Sorry, I dont have an iphone, but I do have a laptop. But I guess you smart people out in LA are a lot better, then us hicks from Nebraska. My phone is a cricket, I am on the 35.00 a month plan. end of topic. lol

Irene_L.A. Wrote:
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> I have gone online and told the new shops are
> posted the first of the month, so, no not yet.
> Just hoping the first one is the one 2 miles from
> my house. I also applied for the one in Beverly
> Hills, where I work monthly, we'll see. I really
> learned alot at training, quite an amazing
> company, (in this economy)love the way they think.

The orphans and places they need shoppers are posted on the board, however, the monthly assignments are given to each shopper via email. After receiving the assignment(s), you sign in, and then accept or decline.

Thanks, I did see the orphan shops...really far, haven't even heard of the towns, so, nothing I could consider. The two in my town (hopefully) will be the first of many.

I do not have an iphone, not everyone in L.a. does, I go home and write my report on a laptop...you took this way too personally.

I used to do several of these shops but never did catch on to the reports. They weren't rejected, but they always seemed to take me such a long time to write. I was the only shopper in my area for a while & it got to a point where I didn't want the food anymore.

The shops paid well enough, but I'd rather do shops that are easier for a little less cash. It's been over a year now & I do miss the food...but my waist is better off!

By the way, when I went through the training, the regional manager also told me that he saw a shopper completing the report while in the restaurant. He said that the shopper asked him "why shouldn't I?" and he didn't have a response. I found it odd, but the manager didn't seem to have a big issue with it. Still, I never did it.

I always take notes on my blackberry, though.

Ardent also has a useful Facebook page.

Joytron Wrote:
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> I used to do several of these shops but never did
> catch on to the reports. They weren't rejected,
> but they always seemed to take me such a long time
> to write.

I agree, it takes awhile to catch on, and depending upon the shop, can still be challenging. One thing to do is to try and avoid going during a shift change!

As for the person who said they didn't have a good answer for the shopper, well, it sounds like he or she shouldn't be the one involved with the mystery shopping program!

I think the age minimum might be because some states allow Chipotle locations to sell beer? I don't remember what the age minimum was but I have recently seen the training sessions posted for the mid-Atlantic area on the East Coast...

I just got signed up for training next week and I am pretty excited about this. Plus they just opened another Chipotle in my town which makes 4 plus a couple more within 30 miles. I noticed in the e-mail I got it said something about only being able to do 4 a month, how does that work and does anybody know what the cycle is?

Brak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just got signed up for training next week and I
> am pretty excited about this. Plus they just
> opened another Chipotle in my town which makes 4
> plus a couple more within 30 miles. I noticed in
> the e-mail I got it said something about only
> being able to do 4 a month, how does that work and
> does anybody know what the cycle is?

The first report is due the first week, the second the second, etc. So essentially, once a week. However, the amount of assignments per month will likely vary, depending upon the number of shoppers in your area. I'm normally assigned two, but there have been months I've gotten two or three.

Iguana Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think the age minimum might be because some
> states allow Chipotle locations to sell beer? I
> don't remember what the age minimum was but I have
> recently seen the training sessions posted for the
> mid-Atlantic area on the East Coast...


Can you tell me for what areas? I have been trying to get into one. Thanks.

I am normally assigned 3 or 4 and am often later asked to pick up more. It depends on how many restaurants there are in your area and how many reliable shoppers. These shops are highly prized, but some shoppers flake anyway! Also, if you are able to do locations in secure zones at airports, they will give you as many of those as you can handle, it seems. Also, if you need to travel, etc., and cannot do your assignned number of shops, just decline them EARLY, and there will be no penalty. I do send a note to the scheduler if I must decline an entire month of shops, assuring her that I have not lost interest but will not be in town.

Also, the schedule is a bit more flexible. they want you to do at least one in the first week, at least two by the end of the second week, etc. If you like, you can do all of your assigned shops in the first week. Reports are due within 24 hours. Their client is very, very, strict about that. You can get a bit of wiggle room in an emergency (like when I had no electricity for a week), but try not to have too many of those.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2011 07:03PM by walesmaven.

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am normally assigned 3 or 4 and am often later
> asked to pick up more. It depends on how many
> restaurants there are in your area and how many
> reliable shoppers. These shops are highly prized,
> but some shoppers flake anyway! Also, if you are
> able to locations in secure zones at airport, they
> will give you as many of those as you can handle,
> it seems. Also, if you need to travel, etc., and
> cannot do your assignned number of shops, just
> decline them EARLY, and there will be no penalty.
> I do send a note to the scheduler if I must
> decline an entire month of shops, assuring her
> that I have not lost interest but will not be in
> town.
>
> Also, the schedule is a bit more flexible. they
> want you to do at least one in the first week, at
> least two by the end of the second week, etc. If
> you like, you can do all of your assigned shops in
> the first week. Reports are due within 24 hours.
> Their client is very, very, strict about that.
> You can get a bit of wiggle room in an emergency
> (like when I had no electricity for a week), but
> try not to have too many of those.

