Any positives or negatives to this MSC? I'm about to conduct my first shop, and it's elaborate.

I've never heard of them and they're not on the list. Let us know how it goes.

I have never heard of them either and I am signed up with over 300 companies. I would love more information when you get it.

I just looked them up and they used to be Five Diamond. I have never worked for them since they did not have any jobs in my state.

Ahhhhh. Ok.

Well now you're all scaring me! Lol, I'll let you know!

It's Five Diamond's new name. If you're doing a five-star hotel for $100, be prepared to get 1/3 of the way through and scream "OH, THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS WORTH IT!"
WAAAAAY more work than they're worth.

I sit down and write the moment the bellman leaves the room!

And you don't stop for two hours... and then you realize you're only 15% of the way through the eval.
I've done dozens of hotels and these are, by far, the worst. I absolutely hate their Excel based reporting.

In short, they're legit, actually provide constructive criticism to help you as a shopper for their projects and they're one of the quickest paying MSC's around.

Anybody that could afford to stay at these places would not do that kind of work for $100. Just my opinion.
I get $500 for that kind of a hotel report all day long.

Must be nice.

@SoCalMama wrote:

Anybody that could afford to stay at these places would not do that kind of work for $100. Just my opinion.
I get $500 for that kind of a hotel report all day long.

From who?

@Hoju wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

Anybody that could afford to stay at these places would not do that kind of work for $100. Just my opinion.
I get $500 for that kind of a hotel report all day long.

From who?

From well established companies that carefully screen their experienced shoppers for jobs like that. You don't think I'd post names do you?

@SoCalMama wrote:

@Hoju wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

Anybody that could afford to stay at these places would not do that kind of work for $100. Just my opinion.
I get $500 for that kind of a hotel report all day long.

From who?

From well established companies that carefully screen their experienced shoppers for jobs like that. You don't think I'd post names do you?

Couldn't hurt to try.

I have done some fine dining shops and one overnight for TrueGuest. I have an upcoming overnight at a 5 star hotel in a beautiful location. True, the pay is not $500 and there is a lot of work. But I've found them to be extremely helpful. The restaurant shops are easy peasey and they pay as well as reimburse. They pay by check very quickly, within 2 weeks.
I enjoy working for them and am very excited about my 5 star hotel stay, regardless of the work I have to do. (Hubby is excited too.)

Well I haven't done the shop yet and I've already invested a ton of time. I hope it's worth it!

Be sure to document when frisky people engage in mating behavior in the stairwell and you can't sleep as a result

Agreed that while the hotel shops are a lot of work relative to the pay, they are at nice places and the points are a major perk as it is one of my favorite points currencies. The stand alone restaurants are some of the easiest out there and pay far and above the going rate, especially given the little amount of work. On the other hand, the stand alone restaurants are not at particularly desirable places, so I avoid them.

What makes the restaurant portion so much easier? Don't you still have to do all the timings etc etc?

When I say the restaurants are easier and pay better - I am comparing to other MSCs assignments. The specific timings required by TrueGuest for a dining shop are far below, say, a Coyle dining shop. On the other hand, Coyle dining shops are places that I actually want to go... TrueGuest dining shops - at least in my area - are not places I would want to go on my own.

And the dining budget for TrueGuest is actually pretty low for such high end places.

Still waiting to hear about that $500 paying hotel MSC....it's not like the client name would be given.

@ravensr4real wrote:

Still waiting to hear about that $500 paying hotel MSC....it's not like the client name would be given.

You'll likely not get it.... That's like asking... Give me your best leads so I can take your work!

I believe SoCalMama's point is that the going rate for experienced hotel shoppers is $200 to $300 per night. Assignments are generally 2 nights, hence $500-$600 is the rate. This is in addition to all expenses (airfare, ground transportation, all meals - including a per diem to eat off site on travel days and/or if the hotel is smaller and it doesn't make sense that all meals be taken at the hotel or resort).

Does this mean that everyone that gets this rate always gets this rate? No, not at all - I will often take a hotel at a lower rate than this because there are other benefits in it for me (I want the points, I need a hotel room in a particular city, I want a weekend trip for my best friend and she loves the hotel, etc.) She isn't going to tell you the names of the companies (and there are many, it isn't just one special company that pays far and above what everyone else pays - in fact I can guarantee that the majority of the companies most of you are already working for) - because even if she did, it wouldn't matter. They aren't going to just hand you a trip to Bali all expenses paid and a fee of $300 a night because you wrote to them and asked. Its about paying your dues, finding the project that works for you, networking and most of all paying your dues. My advice, which I give to everyone - via PM or on the forum - is just keep doing what you all are doing, doing it well, showing grace in what you do, a strong work ethic, good communication, be kind, and never ever dismiss a company or a person out of turn as "beneath you" or not worth your time. Kindness, respect, and class go a long way in business. This is no different.

Well said. And for some of us that work 40+ hours at our regular jobs only do MSC work for the fun. This may be a one time deal for me but I'll do the work!

This may be fun for you. It is for me as well. However, I do agree with those who have previously posted. This takes work. You have to develop your skills, relationships with schedulers, and reputation. Then, after serious work, do the rewards start to pay off better.

Thanks for your detailed response. I asked in a post before about what people make in their hotel evaluations, and no one gave me specific details. I even had a forum member scold me for asking about it when they thought I had not contributed enough to the forum to ask questions like that. I hop on the forum randomly. Glad I hopped on now. Thank you! I've completed a lot of hotel shops and have often taken what was offered instead of negotiating. I have even taken some of the reimbursement only hotel shops. Fortunately I've been offered negotiated rates in the last few months, and I was able to get to a $800 fee plus expenses/per diem/etc. without any guidance or help from anyone in the forum. I'm glad you gave that info to help the person(s) who inquired.

Anyone know how long it usually takes for a shop to be approved after completion?