A closer Look
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@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.
Just because they don't issue you a 1099 when you're under $600 doesn't mean you have to report it as income...
@rardon wrote:
This company is notorious for wanting poor shoppers to work for free.
I disagree. They don't want poor shoppers. They want upscale shoppers and yes they don't really pay more than the reimbursement, but for some of the shops I've done for them, I wouldn't have gone out and splurge $250 in a restaurant. I do it mostly for fun and to save money in these little luxuries.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
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.....
You say about reimbursements that barely cover the bill, think Bestmark. Now they suck at paying your reimbursement.
I know what I'm getting into when I do these, so do them only when there is a bonus and I have a real craving for that kind of meal. I completely dropped one company who required photos of the rest room and questioned every "negative" observation. I could never get a report approved unless I retracted every criticism. With regard to the rest room photos, I was shooting them when another customer walked in. Seeing the look on her face, I said "corporate" review. She smiled and nodded. I escaped.
I have been shopping with A Closer Look for five years and in the last year I have noticed the reimbursements have not been enough to cover the dinners. I have stopped shopping for them and now use other companies that offer excellent restaurants and full reimbursements.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 12:54AM by vee.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 12:54AM by vee.
I, too, have become disenchanted with ACL. This has been due to ordering requirements, insufficient reimbursement, and an editorial wish list, not included in the guidelines.
Regarding Bestmark paying, I have never had a problem.
Regarding Bestmark paying, I have never had a problem.
I stopped shopping for Bestmark years ago. They used to be great 10 years ago, but lost all of their good restaurant clients in my area.
ACL has great restaurants but almost always have ordering requirements that force the shopper over budget now. I'm a little tired of the constant emails that boast about "Generous reimbursement" as well. 8 sections with narrative, pics of the food and facility for no fee and $80 food reimbursement is NOT generous!
ACL has great restaurants but almost always have ordering requirements that force the shopper over budget now. I'm a little tired of the constant emails that boast about "Generous reimbursement" as well. 8 sections with narrative, pics of the food and facility for no fee and $80 food reimbursement is NOT generous!
I began shopping for ACL about 11 or 12 years ago. They are a large company, so as would be expected, some schedulers and editors are better than others. But they all communicate and promptly and professionally respond to questions or concerns. I do agree with others that the reimbursements on the upscale shops don't cover the requirements; however my husband and I look at it that we would rather pay a small amount out of pocket on a $200 shop than not go at all--- we generally make the decision to order steak if that is what we want, even if the reimbursement is going to only cover chicken (especially if we are at a steak house!).
I shopped a Tex Mex restaurant earlier this week that I have been shopping for ACL since 2009. The guidelines and the ordering requirements are exactly the same as they were in 2009. There is no fee and the reimbursement of $25 is same as 2009 ....... although the restaurant's prices have increased ....... all the major menu items are an average of 22% higher.
That is pretty similar to other restaurants I shop for them. I've seen no increase in reimbursement over the past 7 years, although I am seeing significantly higher prices and the ordering requirements remain the same. They are looking less attractive to me.
That is pretty similar to other restaurants I shop for them. I've seen no increase in reimbursement over the past 7 years, although I am seeing significantly higher prices and the ordering requirements remain the same. They are looking less attractive to me.
@BillB007 wrote:
Lately I've been not qualified for ACL shops because I'm too old for them. The only restaurant lately in Arizona has been XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 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
BillB, please edit your post and remove the client name. Revealing the name of one of ACL's clients violates the Independent Contractor Agreement you signed with them and the guidelines of our forum.
I did log in and have a look at Arizona. I don't know where in Arizona you live, but I see plenty of restaurants there all over the state. I see several for July that have been bonused. I see a whole bunch for August. Except for the girly bar restaurant, all have age limits of 21 to 98. If you are seeing no restaurant shops for Arizona, it could be that you are not qualified for them but it would not appear that age is what is disqualifying you.
