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Are there any companies besides Coyle that does resort shops? Specifically international resorts?

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Yes - I have done international resort shops for four (off the top of my head) companies other than Coyle. None of the ones that I have done them for post them publicly though. I have seen Intellishop publicly post resort shops though for all to see. I have never done one though.

I am aware of two MSCs. Not publicly posted, however.

If they’re not publicly posted, how are people getting them?

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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.

Proven track records and good relationships with schedulers.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Do the resort shops cover everything - flight, hotels, etc? I have seen them posted from one MSC - hotel specific - but they appear to be mainly time share shops.

Well yeah, of course scheduler relationships matter. What I mean is how do you know which MSCs offer these? I can’t imagine a gas station scheduler offering me a $10k resort because I never flake on a gas audit.

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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.

Most of the companies that do higher end properties don't have job boards where shoppers can apply for and/or assign themselves resorts. It's usually a core group of evaluators who work with a scheduler.

Coyle seems to ride that line between those two worlds and that's probably at the core of why their travel reimbursement is often far from enough. They pit shoppers against one another with travel bidding while the other companies seem to be more generous and will often cover all expenses.

I have been approached by (new to me) MSC's when they have heard about me from other MSC's.... For instance, having having done quite a few bar integrity audits, I was approached by the owner of a small MSC who said that I was recommended. He asked me to do bar integrity at a concert with eight or nine bars.... After doing well with a bunch of apartment video shops, two MSC's approached me and asked if I was interested in new home video shops.

In much the same way, I would presume that, if somebody were to do several overnight/weekend hotel shops well, they could get approached by an MSC with more exotic resorts.

Just like shoppers here talk and exchange information about MSC's, MSC owners/schedulers talk and exchange information about shoppers.

@Hoju wrote:

Well yeah, of course scheduler relationships matter. What I mean is how do you know which MSCs offer these? I can’t imagine a gas station scheduler offering me a $10k resort because I never flake on a gas audit.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

@Hoju wrote:

Well yeah, of course scheduler relationships matter. What I mean is how do you know which MSCs offer these? I can’t imagine a gas station scheduler offering me a $10k resort because I never flake on a gas audit.

I think if you focus on companies that have hospitality clients you stand a better chance as far as building a reputation goes, but one company that both Mickey and I have travelled internationally for has a job board for their restaurants and the scheduler reaches out to preferred shoppers for hotels.

That said, I know many large MSC have those clients as well. I just can't be bothered to jump through the pizza or gas station hoops for as many years as it may take to get there. I doubt if I could tolerate Coyle's vetting process if I was starting fresh with them....

In many cases I was approached due to a referral from other shoppers and/or schedulers. Often these are small companies who do not have job boards. They know all of their shoppers personally and often require in person training before the first shops are undertaken. For example, I did a five night all inclusive resort in Mexico in December. The individual I worked for I have worked for since 2009. She was a referral from another MSC. I would consider her a friend. If I am ever visiting her home town I make it a point to try and grab a drink with her or have dinner. She probably does 100 total shops a year and probably works with at most ten shoppers. She curates.

In another case, I am doing a three night shop for a major MSC who I am sure 75% of you have worked for. In this case it was the client of the resort who specifically asked for me based on past work. The shop was never posted on a job board.

Both shops yes pay for all airfare, travel, and a food per diem for meals that are not evaluated. Shop fees for the 5 night are $800 and for the three night $500. Plus all expenses.

I never do resorts where travel isn’t paid. Sometimes they pay for two people to travel.

I have never done a resort for Coyle, and likely never will. They don’t pay enough. I can do a four star resort and get paid $500-$10000 versus a five star resort and have to pay part of the way or use my points.

One day. Goals.

Thank you Steve and Mickey for posting. What you both do is my dream retirement job.

@Niner wrote:

One day. Goals.

Thank you Steve and Mickey for posting. What you both do is my dream retirement job.

Same here. My teen goes off to college in the fall and my ability to travel goes way up. I'm thinking about dipping my toes in on a Coyle resort that is near me for spring break.

The all-inclusive resort shops I do comes from email invites to a small group of shoppers. This MSP prefers the same shoppers doing them repeatedly.

Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@

~Polish Proverb~

Look at TNS. I haven't done shops for them, but I get their emails.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I was just approached by a small company I had never heard of, nor worked for. I applied for two good Timeshares in locations I like...will see which one I get, by the water works. I signed with TNS years ago, and never saw a resort on the site, I've only done a few small stores for them over three years ago and never get an email.

Live consciously....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2019 01:19AM by Irene_L.A..

I hope to have proven myself as a shopper by time my husband retires in a couple of years so we can do resort shops together :-)

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I have shopped for 20+ years and still do not know the companies or schedulers who have travel shops, except for TNS. I believe I have more than proven myself as a shopper over several decades. I would love an invitation so I can travel to an all inclusive resort, cruise, etc. Goal for 2019 - I need warm weather!

My follow-up question:

What ratings do you typically have such that you have a good reputation to be asked for resort opportunities? I am fairly new but now I'm almost consistently hitting 10s. I'd love to hear about those opportunities for myself.

@Runnindemredlights wrote:

What ratings do you typically have such that you have a good reputation to be asked for resort opportunities?

It's not just about getting good scores, and many of the companies that offer resort shops don't even work on 10-point grading scales.

It's about consistently hitting your mark over a period of time. Never cancelling, rarely rescheduling, taking hard-to-fill assignments and mostly showing good judgment and communication when issues arise on shops.

There are so many things that can go awry on a resort shop and it's not a simple process to decline the shop and reschedule if things go wrong like on a smaller shop, so the MSC's want someone who's proven themselves.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Runnindemredlights wrote:

What ratings do you typically have such that you have a good reputation to be asked for resort opportunities?

