I was sent NUMEROUS emails to complete shops for (a hotel chain) in Florida, AFTER being sent application emails by COYLE, to apply. I applied on the COYLE link and the shop sat there for two weeks. I sent three emails asking for the status of my application. No one replied. Today, I found an old email sent to my daughter trying to get her to sign up with COYLE.....I wrote to the person (Tami) asking for the status of my two week application? This was her reply: " You have to complete five restaurant shops and have an above average of 85% PLUS to be assigned a Hotel Shop." She then proceeded to tell me I did not have that (I worked for them like three years ago!) She said my last score was 85% (three years ago?) I asked why she (Tami) sent me the shop to apply for in the first place if I am not good enough for COYLE? I asked why the website accepted my application, without blocking it, if I was not good enough for COYLE? I asked why there is no disclosure on the COYLE sight to let shoppers know the COYLE criteria? None which was answered by Tami . So shoppers beware. It appears they may hire you IF THEY HAVE NO ONE ELSE. Or, maybe it is a PHISHING request? Not sure. But after two weeks of waiting, and receiving such a snobby answer today, I no longer will work for COYLE due to their unprofessionalism and non disclosure. (a hotel chain) should find another Mystery Company to use, in my opinion!

(Mod note: Please do not link a MSC with its clients. The violates the Forum rules and probably also breaches your ICA. Your post has been moved as "Kudos, Compliments and Shout-outs" is intended for positive comments only.)

Most companies want to fill each of their assignments with the best shopper they can find. You might not be the best choice for any MSC. While I realize you are annoyed because Coyle has let you know your track record is not good enough for a plum assignment that you wanted, you have revealed the name of one of their clients. That's a violation of the Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA) you signed with them and it violates our forum's guidelines.

Really? Well I for one do not accept being abused by a MS. You need to rephrase forum (as a one way decision by you is not a forum, it is a dictatorship.) Definition of "Forum"
1.
a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
"it will be a forum for consumers to exchange their views on medical research"


synonyms: meeting, assembly, gathering, rally, conference, seminar, convention, symposium, colloquium, caucus; More
informalget-together;

formalcolloquy


"forums were held for staff to air grievances"


•setting, place, scene, context, stage, framework, backdrop;
medium, means, apparatus, auspices


"a forum for discussion" •an Internet site where users can post comments about a particular issue or topic and reply to other users' postings; a message board..



2. North American
a court or tribunal.

You are misunderstanding me, jackieblueradio. The posting guidelines of our forum, written by the forum's owner, state: "Do not reveal the clients of mystery shopping companies."

It's okay, though. Our hardworking moderator has removed the client name from your post.

Someone is out of touch with reality

I'm out of touch with reality because I respect myself? Because I appreciate disclosure and do not accept rudeness??? "Someone" it appears has very low self esteem or (perhaps) is not a shopper but works for one of the companies I am not allowed to mention! .

feeling entitled much? if that response is your definition of abuse, i truly feel sorry for you.

@jackieblueradio wrote:

I was sent NUMEROUS emails to complete shops for (a hotel chain) in Florida, AFTER being sent application emails by COYLE, to apply. But after two weeks of waiting, and receiving such a snobby answer today, I no longer will work for COYLE due to their unprofessionalism and non disclosure. (a hotel chain) should find another Mystery Company to use, in my opinion!

(Mod note: Please do not link a MSC with its clients. The violates the Forum rules and probably also breaches your ICA. Your post has been moved as "Kudos, Compliments and Shout-outs" is intended for positive comments only.)

You got the answer today and you are furious. You want to slap somebody around. The scheduler is not available to slap so you settled for an angry post revealing Coyle's clients on an internet forum and making irrelevant comments about disclosure. We get it and you are off base. Go somewhere and cool off before posting again. You are abusing other forum members because they didn't jump in to agree that you are right. Your anger is making you irrational and you are making yourself look foolish.

I never said the word "abuse." Nor did I state I was abused. I never said I was entitled. I simple stated facts, and why I would not work for a company due to "rudeness", "disrespectful" and being "unprofessional." Please remain on point. There maybe others who share what I say rather than your word twisting, which I did not say.

Fine....sorry I thought this was a forum for a two way discussion. I WILL go elsewhere. Good bye.

Forums are a great place for discussion, but discussion requires listening by both sides and you are not listening to Coyle or to shoppers but rather condemning any and all. Best wishes for your future ventures.

abused?

@jackieblueradio wrote:

Really? Well I for one do not accept being abused by a MS. You need to rephrase forum (as a one way decision by you is not a forum, it is a dictatorship.) Definition of "Forum"
1.
a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.
"it will be a forum for consumers to exchange their views on medical research"


synonyms: meeting, assembly, gathering, rally, conference, seminar, convention, symposium, colloquium, caucus; More
informalget-together;

formalcolloquy


"forums were held for staff to air grievances"


•setting, place, scene, context, stage, framework, backdrop;
medium, means, apparatus, auspices


"a forum for discussion" •an Internet site where users can post comments about a particular issue or topic and reply to other users' postings; a message board..



2. North American
a court or tribunal.

As much as the OP is clearly explosive and self-entitled, I can't really disagree with her sentiment. If Coyle would stop sending me jobs that I'm not "qualified" for and allowing me to go through the application process for something they have no intention of considering me for, I would despise them a whole lot less.
She's right, it should absolutely be disclosed before you apply for jobs that you must complete 5 restaurants over 85% in order to end apply.

This is the reason I will never work for Coyle. They're far too self-righteous. If I take a job and blow it, just assign it to someone else and don't pay me, JUST LIKE you would do if I blow one of the 5 restaurants you're requiring me to do first.

Lost in this exchange is the a point that is worth note:

As a fairly new shopper, I have a number of MSP's with whom I have not yet worked. Similar to what the OP stated above, I'll get emails directed to me stating, essentially, "Hi Matt. We have an assignment perfect for YOU! Please reply to this message (or apply online) and so you can get started on this urgent assignment." I will then apply and hear.. nothing.

I understand, now, that these are not really personal invites. However, as a very new shopper, I did not. I would apply for the assignment and keep the block of time unscheduled so that I could do this shop that was "perfect for me." I did feel a little burned/slighted as I missed out on other shops while keeping the time reserved.

Now, if I want the assignment, I'l apply. Then, if I don't hear anything for a day or two, will follow up with a nice email that says (in much more gentle terms), "I'd like to do the shop, but need to know. Either give it to me now, or I'll drop the request."

There are many MSCs that allow shoppers to apply for jobs that they do not qualify for. We see posts here on a regular basis by shoppers wondering why, after they applied for an opportunity, the MSC continues to send emails out about it as their request sits there unaddressed. I've emailed schedulers about jobs like this. On rare occasions they respond that I do not qualify and on rarer occasions will still assign the opportunity to me; but not lift the general restriction leaving me still not qualified for future assignments.

Think about how many providers have a self-assign tag on an opportunity, only to end up with a message that it can not be assigned. Yet they send out email after email with links to the assignment.

I would classify the situation that the OP is describing as an opportunity for Special Consideration. Complaining that such opportunities exist, regardless of our fully understanding how they are or are not disclosed, is not a dishonest action. It costs us nothing to apply for opportunities. None of us are owed an assignment just because we apply. There are many opportunities we all qualify for that for one reason or another we were not assigned.

Thank you all for your replies. In as much as I did not feel entitled for the job. I hadn't worked for Coyle in a long time, I did expect a reply to my three emails, asking if there was a problem OR if someone else had the job already. Not one of my three emails was responded too. I only found the scheduler, because she had emailed my daughter to sign up for the company. When I emailed the scheduler, I was informed of their 85% plus criteria, plus five restaurants. I did not post here to have people take sides. I posted so others would understand why, if they applied, they were not being hired. I believe in full disclosure, so I posted here. This really should end here, as I did not mean to do anything but keep shoppers informed. Thank you!

Welcome to the world of Msing.....take it or leave it.

@jackieblueradio wrote:

I believe in full disclosure, so I posted here. This really should end here, as I did not mean to do anything but keep shoppers informed. Thank you!

Well...I have to say that represents a more reserved attitude that you originally started with, but in the interest of full disclosure, you don't appear to be redacting you clearly inflammatory post title, offering any apology for neglecting the forum guidelines or breaking your ICA.

Also, guidelines for applying for shops are posted in the Coyle Resource Center:

[coyleapps.com]

If you had read that, it may have helped to reduce your confusion when you were not automatically assigned the hotel you requested after not working for the MSC for years.

In the true interest of keeping shoppers informed, I have a flawless track record and hundreds of hotels under my belt with Coyle. My applications still sit for weeks. Tami has a difficult and often thankless job to do. There are many thousands of shoppers who all want assignments and she has to balance the requests with the editorial load, due dates, client blackout dates, and still somehow take the time to respond to all the self-entitiled shoppers who glean her email and bug her for assignments.

An email stating that you'd like the assignment and asking if there are any other shops you can help with in order to prove yourself would have been more appropriate. The best way to get respect, is to give respect!

Also, keep in mind that the window on many of these hotels is MONTHS. You could easily apply for a hotel in September, take on 5 other simple assignments and score 90% on them before then, and then still get the hotel shop you asked for.

Steve's post tells it all. I just applied for a Timeshare that starts in Sept. I haven't heard if I got it, it's been 10 days now, and I'll wait it out. Maybe if they find someone closer and don't have to pay travel expenses,
I won't get it, should I blame them. I recommend if you want to continue shopping and getting better jobs, be mature and stop crying, it's not all about you. I found your original post offense.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2016 03:36PM by Irene_L.A..

The OP should know that Steve and I most definitely do not work for the same entity and never have. Also, we probably disagree somewhat more often than we agree. However, in this case his answer is spot on.

Interestingly enough, when I registered with Coyle years ago I knew it was futile because of their 5 restaurant requirement since they never have had restaurants within 100 miles of me. I too get the emails about the hotel and spa shops in my area and just delete them because without restaurants anywhere near, they are as useless to me as shops requiring an 18-20 year old or a male.

@walesmaven wrote:

Also, we probably disagree somewhat more often than we agree.

Well, I think that within the confines of social media, people tend to post more often when they disagree. We are probably in agreement more often than not, even if our posts don't represent it.

That said...disagreeing with you comment doesn't go very far in proving my point

I do understand how Coyle could get people mad. I wish they just sent out an email, like other MSCs do, when you don't get the shop you applied for. Also, I learned by reading the forums that Coyle scores the shops. I've done 10 shops for them so far, and I only received one scoring for my latest shop. I emailed support and they told me to look in my spam, which I do every day, but never received anything.
I never heard about the requirements of 5 restaurants with a minimum of 85%. While it does make sense that the MSC would want to make sure the shopper is reliable, I wonder why they don't disclose this information when you sign up or in their resource center. It would make everything so much easier.

The "5 Restaurant shops with 85% average score" might not be a universal criteria for all hotel shops. The resource center link that @SteveSoCal posted above, does say that you need to complete a few phone and restaurant shops before being considered for hotels.

Coyle is certainly not the only one who doesn't send an email when you don't get assigned to an applied shop. I wish they all sent an email, but my guess is that they want to hold the applications of the shoppers not selected in case there's an issue with their first choice shopper's report. It's not ideal for us, but I can see why they do it.

While it has been many years since I registered with them, at that time it was fully disclosed that a number of restaurants needed to be competently completed before more complicated shops were allowed. Since I never had restaurants near me I have neither followed nor remembered exact numbers or scores, though I certainly did see the requirement when I registered and quite frankly fully agree with it. I had been successfully doing both domestic and foreign upscale hotels and resorts for Freeman, but understand that each company wants experience with their own progression of shops.

If a shopper loses $100-$200 for a dinner shop they screwed up or were incapable of performing up to client standards, it is an unfortunate circumstance but at least the shopper got a hopefully nice dinner so that it was not a complete loss when the shop was rejected. If that same shopper had driven 200 miles to a place they didn't really need to be and laid out $800 for a hotel and the shop was rejected because they were unable to complete it to client standards, that would be truly painful and lead to lots of outbursts such as the OP's here or worse. To protect themselves and to protect shoppers, it does make sense to have minimal criteria for certain types of shops. I may be successful with fine dining and still be successful with Fast Casual, but being successful with Fast Casual does not mean I will be successful with fine dining.

You can log into Shopmetrics anytime you want and see the status off all your applications.

If the selected shopper for an assignment cancels or the shop gets reposted, it will return to your applications, with your request intact.

I applied for 2 ( one night) hotel shops and never heard anything. When I last looked, my apps were deleted. I also applied for a restaurant and was given the restaurant at the end of the month. When I wrote the scheduler, I asked about my apps for the hotels and she said I need to do restaurants first. She also told me I need to read the requirements very thoroughly because "Since this is your first evaluation for our clients, I would suggest you carefully review the guidelines. I also suggest that you log into the evaluator resource center online and carefully review the available sample reports. Our clients require a good deal of narrative that evaluators are not often accustomed to, and we want to be sure you prepare so your first evaluation is a success"

I wrote back and gave her all my experience with other MSC regarding the restaurants and hotels I've done and she said " I'd love to give u a hotel, are there any restaurants you can do asap so we can assign the hotels'. Unfortunately, there are not.

So, I'm schlepping 35 miles each way to do this restaurant so I can at least " get in" with Coyle. Now I'm not so sure I want to.

@calicakes wrote:

So, I'm schlepping 35 miles each way to do this restaurant so I can at least " get in" with Coyle. Now I'm not so sure I want to.

What is it that you're not sure of? This is how most evaluators start out with Coyle. You feel that being asked to prove yourself via a restaurant evaluation is inappropriate?

Your experience with other MSC is not particularly relevant, since Coyle has it's own specific reporting style. The advice the scheduler gave you is sound.

When I started out, Coyle had only 1 restaurant in Los Angeles and I had to fly to another state to get enough restaurant experience in order to qualify for a hotel. I would have been happy to drive 35 miles instead!

Just one disagreement with a post here, and I LIKE everything most 'defenders' of Coyle have to say...(earning one's keep, probationary status, baby steps, etc.)..Here's the rub: Coyle (and other MSCs) market themselves by writing emails to us (often repeatedly) that are aimed at ENTICING us to apply for certain shops, certain VERY specific shops, and they REALLY are just teasing the shoppers out there phishing for MAYBE the right shopper for the right hotel. It's clearly not ethical marketing, and any first-year grad student in business school would say that. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't happen, and unethical marketing, in general, happens all the time...just turn on the TV or Radio!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2016 01:18AM by winemaker.

I know for a fact that Coyle has the ability to send out emails to targeted groups (high scoring shoppers in a particular area) and often does. If you receive an email from them, you are probably the intended audience.

That said, their group of shoppers has grown, so you have to be competitive if you want the good assignments. How is unethical to appeal to a large pool of workers and then choose the best candidate? Isn't that the nature of all job postings?