Menu
Market Force Information

Market Force Information review: Scam 113

M
Author of the review
3:09 pm EDT
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Review updated:
Featured review
This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

Market Force Information, Inc. ripped me off. If you ever decide to work here, you will most likely end up regretting it. Seemed like a great idea at the time-- even fun perhaps. Getting paid for your opinion, experience at writing AND reimbursed for your meals? Hey, I love writing and I give my opinion freely-- so why not get paid for it all, right? Hmph! Was *I* in for rude awakening!

On the initial application they want to know everything there is to know about YOU. Do you own or rent a home, do you have any type of disabilities, what's your gender, your race, are you married or single, what's your household income, what's your birth date, your Social Security number, your hair color, eye color, do you wear glasses, how tall are you and how much do you weigh?! Many of those criteria sounded very suspicious or even illegal to me but I ignored my intuitions. I knew that there were some mystery shopping jobs that were a scam and you had to be careful so I checked them out with the BBB. When I saw that they had a decent rating I eagerly signed up with them. I wanted this job. Badly. It sounded like my dream job so I ignored any skepticism on my own or anyone else's part.

They wanted me to take a written test that would test my attention to detail on the last place that I shopped. Spelling and grammar counts even though when you do the actual reports for them, you have an automatic spell checker-- but yet they still have an actual spelling test on there and they want to know the exact time right down to the very second that you started taking their test and EXACTLY when you ended it!

Then, if you're accepted, you have to read and then take a 35 question test on an 11 page manual. 5 pages of the manual are dedicated entirely on how to start and stop timing the workers at the restaurant. They devoted about half of the questions to things like: What is the timing point 1, 2 and 3 for the walk in, what is it for the drive in... which timing point is #2 and which one is #3 and then what are timing points #1-3 for the drive-thru. You only get 2 chances to get a 100% of all questions correct-- and you must get them all right either the first time or the second time!

When you're doing the actual evaluation at the restaurant though you have to be very discreet about your timings. Can't actually write them down while you're there or you could blow your cover. You're supposed to be able to remember exactly down to the second: "When did you come to a complete stop in the drive thru, what time you stop and pay for your food, what time you did you receive your food and drink, how many cars were ahead of you, what time did you go to the walk-in line, how many people were ahead of you, how many cash registers were open, what time was it when you were told the total cost of that order, what time was it when your food actually arrives... It shouldn't be more than 10 seconds or something's wrong with the worker! There are so many requirements that need to be met, so many questions that they ask, so many details that you have to remember but you are not allowed to bring these list of requirements with you because you are supposed to look and act as if you are an ordinary shopper. You can't even bring anyone else along. You must be alone, pay entirely in CASH, be very hungry, go to a specific location between a specific time frame. You must be able to eat, drink and honestly scrutinize 2 consecutive full meals all by yourself.

The night before my first assignment, I worked on my computer for over an hour downloading and printing out 10 pages of their rules and instructions. The next morning I woke up, got myself ready to snoop, took the time to go to Wawa to get $20 in CASH, (which was all I could spare this week), went to McDonald's and did the absolute best mystery shop that I could do with what I had to work with.

You would think with all of the pages that you have to download and print out, they would actually USE these pages to make it very clear exactly what to order for each part of this review but they are STILL unclear because they REALLY do not want to pay you for all of your hard work! For example, on page 3 of their 10 page "Information Sheets", they said you need to order one sandwich, fries and a beverage-- but it was unclear to me if they wanted me to do that for the walk-in AND the drive thru. They said you need to order: "either a sausage biscuit or sausage biscuit with egg, a sausage mcmuffin or a sausage mcmuffin with egg, a sausage McGriddle or a sausage egg and cheese mcgriddle. Then it says for the second order, (the drive-thru portion) you have to order one of these choices.. either: "a bacon egg and cheese biscuit, an egg mcmuffin or a bacon, egg and cheese mcgriddle." It did not say to order yet ANOTHER side and a drink... and I thought it would certainly be ridiculous of them to expect anyone to eat 2 entire meals all by themselves so I just got the sandwich for the drive-thru, just like it said to do in the upper middle portion of that page.

For each evaluation, you have to answer questions about the server's friendliness, their attentiveness, their communication, their speed, the accuracy of the order, the food quality, the store's cleanliness, how the drive thru was and how the restrooms were. Ok. No problem there. That is what I expected to do but it was disappointing to me that they did not have any space for me to write in my own comments and observations, which I feel are just as important as the other things that they want scrutinized. (I thought the restaurant was fine. The only thing that could use some improvements were the fact that the tray was very wet and so was the counter top in the ladies' restroom.)

I filled out their report on the walk-in, the surrounding area, the drive thru AND the restroom then I scanned the receipts and the "CPI", which is the Contractor Payment Invoice-- the form that they have you sign that you must also print out when you print out the useless 10 other pages of their requirements...and you have to print it out right at that time, not later on.

After waking up early to go to this place, spending my time and my money, doing their report, scanning everything that they wanted, they still have to try to find something--anything that wasn't done precisely so they don't have to pay for all of this.

It took me hours to try to upload my CPI. I tried it a dozen times but every time it just made my computer freeze and then I'd keep getting an error message. I shut down the computer and started it again 3 more times before the site finally said everything was received. By then I was angry, frustrated and was really starting to feel like this wasn't worth my time or aggravation. Not too surprisingly, a few hours later I received an email from Market Research Information saying that they were not going to pay me ANYTHING for all that I did because I only ordered a sandwich, drink and hash browns in the walk-in but I only got 1 sandwich in the drive-thru!

It was a very belittling and condescending letter!

Now if this were a reputable company, they would have prorated their assignment fees-- especially for my first experience working with them-- but they don't. It's all or nothing with these crooks. What I did was surely worth something but THEY acted like all my hard work and money were worthless and they allegedly "could not use it".

Now that I know how crooked they are and all that they demand, I think back to what my husband told me when I first told him about this place. They simply do not pay the reviewers nearly enough for all of this even it was done entirely correct in their mind. I also feel that they expect too much from the McDonald's employees too with what scanty amount they get paid! For this assignment, if I did it entirely how they say they wanted it, they were only going to pay me $7.50 plus the cost of food.

I thought this would be a fun job even though it doesn't pay well but this anal company is clearly not worth the time, money, effort and aggravation.

Update by MrBadgers
Aug 24, 2010 3:42 pm EDT

I have seen other complaints about this company online. I wish I took them seriously. What a waste of time this crooked company has been.

Update by MrBadgers
Aug 26, 2010 7:05 pm EDT

Good for you! I'm happy for you, Observer 101 and Anonymous 1 that you didn't get sucked into their foolishness. :) I don't trust them as far as I can throw them. Luckily for me, I was only out $5.98 plus the cost of food, unlike some of their other victims who I read about who were ripped off over $40 for each mystery shop.

The only thing I got out of this is learning to be less trusting and to have even more empathy for people who work at fast food places. These big corporations expect way too much from them for what little they pay.

Update by MrBadgers
Dec 26, 2010 10:18 pm EST

Great idea! I couldn't agree more! Excellent letter and excellent ideas!

Update by MrBadgers
Apr 09, 2011 11:31 am EDT

! They should have paid you an aggravation fee on top of what they so cheapskatedly cheated you out of. Cheap sneaky ###. It's like they want to irritate their employees on top of ripping them off and wasting their time.

Update by MrBadgers
Apr 09, 2011 9:30 pm EDT

They are SO crooked it still boggles my mind just how low they will stoop. Well I hope you do get a lawyer and take them for everything they have. Perhaps your lawyer could even get them to pay your entire court costs too. For all the people they've ripped off this is what they have coming to them. Good luck and I wish you all the best. I hope you will write soon to tell us how many millions of dollars you took back from their greedy hands on behalf of all of us.

Update by MrBadgers
Apr 12, 2011 10:33 am EDT

I think you're absolutely right. It is both and they ARE like talking to a brick wall. Numbskulls.

Update by MrBadgers
Sep 01, 2011 9:40 pm EDT

Thank you very much for writing and for reading and appreciating what I wrote. I wish you the best with this. Just remember to do everything exactly as they say and keep track of every detail or they'll use it as an excuse not to pay you. You'll probably be videotaped so they can be sure that you do everything their way and are accurate right down to the second. I now think they may be quasi-legit but I just found them to be too demanding for what little they pay. If your interest in doing this is more like a hobby than a way to make a living, this may even be interesting and enjoyable for you. Good luck and best wishes. Let us know how it goes... --Sylvia

113 comments
M
M
Martin Goodnews
, US
Oct 30, 2023 8:34 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I agree that this is a fantastic website and have found it very helpful. Keep up your excellent work.

MarketForce is Leaving Three Markets and Getting Ready to Launch a Social Commerce spinout. MarketForce, a Kenyan B2B e-commerce company, has closed its operations in three of its five African markets and is in the early phases of launching a social commerce spinout.

My blog contains more details. Check out the website for more information. Don't let this chance pass you by.

https://www.makeoverarena.com/marketforce-is-leaving-three-markets

R
R
RobinKay
, US
Nov 15, 2017 9:06 pm EST

I have 4 good months of working with this company and was paid nearly 300.00 last month while working my 50 hour a week full time job. I have never printed out one sheet of anything and don't own a printer. I am sorry for your experience and yes, it seems little for so much work but gets easier as you do it more often and to me seems like free money...or food... You can take someone with you but can't order together. Its not for everyone especially if you have kids or a large family but for this single person it is beneficial. Happy shopping!

K
K
Kelly Aurora Coleman
, US
Oct 15, 2017 12:59 pm EDT

@hammer200 They say on their site to beware of scams...that they NEVER pay for a shop in advance and that $200 for a shop...if it sounds to good to be true it probably is...Someone may owe you money but it's not them and the later advice is something you should probably keep in mind as not to be fooled next time...I have been sent those same cashier's checks and the same offers and no one in their right LEGITIMATE mind would send ANYONE over $3, 000 and HOPE AND PRAY you do what your supposed to do with it...I'm sorry but that kind of gullibility is dangerous as you found out...

I
I
Isabella3
, US
Aug 10, 2017 1:16 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

If you are looking to contract with a mystery shopping company to make extra money... great idea... just DO NOT CONTRACT WITH MARKETFORCE! Over the course of 4 months I did about 300 shops with this company. My average pay per assignment for both shopper fees and reimbursement was $13.10 USD. The schedulers will continually call you about assignments before even checking your schedule with them on this same day. These repeat calls create chaos and serve no purpose when, for instance, you already have a lunch shop scheduled and they are calling you with a lunch shop. When you do have a question that is time sensitive to complete a project you never know if you will hear back timely or not. They do not list their phone number and state clearly on their site that they do not have adequate staff to answer phone calls; however, their email support of questions does not provide you with timely nor complete assistance. Additionally, they are VERY ADVERSIARIAL with their shoppers. They make token shows of appreciation- offering a birthday bonus for shops accepted in your birthday, the site is down on this day, and they do nothing to assist timely, and refuse to honor the offered premium. When you do record a negative experience during a shop (long wait times, unprofessionalism, etc.) in a report and clearly describe the interaction with "who, what, when, where, and why" they will contact you for additional information ad nauseum. It makes shoppers want to be insensitive to issues and not report them. Additionally, there is an associate there named Simonne who would be better served to work in a corrections department (yeah, that's right... a prison). Her communication skills are subpar. Her attitude oozes through the phone line. She has a no can do attitude and is a great representation of who MarketForce is through and through. You will find her name listed on many review websites as an issue within MarketForce. I requested to be deactivated from MaretForce as I have no desire to work for them in the future due to the cumulative experiences of the last four months. In theory this should be a great way to earn extra money on your own schedule but it is totally consuming and not worth the reimbursement offered. The icing on the cake for me was not being rembursed for a shop in which I followed the guidelines but their reviewers did not. I would never reccomend this company to anyone. I have found other companies to shop for and get told things like... "Thank you for being timely.", "This report is a 10/10 and we were able to submit it to our client early.", and "We are glad to have you supporting this assignment." These are things you will never hear from MarketForce. Also, my average reimbursement is now $18.00 USD per shop. Ciao Simonne! Ciao MarketForce! Good riddance!

T
T
theeditorfromhell
, US
Jul 16, 2017 6:01 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

From this complaint, it looks like the person who wrote it didn't understand the job. It would seem obvious, for example, that the orders should be parallel. The shopper is timing how quickly workers inside and at the drive-thru took orders, accepted payment, prepared, and served the same or similar orders: sandwich, side, and beverage. The shopper can taste the items instead of eating them entirely. Shoppers can use a specific app that lists questions and lets them enter answers, take pictures, and provide other documentation without putting any notes--including details such as time in seconds--into hard copy.

Any professional effort requires correct grammar and accurate spelling. Correct spelling and grammar also speed machine reading of hard copy. As at any job, the employee/contract worker's first responsibility is to follow directions correctly. The shopper could have and should have asked questions about anything she found confusing before she accepted an assignment. The company makes clear that shoppers need to take the time to understand the job before they do it. Cash purchases are anonymous. Debit and credit cards show names and leave records that the company being evaluated could find. Similarly, a store or restaurant that doesn't like its evaluation might look for weaknesses in shoppers it can identify. Inability to spell or take advantage of technology would be easy targets.

This complaint appears invalid. However, the job seems like an unhealthy way to make some extra money.

ronland smith
ronland smith
Chicago, US
Jun 11, 2017 1:36 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hi have you heard of binary option trade? is a way of marketing your investment i started trading sometime ago and i've lost some amount of money to scammers, until i found this great broker. i have been trading with them for few months now and i have made all my withdrawals. trade seems fast, profitable and sure with them. If you want to earn some extra cash, mail me or give me a reply...

M
M
Mike D'Amours
, US
Jun 11, 2017 12:01 pm EDT

They wanted me to do a shop at the Five Guys burger joint, which I accepted and I spent $18.38 for an overpriced burger, small fries and regular coffee milkshake, in order to do an evaluation of the food and the place. After I filled my report online and placed my receipt, they emailed back saying that my shop was invalid because I didn't order a milkshake. This in my opinion, is a scam designed to make people spend their heard earned money into a burger joint. Be careful, they're not legit. And Five Guys should be ashamed of themselves.

S
S
Sulphur7
, US
Jun 30, 2018 2:01 pm EDT

What did the guidelines say about what you need to order? If you follow the guidelines, you won't have any issues.

R
R
Rob Lawrence
, US
Apr 18, 2017 4:52 pm EDT

I too have been told by someone calling themselves Market Force, that I would get a cashier's check in the mail. Funny, it seems funny how they want to pay me before I do any work. This seems too good to be real. This means it is probably not real. I am not going to fall for this scam

S
S
Sulphur7
, US
Jun 30, 2018 1:59 pm EDT

It is a scam and the check wouldn't be from Market Force but a 3rd party scammer using their name.

J
J
JudyMB
, US
Feb 15, 2017 9:09 am EST

I was recently ripped off by Market Force. They were going to pay me in advance! They sent me a check for $1680. I was to deposit it in my account and then go to Wal-Mart. I was to purchase $50 worth of merchandise for myself and send a Wal-Mart "moneygram" for $1300 to a name and address they provided. There would be a fee of $30 and I could keep $300 for myself. Sounds great; right? After I received their check they kept sending me texts asking when I was going to do the assignment. I told them that I would not do it until their check cleared my bank. Well, the check did not clear my bank and was declared a fraudulent check! And then my bank charged me a fee for a returned check. Beware of this company!

ronland smith
ronland smith
Chicago, US
Jun 11, 2017 2:15 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more
Replying to comment of JudyMB

Oh My God.why are all this scammer everywhere, that is how i was once scam by one so called binary options trade, i never new it was scam until i lost a lot of money to them, until i found at the great platform and broker which help me in recovering all my money...i will love to introduce to you the the broker if you are interested

K
K
Kelly Aurora Coleman
, US
Oct 15, 2017 1:07 pm EDT
Replying to comment of JudyMB

They say on their site to beware of scams...that they NEVER pay for a shop in advance and that $200 for a shop...if it sounds to good to be true it probably is...The later advice is something you should probably keep in mind as not to be fooled next time...I have been sent those same cashier's checks and the same offers and no one in their right LEGITIMATE mind would send ANYONE over $1, 500 and HOPE AND PRAY you do what your supposed to do with it...I'm sorry but that kind of gullibility is dangerous as you found out...

S
S
Sulphur7
, US
Jun 30, 2018 2:02 pm EDT
Replying to comment of JudyMB

Sigh. You were ripped off by a scammer using the Market Force name. There are only thousands and thousands of fake check warnings out there, no reason anyone should be falling for this anymore.. unless you live under a rock.

M
M
mj987
, US
Sep 02, 2016 7:00 am EDT

SCAM! I also received a check for $2950 from Charles Castro...at Market Force. It was sent Priority Mail. How did they get my name & address? Sounds like a . SCAM to me. After you deposit check at your bank...then what happens? Identity theft? Or do they just clean out your bank account? I have been a mystery shopper for many years, I know that most mystery shopping companies do not send out large checks...they pretty much want you to work for FREE or nearly for free.

S
S
SHIRLENE A. PERRY
WILMINGTON, US
Aug 04, 2016 10:50 am EDT

I received an email from a dan weil stating i was picked for mystery shopper. Received a package with a check for $2, 950. Told to deposit in bank, wait til money deposited, use my debit card to go to walmart and purchases (3) $800.00 money orders. I did and sent said moneys to jonesboro, ga through fedex. They said to send it overnight, but i didn't, so i was able, thank god, to intercept the package. Don't fall for maket force. I have uploaded a copy of the letter with instructions that i received. Please take a good look at it and run for the border if you get one.

K
K
Kelly Aurora Coleman
, US
Oct 15, 2017 1:05 pm EDT

They say on their site to beware of scams...that they NEVER pay for a shop in advance and that $200 for a shop...if it sounds to good to be true it probably is...Someone may owe you money but it's not them and the later advice is something you should probably keep in mind as not to be fooled next time...I have been sent those same cashier's checks and the same offers and no one in their right LEGITIMATE mind would send ANYONE over $3, 000 and HOPE AND PRAY you do what your supposed to do with it...I'm sorry but that kind of gullibility is dangerous as you found out...

C
C
cp22
, US
Jun 22, 2016 1:20 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have been doing shops for this company since before 2009. Had only 1 shop rejected, and it really was my error, , probably done close to 1000. I do always read the instructions and if something is unclear I email.

However, I have noticed this year the company has gotten "cheaper". The pay for the same shops has dropped. For example, one shop I have done many times used to pay $12, now it pays $10 and is the exact same report. There are also many less shops available, at least in my area. Sometimes the shops seem to take an unreasonable amount of time for the pay, for example a gas station audit they say may take up to an hour at the station, yet they offer only $9 (or less), then the report takes time with all the pictures. But, if the pay is too low, I won't sign up for the shop. If all other shoppers feel that way, the fee will eventually increase by the end of the month.

H
H
Hamran
, US
Jan 27, 2016 9:40 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

i posted earlier about not being paid by MFI. Turns out...I was wrong. =[ They had direct deposited my pay on 2 Dec 2015 and I hadn't noticed since its an account i infrequently use. Also, the field associate site isn't the most user friendly, so somehow i missed on the pay inquiry screen, the option to 'view all inquiries' or something to that effect, and it wasn't until after i sent a nasty email to them via their contact form (not the regular pay inquiry i'd previously done and thought unanswered), that i got an email notification that there was a reply, checked their reply and got instructions how to find all 4 of their previous replies telling me the pay had been deposited into my account. i checked my online statement and sure enough, there it was credited 3 Dec 2015. boy is my face red. wish i could figure out how to edit or delete my previous comment but so far i haven't so i'm doing the best i can by commenting again to retract my own previous comment. =/.

H
H
Hamran
, US
Jan 27, 2016 3:06 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I signed up to check movie theatres and completed an overdue assignment (past their client deadline) for them immediately, in constant communication with their rep in NY. I took a 2nd overdue assignment the following week and though it was supposed to take 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours at most, it took nearly 4 hours. It paid $15. IF it was paid. I completed these assignments and submitted the reports in a timely manner in Nov 2015. Today is 27 Jan 2016; i have submitted 2 pay requests (for which i have no record due to their site setup; once the inquiry is submitted, there is no way for the sender to find it again!), and have now submitted a contact form with a 3rd request for payment, along with a threat to begin a class action suit against them. Who's with me? :)

S
S
S. Sparrow
, US
Jan 06, 2016 4:54 pm EST

I had the same thing happen to me. Luckily, it was just a customer service check, and not a meal shop, so I wasn't out any money, but they DQ'd my shop and didn't tell me why. I asked for more info, and they never responded. I cancelled the other shop I had scheduled with them for the following week because it was a fast food shop, and I didn't feel like spending money on food I don't like to have another shop rejected just so they don't have to pay me. I'm a shopper for various other companies too, and so far, my shops have not been rejected. I've gotten coaching on some shops where instructions were unclear, but every company I've done shops for has been excellent. Market Force is not a good mystery shop company if all they do is reject shops straight out of the gate so they don't have to pay their shoppers.

Now I just wish I could cancel my account with them because they have all my personal information. No telling what the hell they're going to do with it.

H
H
Heather Rodriguez oneill
, US
Nov 19, 2015 11:55 pm EST

It isn t a scam but never make a mistake no matter how long you have worked for them perfectly you will never be able to redeem yourself.

J
J
jimbo Burt
frederick, US
Jun 05, 2015 12:39 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have worked for Market Force for at least 5 years. I don't remember the application being very long. Once you do a few shops they become a piece of cake. I have always gotten paid. They even call me and offer ne a bonus at times. The first reviewer probably was working for an imposter calling themselves Market Force.

A
A
Anonymous but true
, CH
Nov 20, 2014 5:23 am EST

Me again, isn't it fun, here we have a room of business owners who just happen to have one of our best pal shoppers here with us working on a security project we all use, and frankly none of us have any regard for the usual shopping companies. We do all our own shopping in house, we pay our franchise fees as applicable, but most of us own our own businesses outright. We know more about what goes on at our own and our competitor's outfits than anyone short of God himself.

Dont get me wrong, there are good, legitimate, honest MS companies out there. We know who is and who isn't because we have eyes and ears as editors in, even a couple owners, of, MS companies. When any outfit makes the mistake of screwing or trying to screw any of us, there will be hell to pay, we have the knowledge and the power, and will use it if necessary to protect the innocent. The guy sitting to my left was commander of a MI Battalion in Stuttgart, Germany, one of the guys across the table commanded a Navy Intelligence section in SouthEast ASia, the lady sitting two to his left was with the Army and was an intelligence specialist, the guy second to the right is on active reserve with Air Force Intelligence currently working with Homeland Security as a consultant. Now that we have stumbled on this thread, let the guilty be advised that it might be reasonable for your guilt be mitigated by acting in good faith from this point forward. We are watching, starting now. MF, you might as well face it, there are a few over 100 individuals I personally know do not particularly love you too very much. You would do well to take the positive points you have and grow them, and weed out the baloney yourself before it has to be done for you.

That is all.

Somebody has a comment:

I'm the guy that puts together most of the video we use, and we have stuff that makes Willie Vision you see on TV on Mystery Shoppers rather tame. I'm talking real live see thru the wall FLIR and sound that is so good it would make your bones shake. I've personally recruited two shoppers I've detected to work for me privately. They know I have the ability to detect any effort on their part to play any games around here, neither of mine have ever even tried. All that they know I know, all that they see, I see. One of them has been shopping for 15 years, 12 as my agent. It is amazing what happens when a shopper who's crooked gets a Fedex package from somwhere far away and sees themselves being their awful crooked self in 1080P HD day or night, often with video of them doing the deed, talking about the deed later, then submitting the deed on their own computer. Has that happened to any of you readers? Speak up, you know we don't play games.

A
A
Anonymous but true
, CH
Nov 20, 2014 5:00 am EST

I own several franchises shopped by MF, and can attest to Anonymous but true's statements. It is freaking fun to see the report submitted from the computer at my desk to MF, wait a little, and see how much it changes when I get it back from the franchiser I pay the franchise fee to! I personally have almost 20 shoppers that work for me, get paid by various shopping companies, and protect my and rather a few other business contact's from the baloney.

A
A
Anonymous but true
, CH
Nov 20, 2014 4:53 am EST

Think bell shaped curve and the need to keep clients, regardless of the truth or the lies. What a shopper submits and what shows up on a client report are not the same, or at least, used to not be. One fine day many moons ago some brave souls gathered proof of what was going on and let MF and their client know the facts, and said stop or face the music on Oprah and GMA. It came to a screeching halt, and we're just itching for it to start again so we can have more proof and let loose with over 10 years of documented and irrefutable proof of the truth and the lies.

D
D
Davily
Bellflower, US
Oct 05, 2014 9:43 am EDT

You people who were sent money orders BEFORE you did any shopping--you have obviously been scammed by someone else who is claiming to be Market Force. Geez, people, you have to be careful! In any case, don't come on here bad-mouthing the company you THOUGHT you were doing business with...that just makes you look like twice as stupid.

C
C
creative goddess
Kamloops, CA
Sep 07, 2014 12:24 pm EDT

Maybe some people don't understand what the word "scam" means. Not being paid for a job u did not complete correctly is not a scam; frustrating, sure; aggravating, yes; but not a scam.

C
C
cixelsyd75
Villa Rica, US
Aug 08, 2014 8:45 pm EDT

Market Force is not a scam. Someone posing as a representative from Market Force and sending out checks with strange instructions is not the fault of the company. It is no different than someone posing as another individual to deceive someone. I also know that if you follow the guidelines you agree to, then you are paid. If you are lazy and expect to get money for nothing, then you are an easy target for the true scammers out there. If you are not paid for a mystery shop that you complete, then it is because the company can not forward it to their clients. It does the company no good to reject a report when they still have to find someone else to complete the shop correctly before the client deadline. As far as the personal information and SSN that is required, you have to pay taxes on money earned in this country

A
A
amy151
Cabazon, US
Jun 11, 2014 6:37 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

someone called Bill Wilson send me messages about market force and was also asking me to deposit money through western union. I started to question me the he reply me this:
Listen i have no time to waste okay because you aren't the only person working for me and i just need to advice you not to fall in other stupid artist scam because i am honest and i want you to read the payment with task instruction given to you and see what you are to do at walmart and western union. I am not stupid and if you think i am. NO am not. ...
definately scam
!

t

H
H
HARDTOFINDMUSICANDMOVIES
Port Jefferson Station, US
Feb 17, 2014 1:20 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Market Force 1.800.669.9939 uses a bell curve to judge reports for McDonalds and 5 Guys so don't even think of doing a great job or they will drop you. They don't want bad reports, obviously, BUT if you do too good a job and report too much they will drop you. Basically you are there to just report what McDonalds already knows. If you report any timing over 3 minutes they will flag your report. If you give too much detail, they will flag you. I worked for them for over 10 years and they dropped me for doing reports that were too good and outside the "bell curve".Also, don't miss a single instruction or they will not pay you and believe me they look for reasons. If you submit a good report and receipts and they can find any reason not to pay you, and there are plenty with McDonald reports over 50 questions, they can change your report, not pay you, but submit it themselves and get paid. They have your report and receipts and they can and probably do change the report so it is acceptable and then they submit it and keep all the money.It is too bad McDonalds doesn't really know what they are up to.

P
P
Poya
, AS
Nov 07, 2013 10:34 am EST

What happened with me was I too shopped for one company that Market Force acquired for about ten years, and then had been with another for approximately six months to a year, but Market Force took that one over too. Everything went well for maybe three years or so, and there came in a new manager type of person. After this woman took over, suddenly I was being called out on silly mistakes which I wasn't making, and ultimately I was let go as a shopper after something like 12 or 13 years, because my shops were "too positive" and given the data they received from "other, similar shops" my shops were too happy. Well, I emailed back and asked whether I was supposed to Lie? Regardless of whether the companies being shopped tell their employees, or whether the shopping companies tell their contractors that these shops are performed for "training purposes" to find ways to improve service, etc...Always, always please remember that people in these stores, restaurants, apartments, banks, etc., Can and DO! get fired over shopping reports. In some cases it is absurd to expect an employee in a busy store-think the first of the month in a grocery store, as an example-to nod and smile and offer help and wish each customer a good day within ten feet of the person, etc...yet if the shopper says this person did not acknowledge "me" even though there are 600 people in the produce department, that employee could, and often does, get written up and fired. I personally know three people who have been fired by mystery shoppers, one woman being at her job for over five years!, and although I too shop, I try to be extremely careful in my wording and observations because I have seen the effects from both ends of the scale. Theoretically mystery shopping can be a useful tool but unfortunately when just about anyone can go online, sign up and immediately start shopping, what type of quality shopper is a business really getting, and it's kind of scary to think that so many marketing companies treat their contractors like ###s, while at the same time, trusting them to submit quality reports that ultimately have the power to actually terminate sometimes long-term employees...Kinda Twisted!

L
L
Linda86
Woodstock, US
Oct 05, 2013 9:26 am EDT

I've been with Market Force since the summer. I WILL NOT do any more for them. As stated above, they catch you on details that really don't matter. Does it really matter if I order an iced coffee instead of a coke (since I don't drink carbonated beverages?) They said another time I didn't order breakfast. Well, I was told to shop between 5:15pm and 6:45pm They don't even serve breakfast at those times.
Good bye, good riddance.

J
J
jenny000000
Scranton, US
Aug 10, 2013 10:12 am EDT

I worked for this company for a little over a month. I thought they were great, they paid within 2 weeks. I did several jobs for them and received all the payments. Then one day I did a phone shop. I had to call and ask a question. The instructions said you MUST get a name. If they don't give their name, then ask them. So I did it.

Then I entered the results. The survey form asked how many times did the line ring. I answered that. Then it said, "did the person who answered the phone provide you with their name?" I answered no. (He didn't, I had to ask for it.) It gave a box to explain. I wrote in there, "he did not provide his name, so I asked him and he said his name was Jim."

Later I get an email from MF that said I was not going to be paid for this shop because I did not get the name. I emailed back and forth several times with different editors and some of them made no sense and finally one of them told me it was because I said both the name AND he did not provide me the name. They told me flat out they gave the job to someone else and I would not be paid.

It was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of and I will never do anything for this company again. Those of you who think it can't happen to you, watch out. One day it will. I consider myself lucky that this time I only lost $5 of pay and printing costs, and that it was only a phone shop.

If someone told me this before, I never would have believed it. I thought they were a great company and I had no bad experiences. Now I would never trust them again, nor will I do any work for them again and stress over whether I will be paid or not. I could see if it was something legitimate and I made a mistake. But I only followed their instructions. Now I figure it's best to follow that rule..."Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me"

T
T
thrasher5
Lilburn, US
Aug 01, 2013 8:39 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Class action law suits against Market Force?

T
T
thrasher5
Lilburn, US
Aug 01, 2013 8:38 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Has anyone ever sued Market Force? Why don't people complain to McDonalds? If a lot of people were to write them, they would get sick of the complaints and drop MF! Many celebrities have been dropped by companies because of complaints. Start a boycott. These can be done.

B
B
BYUBoy
Roy, US
Jun 19, 2013 10:24 am EDT

I was a shopper with a mystery shop company that Market Force acquired. I continued to shop for them. I got an email from them congratulating me on my 500th shop (old company and Marketforce). One month later I tried to log to their website to obtain new shops and I could not log in. I emailed the company only to be told that they "decided to not use my services" any longer, even while getting another email from them asking me to refer friends because they needed more shoppers in my area. I wonder why? Is it because you want to take advantage of the new shoppers who don't know better.

T
T
tylersmommy1113
, US
Jun 12, 2013 11:29 am EDT

I entered all my info including ssn and bank info.. I literally just signed up. I hope I don't get scammed..

S
S
Sedg1
Billings, US
May 23, 2013 10:28 pm EDT

Market Force has paid me right on schedule for the shops I've done for them. When doing mystery shopping, the shopper is an independent contractor hired to obtain very specific information. If the shopper fails to comply to the shop instruction the shop is worthless to the client that is paying for these services. If you have trouble following very detailed instructions do not even attempt mystery shopping. The original complainer has no one to blame but themselves for not following the shop instructions.

R
R
Raven55
Midwest City, US
May 03, 2013 11:53 am EDT

Me and my husband worked for them. We did good work, too. Then all of the sudden, they removed us as shoppers and would not give a reason for the removal. They are bottom of the barrel for sure.

L
L
lilane65
Prescott, US
Mar 16, 2013 1:16 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I have mystery shopped for Market Force for about 4 years and I am usually happy with the out take, but until I did a shop for them and it was for a audit and the company wasn't open at the time they sent me and I had half my pay deducted. Now was it my fault they weren't opened during the time they sent me. But I guess I wasn't suppose to go if they were closed but the instructions weren't clear they said if you don't go you job wont be counted.

J
J
John Gault Jr.
Casper, US
Mar 11, 2013 3:52 pm EDT

They are not a scam. You just need to be able to read and follow directions.

T
T
thelastslaith
Ipswich, GB
Feb 06, 2013 1:53 pm EST

I have to say the person who wrote this is stupid. I am a bit fed up with this sort of thing before you write the word scam or anything negative in life atleast just define it to yourself.

I do agree that marketforce will not always pay for a receipt although they have let me redo a assignment so the whole getting you to do it for free is questionable.

The real issue is in two parts:

1. they do not pay very much for the assignments.
2. some people see it as a potential full time job.

The fact that people have said they will drive 30 miles to get a mcdonalds when they don't like mcdonalds is just plain dumb, no scammer would try and get you to do that instead you have done it to yourself.

Instead there is a alternative way of using marketforce. You look at the assignments and take the ones that ask you to buy something you want. so someone who likes mcdonalds and lives down the road would gladly get a free mcdonalds in fact they would be paid to eat something they like! With this method your never going to make a income however someone such as a housewife or university student (me) can potentially reduce some bills or make money go a bit further.

its not a scam its just not high paying and some people are idiots who expect to get paid to go eat takeaway food. when you think about that who is the worst person?

J
J
Johnabus
Snohomish, US
Jan 28, 2013 4:03 pm EST

Ok, so Marketforce send you an email saying:
join up to become a Secret Shopper, it's FREE! As a Secret shopper you work and shop together for pleasure and the pay is $300 per assignment/task carried out.
Your response would be highly appreciated.

Market Force ®
www.certifiedfieldassociate.com

But it looks like the payment is $7.95 plus what you bought if approved. While neutral I don't think I'll sing up.
Some employees say it is not fraudulent, but it looks like it might be I guess the old adage;If it sound to good it ... is.

J
J
Johnabus
Snohomish, US
Jan 28, 2013 3:57 pm EST

The company advertises the following:
join up to become a Secret Shopper, it's FREE! As a Secret shopper you work and shop together for pleasure and the pay is $300 per assignment/task carried out. Your response would be highly appreciated. What I'm seeing here is $7.95 plus what you buy that seems fraudulent to me. Has anybody ever been paid the 300 dollars plus what they purchased?

D
D
dheath3
Taylorsville, US
Nov 28, 2012 11:58 pm EST

thank you all

Learn how the rating is calculated

Write a review File a complaint

Market Force Information contacts

Phone number
Website
www.marketforce.com
Category
Trending companies

Most discussed complaints

Scam 1 (opinions to this review)