A closer Look
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
@nstudent wrote:
Yes, ACL reports are long - but the more I do them, the faster I get. And I've noticed the more shops I do, the better shops I get offered. They must have some rating system or something - because before I was seeing dinner shops like maybe casual dining - but now, I am getting fine dining shops where your bill for a modest meal is $150! And even when I do mess up a little, they let me know exactly what I did wrong and don't like punish me or "grade" me like other places do, and I got a second chance at a location the next month so I know they didn't block me. Also - they had a lot of fun places besides restaurants on the list, way better selection here than some of the other companies.
What they have varies a lot by where you are. They do have a hidden rating system that I understand you get ranked into based on your writing sample when you register--so make it a good one! As you progress with them you will see more and more opportunities or fewer and fewer if you are turning in substandard work or making the same mistakes over and over. I have also found over the years that although it takes a while to 'break in' a new scheduler or editor, they do stay long enough if they are competent that you can build relationships with your scheduler. I have let my scheduler know about the progress of a new location of one of their clients and when it opens I let them know. I have been the first shopper to go into several new locations.
@5842meg wrote:
I will take the $25 from the FF and go to a restaurant that is comparable to the ACL and not have the forever report.
It took me awhile to learn this after several people tried and failed to make me understand it. Finally I just had to learn on my own (because we're all stupid like that sometimes).
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
@CaliGirl925 wrote:
@AndrewTX wrote:
BTW, ACL is one of the few companies where I write the narratives in an email or Word doc and past them into the report. I do this because of the way their report is structured. Seeing all the narratives on one page helps me write with consistency. It seems to save time for me.
I've seen someone else make this recommendation on this forum... I think I'm going to try it out next time. Thanks!
Yes, my standard in working with one of their restaurant shops is to first write the Server narrative in Word before I ever open the questionnaire on line. This allows me to write up each interaction with the Server, what he/she did/did not do, in a systematic, chronological order. This for me is the hardest and most variable part of the whole report, so getting to it with no distractions of questions or the screen telling me I have spent 20 minutes on this page is important. Then I am ready to open the report and put in all the little stuff. When I copy/paste the Server narrative in I double check that the yes/no items have been addressed--especially the no items. The rest of the report then becomes a piece of cake.
I'm somewhat new to shopping and ACL was my first. I think the first shop I completed for ACL took me at least 2 1/2 hours if not 3. They did get a little easier but still take a good hour and a half if not 2. They have never rejected any of my reports so I am happy about that. They have asked me questions after submitting the report or to clarify certain parts. I like that you don't get graded on the shops as other companies do. They do have nicer restaurants with reimbursements up to 80 or so in my area. I wouldn't have the opportunity to try these restaurants without these shops. I do feel some of these questions are redundant and sometimes the editor asks me questions when to me the answers are clearly written. The narratives are lengthy. I will continue shopping with them, it's worth it to me. I only do one or maybe 2 a month. I think if I were doing them weekly, I could possibly get the reports done even faster and have a better system.
@laurenh33 wrote:
I like that you don't get graded on the shops as other companies do.
Uh. They absolutely grade you on every shop. They just won't tell you what that grade is, or any details about it, or how to raise it, even though what shops you are allowed to even see are fully determined by that simple grade.
I would just guess, based on the comment that you often are asked questions after you submit the report, that you probably see less than 25% of the shops that are actually available in your area. There are other shoppers in your area they like better.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I like ACL. Early on, they were a great way for me to reach a comfort level at reporting, across the MS spectrum. Their reports are an excellent road map to reasoned, chronological reporting. For years, I thought it was awesome to do fine dinings, for ACL and other MSCs, and be reimbursed. Easier than shopping, preparing, and washing dishes afterwards!
Having said that, my preferences have changed over the years. For the most part, I now prefer to earn money in fees, on assignments requiring much less time, and use those dollars when I want to go to a nice restaurant, or otherwise splurge. Enjoy myself, with no timings or observations, go home with a doggy bag, and be done for the night. Or, use those dimes and create something in my own kitchen, sharing some wine with hubby and/or friends.
