Can you be too detailed?

I feel like reporting my shops takes forever because I put in so many details. I'm sure the clients love it, I guess, but am I wasting my time? Some of the reports say, "Describe everything that happened from start to finish. This should be at least 3 sentences." Can you really answer that question in only three sentences? Unless it is "I approached the door. There was a bankruptcy notice on the door stating the shop was closed for good. I left." Any suggestions for cutting down details without compromising the value of the reporting?

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Buckalew gave me a low score when I added too much detail. They even stated that in their critique. WTF? I have not applied for anything with them since. Spent a lot of time on the report in order to give them a clear picture of the visit. Wasted time!!!

I like the ones where they tell you how many characters you have to answer. Then I'm able to keep it within the limit since it's my nature give more to keep them from sending it back.

LL, I hate it when you don't find out how many characters to answer until after you have written about 1,000 too many!!!

I completed a shop for one MSC. The instructions were to provide "a complete detailed narrative." I wrote 1.5 pages. Returned to me to trim. Over time, I learned that to that MSC, "a complete detailed narrative," means not more than five sentences none of which may contain semicolons, colons, or dashes with very limited use of commas as well as the word "and."

Great question! I struggle with this too. I have started to learn which MSCs like what, so that makes it easier. Sometimes I find it quickest to answer each question in a row in the narrative, rather than just think too much about it.

That's true since most reports say to address each question in your narrative. Good advice.

You'll find out what each one wants as you work for them. It's not unusual for me to spend hours going through everything that happened during a shop from beginning to end. I consistently get 10/10 because I'm very detailed, but also try not to repeat myself. However, other MSCs and/or their clients only want you to comment regarding any "No" responses or special situations, and limit the number of characters that you can use in your comments.

And then there are the reports that ask questions completely out of sequence, which makes it hard to go through the questions with "no" answers on the report and put them in the narrative in a chronological fashion.

I answer all questions, if they are not in chronological order I just fit them in. I also add in my own brief important happenings. I almost always receive a 10.

But shopper8, if they limit the number of characters you are allowed to write, that's impossible.

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Can you be too detailed?

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