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KellyIL
Valued Contributor
   
Joliet, IL
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2014 : 5:20:10 PM
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I just accepted an "event" shop for Maritz, where I need to complete five to ten different interactions at a particular event. Has anyone completed one of these shops? Any feedback or tips? |
Happily shopping Joliet, Naperville, and Orland Park, Illinois and surrounding areas. MSPA Gold Certified: 7jjf7w |
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MicahPage
Star Contributor
    
Norwalk, CA
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2014 : 11:40:35 PM
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Pretty simple stuff. I did it for a sporting event. Not too hard at all. I bought a ticket for the event and went to watch after doing the work since I was already there. |
Micah |
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MicahPage
Star Contributor
    
Norwalk, CA
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 08/06/2014 : 10:54:54 AM
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I see they sent an email and updated their "find new shops" page. Nice features, but I would hope they would update other things like the unnecessary invoicing and duplicate uploads of receipts. I was always able to find shops with the "old" format and would have appreciated a more "streamlined" process for other business practices. Maybe that is phaseII of the project. I can only hope. |
Micah |
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JAngler64
Valued Contributor
   
Philadelphia, PA
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2014 : 1:28:45 PM
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I agree about the personalized aspect, especially when speaking on the phone with the people in the office. I've been dealing with them since right after they changed over from employees to contractors, I seem to always speak to some of the same people on the phone for different projects. While the technology may be a little bit behind compared to some other companies, it sure is easier to upload a copy of the receipt in 2 places instead of putting it together and mailing it. |
Jeff  MSPA Gold Certified aacxgi Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, NY to Washington, DC |
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HeatherP
Star Contributor
    
AZ
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2014 : 12:55:55 AM
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I need to give credit where credit is due. When I had my surgical emergency, I had to cancel quite a few shops. When I called Maritz, the scheduler I spoke with was totally unconcerned with the cancellation and was completely focused on me. He asked how I was doing, if I was improving, if I was going to be ok, and ended the call by saying he would be sending me positive thoughts. I felt valued as a person, when all the other schedulers took my cancellations with either grumpiness or silence. |
Heather Silver Certified Shopper |
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CourtneyEB
Member
 
Conway, SC
USA
22 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2014 : 09:04:29 AM
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They are CROOKS! I have been an on-and-off mystery shopper for 15 years. For the very first time, I have been denied payment on a shop and they will give me NO EXPLANATION! The supervisor refuses to speak to me on the phone (?!?!) |
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Sue Br.
Star Contributor
    
Oklahoma
USA
661 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2014 : 05:36:28 AM
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I do shops for three different gas stations for this company. I was looking at a manual they sent me for one and noticed the picture looked like a location I had audited. I looked back in my pictures and sure enough there was the picture I had taken used in their manual. I am smiling today! |
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FayEF
Valued Contributor
   
USA
163 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2014 : 1:43:55 PM
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Call the Admin dept. Ext. 7 seven. Hope this helps.
I was missing a payment that I forgot about. Totally my fault and responsibility. Called weeks later after I discovered no pay. I had the visit ID and did what they asked, "submit an invoice" directly to them. I was paid on the next check.
I have never not been paid this company. This company is my favorite. Have done over 1700, not a misprint. seventeen hundred.
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HeatherP
Star Contributor
    
AZ
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2014 : 11:44:01 PM
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Got emails from them on the gas station shops. They were insisting that I upload both receipts (inside and outside) to the invoice to get paid. THEY NEVER ASKED FOR THAT BEFORE (I've done the shops before) NOR TOLD ME I HAD TO!
Now apparently my payment is on hold because I uploaded one receipt to each invoice. I emailed them back the dual receipt after creating it in paint. I told them that they DO NOT pay enough for me to have to go to this trouble nearly a MONTH after my shops.
Their shops pay really low for this project and I only took them on because I was asked to help out. Now this crap. I swear this company bounces from being nice to work for to being horrid. |
Heather Silver Certified Shopper |
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Larry S
Valued Contributor
   
Simi Valley, CA
USA
219 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2014 : 10:07:32 AM
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I have been doing shops for Maritz for over 7 years and have completed over 2000. They have always required a photo of both receipts on the invoice for gas shops that require both an inside purchase and a gas purchase so that payroll knows the amount you actually spent. Payroll does not get a copy of your report, only a clearance that it is OK to pay. Simply take a photo of both receipts together and use the same photo for the two slots on the report and for the invoice. |
Larry |
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LynnPerley
Valued Contributor
   
Kernersville, NC
USA
230 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2014 : 11:05:54 AM
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Larry is right. Just take a photo of each receipt separately and then both together when you are at the location. It also will save you if you lose a receipt. It adds very little time to the shop. |
Lynn Shopping the Piedmont Triad, NC Area MSPA Silver # qhhkk5 |
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HeatherP
Star Contributor
    