I just took a lunch shop yesterday for August, It is one of the steak chains and I went to look at the menu the prices are not posted, but I have been there for dinner on my own before and judging by the prices of dinner, I highly doubt the $60 will cover the meal and tip and taxes. Originally when I accepted the shop, the email that was sent out asking for shoppers said must order Plated lunch, testing the 45 min lunch experience. I looked on the website it was $18 including either soup or salad with entree. Once I was assigned a different set of instructions was sent, I emailed the scheduler right away and said which guidelines should I follow? She said the new ones, which now requires 2 drinks, one appetizer or dessert to share and 2 entrees. I have 9.5% tax here and then 18% gratuity, I'm sure with the new guidelines I will prob go over. Oh well...
A different scheduler posted another restaurant chain yesterday and is asking for referrals and offered a $50 referral bonus drawing because she said it is hard to find shoppers in the area. Maybe they should offer a fee?
A different scheduler posted another restaurant chain yesterday and is asking for referrals and offered a $50 referral bonus drawing because she said it is hard to find shoppers in the area. Maybe they should offer a fee?
@AustinMom
If you look at the one Bill originally quoted they do say 21-55. The name is of an old TV show.
I'm fairly new to A Closer Look, so I only see 8 postings for AZ not sure if you see other ones.
If you look at the one Bill originally quoted they do say 21-55. The name is of an old TV show.
I'm fairly new to A Closer Look, so I only see 8 postings for AZ not sure if you see other ones.
Ok I just looked a restaurant in my area also has the 21-55 age requirement. Does that mean that my guest needs to be in that age category too? Many times I bring my dad to meals with me.
Edited to add, another one in my area is actually 21-40.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 03:45AM by aayaey.
Edited to add, another one in my area is actually 21-40.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 03:45AM by aayaey.
I thought the first few reports were hell, but once you understand what they are looking for, they aren't bad. Anyone that mystery shops should be able to give a few descriptive sentences. The only problem I have with ACL is that they mostly offer reimbursement only shops. I try to hold out for bonuses, but less experienced shoppers don't wait. The gas station shops are reasonable, since the reimbursement is $25. If I'm in the area, I try to pick those up.
If you are unsure contact the Scheduler and confirmed the ages. Sometimes they allow older when an assignment is harder to fill. I fall out of the age range on some of the assignments and they let it go since I have been working for them a while and I am one of those go to if need filled.
ACL stopped showing me the biggest client they have or had this month 
I don't know if they discarded me to shop them or they lost the account.
I branched out to other companies and found other dining shops with payment on top of the reimbursement and new experiences.
Looking at the reports, I will still work for ACL, but they are on the second tier to other companies for me now.
You grind with one company client that you know the guidelines inside and out and your reports will get stale after a while.
You report the same issues and failures at multiple locations. It's hit and miss.
If there are 8 locations, and you shopped 7 of them, you start comparing them to each other. You know the food standard as well as the manager.
This is when you need to apply for new companies! Don't get in a rut with the same restaurants.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 09:20AM by scanman1.
I don't know if they discarded me to shop them or they lost the account.
I branched out to other companies and found other dining shops with payment on top of the reimbursement and new experiences.
Looking at the reports, I will still work for ACL, but they are on the second tier to other companies for me now.
You grind with one company client that you know the guidelines inside and out and your reports will get stale after a while.
You report the same issues and failures at multiple locations. It's hit and miss.
If there are 8 locations, and you shopped 7 of them, you start comparing them to each other. You know the food standard as well as the manager.
This is when you need to apply for new companies! Don't get in a rut with the same restaurants.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 09:20AM by scanman1.
@aayaey wrote:
@AustinMom
If you look at the one Bill originally quoted they do say 21-55. The name is of an old TV show.
I'm fairly new to A Closer Look, so I only see 8 postings for AZ not sure if you see other ones.
I do see more than 8, but I am looking at the whole state since Bill didn't narrow down his location. There are actually two, the one he named and another, which have low age requirements. But all the others, both for July and August, would allow a shopper over 65. Some of the July restaurants are bonused.
A new shopper may not see as many. But if Bill used to see good restaurants in AZ and now sees only one, which is limited to a lower age group, when there are actually several restaurants available, it sounds as though his availability has been limited for some reason other than age.
Back to the super secret rating system. They're nice to you. They tell you your reports are great. But they have decided your reports are not great enough to see clients you could see before. It's how they operate.
