How to get offered ACL restaurant shops?

The shops that are emailed to me and visible when I log in are ones that I am not interested in. I have performed 2 for them. Every now and then they email me a restaurant one that I would like to do but usually someone else gets assigned it. Do I need to keep doing the undesirable ones to build a history? Semi new to this still, thanks!

4 state area - WV, MD, VA and PA

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If assigned to someone else, you can request a waiting list for the next time it comes open. Many of ACL restaurants have a 4+ month rotation.

There is no explanation that we can provide. Similar to Coyle, just apply and wait. I do not believe that they are waiting for us to prove ourselves. Bare is also the same way. No way for us to know if a scheduler has "pet" shoppers or uses some type of system to spread the wealth.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

As you're starting out, building your record with any MSC is essential. The shops you want are most likely highly desirable for other shoppers as well. Competition may be fierce in your area. By the time you receive an email for a location you like, it has probably already been taken by a shopper who beat you to it. Keep a watchful eye on their job board, and apply. Their site indicates that May shops will be released soon. Be ready!

I think with ACL, you just need to answer faster.

If you can see the shop you will most likely get it. If you can not see the shop and you get an email it's most likely that the shop is rated above your rating level but they are having problems getting it scheduled. So yes, someone else replied quicker or had a higher rating or is someone the scheduler was more familiar with. Just do 3-4 shops, do them incredibly well, and make absolutely no mistakes. You will begin to see some of those shops on the board and be able to get them.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Thanks everyone!!

4 state area - WV, MD, VA and PA

@bgriffin wrote:

If you can see the shop you will most likely get it. If you can not see the shop and you get an email it's most likely that the shop is rated above your rating level but they are having problems getting it scheduled. So yes, someone else replied quicker or had a higher rating or is someone the scheduler was more familiar with. Just do 3-4 shops, do them incredibly well, and make absolutely no mistakes. You will begin to see some of those shops on the board and be able to get them.

I will trust your experience in this matter. I may not have analyzed things between when I signed up and what I see now.

I have observed that with ACL it pays to understand their listing cycle and check for the new listings proactively. Several of the most popular clients are snatched up well before any general email alerts go out. I have seen the shops as available when I time things right.

Unlike several MSCs, ACL is very good at assigning shops quickly then moving them to the assigned status.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

When shops are assigned but not yet completed you can still view them. If you check on the last day of the month you can see every shop available to you for next month, assigned or not, except for the odd clients that have different shopping periods.

It's a good way to judge your rating. I do it every month and I check multiple states.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I have shopped with ACL for many years, so there's a chance I have this wrong. I think if you have only done two shops with them, many of the better shops aren't even visible to you. If I'm wrong about that, then they will need you to request them and then someone else with the ability to self assign them can take them. I am not sure how many shops I performed before I received the email which stated I could self- assign up to two shops per month. Then it was four. I've had up to six in my assigned events I believe at one time, but have to request anything over the fourth one I self assigned. I think you can have six assigned to you at once but once one has been submitted and accepted, they can give you more. So long story short, there is definitely a tiered system within ACL to get the dining shops you want. And chances are if you click the ones that come in the email, others are able to self assign it quickly eliminating the option for you to request it. Even when a request has been sent, others can still self assign the assignment in the time you are awaiting a response.

Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do

Great explanation, thanks! Yes, it seemed odd that the restaurant ones that they would email me about weren't visible when I would immediately log in. Guess I have to do more of the million photo yogurt ones!

4 state area - WV, MD, VA and PA

A lot of it probably depends on your area and how many shoppers are in your are close by because I have never seen any yogurt shops for them, but I also have no trouble getting the restaurant assignments I want. Actually, a lot of the times, it would seem like they have to work really hard to get them all filled. Sometimes I see assignments I'm interested in with bonuses added to them, but for whatever reason, the timing doesn't work out or I've shopped that location recently. I will say that the more shops I have done for them, the more I see. For example I had no idea they did hotel shops, but I've been getting e-mails for those as well as shops in other genres.

There must not be many ACL shoppers in my area because the board is always full!

Shortly after I signed up with them, I noticed they were posting on Facebook local job sites to sign up as a mystery shopper. They are the only company I have seen recruiting shoppers like that in my area. Must have had a good response, darn!

4 state area - WV, MD, VA and PA

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