No training in my area. Will they offer more? Or is this my only shot?

They do a training periodically whenever they need shoppers in an area. It depends on where you live. Right now they are shopping the TexMex Grill less because of its recent problems. If you are in an area where they need shoppers or they are building more restaurants, they will do a training soon. Otherwise, it may be longer. I am in an area where a lot of locations have been added, so I waited almost no time for a training. Others wait two years or longer.

There's no training in my area either. They sent an email asking which training I would like to attend... I'm not going 2-3 states away for $25 and the hopes of future work

They will offer more. The first time they offered me training, the location was 2.5 hours away so I declined. It took another year before they had training available at a closer location. I wouldn't drive 2-3 states away, but they are a great company.

I guess I will be waiting too. I am not driving 289 miles for training.

Same here, this is my second invite. Two of the three clients are not local too me. For the large chain client, the training is an hour away in North Central Baltimore, starting at 7:30 am. Hopefully they eventually schedule a training near me in an easier to get too location.

It took me about four months until I got an email invite. The session was cancelled; I think it was around the midst of the food safety issues. I got another invitation last month and attended a training session. It was a surprisingly pleasant experience. Bryant and Corey seemed like nice, genuine chaps. I'm looking forward to performing an assignment post narrative heavy report.

I was finally accepted as a shopper after I applied about 4 months ago. But the closest training is 2 states away. I can't do that. So do they keep emailing each approved shopper until they do the training, or do I have to reapply?

@Jay C wrote:

Right now they are shopping the TexMex Grill less because of its recent problems.

No. They shop that restaurant chain because they always have! They were founded for this client exclusively, and recently started expanding their shops.

Training has been in my area three times in the two years since I applied. If you frequent the restaurant, you can start observing the food items as you go through, and what kinds of things the crew members do. That will make the training less arduous. HTH

@LGRM wrote:

@Jay C wrote:

Right now they are shopping the TexMex Grill less because of its recent problems.

No. They shop that restaurant chain because they always have! They were founded for this client exclusively, and recently started expanding their shops.

Training has been in my area three times in the two years since I applied. If you frequent the restaurant, you can start observing the food items as you go through, and what kinds of things the crew members do. That will make the training less arduous. HTH

LGRM, either I worded my post badly or you misunderstood what I said. Maybe both.

The TexMex Grill is still shopped by the same company which has always had that client. Since the client's recent health issues, the client's business has been negatively impacted. Each location is now being shopped less frequently on a monthly basis. A recent communication to shoppers from the MSC included: "As you all know {redacted} has gone through some difficult times as of recent and this has impacted us at {MSC} as well as you, most notably the amount of shops available. "

There are fewer shops and in many areas, there are now enough shoppers. In other areas, shoppers are needed and there will be training to bring those shoppers on board. While training has taken place pretty often in the past, the number of trainings may be fewer because fewer shops are available.

On the bright side, this MSC does not have just one client. They have THREE. In addition to the TexMex Grill, there is one client that appears to be located only in the East/Washington DC area and the other is a new and upcoming burger chain located worldwide who is aggressively opening new restaurants all over.

When one door closes, another opens. Although there are fewer shops offered with the TexMex Grill, perhaps resulting in fewer training opportunities, there will be training opportunities for this MSC's other clients. This is a great MSC. Sign up and watch for training!