As with all reimbursement shops, the reimbursement is useful only if you would spend your own dime anyway. I take that a step further, by earning dimes shopping faster, easier assignments, then splurging with those dimes, rather than spending hours on observations and reports.
Having said that, my preferences have changed over the years. For the most part, I now prefer to earn money in fees, on assignments requiring much less time, and use those dollars when I want to go to a nice restaurant, or otherwise splurge. Enjoy myself, with no timings or observations, go home with a doggy bag, and be done for the night. Or, use those dimes and create something in my own kitchen, sharing some wine with hubby and/or friends.
As with all reimbursement shops, the reimbursement is useful only if you would spend your own dime anyway. I take that a step further, by earning dimes shopping faster, easier assignments, then splurging with those dimes, rather than spending hours on observations and reports.
I am often irritated by how unbelievably STINGY this msc is, especially compared to the rest of them!
...however, I loveloveLOVE doing their pizza shops! I live in a huge urban area, so they are everywhere, and no one else seems to want to do them for free, either, so I get them for $5-10 (+reimbursement) several times a month!
Here's a HUGE timesaving tip for those of you who regularly shop one of ACL's clients: take the 30-45 minutes required to write the excruciating detail for each section and...dum da dum dum DUM...save it in a Word doc!
Then, cut-n-paste the next time you shop the same client, and you only have to tweak your lengthy narrative a bit here and there, depending what happened during that particular shop.
Doing those beloved pizza shops now takes me less than 10 minutes! waHOO! Life is good :0)
...however, I loveloveLOVE doing their pizza shops! I live in a huge urban area, so they are everywhere, and no one else seems to want to do them for free, either, so I get them for $5-10 (+reimbursement) several times a month!
Here's a HUGE timesaving tip for those of you who regularly shop one of ACL's clients: take the 30-45 minutes required to write the excruciating detail for each section and...dum da dum dum DUM...save it in a Word doc!
Then, cut-n-paste the next time you shop the same client, and you only have to tweak your lengthy narrative a bit here and there, depending what happened during that particular shop.
Doing those beloved pizza shops now takes me less than 10 minutes! waHOO! Life is good :0)
I like doing shops for ACL. I have a good communication with the schedulers and editors. In my area there is a group of shops that I do each month. After you do them a few times it get easier to do. Because of the type of shops I can bring my computer or tablet and get most of the report done while doing the shop. This saves time and allows me to free up my time to do other things when I am finished doing these locations. I have done hotels for them and same thing. I have learned to do as much during the shop so that it will not take as much time later to complete. Yes I do at times write in word and then I can copy and past the info into the narratives. I do this with all my reports that have long or detailed narratives. I have learned to jot down times on my cell phone to save time later when I have to remember when something was delivered or order taken. Having worked in the industry for along time you learn to work smarter and not harder. I also don't take shops whether from ACL or other MSC that don't fit in my life style.
The easiest way I have found to do the timing is to use the Shop-It app to take notes. When I get ready to do the report, I just copy the times in the notes to an Excel spreadsheet. Then use Excel to subtract the two times for me. Much quicker and I don't accidentally make a mistake. I can then use the real brain power for the narratives.
Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
I enjoy shopping for ACL, but I have not shopped more often for them because the report has to be done in 12 hours... I do not enjoy coming home at night to fill out a report instead of watching a movie with my husband and I do not want to wait until the last minute to do a report that requires detailed narratives. So lately I haven't picked any ACL shops and instead, I have been shopping for other MSC that would give me 24 hours to submit the report.
I'm excited about a couple of their newest projects, as I prefer shops that pay a fee rather than just a reimbursement. ACL is one of my favorite MSCs, so more opportunities to work for them makes me one happy lady!
Also, I had an issue over the weekend about some locations not being what they "should" be (e.g. "Store XYZ" not "Store ABC" ). The scheduler responded to my emails quickly so that I wasn't waiting around in a parking lot somewhere (I wasn't close to home) before I could proceed. I really appreciate their timeliness and professionalism.
