A Closer Look
What is your zipcode? Now I am curious as they have shops in a lot of states. I can look and see if anything is available in your zipcode.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
Thanks Cubbie,
I've tried my zip and also the state. I'll get hits for cities that are in a different area of the state - just too far to travel (1.5-2 hours one way).
I've tried my zip and also the state. I'll get hits for cities that are in a different area of the state - just too far to travel (1.5-2 hours one way).
~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~
Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
I enjoy their hotel shops and some of their lunch shops. You have to be a member of the hotel chain's loyalty club to really get the most out of reimbursement only hotel shops, though. It's rare that they have a shop fee, although I did one in NYC in May that did have a small fee, probably because it was hard to fill (probably because it had no loyalty club points). My advice, if you need a free hotel in Manhattan, contact a scheduler at ACL around the third week of the month for a shop there in the next month. The hotel in question is clean, safe, in a great neighborhood, has a complete kitchenette, huge bedroom, and some rooms even have great views. The report is dead simple. No meals are included, but the deli next door has great and inexpensive morning coffee and bagels or pastries. And you will have tons of wonderful restaurants within a 6 block radius of safe-to-walk neighborhoods.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Thanks for the info!
walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I enjoy their hotel shops and some of their lunch
> shops. You have to be a member of the hotel
> chain's loyalty club to really get the most out of
> reimbursement only hotel shops, though. It's rare
> that they have a shop fee, although I did one in
> NYC in May that did have a small fee, probably
> because it was hard to fill (probably because it
> had no loyalty club points). My advice, if you
> need a free hotel in Manhattan, contact a
> scheduler at ACL around the third week of the
> month for a shop there in the next month. The
> hotel in question is clean, safe, in a great
> neighborhood, has a complete kitchenette, huge
> bedroom, and some rooms even have great views.
> The report is dead simple. No meals are included,
> but the deli next door has great and inexpensive
> morning coffee and bagels or pastries. And you
> will have tons of wonderful restaurants within a 6
> block radius of safe-to-walk neighborhoods.
walesmaven Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I enjoy their hotel shops and some of their lunch
> shops. You have to be a member of the hotel
> chain's loyalty club to really get the most out of
> reimbursement only hotel shops, though. It's rare
> that they have a shop fee, although I did one in
> NYC in May that did have a small fee, probably
> because it was hard to fill (probably because it
> had no loyalty club points). My advice, if you
> need a free hotel in Manhattan, contact a
> scheduler at ACL around the third week of the
> month for a shop there in the next month. The
> hotel in question is clean, safe, in a great
> neighborhood, has a complete kitchenette, huge
> bedroom, and some rooms even have great views.
> The report is dead simple. No meals are included,
> but the deli next door has great and inexpensive
> morning coffee and bagels or pastries. And you
> will have tons of wonderful restaurants within a 6
> block radius of safe-to-walk neighborhoods.
Flash Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't even like working with Customer Impact. I
> have always found that ACL covers a middle of the
> menu meal for two or one going high and the other
> one low. CI I always seemed to be out of pocket
> and having editors who were out of sorts.
I liked ACL myself, but for the work involved on the report and their shops being usually pretty far away from me, I stopped doing their shops.
I think I am still active on CI (which the name had slipped my mind), but way too much clicking and typing for the pay. Oh, when CI had a new editor look me over, I couldn't reach for the lube soon enough!
Reflections had it right. Too bad I haven't heard from them since about last year during Spring Break.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't even like working with Customer Impact. I
> have always found that ACL covers a middle of the
> menu meal for two or one going high and the other
> one low. CI I always seemed to be out of pocket
> and having editors who were out of sorts.
I liked ACL myself, but for the work involved on the report and their shops being usually pretty far away from me, I stopped doing their shops.
I think I am still active on CI (which the name had slipped my mind), but way too much clicking and typing for the pay. Oh, when CI had a new editor look me over, I couldn't reach for the lube soon enough!
Reflections had it right. Too bad I haven't heard from them since about last year during Spring Break.
The average diners order from the middle of the menu. However, ACL have one upscale restaurant where the menu is the same for lunch and dinner. I have yet to be able to spend up to $80 for lunch. I love ACL and perfectly happy doing the $150 steak dinners and have never gone out of pocket in 5 years of doing their FD shops.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
I love most of the schedulers at A Closer look. The only issue I had was one time I did not receive their follow-up email, but did get a voicemail. I immediately signed onto the website and responded to the question there. For some reason they did not get that response, called the next day rather upset with me until I explained that I had responded. They have always been helpful if I have questions.
You ladies have been very helpful i am new to this whole mystery shopping thing have been researching good companies i think i might give ACL a try.
I love ACL and have done countless hotel and restaurant shops for them. The schedulers are easy to work with and they pay fairly fast. It's also easy to self-assign shops and schedule shops nationwide when you travel, unlike on some MSC sites.
I've always enjoyed ACL's shops. The only thing that annoys me--and it's a fairly minor annoyance--is they assign you a very random login name. I can never remember it.
Can someone help me out I applied for a closer look I did the 10 questions and now it saying it can not find my application i even put in an application id it saying it can not find it this is so frustrating I emailed them to ask for help but it said something about 24hrs.
cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One time, I
> "N/A" the question about two comparable
> restaurants to the one I was shopping. We were out
> of town to do the shop and I can't even name two
> comparable restaurants. The editor suggested I
> google some restaurant names. Works for me!
To Google for comparable restaurants seems counter to what they want. I'm surprised the editor said to do that. I would think that they wanted your opinion not nearby competitors. [shrug]
Jamie
Editor and shopper
-------------------------------------------------------
> One time, I
> "N/A" the question about two comparable
> restaurants to the one I was shopping. We were out
> of town to do the shop and I can't even name two
> comparable restaurants. The editor suggested I
> google some restaurant names. Works for me!
To Google for comparable restaurants seems counter to what they want. I'm surprised the editor said to do that. I would think that they wanted your opinion not nearby competitors. [shrug]
Jamie
Editor and shopper
SoJoShopper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just signed up with ACL because of the glowing
> recommendations many of you have written. I
> haven't done any work yet. There are many shops
> in my area, but it appears that the reimbursements
> are on the low side.
My only ACL shop's reimbursement let us order more than we expected to be able to. (Of course, I checked out the restaurant website before applying for the shop, so I knew ahead of time.)
Jamie
Editor and shopper
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just signed up with ACL because of the glowing
> recommendations many of you have written. I
> haven't done any work yet. There are many shops
> in my area, but it appears that the reimbursements
> are on the low side.
My only ACL shop's reimbursement let us order more than we expected to be able to. (Of course, I checked out the restaurant website before applying for the shop, so I knew ahead of time.)
Jamie
Editor and shopper
cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kalfini Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > All I ever see from them are health club shops.
> > You all seem to have some really good shops in
> > your area.
>
>
> The type of shops you see are based on your rating
> and experience. Prove to them they you are a great
> shopper and you will see the fine dining and hotel
> shops.
Before I had shopped for them, I saw hotels and higher-end restaurants. I don't know if they would be considered fine dining, however.
Jamie
Editor and shopper
-------------------------------------------------------
> kalfini Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > All I ever see from them are health club shops.
> > You all seem to have some really good shops in
> > your area.
>
>
> The type of shops you see are based on your rating
> and experience. Prove to them they you are a great
> shopper and you will see the fine dining and hotel
> shops.
Before I had shopped for them, I saw hotels and higher-end restaurants. I don't know if they would be considered fine dining, however.
Jamie
Editor and shopper
@ Jamison, they shop $150 steak restaurants. Once again, you will see the higher end shops with a proven record.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
The fitness certification test takes about 15-20 minutes at the most.
I just did two shops for them this week and got nice e-mails from their editor: easy to work with and not really demanding.
I've never had any problems with them. They even tell me I am one of their best shoppers! That's always nice to hear.
MSPA Silver Certified - DMB lover - NC shopper
Jamiesan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cubbiecat Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > One time, I
> > "N/A" the question about two comparable
> > restaurants to the one I was shopping. We were
> out
> > of town to do the shop and I can't even name
> two
> > comparable restaurants. The editor suggested I
> > google some restaurant names. Works for me!
