I cannot believe I spent a marathon 8 hour day working on a Coyle shop. True, I expect that with time and practice I could shorten the time by quite a bit. But, Coyle shops being spaced so many days or months apart makes it difficult to retain the specifics of what is required and there is sooo much to remember. Anyone? Please give me a clue as to how long it should take to complete narratives for a restaurant shop if expecting to meet the goal of getting an 18 or above? Be nice as I am really tired now.

8 hours????? I agree they are one of a kind but if you download their sample reports and follow the format, it should take maybe 1-2 hours for your first time? I might add I took one of their self described "EASY" shops and it was not easy. Lots of observation, name tags that I couldn't see, checking the bathroom, menu board and then a very long survey/narrative. I thought it was supposed to be easy? NEVER again. I will still take their dining shops but will not be fooled by their "EASY" descriptions.

wanderwoman, first we need to figure out where the hold-up is at. I would guess that reports might take 4 hours in the beginning and then narrow down to about an hour with experience.

Are you typing the report into a word processor? You should be if you are not. Make a template with BOLD headings for the different sections and enter the entire text of the report first. Focus on telling the story when you type the initial narrative. Save that document!

Next, open the online form and proofread each section one at a time in the window of the word processor as you go through the scoring (and add comments to the scores) in a window that you set up next to the text. Paste the narrative into each text section once you have finished proofing and scoring it.

Last, go to the main summary page and copy the details from the narrative into the appropriate sections for timings and staff names, scan and upload the receipts. Voila…you're done!

Now, how long are you spending on each section, and how long is your word doc? I spend 75% of the time on the narrative, 20% on the scoring and 5% on the receipts and summary page. My narrative runs around 5 pages single spaced for a full bar/dinner shop. If the problem is knocking out 5 pages of text in under two hours, you gotta work on the typing skills. If the other areas are a problem, you gotta work on knowing the format better.

Practice makes perfect. The hardest transition for me was learning the Coyle writing style. To help with that I just write all of my reports with the Coyle in mind regardless of the client I am writing for. They have amazing shops and it does get easier.

They do have great shops. But it is stressful because you have to describe all of the people who deliver your food and drinks and some shops, that can be a lot of people. They want a lot of time stamps and all kinds of other stuff that is hard to remember and even harder to write down without being seen. I have decided that all the detail requirements make the shops no fun, after doing 5 of them. But, one suggestion: I have a Smartphone and an LG Bluetooth - the new kind that's like a necklace. I downloaded a recording app, so I turn on the Bluetooth and the recording and talk to myself like I'm really talking to my dining partner. The only problem is that you have to listen to the entire dinner again to get all the details, but it really works.

And if typing skills are your problem then consider investing in Dragon Naturally Speaking.

James Bond 007.5,

Does the Dragon Naturally Speaking work as well and as easy as it shows on their commercial? My typing skills are seriously lame, so reports take me an exorbitant amount of time also. Is it easy to use? And how much does it cost?
Thanks, and thanks to all for the great advice! This is a great place for relative newbies, as I've only been mystery shopping since February.

"I downloaded a recording app, so I turn on the Bluetooth and the recording and talk to myself like I'm really talking to my dining partner. The only problem is that you have to listen to the entire dinner again to get all the details, but it really works."
Coyle's policy says absolutely no recording allowed. I know you are recording your notes but other people might be recorded while you are doing it.