Ardent is posting everywhere looking for shoppers. I applied a month ago. Their FAQ is a dead end. My email address is on file and their instructions are to contact my scheduler if I lost my username and password. My application was never confirmed.

Hopefully they do more here in this forum and on Jobslinger than just advertise for shoppers. Anyone from Ardent care to help me out?

@isaiah58 wrote:

Ardent is posting everywhere looking for shoppers. I applied a month ago. Their FAQ is a dead end. My email address is on file and their instructions are to contact my scheduler if I lost my username and password. My application was never confirmed.

Hopefully they do more here in this forum and on Jobslinger than just advertise for shoppers. Anyone from Ardent care to help me out?

Glad to see I'm not alone. About 6 weeks after I applied (November '14), I sent an email to someone I think is a scheduler - it was an email address (no name, just address) I saw on one of those ads (I think it was small print way down at the bottom of the ad page). I told them I'd applied, never heard back, and that my email address appears to be in their database. I asked what was happening with my application.

I did not receive a personal response to that email, but a couple of days later I received what appeared to be a mass mailing listing dates and locations for training for the restaurant chain that I'm interested in shopping. My luck, the nearest training location is in another state, even though they are looking for someone to do the restaurant in the town where I live. I would love to hear from an actual person at Ardent, and even more, would love to go to a training session that's not located out of state......

The email I received states in part:
"Adding experienced shoppers now for nationwide restaurants serving fast casual Mexican cuisine.

"The client required paid training is informative and fun with no report, no test, and we pay you $10 per hour to attend plus <name of restaurant> provides lunch. Once you complete a training session in person, you will be eligible for assignments at any of the 1500 restaurant locations. Each additional assignment pays $27 and shopping dates are flexible. Login and password are activated after attending a training in person.

If you can attend one of the client required paid trainings listed, then email <address> and include which training you are available to attend." (This followed by a list of dates/locations."

I don't know if it's okay to post the email address here, so I haven't. You could take a look at the jobslinger listing application again and see if you can find the email address. If you can, write to them and tell them that you applied a while ago and are wondering why you haven't heard from them. Maybe you'll get one of those training emails and find that there's a training location close to you.

A couple of their folks post on this forum. I recall when I got pulled into that MSC, it was through a scheduling company and NOT Ardent themselves. It could be worth contacting one of them.

I have been waiting to hear back from Ardent for about 6 weeks, I just figured that they were not impressed with my writing sample.

Thanks nutmeg. I also found that same email address. Unfortunately no one responded. Looks like this is status quo for them based on older posts I found.

I applied over a year ago with Ardent. Several months later I received an email about a training session for a burrito place, but the training center was 3 hours away! I like the restaurant, but I'm not going to drive 6 hours roundtrip for training and free lunch. Have never heard anything further from them. Oh well.

Whoa! Ardent schedules inperson training in an area if, and only if, they need new shoppers in that local market. The scheduler is probably an independent, not an Ardent employee. You are better off emailing Ardent and asking to be conracted when training is being offered in your area.

For more details, click on the blue link to more Ardent discussions, just below the OP.

BTW, this is one of the best MSCs to work with, although it takes about three shops to learn how to file a narrative that takes a reasonable amount of time.

When they have training in your area, they will send you an invitation. You don't hear from them until then. The trainer flies all over the country doing these.

@Phoebe70 wrote:

I applied over a year ago with Ardent. Several months later I received an email about a training session for a burrito place, but the training center was 3 hours away! I like the restaurant, but I'm not going to drive 6 hours roundtrip for training and free lunch. Have never heard anything further from them. Oh well.

If you're able to make the trip (hopefully somewhere closer to your area), getting in with this company's well-worth it.

The schedulers are great to work with and are reasonable when you want to pick up leftover shops for a little bonus. The schedulers work hard, are personable and are very responsive. When they schedule assignments for the month, you'll receive assignment requests tailored specifically to your preferred locations.

If you do your job from month-to-month, you'll consistently receive assignment requests every month. You'll even have some times when schedulers will approach YOU for last-minute assignments.

