Merc overnight hotel stay
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I do them with no problems and find that the hotels and their restaurants are nice enough for me to feel that the good dinner and breakfast, rewards points and relaxation are worth the report and more. I can also use them to anchor a 2 day route, which gives me more scope for picking up well paid shops. With hotel shops, you may take a different view if you think of them as ways to increase your geographic range. Even just staying at a hotel 35 miles from home, that makes it easy for me to pick up $40 in that city just before checking in and another $40 just after checking out, with no extra time or fuel expended. Actually the one I am doing 4 miles from home this week, has made it very convenient to pick up 4 $20 shops within 2 block of that hotel. Since those shops can be done/reported anytime I have the flexibility that I need to do their reports after I complete the hotel report.
btw, with the hotel shops, I find it quite easy to check out having completed the entire survey except for the check-out interaction. And, I still have plenty of time to put my feet up and read a good book at the hotel.
btw, with the hotel shops, I find it quite easy to check out having completed the entire survey except for the check-out interaction. And, I still have plenty of time to put my feet up and read a good book at the hotel.
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.
I would check online reviews to see if that hotel is worth shopping. I am still haunted by a shop in Myrtle Beach, SC in 2004. I enjoyed the beach, but slept in my car. I hate dirt, hair and bugs.
MSPA Gold Certified 2003
Well, of course, I would check the Trip Advisor reviews of any hotel before accepting a shop!
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.
Thank you Wales, you gave me a good picture of the shop especially that you can get most of the report done during the stay. I am still not sure why so many re-shops!?
Yes, Easy, I agree; this chain has high standards so I wasn't concerned about cleanliness. I will check the reviews thou lol good advice
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2017 02:52PM by MikiNV.
Yes, Easy, I agree; this chain has high standards so I wasn't concerned about cleanliness. I will check the reviews thou lol good advice
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2017 02:52PM by MikiNV.
I believe the reshops are failures, not unaccepted shops.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
On the one hand, there may be reasons for re-shops other than shopper failure. For instance, if hotel staff are reported to have committed a major security or protocol breach, the client may ask for an additional shop (having accepted the original shop report) to see if there is a systemic issue at that location. I am just speculating, but that is one reason that, for instance, some cash integrity shops get repeated almost immediately after the first report of a problem of that nature.
On the other hand, it may be that inexperience shoppers missed key elements and the shops had to be repeated due to rejected reports.
Finally, weather/emergency or fully booked hotel issues may have scuttled planned shops and those shoppers could not accommodate the other available dates. Especially with higher priced hotels a lack of rooms that can be booked at a rate that fits the shop guideline for maximum reimbursement can often mean that the assigned shopper cannot go on any of the dates when room rates would be acceptable. This issue means that shoppers who can work in real time with the schedulers to hunt for a mutually acceptable date will have a much better chance of actually completing a shop.
On the other hand, it may be that inexperience shoppers missed key elements and the shops had to be repeated due to rejected reports.
Finally, weather/emergency or fully booked hotel issues may have scuttled planned shops and those shoppers could not accommodate the other available dates. