How tough is a Buckalew hotel shop?

I have a project coming up and I'm wondering if I could reasonably defray some hotel costs by picking up a shop. How many hours would I plan for reporting?

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I have done many for Buckalew. Usually, you will have 90 percent of the shop report enterered by the time you check out. The narratives are short. But, there are enough observations, spread over afternoon, evening and morning hours that you should plan to check in by about 3:00 PM and not leave before 10-11:00 AM. Also, it's not a piece of cake to snag one of those shops as there is a long list of qualifed shoppers and a short list of locations to be shopped each month. If you are not at your computer during the hour of shop release, don't expect to get a shop that month. They pay like closkwork, once you have submitted your online invoice (very easy) and have the hotel charges reversed propmtly, so are great in that respect.

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.

I did a shop for him a few months ago, it was tough, but not out of the world. I did not get any feedback as far as the quality of the report, other than "thanks". Do any of his shoppers get any kind of feedback? I would think with the amount of time put into a report, and the large number of narratives, he would give some kind of constructive feedback and what was good and what was not?

NYShopper1,
As narratives for hotel go, the Buckalew reports are quite easy. Unless you screw-up, you are unlikely to gey feedback. Dave runs a very "lean" organization.

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.

Glad to get the information as i just got notification that I was accepted by Buckalew.

I have done his hotels. You will be interacting, eating and writing from the time you checked in (2-3pm) until you check out, around 11am. I usually write until 1:30am on the first night. I would spent another 2-3 hours at home cleaning up the report, before submitting. It's not tough, but it's work, not a vacation.

Do you have a sign up link please?

I found it. Buckalew Hospitality. I signed up and had typed pricing idiots instead of audits (for experience). LOL...

NYShopper1, sorry for the lack of feedback. To be honest i only have so much time and thats where i save time. If you did not get any feedback the shops was likely good or very good. If you email me i would be happy to send you the completed shop back so you can take a look and see what changes were made

-Dave
Buckalew Hospitality

Does this company have shops on the West Coast or is strictly on the East Coast?

He has shops in Cali.

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

~Polish Proverb~

Dave has a rating system in place now. It is a pleasure to work with them.

I agree about the reversal process being simple and painless! Do you have any info about the shop release dates/schedule? TIA

walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Also, it's not a piece
> of cake to snag one of those shops as there is a
> long list of qualifed shoppers and a short list of
> locations to be shopped each month. If you are
> not at your computer during the hour of shop
> release, don't expect to get a shop that month.
> They pay like closkwork, once you have submitted
> your online invoice (very easy) and have the hotel
> charges reversed propmtly, so are great in that
> respect.

Buckalew is a good company... but I don't like the practice of them sending out a list of shops w/ the assigned shopper. It just looks so weird to see all the names. I can see that one of their shoppers was assigned multiple shops in one month & I found her online with her own blog of travels...

I'm curious to know how the Buckalew reports compare to Coyle's. Anybody?

Much, much shorter than Coyle's reports.

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.

Typically their repors can be done throughout the day with the only thing left to do when you leave the hotel is checkout, bellman and valet. I find that once I got that hang of the style (one time) I was able to do the shop in sections and still have time to go out or enjoy my time at the hotels.

Liz

Does anyone know if they release hotel shops on a set date each month.

carlsbadguy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone know if they release hotel shops on a
> set date each month.

The 20th.

Liz

Thanks for the info. I signed up with them last night and cant wait to get started after the holidaze!

Got an email from them but I don't remember signing up. The email does not have my name, just says "Dear shopper". Wondering where they got my email?

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How tough is a Buckalew hotel shop?

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