Also, I had an issue over the weekend about some locations not being what they "should" be (e.g. "Store XYZ" not "Store ABC" ). The scheduler responded to my emails quickly so that I wasn't waiting around in a parking lot somewhere (I wasn't close to home) before I could proceed. I really appreciate their timeliness and professionalism.
I've noticed that if I submit them within 24 hours, they don't seem to care. I've never been told my report is late, and I don't think I have ever gotten in within the 12 hr mark
I have worked for ACL many years but am liking this company less-and-less each year. For most of the restaurants in my area, the reimbursement is NOT generous and it's too much work to be out money for dinner after spending an hour on the report.
In the past, they would bonus the restaurants they could not schedule and it would be a decent value when it had a fee attached, but now it seems like they have tons of unscheduled restaurants in my area and are happy to let them go unscheduled with no fee offered, yet they blow up my email at at the end of every month begging for people to take the shops.
It seems to me that the ordering requirements are almost based on making shoppers go over the limit and they are selling the services to clients based on the fact that they may end up making money on shoppers when having the shop performed. Sad.....
In the past, they would bonus the restaurants they could not schedule and it would be a decent value when it had a fee attached, but now it seems like they have tons of unscheduled restaurants in my area and are happy to let them go unscheduled with no fee offered, yet they blow up my email at at the end of every month begging for people to take the shops.
It seems to me that the ordering requirements are almost based on making shoppers go over the limit and they are selling the services to clients based on the fact that they may end up making money on shoppers when having the shop performed. Sad.....
Hi,
Thankfully I learned from SteveSoCal on here that you could ask for 24 hours to report fine dining shops.
Thankfully I learned from SteveSoCal on here that you could ask for 24 hours to report fine dining shops.
@Gabydiaz wrote:
I enjoy shopping for ACL, but I have not shopped more often for them because the report has to be done in 12 hours... I do not enjoy coming home at night to fill out a report instead of watching a movie with my husband and I do not want to wait until the last minute to do a report that requires detailed narratives. So lately I haven't picked any ACL shops and instead, I have been shopping for other MSC that would give me 24 hours to submit the report.
Once you are well established with almost any MSC, you can email the scheduler and point out that you write a much better report in the morning, after several cups of coffee and asking for a 24 hour window for delivery. I have never been turned down by ACL or any other MSC on that basis.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
@walesmaven wrote:
Once you are well established with almost any MSC, you can email the scheduler and point out that you write a much better report in the morning, after several cups of coffee and asking for a 24 hour window for delivery. I have never been turned down by ACL or any other MSC on that basis.
Bestmark turned me down for a 24 hour window.
@mystery2u wrote:
I am often irritated by how unbelievably STINGY this msc is, especially compared to the rest of them!
...however, I loveloveLOVE doing their pizza shops! I live in a huge urban area, so they are everywhere, and no one else seems to want to do them for free, either, so I get them for $5-10 (+reimbursement) several times a month!
I have never seen them bonus to $10 here. I see $0, then $3 then $5. Never more than $5.
I'm not that into it. There must be 5 new chains that do their pizzas this way.
I have done a lot of ACL shops and I can't complain. Yes, the narratives can be long, but I love the places we get to go to. The ones I HATE are the ones that ask the same questions over and over in different sections and want new comments. How many ways can I say that the menus were clean???
Goodwin also sent me a 1099 for the reimbursement portion of the shops which is not correct. I emailed them explaining that if I didn't purchase what you required then would they have given me the reimbursement money. Reimbursements have never been included in a 1099 since you spend your own money that the shopping company reimburses. The fees are different. All the fees when added up over a year if they are more than $600 then you get a 1099. I told Goodwin well you can bet when I get close to $600 in reimbursements you can count me out from doing any more shops. I consider myself a professional shopper since I get calls from various mystery shopping companies to do shops on a moments notice. I have to check my schedule to see if I can fit them in. Many times they will adjust their time frame so that they can get me to shop the client. But Goodwin never gives enough for what is required but does pay which is important. ACL is my favorite.