>
> To Google for comparable restaurants seems counter
> to what they want. I'm surprised the editor said
> to do that. I would think that they wanted your
> opinion not nearby competitors.
That was a beach town that I have never been to before. I told her I have never gone to any restaurants there. She needs the names for her client, so it makes sense for me to google comparable restaurants.
If the shopper travels put of town for the hotel/beach condo shops, they should allow the shopper to "N/A" those type of questions.
-------------------------------------------------------
> cubbiecat Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > One time, I
> > "N/A" the question about two comparable
> > restaurants to the one I was shopping. We were
> out
> > of town to do the shop and I can't even name
> two
> > comparable restaurants. The editor suggested I
> > google some restaurant names. Works for me!
>
> To Google for comparable restaurants seems counter
> to what they want. I'm surprised the editor said
> to do that. I would think that they wanted your
> opinion not nearby competitors.
That was a beach town that I have never been to before. I told her I have never gone to any restaurants there. She needs the names for her client, so it makes sense for me to google comparable restaurants.
If the shopper travels put of town for the hotel/beach condo shops, they should allow the shopper to "N/A" those type of questions.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
That's funny, becaue I have traveled to several unfamiliar places, reported that I did not know any local restaurants, and not heard a word about it from the editors.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I have been approved for the fine dining shops with ACL and enjoy them. Recently I had a spaz attack and made errors on 2 shops (lower-end ones, thank goodness). The editors pointed out my mistakes but still accepted the shops, and as far as I can tell, I'm still approved for fine dining.
I will have to come back and update this post accordingly. There are still a lot of undercurrents going on with ACL-namely with Melissa Grey.
Friday January 18th at 4:31 PM
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2013 09:31PM by sportofficial.
Friday January 18th at 4:31 PM
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2013 09:31PM by sportofficial.
Melissa Grey from ACL PRETENDED to be resolving my issue to my advantage, however I discovered she was only screwing me up. Her only interest was to make me shut up from speaking the truth on these boards, about what factually transpired following my hotel shop.
Unfortunately when they say that things /poeple seem too good to be true .....they are probably right!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2013 09:54PM by sportofficial.
Unfortunately when they say that things /poeple seem too good to be true .....they are probably right!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2013 09:54PM by sportofficial.
A Closer Look is also one of my favorite companies and I've been with them since the beginning of mystery shopping over 5 years ago. I have never had an issue with any report and find everybody to be nice to work with. I get good feedback from the editors who take time to comment on the report overall. There has been an occasional comment to make note of this or that in the future, but nothing I've had to correct, change or add in to a report. I am wondering about the issue with the "sides." The menu is broken down (if its the place I'm thinking of) to appetizers, salads, entrees, and the sides are listed separately, and under the heading of "sides." I have found that its often clarified in the guidelines if a "side" can be a salad or not. I don't know if they made that clear in this case. Some companies are very open ended, allowing you to order just about anything, as long as its two separate entrees, and others are quite stringent on the requirements.
Jump,
What is or is not an acceptable "side" for ACL shops differed with the different clients. If ever in doubt, email and get a clarification because some clients just plain won't pay if you order the wrong thing.
What is or is not an acceptable "side" for ACL shops differed with the different clients. If ever in doubt, email and get a clarification because some clients just plain won't pay if you order the wrong thing.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
chynna Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone else on here do shops for A Closer
> Look? I have been a shopper for them for 3 or
> more years now. I like some of the places they do,
> but their editors are so hard to please. Today, I
> turned in a shop for a very upscale place we
> shopped last night. The editor sent me an email
> saying that we had only ordered one side but were
> supposed to have ordered 2. In actuality, we had
> ordered 3 sides. We ordered a baked potato and 2
> different non-entree salads.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone else on here do shops for A Closer
> Look? I have been a shopper for them for 3 or
> more years now. I like some of the places they do,
> but their editors are so hard to please. Today, I
> turned in a shop for a very upscale place we
> shopped last night. The editor sent me an email
> saying that we had only ordered one side but were
> supposed to have ordered 2. In actuality, we had
> ordered 3 sides. We ordered a baked potato and 2
> different non-entree salads.
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