Company Overview: LeBlanc & Associates is a privately owned sales performance evaluation company. It was incorporated in 1997 by Mary LeBlanc and is headquartered in Carlsbad, CA. The company’s singular focus is on the housing industry and it currently services the continental US and Canada.
The business enjoys an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. New shoppers can register at http://www.mleblanc.com/become-a-mystery-shopper/.
Types of Assignments: LeBlanc & Associates offers mystery shops of new home communities, retirement communities, senior living facilities and other housing-related settings. The shops could be either audio and/or video recorded field assignments or audio-recorded telephone shops. The company does not provide equipment, however they will provide guidance on what type of video equipment generates the best results.
Open Job Notification: When a shop becomes available, approved shoppers in that area receive an email or a phone call with information describing the shop.
Reports: In addition to the recording, field shops also require a written report, which consists of a series of radio buttons and a short narrative, summarizing most sections of the evaluation. An additional short report is required, to document follow-up contact by the sales agent. If no attempt has been made within two weeks of the visit, the shopper notes the fact on the final report.
Payment Schedule: Mystery shoppers are paid once a month by check for all accepted shops completed in the prior calendar month. Invoices received between the 1st and the 15th of the month are paid on the following 1st. Invoices received between the 16th and the end of the month, are paid on the following 15th.
Unique Features: LeBlanc and Associates focuses solely on the housing industry; all shops are either video recorded, audio recorded or both; in lieu of a job board, shoppers are either called or emailed open assignments; and all completed reports must be invoiced for payment.
What Shoppers Have to Say: Very limited shopper discussion exists about this MSC. A recent post on the Mystery Shop Forum by a video shopper, who has worked for this company in the Pacific Northwest and the southwestern United States, said the requirements were very detailed and clear. And concluded, “I’ll work for her when I can.” Another shopper wrote, “Nice folks!” No opinions about the comparative rate of pay were found.
Recommendation: Since LeBlanc & Associates has been in business almost twenty years with not a single complaint documented by the BBB or lodged by shoppers on the shopper forums, using the “no news is good news” premise, we would definitely recommend shoppers register with this MSC and give it a try.