Old but new topic Intelli
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to be fair, all their pay is an insult to all shoppers.
I have accepted a few of their last minute shops for decent bonuses. Only you gotta watch for these last minutes shop before deadline! If the pay was reasonable they would have their shops completed early.
Dr. Seuss: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind
They offer decent bonuses at the end of the month. I got a car shop at the end of November for $70 after a $50 bonus. The base price is definitely too low, though.
What I don't understand is why, after all this time, has the price not gone up on those hotel audits? The restrictions keep getting looser (no more income requirements), but the payout hasn't moved.
I do feel bad for the poor schedulers that have to push those shops without any budget to make the sale. Same goes for the schedulers that have to push the "fun any easy" home decor shops that have no fee and are anything but.
What I don't understand is why, after all this time, has the price not gone up on those hotel audits? The restrictions keep getting looser (no more income requirements), but the payout hasn't moved.
I do feel bad for the poor schedulers that have to push those shops without any budget to make the sale. Same goes for the schedulers that have to push the "fun any easy" home decor shops that have no fee and are anything but.
I think the real issue is we should all be saying we will never stay at this hotel chain- they are the ones who need to pay up for work.
@seattleshop425 wrote:
I think the real issue is we should all be saying we will never stay at this hotel chain- they are the ones who need to pay up for work.
Completely unfair because this actually looks like a competitor that is trying to get info on the chain in question. I really believe, based on the info desired and what is not desired that this is Chain XYZ wanting info on Chain ABC.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2016 03:53PM by tcurione.
@tcurione how does the letter of authorization work then from the hotel where pictures are being taken?
The problem with boycotting the client because of the MSC's low fees, we don't know what the client is paying. Intellishop bought another MSC and cut the already low fees. Do you really think they lowered fees to pass the savings along to the client or to use the money to help defray the purchase of the MSC?
Think about this one. Most MSCs pay the full fee for closed locations. Meanwhile a couple cut our fees drastically. $3 ring a bell? I was on my first route for another company and came across a closed location. Closed locations were not covered in their guidelines. I asked the scheduler what would happen with the fee. Her response was I would be paid in full because they billed the client for the full amount. My guess is the same companies who reduce the fee to us, charge the client the same regardless. Otherwise doesn't it seem reduced fees would be the rule rather than the exception?
Think about this one. Most MSCs pay the full fee for closed locations. Meanwhile a couple cut our fees drastically. $3 ring a bell? I was on my first route for another company and came across a closed location. Closed locations were not covered in their guidelines. I asked the scheduler what would happen with the fee. Her response was I would be paid in full because they billed the client for the full amount. My guess is the same companies who reduce the fee to us, charge the client the same regardless. Otherwise doesn't it seem reduced fees would be the rule rather than the exception?
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
The one I saw 2 days ago still has the $50,000 income requirement.@meghan9262 wrote:
They offer decent bonuses at the end of the month. I got a car shop at the end of November for $70 after a $50 bonus. The base price is definitely too low, though.
What I don't understand is why, after all this time, has the price not gone up on those hotel audits? The restrictions keep getting looser (no more income requirements), but the payout hasn't moved.
I do feel bad for the poor schedulers that have to push those shops without any budget to make the sale. Same goes for the schedulers that have to push the "fun any easy" home decor shops that have no fee and are anything but.
@seattleshop425 wrote:
@tcurione how does the letter of authorization work then from the hotel where pictures are being taken?
I haven't done the shop, have only read the requirements. Therefore, I have not viewed the LOA. What I do know is that the brand's parent company has been making a concerted effort over the last 5-10 years to improve the brand recognition of the particular hotel in question so it could be viewed along the lines of other top brands of competing chains. It would be very logical for a competitor to want to see what has been done up close. Given that this audit is all about amenities and doesn't give a darn in any way about guest service provided by the individual locations, makes me very suspicious that the actual client here isn't who we think it is.
Now, if the client is who we think it is, consider how many properties they have in the US, and even throughout the world. Each one is involved in the audit. Then consider the MSC and its reputation for pricing shops. Boycotting the hotel brand in response makes no sense.
It's not logical for an announced audit to be a competitor shop.
The hotel audit sounds no different than any other branding audit being conducted by a corporate entity. Just like with gas stations, if corporate doesn't like the way the brand is being represented they can probably debrand the hotel. In the case of all the recent renovations, hotels obviously have specifications and probably have deadlines to complete the renovations. Who knows, the hotel may be subject to a financial penalty from corporate.
