Hi All - I am new to these forums!

I applied for Coyle Hospitality and was promptly accepted. Since reading these forums I realized that this is not often the case, so I do feel lucky. A few questions as a newbie:

1) I see assignments posted that I applied for. In general, how many "shoppers" are selected per assignment. Does a restaurant only want one shopper? Do they usually many shoppers?

2) I applied for a restaurant shop. I realize I need to work my way up with sales calls, but none were available. It has been 2 days and I have not heard back. How long does one usually wait?

3) When a restaurant shop is posted with a two month window and they ask for your availability, how much information does a seasoned Coyle shopper give about their schedule. I realized I cannot say "I am free anytime," as per the instructions, but I really have a lot of availability. Should I start listing off every day in the month?

4) Regarding scheduling again. A shop is posted to be completed in the next two months. There is one weekend where I would prefer to be scheduled. I put those two dates as possibilities, but am worried I was not flexible enough. What type of information is the "scheduler" looking for? Anything I can do to get chosen?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2014 04:09PM by laur371.

One more additional question. I apologize for the long post.

I see mention of Coyle "main portal" versus Coyle "Shopmetrics." I look at my assignments through the main portal. Do I need to sign up for the Shopmetrics site also? What is the difference? Thank you in advance.

The number of shoppers depend on where you live. What area of the country are you working?

Boston, MA. I realize that living in a big city means there are lots of shoppers signed up as a Coyle Evaluator. However, when clients hire Coyle, do they usually only want one report or many? I am trying to get a sense of how much competition I have for each job (and I realize it will vary).

Each location is given to only one shopper. The ones you are looking at could have several shoppers asking for it. Give as many dates as you can. I think those shops are very popular.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2014 10:21PM by LindaM.

Thanks, Linda! This makes me very sad though because now I wonder if I will ever get chosen!

Who knows! They picked you right away for a reason. Also, once a shopper visits the location, they can't do it again for another year, so they will give it to someone new also, if the location offer breakfast/lunch, apply for those first because they are less likely to have seasoned shoppers apply for those! Good luck!

Hi Laur371, I was accepted by Coyle several years ago and since have only done one shop for them. That one was labled "easy" which was the reason I picked it as my first. I did not think it was easy at all compared to every other shop I have done for various companies. It was not so much that it was difficult but it was very long for a minimal pay. If you are truly new to mystery shopping my advice would be to start with some other company's shop to get accustomed to mystery shopping and what sorts of expectations there are. Unless you are exceptional, and perhaps you are, I would think a Coyle shop as a first shop would be overwhelming. And I would not worry if you do not get chosen this time. It has been several years since I did my one shop and I still get inquiries from them all the time so obviously I am still in the running for another shop.

As far as answering the second part of the post, I have never completed any phone assignments with Coyle, I just went straight to restaurants. Enjoy the meal! They are long reports, but if you remember to take time to enjoy everything then they can certainly be worth the time they take. For #4, I put my days in to the tune of "My prefered date for this location is aaa, but will also be available to complete the assignment on bbb, ccc, or ddd." With my first shop, I seemed to be the only shopper in the area, but it still took about two to three weeks before it was scheduled to me.

Hi laur371!

I have a few answers that I hope can help, but I would first say that because Coyle does things a bit differently than many MSPs, the answers in this thread should be viewed as regarding Coyle and may not apply to MSPs in general. On to your questions.

1) Each listing is for one shop. Personally, I have seen Coyle list one client with multiple shops in a month, some with different meal periods. So, what you see is what you get on the Coyle job board. In the mystery shopping business, restaurants are often shopped once per month. But it varies with clients. Some are shopped once a week, twice a month, or less often than each month.

2) You have found the dreaded "black hole" of an application in waiting. It's not fun waiting, especially if the answer is holding you up with planning your schedule. The answer depends on the scheduler, some work Monday to Friday 9-5 or on an irregular schedule, how attractive your application is, how close the deadline is, how likely an application from a more seasoned shopper might come in, and perhaps other factors. You might send an inquiry to the scheduler after a few days or more, depending on the shopping period. Some of us will end our applications with a deadline to respond, saying something like, "This application expires on -fill-in-date-here." The good news is the waiting becomes shorter as you develop a track record of being dependable and following instructions.

3) I would be truthful and explain anything that seems unusual. If you want to put every day of the month, explain why. Although I think it would be more believable to be much more limited in availability dates.

4) For Coyle, I have found them willing to read detailed requests. For example, one month I wanted to do one shop for them and had two Saturdays available. I applied for three restaurants (I didn't care which one) with that request and they gave me one shop on one of the requested dates. For you, I suggest you start with your preferred times saying exactly that and also say you are available at other times. Also, they do request an update with any changed availabilities. If you change or refine your availabilities, that might be a way to "remind" them of your application. As for being flexible enough, I really don't have much insight as I haven't given many dates and have been awarded shops. What else can you do? See the next paragraph.

5) Yes, they do have a shopmetrics site as well. It is optional to sign up for the shopmetrics site. However, signing up there and other MSPs can be helpful, at least down the road. Schedulers care most about reliability and turning in good reports when they choose from different shoppers. With no track record at Coyle and little if any as a mystery shopper you can use the Coyle shopmetrics site to possibly get shops that will show them you are that for future restaurant applications. You might also do restaurant or even hotel shops with other MSPs.

Love Coyle, they have wonderful jobs. We love going out once a month for a nice evening out. Just read thoroughly the samples they give for each section. Be very specific in your answers.

And when you said you're a newbie, did you mean a Coyle newbie or a mystery shopping newbie? As someone mentioned above, a newbie with a Coyle shop is rather daunting. You will feel overwhelmed.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2014 11:30PM by vloglady.

I was signed up with Coyle for seven months and kept applying for telephone and restaurant jobs with no success.

Then one Wednesday night, I got a call from them and was given two lounge/bar evaluations for that weekend. The reports were longer and required good detail in the narratives, but I was reimbursed for all expenses and made an additional $50. Just for having drinks and an appetizer with a friend Sometimes I wonder if what we do should be called "work".

Keep busy building your business with other companies and keep applying for what interests you with Coyle. You will get that first job with Coyle under your belt yet!

I really hope a big client of theirs comes back on the board!!

I have been a full time shopper for 8 Years. I have shopped for both Shop Metrics and most recently for Coyle. The scheduling process takes longer than most but they offer great high end shops. I had no problems with my shops being accepted or with the scheduling process. I have an application in at this time for a shop with Coyle and Hope I get the shop
Sindee

Has anyone been assigned shops for June? It is May 29th, but I have not heard from them. I applied for 6 restaurants, hoping I will get at least one or two. I used to get 3 per month, sometimes 4. Did they get more shoppers and there is more competition now?

dcm, if you call spending hours typing up reports is not work, what is? Sure, the free dining and bar/lounge part is great, but the reporting is work.

ShopperFun99 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dcm, if you call spending hours typing up reports
> is not work, what is? Sure, the free dining and
> bar/lounge part is great, but the reporting is
> work.


Hi ShopperFun99.

I took good notes and followed the sample narrative provided with the guidelines. It took two hours for the two reports. I type quickly and enjoy writing so it wasn't painful. But I see your point. I'm glad we agree that the dining and bar/lounge part is great! LOL