I was considering doing a Customer Impact shop for a local AL eatery with two locations. The shop pays $12 and reimburses two adults up to $60 total for food+15% tip.

The menu consists of mainly subs, sandwiches, salads, pizzas and wings with most items ranging from $8.99 to $10.99.

However, when I looked at the online report I was aghast. There were eight sections totaling over 100 closed-ended questions some with serving times down to the second. Each section had a open-ended summary question. The open-ended question minimums totaled about 2000 characters but I figured that a reasonable detailed report documenting the interactions and comments on all "NO" responses could easily push these to 4000 or even 6000 characters.

I balked and decided that the fee was insufficient for the amount of work involved. Has anyone else done these shops?

I rarely do Customer Impact shops. I find them to be low paying, thankless and tedious. The schedulers and other CI employees apparently have no balls in standing up to their clients to say expectations and requirements are unrealistic.

I did a fine dining shop. Spent a lot of time on the write-up, followed the sample exactly. Editor came back with questions requiring much more detail than in the sample, which was really detailed! One question was to provide more detail about ordering the steak. The sample said, "I also ordered the steak." I believe they also asked for timing on plate removal, which was not in the sample. It was very frustrating, but the meal was worth it, $200 reimbursement. Definitely not for a bar shop. Aside from the picky editors, everyone else was very nice to work with, though.

I've done a few dining shops with them and I agree, the narrative is heavy. Every time I finished a report, I swore I would never do another one.

I asked for more money and they gave it to me! Well? I guess I'll be doing them again.

I won't do them for the regular fee, regardless of the reimbursement. Much too much work.

I have shopped many restaurants with many different companies. I place a small note pad in my pocket book and put in the time of everything from start to finish. Only down to the minute, not the second. Most everything else I can remember. When I get ready to do the report I take the times and mark the minutes in between. Descriptions of Host, Server, Runner, manger I jot down in the rest room, including names. Most of the reports are long, but easy if you just answer each question.

Example: I arrived at this location at 1PM and observed two host at the podium. Mary smiled, made eye contact and said, "How many in your party?" I was told that I would be seated in 5 minutes. I waited one minute when the host, John escorted me over to a booth. He smiled and stated that Susan would be my server and be with me shortly, "Enjoy." At 1:10 PM Susan came over to us and asked if we wanted anything to drink, she offered a special beer that was on tap today. Our beer was served at 1:13PM. etc. etc. etc. Be specific on what the entrée looked like. The steak was cooked medium rare and warm. The steak was cooked to perfection tasty, juicy, and tender. etc. etc. etc.
The exact amount of time you will put in the questionnaire, not in the narrative. This has always worked for me and I have never had a return of the shop. I am sure many of the shoppers know how to write a report. If your new the first time is difficult. Timing is mostly what these shops are about.

I really enjoy restaurant shops, but I tend to choose higher paying shops due to reports often requiring much narration. The money has to be worth the time eating, plus the 30-40 minutes it often takes for the report. I must say that the narration does get much easier after some experience.

Yes, I agree....most CI shops are tedious and not worth the effort, unless you have nothing better to do that day.

Not gonna fly! 12 bucks for all that.... Nope...

Reimbursement is not high enough. Minimum $90 for two people or no dice