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Hotel Shops for HS Brands

November 16, 2017 08:00PM
Hello,

Has anyone performed hotel shops for HS Brands? I see one in my area and I'm interested in applying but I've only done one shop with HS. It was a bar integrity shop which was simple and the report only took about 15 minutes to complete.

Can anyone tell me what to expect during the visit? Or do you know if the report long? Thanks in advance!
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More About Hotel Mystery Shopping
November 16, 2017 08:37PM
Is it a casino hotel? If so, it's looooooong. Pay is better than most, but there's a reason for that. I do them when it's been long enough that I've forgotten I promised myself, "Never again."

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
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November 16, 2017 09:54PM
@iShop123 wrote:

Is it a casino hotel? If so, it's looooooong. Pay is better than most, but there's a reason for that. I do them when it's been long enough that I've forgotten I promised myself, "Never again."

Yes, It's a casino hotel. I'm required to take and pass their Casino certification test. Thank you for the response! I knew there was a reason it's been on the board for so long!
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November 17, 2017 07:53PM
In order to do a casino shop you must first do a casino test shop. At least that was true 3 years ago.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
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November 17, 2017 08:01PM
@Purple Roses wrote:

@iShop123 wrote:

Is it a casino hotel? If so, it's looooooong. Pay is better than most, but there's a reason for that. I do them when it's been long enough that I've forgotten I promised myself, "Never again."

Yes, It's a casino hotel. I'm required to take and pass their Casino certification test. Thank you for the response! I knew there was a reason it's been on the board for so long!

The reason that it is in the board is that they are waiting for a qualified and trusted shopper to apply.
There are plenty in my area. Tons of people apply. Sometimes, they call me anyway. If it's 2 or 3 days, it is a TON of work, during all shifts. It is a grind. No fun to be had, don't worry. It pays OK though.
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November 17, 2017 09:22PM
bg,
They wanted me to do my FIRST casino shop ever, for a 2 night stay, all 3 shift plus spa, food valet, etc, as soon as I passed the written certification. When I saw what was involved I told them that I wanted to start out with a one shift shop. Day shift, since I cannot drive at night. They re-offered the 2 night, 3 shift shop, saying that they would help me succeed. Err, not taking that much risk until I have at least some experience under my belt.

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.
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November 17, 2017 10:21PM
Question: I passed their casino certification test a while ago, but don't remember one of their rules: Do you generally get to keep your winnings at these shops?

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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November 17, 2017 10:27PM
Nope.
AND, you are not permitted to gamble for your own account at any time that you are on premises for your assignment.

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.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2017 10:28PM by walesmaven.
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November 17, 2017 10:33PM
That stinks.... Being able to keep winnings is what makes casino shops typically worth the time.... I'm happy to work for "meh" pay when I know I can periodically score.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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November 19, 2017 03:56AM
@walesmaven wrote:

Nope.
That answer is usually wrong. You generally DO get to keep your winnings, up to a maximum limit. Also it depends on the client. Most allow you to keep winnings, but a few do not. Don't think you are going to go in and win a big score though. Due to rules, such as amount of time required at the table, slots, and required expenditure, your only chance at winning is pure luck and most likely that would happen at slots or the poker room. If you are up a couple hundred dollars on the table and you have not stayed there long enough to make all required observations, you will need to stay at the table longer and likely lose your winnings.
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November 19, 2017 04:04AM
Their winnings are unfortunately aggregated at the ones I do. So, if I lose $25 at the slots (in 5 mins. lol), but I win $20 at blackjack, I'm only reimbursed $5 for the loss. It's a crappy system; didn't use to be that way - they were separate. Lose $25 and win $20, and you got the $25 back.

I do them for a different company where you keep all your winnings. That company doesn't pay as well, but I can usually make it up at the blackjack table. Plus their report is about a quarter as long.

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
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November 19, 2017 04:17AM
The main thing to remember about hotel/casino overnight shops is that you must divide your pay by the number of days that shop keeps you from doing other shops. If a shop pays me $150 and keeps me from doing other shops for 2 days, I am getting only $75 a day. For some that may be enough for a day's pay. My goal is $100/day. So in this case I would try and find $50 worth of other shops that I could do during the 2 days time the hotel/casino shop took from me. If you get $150 for an overnight shop, you could still get $50 worth of additional shops done since your report is not due for 24 hours or more.
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November 19, 2017 04:24AM
I don't care to do the overnight hotel shops... I'll do a shift at a casino, though. I try to do $50-$100 in a day after work when I choose to shop. If I'm dedicating a day to shopping, I try to reach $300... As for keeping winnings: I figure slots are hard to control and I'll generally do the minimum at those.... Poker: It depends on the game. However, with blackJack and its variants, Using properly play, I can play a little less than even typically -giving the house its edge. However, those games often have side wagers with pretty decent payoffs. So, I'll make sure I know how much I am up or down. If I'm up "enough," I'll finish by playing conservatively at the blackjack table. If I'm not, I'll play my last several hands betting aggressively on the side best until either I have lost my maximum reimbursement or landed a decent score...

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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November 19, 2017 04:57AM
@iShop123 wrote:

Their winnings are unfortunately aggregated at the ones I do. So, if I lose $25 at the slots (in 5 mins. lol), but I win $20 at blackjack, I'm only reimbursed $5 for the loss.

How do they know how much you win at blackjack? Even with a players card, when I went to Vegas regularly, the pit boss would only record the time at the table and your average bet per hand. They then had a formula to calculate the comps you earned. I believe they calculate your assumed loss of X hand per hour times Y hours times house edge.

Do you have to use your players card during the shop? If so they would know what your buy in is, and if it is large enough to color up, your potential profit. But I can't see anyone coloring up for under $50 or $100 and if you bought in with $100, it would appear to be a wash.

With slots, they could look at your win/loss if you used your players card, if not, I think it would be difficult having to rely on the video.

I may be wrong, if so enlighten me.
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November 19, 2017 06:08AM
They know because you have to report your exact winnings and exact losses.

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
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November 20, 2017 01:29AM
@iShop123 wrote:

They know because you have to report your exact winnings and exact losses.
Not only that, but the pit observers do know pretty closely how much each player won or loss. If they are not sure, they will ask the dealer after the player leaves. Source: I worked in the pits in Las Vegas for 16 years both in the pit and as a dealer.
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November 20, 2017 04:45AM
@AZwolfman wrote:

@walesmaven wrote:

Nope.
That answer is usually wrong. You generally DO get to keep your winnings, up to a maximum limit. Also it depends on the client. Most allow you to keep winnings, but a few do not. Don't think you are going to go in and win a big score though. Due to rules, such as amount of time required at the table, slots, and required expenditure, your only chance at winning is pure luck and most likely that would happen at slots or the poker room. If you are up a couple hundred dollars on the table and you have not stayed there long enough to make all required observations, you will need to stay at the table longer and likely lose your winnings.

Yep. This is true, but last time, I maxed out my winnings and had to "lose down" to the max that I could keep. It was sweet. I won playing tables though, not poker or slots. Since I won early during the visit, it was nice to know that I needed to lose down to go home with the max. If I am down $300 or more, I rarely figure that I will come out ahead and just try to get back to $0 by the end.
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