A Closer Look Mystery Dining
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I guess they make money if the shop is not reimbursement only and the reimbursement fully covers the required purchase. For shops with no fee, like yours, most shoppers consider them a barter for a date night or to try a new restaurant. Since reimbursements are not taxable, they can also be used to offset entertainment costs.
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.
A Closer Look generally only provides reimbursement and no shopper payment but they have very good clients which can make it worth it if you're a foodie (Like me!) 
Most shops, for other MSCs, have a fee for the shopper.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Different strokes for different folks.
Regardless of what you are to purchase:
Reimbursement only reimburses up too the stated reimbursement. Fiat fee shops may, or may not, cover minimal costs but otherwise pays the stated fee. Reimbursement with fee is typically designed to cover the minimal required expenses; never assume they will.
Regardless of what you are to purchase:
Reimbursement only reimburses up too the stated reimbursement. Fiat fee shops may, or may not, cover minimal costs but otherwise pays the stated fee. Reimbursement with fee is typically designed to cover the minimal required expenses; never assume they will.
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 you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
I would prefer to get a fee and reimbursement but if you are thinking about spending your hard earned money to go out to eat anyway just because you have chosen to eat out that meal I would look at it this way... As a mystery shop you are exchanging your time and effort required to do the report rather than your post tax earnings from another job plus you might even be able to deduct the mileage to go out to dinner. If you live in a high tax state and earn enough to pay taxes that could make a significant difference in what the meal is actually costing you.
I have found that the reimbursement limit for shops at nice restaurants rarely cover the full cost of the meals and gratuity. My general rule is "no fee, no shop". However, as trent6543 notes above, A Closer Look does have some very good clients. My general practice is to find the restaurant's menu online and estimate how much the no-fee shop will cost me.
No fee, no shop.
Some here shop to make money, some shop to supplement the lifestyle they WANT to live with the lifestyle they can actually afford.... I'm in the middle but more towards living the lifestyle I want than earning a living. I don't support myself (my husband is the breadwinner, I 'stay at home'). I will gladly exchange an hour of my time typing for a $175 meal out in the city with my husband. Some people could make better use of that hour typing by working their regular job, or better paying shops but I think my time is well spent.
I do fine dining shops with a small fee and honestly the A-Closer-Look ones are so much shorter/easier that I think the other ones should pay more than they do, lol. But with that said my husband and I like upscale restaurants and trying new ones so I do a variety for a few different companies.
No matter which company you shop for you are never going to pay your mortgage by doing fine dining shops.
I do fine dining shops with a small fee and honestly the A-Closer-Look ones are so much shorter/easier that I think the other ones should pay more than they do, lol. But with that said my husband and I like upscale restaurants and trying new ones so I do a variety for a few different companies.
No matter which company you shop for you are never going to pay your mortgage by doing fine dining shops.
Taking shops with NO fees will weaken your position that you do mystery shopping for a profit. If you're not in it for the profit, it's a hobby and your losses aren't deductible at all.
Consult your own tax advisor to verify that what I'm saying is true.
Consult your own tax advisor to verify that what I'm saying is true.
The restaurants I do for ACL are ones that we would go anyways. The fact that I am being reimbursed $100-$200 for a couple hours of work is perfectly fine by me. While I will not make money and sometimes will spend more than my reimbursement max on the shops, I end up saving money which keeps money in my pocket. Oh yeah, plus I get miles on my credit card. LOL
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**Throw me to the wolves and I'll come back leading the pack!**
**Throw me to the wolves and I'll come back leading the pack!**
A Closer Look sometimes has a bonus along with reimbursement.
I have taken one, and only one, reimbursement only shop. That was with A-C-L and it was entirely to have my first shop done with them. To prime the system, so to speak. Likewise, I did one and only one non-bonused shop with Maritz for the same reason. I think that's the best approach.
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