Pros
The good: 1. Easy to get into. Basically, you download an app for your phone (iphone or android phone) and it is easy to set up an account there and link your bank account. No interviews or lengthy applications needed. They can send you a tax form to fill out and return if you earn $600 or more in a given year. 2. Schedule is pretty flexible with no set hours (basically you are your own boss in choosing jobs to complete). Clients list jobs you can complete and are available at a first come first serve basis (wait too long to take a job, someone else will likely beat you to the punch). Usually things like mystery shops, display audits, "scavenger hunts" (where you have to search for certain products), answering questions about different sections, etc. Less common would be things like real estate audits, restaurant audits, bar audits, and apartment audits. 3. Jobs are paid on a piece rate basis (some jobs are worth more than others and vice versa). While pay rate can seem low, earnings can add up if you are doing them regularly. 4. Can suppliment other merchandising jobs (such as Crossmark or Advantage Solutions). I can wear my Crossmark name badge (for example) and people will assume I am a vendor at big box stores. 5. You can request payment and they usually pay within a few days.
Cons
This job isn't necessarily for everyone. Here are some down sides: 1. jobs can get declined, which means you don't get paid. Yeah, there is more risk this way as you can do a job and miss something (which can be easy to do sometimes, especially for more complex jobs, especially if you are new), and then your payment gets denied (which means you don't get paid). Yeah, it can get frustrating and it has happened to me before. Also, you have an Agent score that goes up or down (goes up if you get paid, down if your jobs get declined, time runs out, or if you cancel a job more than 5 minutes after accepting it), and if it goes down too low, you can get suspended. Attention to detail is a must when doing this job as with following directions correctly. They may want to consider changing the system so you get at least partial credit for trying, especially for more complex jobs where it can be easier to make mistakes (for example, instructions weren't clear on something). Otherwise, people will only stick to jobs they know and do well. May discourage people from trying something new or taking more complex jobs. 2. Some jobs could be worth more than they are. For example, recently I had to do this job where I had to take a bunch of pictures of different displays in the Lake Stevens Target and probably took almost an hour getting through everything, but the job itself was only worth $4. Probably could have been worth at least $10. - You don't get a specific namebadge for Field Agent and some jobs can be a little weird (and people can get suspicious of you). Examples of these would be: real estate audits, where you have to take pictures of someone's property (people might wonder why you are taking pictures of their property). There were recently jobs where you had to go to local airports and take pictures of signs and other things on the properties. I didn't take those jobs, but I am sure that people can get suspicious of random people taking pictures at the airports (security concerns). I remember doing some jobs where I had to audit some apartment buildings and complexes around Bellevue and Redmond and some people were definitely checking me out (was trying not to draw attention to myself though). There really ought to be a way to support reps for these kinds of jobs, such as formal name badges, letters of authorizations and hotlines people can contact if they have questions. I could see people getting approached by security guards or property owners on some of these. Having a letter of authorization and a name badge would help in those situations (at least then they would know what is going on). My advice: don't take jobs that you don't feel comfortable doing. - Note that they don't reimburse on mileage or gas for jobs. Something to keep in mind if you want to do farther away stores. I remember I got these "high priority" jobs (ones you are supposed to do before the other ones) where I was supposed to visit a rite aid or walgreens (can't remember which business) in Bremerton. However, the job was only worth $3 and I live in Snohomish Washington. Long drive there, and the shortest route there involves taking a ferry from either Edmonds (and driving to Bremerton on Highway 3) or taking the ferry from Seattle to Bremerton). Costs money to take a ferry and $3 doesn't really justify the costs. Had to ignore those ones as a result (hey if was worth more and there were more jobs available in the area, it might have been more worth while). - I have noticed lately, the job selection seems to be getting lower lately. More jobs to choose from will keep vendors coming. Sure people won't get rich doing Field Agent, but lack of jobs can mean less profitability. - Sometimes you have to wait a week or so before jobs get approved or rejected.