Hi everyone,
I have received a few emails about this shop and am curious if people like it and if they think it's worth the pay? Can all 12 be done in a day? Are the reports lengthy? And any other insights you might have. Thank you

Based on reading people's posts on here, I know a handful of posters who's involved in this program. I also performed it myself for the first time last week.

From what I understand, the round of shops were to be done the same day. As to obtaining an exception to split the days? I'm not sure, but you can always inquire with the scheduler / coordinator; I'd say he's great to work with as he's responsive and easy to get a hold of.

What to expect? If you've done fast food, fast casual, dine-in, bar and retails shops for other MSC's, it's no different. Just read your guidelines as they do look for specific things, as I believe the client is the actually the airport, not the establishments themselves (correct me if I'm misinterpreting this y'all!).

Do I think it's worth it? The base pay per shop is $11.50 + reimbursements for the specific locations + they cover a fixed $ amount for parking expenses. Combined with other airport shops, I'd say it's a great project to have under your belt for what it entails. Plus, this will likely cover your breakfast and lunch for that morning (through required purchases, that are reimbursed).

I must say this though, every shop in the project required very, very detailed narratives. With that being said, the turnaround time and expectations are reasonable for what it pays and the opportunities it may open. Of course, YMMV, as your projects greatly depend on the airport that's in your area.

I've done it. Coyle detail for Bestmark pay. Reimbursements don't always cover purchases, particularly if you dare purchase something you actually want. Not for me but there was some silver lining to be found. Pretty sure they won't mind if you need to split it up. Even when I did a dozen in a day it took me two days to write them. The biggest problem with these shops comes a few days after you've turned it in. Editing in this company is something you will have to see to believe.

@Michael C wrote:

I've done it. Coyle detail for Bestmark pay. Reimbursements don't always cover purchases, particularly if you dare purchase something you actually want. Not for me but there was some silver lining to be found. Pretty sure they won't mind if you need to split it up. Even when I did a dozen in a day it took me two days to write them. The biggest problem with these shops comes a few days after you've turned it in. Editing in this company is something you will have to see to believe.

Okay; I'm glad to see someone else that has a similar view as me. When I stated 'very detailed,' I'm talking about being rather explicit in the narrative. Again, it just seems like the style of the MSC, based on one other shop I performed for them.

I did this route twice. After the first one, I said never again! Then I did it again the next month. Second time was a little better. Fast food and airport shops. Way too much food. I tried to space out the eating the second time around. Had to be done during a specific time frame all on one day. The reports weren't necessarily lengthy. They are looking for very specific narrative and will keep sending it back until you finally give in and do it exactly how they want it. Sometimes I felt like I was just repeating the question. The scheduler for my area is very good. All in all, it was okay.

If the airport locations of individual shops aren't listed can you spill with the MSC? I could zip all over the airport in Phoenix in my power chair. lol And I would write reports on my iPad between shops to get part of it done between shops. I hate backing up on narrative reports.

Airport circuits aren't that difficult if you have a system to keep you organized. Plan to spend about 4 hours on site to complete the list the first time. Writing the narratives is the most time consuming part. All you have to do is make sure you touch on each question on the form when you write the narrative. After completing a few rounds, your time on site will go down considerably, and also the way to put the narratives will flow much more logically. Pre Security makes life easier than in some airports where multiple security checkpoints have to be navigated, which adds to the time on site. You also have up to 48 hours after leaving the airport to complete the shops, which makes it a bit better than some other MSC where 12 hours is required.

Moderators? Can I name the msc?

Thanks all for your input.

If this is an MSC that is based in Annapolis, I know those shops well. Once you get into the rhythm of the reports they are not a big deal. Until you do get into it, the editors will be your frequent correspondents. Some people just don't like that.

The key to all that fast food is that you learn to order things that you can take home and freeze: muffins, scones, cupcakes, brownies, cookie. Or things that can be re-purposed: a plain burger that you can take home and either feed to the dog or crumble the meat into a batch of chili or pasta sauce. I take a small case on wheels (makes me look like a traveler) and some ziplock bags and bring home a ton of swag from airport routes. For places where you have to actually sit in a restaurant and eat, try to make it a progressive meal: soup at one stop, salad at another, dessert at another. 12 shops would take me less than 3 hours pre-security. I regularly do 17-22 in four hours post-security, but at different airports and not for that MSC.