Feedback is detailed and pay is above averages compared to other fast casual shops.

Ditto to what others have said. I didn't hear anything for months, and then received an email when training was offered in my area. I would give it more time.

I waited years to be invited to a training session. I was so excited. A year later, I'm not so excited anymore. The food is okay but not what I would do a long report for. And while my scheduler is polite and nice most of the time, she can get edgy especially when I ask for some gas money for a shop two hours away. My biggest pet peeve is schedulers who nickle and dime me when I think I am helping them out doing an out of the way location.
I keep getting messages about picking up orphans and I've gone by many of those locations but the length of the report and the quality of the food keeps me from taking them.
I have done a lot more than three reports, and they don't get any easier for me. I'd rather do a fast food shop with three timings and a similar fee, even though that food is not that great either. At least those shops come with shorter reports and larger bonuses.

For a long time there did not seem to be anyone in my area doing these except myself as I kept getting the same assignments over and over...and then they must have run a training session as that scenerio changed. Here in the big city, my training was done by a local person and was training for store locations all over the city based on where the other trainees told me they lived. I suspect that if you live in a place with only one location they would not have a training session just for that location but would try to combine it with needed training for other towns so that might be why you might have to travel to training. Bit I do not live in a small town so do not really know how those sessions are set up. Once you are trained you can definitely pick up jobs outside of your town if they are on the orphan list. It is easy to find the list and I would think if you are in a more rural area and do routes this would make a nice lunch or dinner stop for you...althou report time is high. As for me, I was not impressed with the food at first but it grew on me and now I love it and miss it is I take a month off.

The Mexican food client reports are definitely long and not much fun, but Ardent is one of the best MSCs around, in my opinion. I just wish they had more clients in my area.

They just sent the following message out to MSAP so perhaps if you are in one of these areas you can get in:

Adding experienced shoppers now for nationwide restaurants serving fast casual Mexican cuisine.

If you are interested in mystery shopping with Ardent Services, complete the quick FREE online application at [www.ardentservices.com] and click on WORK FOR ARDENT.

The client required paid training is informative and fun with no report, no test, and we pay you $10 per hour to attend plus <the restaurant> provides lunch. Once you complete a training session in person, you will be eligible for assignments at any of the 1500 restaurant locations. Each additional assignment pays $27 and shopping dates are flexible.

*** If you can attend one of the client required paid trainings listed, then reply and include which training you are available to attend. ***

Required Training Events from 8:45 to 11:30 AM

CA 22-Jan San Diego 92127
CA 23-Jan Los Angeles 90049
CA 26-Jan Encino 91436
CA 28-Jan Santa Clarita 91387
FL 15-Jan Destin 32541
MA 12-Feb Boston Burlington 01803
MA 12-Feb Boston Cambridge 02139
MA 12-Feb Boston Watertown 02472
NM 6-Feb Albuquerque 87113
NJ 12-Jan Sea Girt 08750
NJ 3-Feb Wayne East Rutherford 07470
NY 14-Jan Brooklyn 11201
NY 15-Jan Manhattan @ Empire State 10118
NY 22-Jan Manhattan @ University Place 10003
NY 7-Feb New York SOHO 10012
NY 9-Feb Buffalo 14223
NY 10-Feb Syracuse Liverpool 13090
NY 12-Feb Albany 12205
PA 24-Jan Pittsburgh 15241
RI 11-Feb Providence Cranston 02920
TX 4-Feb San Antonio 78209
TX 11-Feb Fort Worth 76107
TX 5-Feb Murphy Dallas 75094
TX 9-Feb El Paso 79936
VA 22-Jan Hampton Newport News 23666

Recruiting shoppers to cover assignments within 30 miles of the listed locations. We shop all <of these> restaurants. You can search for additional training locations and dates at www.jobslinger.com, the MSPA North American Job Board, and Shadow Shoppers throughout the year. Ardent Services, Inc. has been providing quality mystery shopping evaluations to measure the customer service experience for over 15 years.



