The lobster is back.

I saw movie on Youtube channel and it was very helpfull. I did several Red Lobsters by myself and like it very much. But that were prior COVID era..

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

To the best of my knowledge, I have never completed a shop for this MSC, and I can see these shops.

@wrosie wrote:

Pre-Covid, I know this MSC used to only show certain shops until you had proven yourself by completing enough low level shops to see the more desirable shops.

Does anyone know if they are still doing this? If so that might explain why some of us are not seeing the Red Lobster or Wingstop shops in our area.
Gene - You live near me. I'm close to the King of Prussia location, but I haven't done one of these shops yet. The guidelines give me a headache, and so many photos.
The shop is not hard. It did not take long to fill out the report either. If a Coyle report is a 10, this would be a 2 or 3, closer to 2.

Uploading the photos took a while because I took extra photos of things they needed to improve.

The budget is more than generous for two people. We felt extravagant.
@Niner wrote:

The shop is not hard. It did not take long to fill out the report either. If a Coyle report is a 10, this would be a 2 or 3, closer to 2.

Uploading the photos took a while because I took extra photos of things they needed to improve.

The budget is more than generous for two people. We felt extravagant.

I would agree with this. The budget more than covered a reasonable amount of food for two.
I didn't find the report difficult either, felt like standard narrative. Though if level of commentary is a 2/10, I'm either over-writing for this MSC or not prepared to take on a Coyle job.
Can someone clarify the reimbursement for me. When it says $100/20%....i always thought that the max was $100 with up to a 20% tip included. Or am I wrong, and it's up to $100 on the food and drinks, PLUS 20% tip? In that case, max $120 reimbursement.
@nola_shop wrote:

@Niner wrote:

The shop is not hard. It did not take long to fill out the report either. If a Coyle report is a 10, this would be a 2 or 3, closer to 2.

Uploading the photos took a while because I took extra photos of things they needed to improve.

The budget is more than generous for two people. We felt extravagant.

I would agree with this. The budget more than covered a reasonable amount of food for two.
I didn't find the report difficult either, felt like standard narrative. Though if level of commentary is a 2/10, I'm either over-writing for this MSC or not prepared to take on a Coyle job.

Coyle is actually that awful.
@Snuffycuts99 wrote:

Can someone clarify the reimbursement for me. When it says $100/20%....i always thought that the max was $100 with up to a 20% tip included. Or am I wrong, and it's up to $100 on the food and drinks, PLUS 20% tip? In that case, max $120 reimbursement.

$100 total reimbursement, with the 20% tip included in the $100.
I have heard some posters say that coyle and the MSC for red lobster are the same/similar. these shoppers don’t have a basic understanding of the reporting requirements.

coyle requires every yes answer to be explained in the narrative. the msc for red lobster asks every no answer in the narrative and has a suggested number of sentences. these requirements alone set them very far apart.

i used to do many restaurant and hotel evaluations for them. i haven’t done any since covid… and now when i look back - i dont know what the hell i was thinking. i spent so much time writing the reports. what nonsense.

in the 10+ years doing this, when i think about my top 5 restaurants and top 5 hotel stays, none of those were from coyle. it was with other mscs that i now focus on.

yes, coyle does have those one off bungalows that i didn’t do and perhaps would have ended in my top 5 list… but i’ve been content with my experiences so far and there is no love lost with coyle for me. kudos to those who continue to do them.


@Niner wrote:

@nola_shop wrote:

@Niner wrote:

The shop is not hard. It did not take long to fill out the report either. If a Coyle report is a 10, this would be a 2 or 3, closer to 2.

Uploading the photos took a while because I took extra photos of things they needed to improve.

The budget is more than generous for two people. We felt extravagant.

I would agree with this. The budget more than covered a reasonable amount of food for two.
I didn't find the report difficult either, felt like standard narrative. Though if level of commentary is a 2/10, I'm either over-writing for this MSC or not prepared to take on a Coyle job.

Coyle is actually that awful.
We signed up again. I love this shop. This seems to be one of the only restaurant clients they have. I miss all of the Darden shops they had before Covid.
These are so simple for such a high reimbursement!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/26/2022 03:14PM by mjt9598.
So I guess it depends on the restaurant/owner?


There may be 20 of them in Georgia and all of them are shopped.. But there may be 50 in Texas and none of them are shopped?

I am not sure how many Red Lobsters there are.. I am just throwing out a number
Although pay would be a nice perk, this company tends to be good about giving you enough of a budget on the reimbursement that you don't have to go in the hole with their restaurant shops, unless you really want to. At least you don't have to order the cheapest of every thing on the requirements to even come close to the budget. I don't mind a narrative, however, I am not into spending a couple or more hours on a report and still going in the hole when it comes to paying the check, which is why I like this company's restaurant shops. Although it wouldn't normally, Red Lobster is sitting on the board in our area. This was the first time I have seen it in my area, and I couldn't take it because of scheduling issues.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/2022 01:36PM by GinnyLynn.
Just nabbed one for next weekend. Lobster, here I come! The picture requirements are a little much, don'tcha think?
A lot of shoppers don't like this MSC because of their reports. Some of their shops require a lot of pictures too. I don't mind writing or taking pictures as long as it is all clear and doable. I rate them as second to Coyle on the reports. I don't mind Coyle either, but I pick and choose with them both. This is actually one of my favorite MSCs because they have a good choice of restaurant shops in my area, and they give you enough of a reimbursement that you can enjoy the meal without either going in the hole or getting the cheapest of everything on the menu. I'll happily write a good report for a good meal, but I am not into writing a long report when I am going in the hole for the meal.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln
It can be tricky getting a photo of the lobster tank in a crowded lobby. LOL Recently saw the cleanest tank I have ever seen.
Red Lobster is the only one in my area that this MSC pays enough to cover the food. I see many that sit for weeks and months with no takers. Or they want a bar visit which can be awkward now that many restaurants will seat you next to the bar and you end up with the bartender as your server. I get it. They make money off the bars and there is a lot of internal theft. But not everyone dines out based on the bar service.
No, we can't. That is prohibited by forum rules.
@Shopper1622 wrote:

Can anyone tell me what company these shops are through?
@Isaiah4031a wrote:

So I guess it depends on the restaurant/owner?

There may be 20 of them in Georgia and all of them are shopped.. But there may be 50 in Texas and none of them are shopped?

I am not sure how many Red Lobsters there are.. I am just throwing out a number

The Lobster is being shopped in the greater Houston area, but unfortunately for me, the shops seem to be grabbed the second they're posted.
@amyann2 wrote:

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

So I guess it depends on the restaurant/owner?

There may be 20 of them in Georgia and all of them are shopped.. But there may be 50 in Texas and none of them are shopped?

I am not sure how many Red Lobsters there are.. I am just throwing out a number

The Lobster is being shopped in the greater Houston area, but unfortunately for me, the shops seem to be grabbed the second they're posted.

It is not being shopped in my area sad smiley
I have received three e-mails (Friday, Mon and Tuesday) saying they have two different shops available in my area.

However, when I went to the web site, it says there are no events in my area..

Oh well'
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login