What I posted above are the stated due dates. Very true, they are flexible like that, however, you should notify them if you need an extension, or want to do them on a different schedule.

Is Chipoltes still shopped by the same company? I signed up with that MSC awhile ago but did not hear from anyone. How do you get it?

Chipotle is still shopped by the same company. After applying with the company, a shopper is not accepted and given a login name and password until completing the company's paid 2 hour training. The company sends E-mail invitations to thse who have applied when training is scheduled in their area.

I waited 2 years until I got the magical email from them. I travel throughout NewEngland and I pick up the orphans no one wants. Sad to say, I shop 4 of them every month and buy my own another 3 or 4 times. I avoid the guac, sour cream and cheese. The reports aren't bad, Just paragraphs in bite size chunks is OK

I thought I was in for the next round of training, but the scheduler hasn't gotten back to me. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, because I'm curious.

I guess I was lucky. I signed up in August and had training in October I think. I guess it goes back to what they always say. Location is everything. The downside is. No orphans for me. There isn't a single orphan shop on the list in any of the areas I shop in, and I have a pretty big shopping radius. At least I get 2 a month though.

I've gotten 3 emails about the training and sent replies back to all 3 saying I would like to attend and to please confirm and provide the exact location and time details.

I haven't gotten a single response back!! I am pulling my hair out over here and wondering if they just don't like me.

Chipotle is one of my top 5 places to eat, so I certainly don't want to miss out on the one-time training in my area.

The e-mail I got about training provided a specific location and a date and asked that I respond if I wanted to attend. Then I got an immediate response when I e-mailed, confirming my attendance.

If they have not provided a date/location, it sounds to me like they are fishing to see if there are enough potential attendees in the area to do a training or are trying to narrow down a central area to bring in a group to be trained. Sounds like it will happen. Good luck - I love them.

I got an invitation email at 1:06 am this morning for the location down the street from me. The training is on Wednesday and the email listed all of the other training locations and dates for the next two weeks.

I responded immediately and am waiting for confirmation. My 23 year old son will be so jealous if this comes through for me. He and his college friends practically lived at Chipotle when they were in school.

Review Ardent Services on Facebook.

I have just messaged the MSC again to see if my profile is still on file. I found out you cannot reapply with the same registered email a second time on their site.

Hello Chipotle MSC, if you are listening, there are many locations all around me I'd love to be part of your team.

I got an email today and I must have applied for this originally more than five years ago. Not sure if I am interested or not. I guess I need to read up what these are like.

Liz

Five years, Liz? I guess I probably won't be hearing from them. I signed up 8 or 9 months ago, and there's only one Chipotle within 50 miles of me.

I've been waiting for "the magical e-mail" that tells me there'll be training in my area, too.

But alas, it's been forever. At least there is another place called "Freebirds" in my town that is a LOT like Chipotle. Even more items to choose from! Maybe I can find out who shops THEM.

I submitted my applicaton for the company that shops Chipotle before I moved down here -- so it had to have been sometime around 2006. FINALLY FINALLY -- I had my Chipotle training today! As others have said, it was very informative. At first the forms were overwhelming, but the trainer did a GREAT job explaining things in detail to make the first shop much easier.

Amanda Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I submitted my applicaton for the company that
> shops Chipotle before I moved down here -- so it
> had to have been sometime around 2006. FINALLY
> FINALLY -- I had my Chipotle training today! As
> others have said, it was very informative. At
> first the forms were overwhelming, but the trainer
> did a GREAT job explaining things in detail to
> make the first shop much easier.

We must have been in the same training today. It was enlightening to hear that Chipotle is not looking for Gotchas, but for honest observations.

I am disappointed in that I did not receive any shops for March. It looks like I'll have to wait until May for the training payment.

Ugh. Honestly, these were far too much work for the money. I did them for years, maybe 5 years or more? I finally got out. They were a huge burden. Report always took me an hour or more. I dreaded them. I did at least 4 a month, sometimes more. So, if you haven't been approved, I suggest doing a different easier shop for $10 and then using that fee to go pay for your Chipotle meal where you don't have to write a monster report. It wasn't that hard, it was just incredibly tedious. Food cost was around $7-$10 and the fee ended up being around $15. I do other bar or dinner shops with $50 fees that take about the same amount of time (and the reimbursement is up to $150).

Amanda,

I agree with SoCalMama,

They require a very incredibly tedious report for each restaurant, and you are not reimbursed for your food costs. They are an excellent company to work for and pay on time every month.

You need to be totally committed, and an excellent observer while in the restaurant and at the same time eating the food, which is a required element of the report.

My suggestion......remember its only a suggestion.

If you have a phone that has a recording device (like iphone / italk app) take it along....whisper into the phone (as if you are having a conversation with someone) and record the description of every employee and also what the food looks like in each pan. This is the key to doing the report when you return home. Remember how many people were in line, how many tables were occupied, drink station, cleanliness, service and so on.

Good luck, it does get easier as you move forward.