Mod note: Please do not reveal the name of the client in your posts. Thanks!

Hi: I am working with them on a project with <the restaurant in question>, are you in New York? They are getting ready to do another training. I can give your name and hopefully someone will get back to you.



Mod note: Please do not reveal the name of the client in your posts. Thanks!

They have recently expanded and opened a chain of Asian restaurants. This chain is still rather small but I expect someday they will shop those too. I got a coupon when I went to their Mexican place a month or two ago to get a free meal at the Asian place. It was a similar concept to the Mexican food.
Also, they are now advertising if you purchase a Sofritas Burrito on Jan 26th you will get a coupon to return for a free entree of your choice within a month.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2015 06:29AM by sandyf.

goodkitty, marieclv, sandyf -
The MSC is being discussed. Please remove the name of the client from your postings.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/2015 06:12AM by elcarev68.

Yeah, the training thing is kind of annoying, and honestly it really isn't all that helpful. They don't explain a huge amount about the actual report writing, and since it's a trainign session you don't get a real store experience. If you can get the training done and feel you way through a few reports they're really worth it. It's a bit lengthy, but they pay really well and are pretty flexible..

I have to admire this company for the effort they put into training their folks. They really take things seriously. The initial training was a bit of a drive for me, but I have to say, more than three years later and many shops, it was worth the investment in time and gas.

I remember applying and receiving notice of the training through an independent scheduling company months later. Be patient.

Yes, the report is challenging. There is no doubt about it. But the food is typically fresh and the compensation is fair.

While certainly expensive and unlikely, I would love for them to offer a refresher course for shoppers. I think the results would be worth it.

The training was very helpful to me. I would've been lost had I not received the training as I had no idea what the line was comprised of nor the nomenclature that is used. I would not have known how to identify a fax line, observe the visible sink where employees wash hands, what the guacamole and chips should taste look like, etc. My scheduler is a doll and the editor provides great feedback and help with every report I write. Yes, my family loves the restaurant and unless I'm at work, kids get to go with me. I personally love the vegetarian items as does one of my daughters.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/13/2015 01:07AM by Madetoshop.

You are not supposed to mention the client's name...again

This particular company only shops this client. I think it's actually okay to name them both and not violate your ICA.

They used to have another one, but apparenty the other company decided they didn't need mystery shops anymore. Shame, because the food was really good. I hope they get the new Asian Food Place. I got to try it recently and it was a nice change of pace.

Long after I signed up, I received a mass email about the training session. There are locations within walking distance of where I live and work. After replying I was told they were looking for a shopper to do x and y locations, which were between five and fifteen miles away from me. Apparently you are assigned specific locations to do over and over again. It's not like you can be quick and get the ones near you. Since I had read the reports were somewhat difficult, I decided it wasn't worth it to me. I wish I could have gotten the ones nearby.

Roxie,
They do not mean that you would only do those two locations, as you will need to be rotated through the closer ones as well. Once you are trained, you can go to a checklist off all of their locations and check all that you would accept. You will then get a variety of assignments, depending on how many per month you want or are available. No one gets a steady diet of the same shops!

And to add to what wales said, if you ever travel you can almost always email the scheduler and get worked into the rotation for the area that you're travelling to. Provided you can let them know before shops are assigned at the beginning of the month.

Also, if you are flying, you stand a good chance of snagging one of their airport locations, which they have trouble filling.

MelNel525, while it may not violate the ICA in this case, it is a violation of the forum's rules which appear directly below the posting window, to wit:

"Posting Guidelines: Be honest. Add a positive contribution to the community. You are responsible for all the content of your post. DO NOT REVEAL THE CLIENTS OF MYSTERY SHOPPING COMPANIES (emphasis added). We're in this together. And most importantly: Have fun!"

@MelNel525 wrote:

This particular company only shops this client. I think it's actually okay to name them both and not violate your ICA.

@walesmaven wrote:

Also, if you are flying, you stand a good chance of snagging one of their airport locations, which they have trouble filling.

Oh my. Didn't think about that one.

Gotcha, James. Thanks for the information!