There are different companies doing different airport routes. My airport routes sound just like jangler64 but my routes are usually 13-15 shops in the same concourse. I carry a small wheeled suitcase like walesmaven but I buy a piece of fruit, protein bars, a bottled drink that are easy to transport without making a mess and needing refrigeration. The sit-down restaurants are more of a challenge because you need to order and eat real food.

Writing the narratives are not a problem for me. The companies I work for have a clear sample narrative so you know exactly what they are looking for. You can not make all your reports a carbon-copy of each other though. My latest airport route received all 10's and a personal kudos from the editor that is now available on my shop log.

Afterthought - My airport routes are supposed to be performed within a 4-hour window. There is an AM shift and a PM shift. I have never heard of splitting an airport route into two different days. Why would the client want to pay twice for tolls and parking fee for the same route?

i did these for a while just decided for how long it took me to get to the airport and back plus the report time it was not worth it. the quickest report took 45 minutes for me and about 30 for the shop for 12 bucks add in over 2 hours roundtrip to the airport and i was making less than 5 bucks an hour. some narratives took me well over an hour. it seems i am slower on reports than most of the Power shoppers on the board.

If I am in "The Zone," I can crank out one of these reports in about 30 minutes. When my brain has had enough "creative writing," they can take up to an hour. The shops that do not require a purchase, I get done in about 10-15 minutes due to availability of an associate. Quick-serve and FF shops can take about 10-20 minutes; they usually require a bit more interaction and observations and of course, a purchase. The sit-down, dine-in shops take about 45 minutes or so depending on how busy they are.

The only thing I don't like about the airport route is that I don't drink alcohol (hard to sit in the bar and pretend to drink, plus the reimbursement does not benefit me). The restaurant's extra food and eyeglass cleaners goes into my large travel bag. Sometimes I make periodic stops to my car to drop off food.

None of my airport shops over about 8 years and five major airports has required alcohol. In fact the guidelines often start out like bar shops and then have a small print add on saying that for airport locations, alcohol is not required and the shopper does not need to visit the bar. I have shopped five major airports for at least 6 MSCs and racked up well over 900 airport shops without any alcohol required. YMMV

Wales, I shopped for a different msc and was badged for 2 years. I shopped bars, including ones which does not sell food. The $7 reimbursement barely covered a glass of wine and tips, which I had to throw out, after sitting for the required 15 minutes at the counter.

I've never had to buy alcohol even for a bar airport shop. In fact, I think they frown upon it. I have had to sit at the bar and order a meal. It makes more sense for a single diner to eat at the bar instead of taking up a whole table for four.

cubbie,
It occurs to me that I have seen one MSC's airport bar shops with "helpful hints" to pour out any unused clear alcohol beverage to hide the fact that you had not consumed it! Your response jogged my memory, along with the very low fee. I did not bite on a whole route from that MSC because I thought that the fees were low and the deadlines excruciatingly tight, as I recall. The thought of carrying around a concealed container to accumulate unconsumed beverages, which the reimbursement would not cover, was just too bizarre, I agree.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2015 06:13PM by walesmaven.

I have done airport bar shops where they want you to buy a beer or mixed drink they pay 20-25.00 so usually enough money to get food and a drink, but you need to stay for 1 hour to watch the bartender work. Usually the airport shops that have 10-12 shops are done by the airport and don't allow liquor I had to do a wine bar one that paid 12.00. I ordered a water and appetizer, I told them I was meeting a friend that was flying in, a friend actually called after 20 minutes and them her plane was late and I had to leave.

@Sybil2 wrote:

I've never had to buy alcohol even for a bar airport shop. In fact, I think they frown upon it. I have had to sit at the bar and order a meal. It makes more sense for a single diner to eat at the bar instead of taking up a whole table for four.

At our airport shop about a year ago, alcohol drinks are required at the bar shops. It's rotated every other month. One month, I would sit at the bar and ordered a drink and the next month, I would sit at the restaurant part and order whatever. There would be 8-10 shops a day, post security, and 3-4 would be bar with $7 reimbursement, plus a small fee. This particular airport concession company cancelled their contract with the msc, and changed to the current msc, which has the majority of airport shops. I met the owner of the previous msc at Shopperfest and he introduced me to the current msc owner. However, they have not badged anyone at our airport and using traveling shoppers.