# Can't think of this company's name: Paid store display checker **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 26, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792 "2013-11-26T01:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/1 "2013-11-26T01:18:54Z")
A few months ago I came across a company that works with retail stores such as Walmart, Target, department and grocery stores, et cetera. Their business model is: Setting people up to get paid by those retail stores to walk around and take pictures of their store displays, to ensure they’re being set up properly. The store chain is spared the expense of sending one of their own employees to do it; the store in question has more incentive to follow the Planogram, and the wandering cell-phone-wielding masses get paid to ensure a higher standard of quality. A pretty sweet deal all around. The only reason I didn’t do this months ago is because they hadn’t yet released a Droid app, though they said it was in development. And now I cannot remember the name of the company. Can someone help me out? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/2 "2013-11-26T06:58:49Z")
I don’t know about a specific company name, but when I worked in retail here in Australia they were known as Merchandise Reps (representatives) or sales reps - their job was to come to the store, set up a display of Shiny Happy Widgets, and answer any of our questions about said Shiny Happy Widget. The supermarkets use them too - as with retail, they’re employed by (or on behalf of) a particular brand and they’d also do things like check there was enough stock on hand of stuff too. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/3 "2013-11-26T08:09:25Z")
This probably isn’t the one, but it seems somewhat close and maybe of interest: Mobee > **[Earn Rewards with Our Secret Shopper App | Mobee App](https://mobeeapp.com/)** > > Complete mystery missions on the Mobee secret shopper app! Earn points while you visit your favorite stores, then redeem the rewards you want! ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/4 "2013-11-26T08:11:22Z")
[Gigwalk.com](http://Gigwalk.com) perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/5 "2013-11-26T13:12:41Z")
Meijer uses Karpata. Dunno about other retailers. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/6 "2013-11-26T14:30:22Z")
Sounds a lot like narking to me. ---
**Author:** ![evilhomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/43a26b/32.png) [@evilhomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhomer)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/7 "2013-11-26T14:53:50Z")
Sounds like [Field Agent](http://www.fieldagent.net/) to me. I’ve done some jobs with them in the past, using the iOS app. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/8 "2013-11-26T23:23:12Z")
Couldn’t type much earlier. I’ve done many Gigwalk and field Agent jobs (I’ve gotten W2’s from both more than once) as well as worked for Karpata so I know a bit about this. There are two different groups at work here. Companies like Karpata are hired by the stores to update signage, confirm correct placement of said signage, audit stock levels and even assemble displays like grills and bicycles. They also will do planogram resets. This frees up the store personnel to do the job of selling and providing customer service. Plus the Karpata (and similar) folks do this at lots of the same stores so they are better at it and hence quicker. Field Agent and Gigwalk are NOT directly employed by the companies. You might accept a gig to check the toy displays at Target before the holidays to makes sure all the moving parts work, the batteries are in, the lights are on, etc. Now Maybe Target paid for that, maybe Hasbro paid for that…you don’t know. Most likely it was done by one of them. Regardless, if Security asks why you are taking pictures and filling out online forms in the toy aisle they may ask you to leave. You are not allowed to tell them you are working for Target, it’s supposed to be secretive. Now price checking soda at Walmart or the price of laundry tablets at Dollar General, those are probably being done by rivals or by the manufacturer to check on minimum pricing agreements. In both cases you are not supposed to let on what you are doing. I’ve never been asked to leave a store but then again I was REALLY good at the job and never got caught 🙂 I’ve heard a lot of complaints form Gigwalkers who were told to leave and even detained. The sad fact is I’m a middle aged white guy and pretty much get a pass. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2013, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/9 "2013-11-27T07:57:53Z")
Gigwalk was what I had in mind. And hmm, that’s a bit of a horror story. Anyone else done this? I am _so_ not up for being detained. I have such a strong phobia of confinement that I think I might actually hurt someone trying to get out. (I am, however, a 31-year-old white male). ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-think-of-this-companys-name-paid-store-display-checker/674792/10 "2013-11-28T01:23:55Z")
They don’t actually CONFINE you in a box. But if you have such extreme social anxiety then the job is probably not for you. The key to doing the job is to breeze in like you own the place, do the gig, then waltz out. You’ve got to be able to think on your feet and deal with confrontation smoothly and with no hesitation.