Now she doesn't do that, but I can still get an answer about anything right away. |
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KenASch
Star Contributor
Camarillo, CA
USA
515 Posts |
Posted - 11/04/2006 : 9:08:02 PM
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| I just completed the vehicle dealership shops (set of 4) and thought I would share my positive experience. Having done some vehicle shops in the past I was reluctant to do anymore. I did not enjoy the pressure tactics of the sales personnel and the difficulty in getting pricing and other details that the shops required. The Maritz shops are nothing like this. Without going into too much detail, let me just say that the shops were enjoyable, the questionnaire very simple, with just yes and no answers, very limited narrative, and the scheduler (Sandra) was terrific. |
Ken S
Gold Shopper
Shopping Ventura County California |
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MelissaBo
Member
Nebraska
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2006 : 10:13:32 AM
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| I agree wholeheartedly with Ken about the dealership job. The ones I had were very generously bonused and I figured it would be a LOT of work, but I was willing to do it for the amount they were paying. Turns out, I had a BLAST doing these jobs and they were easy peasy. I'd do them again anytime! Matter of fact, I wish I could find MORE jobs just like those! |
Melissa |
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MaryHays
Member
MO
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2006 : 4:05:18 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by KenASch
and the scheduler (Sandra) was terrific.
Her name is actually Sondra. No worries, she gets called Sandra lots too. |
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PennyC
Star Contributor
GA
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2006 : 11:34:55 AM
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I had good experiences with them up until this last shop.
It was a reveal gas audit (w/ pics) and I knew it was going to be a stinker the minute I couldn't find the shop on the road that the address stated.
When I did find it on a totally different road, the manager was a huge a$$! I do not rattle under pressure easily; even a couple of customers asked if he was giving me a tough time or what. I just told them 'work was work'and played if off. He had me recheck things with him and had a guy working to fix things as I listed them and harressed me to changed things on the audit. I did miss one photo before the employee changed the paper supply.
When I submitted the report I stated that I would not go back to that station ever. I stated I missed one photo and by the time I was away from the manager and could take it again the employee had changed it. If they coudln't pay they couldn't pay me. BUT... that was not the end of the wasting of my time!
They emailed me twicve about the pic. I called back in twice for that missing pic, explaining it twice. I was told I'd have to call someone else that next day. Well, for that price I had done everything I was prepared to do & no more. I emailed in the facts & said I was not working on this shop anymore.
So, when my scheduler called last week, I told her why I was "taking a break from Maritz for awhile."
I can strongly recommend that if you get an overly agressive manager onsite for those shops you might want to consider quitting it ASAP, before it results in dimished returns for you. |
PennyC
MSPA Gold Certified 5/04
Shopping Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson Counties in Georgia |
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SharonInCO
Valued Contributor
Conifer, CO
USA
218 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2006 : 5:05:14 PM
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| If they're the announced audits I've done at gas stations, the letter clearly states that you are not to discuss the audit with station personnel. I've had a few managers that seem overly interested in what I'm doing but I usually say that I'm not to discuss it and move away. |
Sharon
MSPA GOLD Certified Shopper
Shopping the South and West suburbs of Denver |
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PamInCa
Star Contributor
CA
USA
6049 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2006 : 8:42:26 PM
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| I was thinking the same thing when I read the post. I have never seen an audit from them where the manager was involved, other than getting the letter and maybe their signature. |
PamInCa
Author of: "The Essential Guide to Mystery Shopping" |
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PennyC
Star Contributor
GA
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2006 : 5:38:46 PM
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This one I needed to review with him & get his signature and initials on the (not really carbon, but the multiple pages that copy like carbon used to) paperwork - - I do NOT recommend these. He would not sign w/o me walking over to the cc display with him, walking into the rr with him....*sigh*... It was a different element than other shops I had done for them.
At first he wasn't going to let me take the pics, I said fine, just call my bosses & let them know. That statement is always so hopeful, especially when I look back on this shop. |
PennyC
MSPA Gold Certified 5/04
Shopping Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson Counties in Georgia |
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Carosell
Star Contributor
Virginia
USA
285 Posts |
Posted - 11/11/2006 : 7:24:41 PM
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| I have worked with Maritz for several years and have had no problems. I do not do the gasoline shops or fast food. I do just one account which I find very easy and they are always great to work with. |
Cholle
MSPA Gold certified |
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Dar-L
Star Contributor
USA
656 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2006 : 8:20:27 PM
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Penny C:
There's a location just like that in my territory. Wife and I have both done it for that same project several times, and it never gets any better.
Manager argued every time he saw me take a pic, he fixed the pump receipt dispenser then accused me of lieing! And when we looked at the dirty and stained restroom floor he said it was clean enough for him!!