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 do a ton of shops for them, NOT including restaurants. The rewards points that I build up for hotels that are within 50 miles of my home really mount up and the reports are quite modest. I use many of the hotels as bases for little shop routes around the outer edges of where I would consider a day trip, so turn that into a more productive overnight route. In addition, I am seeing more fee paid shops from them, just not in the hospitality industry. I love their schedulers and also rely on them to intervene when a new editor may not read the guidelines or have current info, which happens every now and then.
If you think that you have been unfairly penalized on the rating system, I suggest that you get in touch with the scheduler for the job and ask what, if anything was the source of the demerit. I have found out that some demerits that I got went back to that old problem of the editor not having knowledge of either the current guidelines or not having been privy to an agreement between the scheduler and me concerning a deadline extension or an agreed upon way of handling an unusual situation. In every case but one, the scheduler had my back; and, in the exception, that scheduler was not there long. (Not because of me. Apparently she was just not up to ACL's standards.)
If you think that you have been unfairly penalized on the rating system, I suggest that you get in touch with the scheduler for the job and ask what, if anything was the source of the demerit. I have found out that some demerits that I got went back to that old problem of the editor not having knowledge of either the current guidelines or not having been privy to an agreement between the scheduler and me concerning a deadline extension or an agreed upon way of handling an unusual situation. In every case but one, the scheduler had my back; and, in the exception, that scheduler was not there long. (Not because of me. Apparently she was just not up to ACL's standards.)
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.
That has not been my experience with them at all. I asked and asked and asked about the quality of my reports, how to make them better, and how to see better clients for 2 years and was always met with silence or the vaguest answer they could possibly give. I finally got tired of killing myself trying to maintain a rating that I didn't even know what was and am happier.
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
Wow! We must be dealing with totally different schedulers. Not a surprise I guess since I do not do restaurants for them and am in a different region. I'm not shy about complaining so would not be praising where I was not treated well.
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.
I think it definitely depends on the scheduler. I got dropped from the top tier in a similar situation to what Wales described, when an editor was not privy to an agreement with the scheduler.
The scheduler fully admitted that my status change was based on the misunderstanding, but claimed that it could not be changed back (or simply didn't want to escalate the request). I still get offers for the clients that can no longer see, but they come as emails from the scheduler. Since I'm almost always modifying shop dates anyway, it really doesn't affect the way I work with ACL and I have never bothered to pursue the issue.
The thing is, that incident was many years ago and I have performed a great deal of successful assignments with them since, so I don't think the top tier status is based on average scores for assignments. Perhaps once you have a demerit or two, the system permanently locks you out of the top tier? Who knows. I guess that's why it's super-secret.
Once you are accepting shops via email requests with them, you are in a better position to negotiate a fee for the dining assignments anyway, so I'm happy the way things are. I'm not likely to be self-assigning any dinners with no fee attached...
The scheduler fully admitted that my status change was based on the misunderstanding, but claimed that it could not be changed back (or simply didn't want to escalate the request). I still get offers for the clients that can no longer see, but they come as emails from the scheduler. Since I'm almost always modifying shop dates anyway, it really doesn't affect the way I work with ACL and I have never bothered to pursue the issue.
The thing is, that incident was many years ago and I have performed a great deal of successful assignments with them since, so I don't think the top tier status is based on average scores for assignments. Perhaps once you have a demerit or two, the system permanently locks you out of the top tier? Who knows. I guess that's why it's super-secret.
Once you are accepting shops via email requests with them, you are in a better position to negotiate a fee for the dining assignments anyway, so I'm happy the way things are. I'm not likely to be self-assigning any dinners with no fee attached...
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ACL! The schedulers are awesome, their info@ email address is constantly monitored, and they have amazing locations that I might only be able to treat myself to twice a year, tops. I find their reports are not bad either, I just use the questions asked as a guide to my sentences. The reports did get easier for me as I got more experience with them and shopping in general. They are very upfront about their reimbursements so one could choose certain items to stay under or close to what they will cover, but why order something you don't want or won't fully enjoy? We have used these restaurant shops to step out of our comfort zone and try things we normally wouldn't... how else would I know I couldn't stomach soft shelled crab?! But hey, 90% of that stuff was reimbursed and now I know this seafood lover will never order it again, especially when its on my own dime!
Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do 
Steve, like you I get a lot of my ACL shops via email from schedulers and negotiate as needed ahead of time. Because I am often using somewhat nearby (50-100 miles from home) hotel shops to permit me to do more shops on a route, I almost always ask for, and get, an deadline extension. The computer generated "late" emails still come through, but most of the editors have been aware of the terms for my shops. It also helps, a LOT, that I have met most of their top staff, including lead editors, and socialized with them at IMSC conferences where they were also making presentations. That kind of interaction is priceless when it comes to credibility for negative report items or emergency delays in having the required POV (like yesterday's lack of a folio because the hotel's entire phone and computer network crashed for almost 24 hours.) If I was a less well known quantity with them that might make the editors a bit twitchy about such an adventure's truth. By now, tho, I am the Cettie of hotel shoppers; weirdness follows me around the hotel circuit. (although I have yet to set off all of the fire alarms like Servanne once did by burning toast.)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 07:53PM by walesmaven.
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.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2015 07:53PM by walesmaven.
@SteveSoCal wrote:
The thing is, that incident was many years ago and I have performed a great deal of successful assignments with them since, so I don't think the top tier status is based on average scores for assignments. Perhaps once you have a demerit or two, the system permanently locks you out of the top tier?
According to the schedulers that were at the last IMSC conference your rating is reevaluated after every 3 shops.
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
Perhaps my reports are just not very good then....
I love working for ACL and probably do the majority of my shopping with them. I really appreciate when I get notes from the editors that are personalized. Of course usually they send a general note. On two or three occasions, I have received thank you emails that are really thoughtful and make me feel good about myself.
For example: "I enjoyed editing your report. It was the best report I have edited in terms of a combination of details and grammatically correct writing."
I have never received feedback like that from another company. Most of the SASSIE companies just say "Thank you for your report."
I also do not do shops for money very much anymore (my 9-5 keeps me too busy). I do, however, love the lifestyle that shopping affords me and my husband loves the steak dinners ;-)
As far as reimbursements go, I very rarely go over budget. There are some shops that are actually difficult to go over budget but I am not much of a drinker. If I have a choice, I will order a bottled water at the bar...
For example: "I enjoyed editing your report. It was the best report I have edited in terms of a combination of details and grammatically correct writing."
I have never received feedback like that from another company. Most of the SASSIE companies just say "Thank you for your report."
I also do not do shops for money very much anymore (my 9-5 keeps me too busy). I do, however, love the lifestyle that shopping affords me and my husband loves the steak dinners ;-)
As far as reimbursements go, I very rarely go over budget. There are some shops that are actually difficult to go over budget but I am not much of a drinker. If I have a choice, I will order a bottled water at the bar...
Goodwin pays a flat fee in most cases. They do not break out fees and reimbursements. They are not the only MSC to do that. Their handling of your 1099 was correct. You are responsible for entering revenue and expenses in the correct places on your Schedule C. Also, I am sure that you know that you are responsible for reporting all income, regardless of whether it triggers a 1099 form or not. I understand that you prefer a company which pays a fee and reimburses expenses. Goodwin is not that company. Second-to-None used to be, but now they also pay a flat fee. I easily keep it all sorted out in my spreadsheet. You could do the same thing. All you have to do is enter the amount Goodwin reported as revenue. And then under expenses, list the amount of required expenses for Goodwin (and everyone else). Very easy. I choose to enter reimbursed expenses as revenue and then enter the same amount as an expense. If the IRS ever audits me and checks the amount of payments made to me, it will be much easier my way IMHO.
@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.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
ACL has an extensive client list of high end restaurants here in my market. I have done enough reports for them that I can now wipe one out in about an hour. On occasion, usually with the breastaurant shops, there will be a sizable bonus, but usually its reimbursement only. I enjoy getting a $50-$150 meal comped a few times per month. It is generally not difficult to stay under the reimbursement amount at the restaurants I visit.
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