The hotel audit sounds no different than any other branding audit being conducted by a corporate entity. Just like with gas stations, if corporate doesn't like the way the brand is being represented they can probably debrand the hotel. In the case of all the recent renovations, hotels obviously have specifications and probably have deadlines to complete the renovations. Who knows, the hotel may be subject to a financial penalty from corporate.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@LisaSTL wrote:
It's not logical for an announced audit to be a competitor shop.
The hotel audit sounds no different than any other branding audit being conducted by a corporate entity. Just like with gas stations, if corporate doesn't like the way the brand is being represented they can probably debrand the hotel. In the case of all the recent renovations, hotels obviously have specifications and probably have deadlines to complete the renovations. Who knows, the hotel may be subject to a financial penalty from corporate.
I agree. What were you all thinking?!
@LisaSTL wrote:
It's not logical for an announced audit to be a competitor shop.
The hotel audit sounds no different than any other branding audit being conducted by a corporate entity. Just like with gas stations, if corporate doesn't like the way the brand is being represented they can probably debrand the hotel. In the case of all the recent renovations, hotels obviously have specifications and probably have deadlines to complete the renovations. Who knows, the hotel may be subject to a financial penalty from corporate.
That's also a very good possibility! Though I do think this shop, if a competitor wanted it would have to be a revealed audit, otherwise, how else will the shopper get in the room (without paying for the overnight).
You have to explain this one to me. What motivation does any business owner have to spend their time and allow an auditor to take photos on behalf of a competitor?
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Marketing for their own properties in each area. The competitor gets valuable information about what a XYZ brand hotel is doing/offering in their area, and can therefore relay the information to the sales department at each of their own properties within the market. Those sales departments then can use the information to their benefit when booking groups/clients as to why they are better then the local XYZ brand. An individual XYZ property is not going to allow a person representing ABC brand in their hotel to take all these photos, so ABC has to make it appear as though the auditor is from XYZ.
Lisa, you may be exactly right as well. My stance is simply that someone undertaking a "boycott" of XYZ due to this is unfair.
Lisa, you may be exactly right as well. My stance is simply that someone undertaking a "boycott" of XYZ due to this is unfair.
The problem with your scenario is it would entail forgery and fraud. No reputable MSC would ever participate in such a scheme.
I believe the suggestion to boycott was based on the fees offered by the MSC. Since clients don't determine our fees, it would be akin to blaming the server at a restaurant because the chef overcooked the steak. .
I believe the suggestion to boycott was based on the fees offered by the MSC. Since clients don't determine our fees, it would be akin to blaming the server at a restaurant because the chef overcooked the steak. .
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@LisaSTL- How do clients not determine our -(Mystery Shopping organization) fees? If the hotel brand gives a mystery shopping company $100 for location to have it audited, that MSO can give more to the shopper then the hotel saying we want it done as cheap as possible and say will only give you $35 per location- thus leaving $20 for the shopper and $15 for the MSO?
I didn't say a client was not involved in determining how much they want to pay for a mystery shopping program in total. I don't believe they are involved with each line item of the program with the possible exception of the shopper reimbursement since no restaurant is going to consider reimbursing a shopper enough to bring a dozen guests. There are many more factors than just the shopper fee to consider. Bids for programs will include editing, scheduling and IT along with all the other miscellaneous business expenses and some profit for the mystery shopping company.
Using my favorite example of the plumbing company, does any you have hired give you a breakdown of charges beyond labor, materials and a trip charge. Nowhere in the estimate do they break it down further to tell you how much of the labor/trip charge goes to salaries, equipment, gas, rent, etc., etc.
Using my favorite example of the plumbing company, does any you have hired give you a breakdown of charges beyond labor, materials and a trip charge. Nowhere in the estimate do they break it down further to tell you how much of the labor/trip charge goes to salaries, equipment, gas, rent, etc., etc.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@SunnyDays2 wrote:
The one I saw 2 days ago still has the $50,000 income requirement.
Ah, I stand corrected. They had removed the requirement from the emails that they had sent me, but I admit that I didn't look at them any further because I am still not interested in the shop at the fee offered.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2016 08:28PM by meghan9262.
Most of the hotel de-branding audits I have done involve a hotel (say Best Western-example) that has sold the hotel to another company (say XYZ hotels) and my job is to make sure there are no Best Western indoor/outdoor signage, posters, ash trays, or Logos on the new hotel property. 
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