It's not just about getting good scores, and many of the companies that offer resort shops don't even work on 10-point grading scales.

It's about consistently hitting your mark over a period of time. Never cancelling, rarely rescheduling, taking hard-to-fill assignments and mostly showing good judgment and communication when issues arise on shops.

There are so many things that can go awry on a resort shop and it's not a simple process to decline the shop and reschedule if things go wrong like on a smaller shop, so the MSC's want someone who's proven themselves.

Yes, this. Doing 100 FF shops and getting "10's" can not teach somebody how to think and behave properly.

It's also largely about demographics. A cruise line might want a retired shopper, one who speaks Chinese as a first language, a black male, two middle-aged women, a veteran, a first-time cruiser, etc. Also, depending upon the company, your pre-shopping profession can tilt the scales toward/away from you.

"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

@Hoju wrote:

If they’re not publicly posted, how are people getting them?

The same way you get shops for fun stuff like watching the watchers and beyond. If you were a former officer in Military Intelligence that likely would help, too, of course... Hang in there and you'll eventually get a suprise email. The big suprises come via phone, hard copy, even in person sometimes, tho. Have patience and good luck.

@Hoju wrote:

Well yeah, of course scheduler relationships matter. What I mean is how do you know which MSCs offer these? I can’t imagine a gas station scheduler offering me a $10k resort because I never flake on a gas audit.

In my experience, most of the time it's an outfit contacting you that you've never heard of. Seriously, more people are paying attention to what's going on, or not, than is commonly appreciated. You will see the results so long as you keep your nose clean and get the job done. My advice is to be diversified and reliable to a fault.

@iShop123 wrote:

It's also largely about demographics. A cruise line might want a retired shopper, one who speaks Chinese as a first language, a black male, two middle-aged women, a veteran, a first-time cruiser, etc. Also, depending upon the company, your pre-shopping profession can tilt the scales toward/away from you.

Aha, you really hit the nail on the head on that... Nobody gets offered the cream puff stuff unless they're a known quantity, proven reliable and with a documented history. There are those who keep track of us very very closely, just like those of us who do the tracking... Travel and professional history is often critical, too.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Most of the companies that do higher end properties don't have job boards where shoppers can apply for and/or assign themselves resorts. It's usually a core group of evaluators who work with a scheduler.

Coyle seems to ride that line between those two worlds and that's probably at the core of why their travel reimbursement is often far from enough. They pit shoppers against one another with travel bidding while the other companies seem to be more generous and will often cover all expenses.

Can you and @walesmaven be my mentor?

@walesmaven I no longer need your pv500, finally got my own

@ap7isback wrote:

@Hoju wrote:

Well yeah, of course scheduler relationships matter. What I mean is how do you know which MSCs offer these? I can’t imagine a gas station scheduler offering me a $10k resort because I never flake on a gas audit.

In my experience, most of the time it's an outfit contacting you that you've never heard of. Seriously, more people are paying attention to what's going on, or not, than is commonly appreciated. You will see the results so long as you keep your nose clean and get the job done. My advice is to be diversified and reliable to a fault.

True. This week, I was in the right place at the right time (i.e. at my keyboard).

I now have another new client with great integrity audits. It was quite nice. I needed to go from one end of the property to the other. My driver picked me up in a nice, new black Denali. Cute, young man who spoke Polish, which was fun for both of us. I got lots of nice high end drinks. I sat and watched the bartender, pondering my life. This was much better than taking a photo of a gas station restroom., even with a bonus.

@ap7isback wrote:

@iShop123 wrote:

It's also largely about demographics. A cruise line might want a retired shopper, one who speaks Chinese as a first language, a black male, two middle-aged women, a veteran, a first-time cruiser, etc. Also, depending upon the company, your pre-shopping profession can tilt the scales toward/away from you.

Aha, you really hit the nail on the head on that... Nobody gets offered the cream puff stuff unless they're a known quantity, proven reliable and with a documented history. There are those who keep track of us very very closely, just like those of us who do the tracking... Travel and professional history is often critical, too.

ap7isback - can you elaborate on travel and professional history? I'm middle management for a consulting company and travel infrequently for work. I also know how to behave in luxurious surroundings, have stayed in high end hotels, traveled internationally, etc - but how would a shopping company know any of that?

@tlin wrote:

@ap7isback wrote:

@iShop123 wrote:

It's also largely about demographics. A cruise line might want a retired shopper, one who speaks Chinese as a first language, a black male, two middle-aged women, a veteran, a first-time cruiser, etc. Also, depending upon the company, your pre-shopping profession can tilt the scales toward/away from you.

Aha, you really hit the nail on the head on that... Nobody gets offered the cream puff stuff unless they're a known quantity, proven reliable and with a documented history. There are those who keep track of us very very closely, just like those of us who do the tracking... Travel and professional history is often critical, too.

ap7isback - can you elaborate on travel and professional history? I'm middle management for a consulting company and travel infrequently for work. I also know how to behave in luxurious surroundings, have stayed in high end hotels, traveled internationally, etc - but how would a shopping company know any of that?

Simply put, there are entities, both individuals and organizations, that do everything from looking at you live to some rather intense background research. If you've been a shopper of note (worked well and got kudos) you will be noticed. Once you get noticed, keep it up and you get more noticed, think like the snowball rolling uphill not downhill, so to speak. There is a lot of communicatioon between these people and entities that cross all sorts of boundaries, anything from owners of smaller MSC's with each other to well placed shoppers with appropriate government agencies, you name it, word get's around that way too, maybe a little, maybe a lot.

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