Every visit he refuses to sign the report copy, and Maritz said just to leave the copy, get out, and comment in the report. Wife won't go back there anymore...she thinks it's a "male arrogance" thing (can't stand to have a female tell him he is wrong!). |
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Roger42
Star Contributor
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 11/12/2006 : 8:22:27 PM
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I've done dozens of the reveal gas station shops and when I get an a-hole manager I just say "If you don't want me to do it fine. You'll get a zero and I'll let BP know. I get paid either way"
As for the employee changing things - just make a comment and let the editors do their job. I've given a "no" to many questions and didn't have a picture because the employee fixed it before I got there. I just made a comment and let them sort it out.
It does say on the form that the results are not final until posted. Tell them to take up the complaints with the gas rep. |
Gold Certified
15 Years Experience
Specializing In Audits
Covering Mid Atlantic and Northeast |
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MichaelinNH
Star Contributor
New Hampshire
USA
362 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2006 : 7:41:34 PM
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I don't know when I applied last, but my application was accepted today. I have completed the W-9 and IC confirmations and now I can see some assignments distant from me.
From reading the overview and contract, do they just assign some of the shops to you automatically? It seemed to imply that. I don't have a problem with it, as long as I know they are coming, just have not run into that yet. |
MSPA Gold Certified NH/ME |
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Pat S
Valued Contributor
San Ramon, CA
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2006 : 11:17:16 PM
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MichaelinNH - I have never had shops assigned to me that I hadn't previously authorized. I have some shops that ask at the bottom of the online entry "would I be willing to do it again?" or something like that. If you say yes then it will be automatically given to you next time. I have always received an email about it though.
Now for my 1 minor complaint. I had made a large loop of shops and picked up a bunch of them for them (no bonuses or anything) and when I missed 1 minor picture I was told that I wouldn't be paid for that shop. They wouldn't even look at my history and see that I had done about 45 of that certain shop and nearly 250 shops total and this one shop is the only one that there ever has been an issue with. They wanted me to drive 150 miles each way to get 1 picture (no additional pay). (I told them they must be crazy to ask me to drive that far.) Other than that no major complaints. Communications are usually good but they do have their miscommunications. |
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MaryHays
Member
MO
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2006 : 5:11:26 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Pat S
MichaelinNH - when I missed 1 minor picture I was told that I wouldn't be paid for that shop. They wouldn't even look at my history and see that I had done about 45 of that certain shop and nearly 250 shops total and this one shop is the only one that there ever has been an issue with. They wanted me to drive 150 miles each way to get 1 picture (no additional pay). (I told them they must be crazy to ask me to drive that far.)
What is needed to be understood is that they have strict guidelines with their clients to produce the pictures that the shoppers have to take and if one is missing, the client and shop owner get a little upset and start questioning everything. I understand your upset, but please understand history or not, the picture is what they need to complete the shop, if you miss then its your fault and you need to understand you need to take it again. Usually they try to work with you, as they do have a turn over to client time very rapid after you complete the shop.
I would say, sorry for the directness, make sure you have the pictures you need when you go on route trips. Cause it may bite you on your butt, like this happened, if you miss a picture.
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Pat S
Valued Contributor
San Ramon, CA
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2006 : 6:24:22 PM
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Mhays- I totally understand where they are coming from when since they have to turn it over to the client quickly.
The part that is interesting is that it took better than 3 weeks for them to tell me there was a problem. In addition they had said there was a problem with 1 other picture (about 3 days after I did the shop) which I cleared up immediately. I am starting to think that the client was looking for anyway possible to discredit the report (since it wasn't very pretty). |
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Bama Nan
Apprentice
North Alabama
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2006 : 6:27:59 PM
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I have liked Maritz shops also until a 'loop' of the same gas station shops that ended with 2 missing photos. I had a schedular that seemed like a nice person but was forgetting things she told me on the phone. More that once. She asked me to do a gas shop in a town nearby to me, I asked her if it was in a certain zip code because I had done another shop for a different company and the zip was wrong and it was way out. Same here, the station was way out of my way, very irritating with gas at $3! On the loop, I had to call in about a special situation and she asked me the same question four or five times in a couple of minutes, I almost lost it! This call was in the middle of one of these shops and I forgot a picture. I forgot a pic at the next stop in the loop. I purposefully spoke with another scheduler that seemed very rational, she said I had two weeks to get the pictures if I wanted to be paid. I verified with her twice in the phone call that I had until the x day of the month to get the pictures and she said yes. So like the newbie I am, when I was able I drove about 75 miles just to get the two pictures and guess what!? The shops had been removed from my list. So I decided to just do local pharm shops with them, but when I needed to talk with a schedular about my shop, they were moving and then I couldn't get in touch with anyone and left two voicemails that were never returned. I also never got paid for my last invoice with all these gas stations. With all the communication problems I've had with this company I decided that I needed to not try to communicate with them for a while. I logged on for the first time in about two months last week, nothing in my city - maybe they're wanting to get rid of me  |
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Feedback Requested: Maritz