Intelli shop is one of the worst for grading. I had to send about 8 different shots of a pizza because none of the shots was good enough at the perfect 90 degree angle. Then I got a grade of 4/10 which is terrible. I won't shop for them anymore it's not worth a free $12.99 to $15 pizza.
Why does it matter if they include it on the 1099 or not? If you they pay you $500 in fees and $500 in reimbursements then you have $1000 in income and $500 in expenses, which equals the same $500 in income you would have if they didn't include the reimbursements. It's a wash. It makes no difference in your tax liability, just a minor change in how you account for income and expenses. Certainly not worth getting your panties in a wad. Unless of course your goal is to not pay taxes in which case that's a whole different discussion and since we can't insult people on here without getting our hand slapped I won't say what I feel about that.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
@Ridgeranger101 wrote:
Goodwin also sent me a 1099 for the reimbursement portion of the shops which is not correct. I emailed them explaining that if I didn't purchase what you required then would they have given me the reimbursement money. Reimbursements have never been included in a 1099 since you spend your own money that the shopping company reimburses. The fees are different. All the fees when added up over a year if they are more than $600 then you get a 1099. I told Goodwin well you can bet when I get close to $600 in reimbursements you can count me out from doing any more shops. I consider myself a professional shopper since I get calls from various mystery shopping companies to do shops on a moments notice. I have to check my schedule to see if I can fit them in. Many times they will adjust their time frame so that they can get me to shop the client. But Goodwin never gives enough for what is required but does pay which is important. ACL is my favorite.
Most of the shops I have done for Goodwin have been flat fee shops, shops which pay a specified amount out of which you must make a purchase. I haven't seen any shops with Goodwin that have a fee and a separate reimbursement. Is it because we are in different areas?
For instance, in my area, one flat fee shop pays $20, regardless of how much or how little I spend. There is, however, a required purchase. A fast food shop might pay a flat fee of $20 and require that I order a meal. I submit a receipt to show I ordered the meal, but I am not reimbursed for the meal. I am merely paid $20. This makes the $20 fee I am paid the amount that will be reported on the 1099. I can keep track of my expenses and deduct them from my income, so it is actually the same difference as if only my fee were being reported on a 1099.
I have had overall good experience with ACL. There have been no hidden surprises. The majority of the restaurants are reimbursement. But that is clear before accepting. I have doing shops since 2007
Isn't that annoying!
The menu was clean.
The menu was very clean.
The menu was definitely clean.
The menu was spotless.
The menu was pristine.
The menu was clean.
The menu was very clean.
The menu was definitely clean.
The menu was spotless.
The menu was pristine.
@TxB17Lady wrote:
I have done a lot of ACL shops and I can't complain. Yes, the narratives can be long, but I love the places we get to go to. The ones I HATE are the ones that ask the same questions over and over in different sections and want new comments. How many ways can I say that the menus were clean???
ALL mystery shopping companies have a rating system.
@redvettemama wrote:
ALL mystery shopping companies have a rating system.
Yes. I find it really funny that there is so much talk and so many complaints about the grading by companies that use the Sassie systems because they post a numerical grade. Lately there have been a lot of complaints about how hard the grading is with Intellishop and with Service Check because many shoppers get less than a 9 or a 10 and it upsets them. There are so many companies that do not post their grades but they do have them. Maybe the answer is for Sassie to block the grades from view so shoppers won't see them.
Lately I've been not qualified for ACL shops because I'm too old for them. The only restaurant lately in Arizona has been (restaurant name) where you have to be 21-55. I'm 65 so goodbye ACL. They used to have really good places there but I guess the contracts ran out.. Log in and look at the AZ shops to see for yourself.
Regards,
BillB
Mod note: Please don't link the name of an MSC with the name(s) of its client(s). This is a breach of the Forum rules and probably also a violation of your ICA
Regards,
BillB
Mod note: Please don't link the name of an MSC with the name(s) of its client(s). This is a breach of the Forum rules and probably also a violation of your ICA
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.