AZ
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2014 : 11:47:20 PM
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quote: Originally posted by Larry S
I have been doing shops for Maritz for over 7 years and have completed over 2000. They have always required a photo of both receipts on the invoice for gas shops that require both an inside purchase and a gas purchase so that payroll knows the amount you actually spent. Payroll does not get a copy of your report, only a clearance that it is OK to pay. Simply take a photo of both receipts together and use the same photo for the two slots on the report and for the invoice.
I didn't think of scanning them together from the start and going from there. Thanks! |
Heather Silver Certified Shopper |
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Sue Br.
Star Contributor
    
Oklahoma
USA
661 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2014 : 05:06:40 AM
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I do a lot of gas stations and I scan the gas receipt, then the store then both together. I always scan at the end of the shop so when I am looking through pictures I know the receipt pictures are the end of photos for that location. It helps when you are looking through 100 pictures trying to find the one you forgot to turn in.  |
Sue |
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HeatherP
Star Contributor
    
AZ
USA
371 Posts |
Posted - 10/24/2014 : 12:49:58 AM
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I really appreciate all the tips. I was really frustrated with them because in the past I was not asked for both receipts and I was having a frustrating day in general. My frustration has given me some great ideas on how to handle receipts better, and I really thank you guys for the tips! |
Heather Silver Certified Shopper |
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MicahPage
Star Contributor
    
Norwalk, CA
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2014 : 5:03:33 PM
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They gave you good tips, but your original feelings are substantiated. This company is one of the more "difficult" to work for. Very few companies require multiple uploads of the SAME documents. Why can't they simply communicate internally or have a saved report for the payroll department to review if there is a question on amounts? We are in the 21st century and it's simply lunacy to have to upload the same receipt once again. I would argue it's also goofy to have to invoice the work. None of the other major shopping companies require this. Why does Maritz refuse to keep up with technology or even the other shopping companies in the industry? I think it's funny they have amounts for you to fill in on the invoice. I've never tried to inflate the numbers, but I don't understand the point of entering the amounts. If someone put $1,000 for a $6 purchase (gas/inside), would they pay the $1,000? I'm sure if someone goofs on the amounts, they correct it, right?
I continue to do shops with them, but will never understand their goofy requirements. |
Micah |
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Ashley Rene
Valued Contributor
   
Georgia
USA
104 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2014 : 05:49:52 AM
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I just got a notice of some shops being overdue. I just applied the night before last to this company and was completely unaware that any shops had been assigned to me- I haven't even finished reading about the company. When I assign something I put it directly into my excel sheet and planner so I can keep up with everything. There are no confirmation emails or anything for the shops. I emailed them. I wonder what will happen. |
Ashley Rene Shopping Augusta, GA CSRA and Surrounding and never sleeping. |
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Sue Br.
Star Contributor
    
Oklahoma
USA
661 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2014 : 06:31:47 AM
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They have a test you have to take sometimes to complete a particular shop and this makes you look like it's overdue when it's not. Just scroll down and you'll see the test.quote: Originally posted by Ashley Rene
I just got a notice of some shops being overdue. I just applied the night before last to this company and was completely unaware that any shops had been assigned to me- I haven't even finished reading about the company. When I assign something I put it directly into my excel sheet and planner so I can keep up with everything. There are no confirmation emails or anything for the shops. I emailed them. I wonder what will happen.
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Sue |
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Larry S
Valued Contributor
   
Simi Valley, CA
USA
219 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2014 : 10:18:14 AM
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Maritz does not automatically assign shops unless you have done the shop previously and requested automatic assignment for the next round. Do not email as they seldom respond. CALL!! They answer the phone promptly and will solve your problem. |
Larry |
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Ashley Rene
Valued Contributor
   
Georgia
USA
104 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2014 : 10:46:52 AM
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Thanks, guys. I gave up on the email thing and called today. They've been reassigned to me and everything's good. I did find some messages in my SPAM folder, not for all of the shops, but for some of them, as well as the response to my original email inquiry. I found some other randomly filtered things in my spam box, too. I might migrate all of my work-related emails over to my school account, as I'm really nervous about gmail now. I think I'm missing other notifications that aren't reaching me. The scheduler I was dealing with ended up being from Kern, and was absolutely wonderful at helping me get it sorted out.  |
Ashley Rene Shopping Augusta, GA CSRA and Surrounding and never sleeping. |
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Harvey S.
Star Contributor
    
Glen Mills, PA
USA
439 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2014 : 6:07:22 PM
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Ashley -
It is very easy to train Gmail as to what is spam and what is not, and even what category to put email in. It may take a month or two before you run through a cycle of companies, but Gmail works amazingly well. |
Harvey Southeastern Pennsylvania Northern Delaware,"South" Jersey |
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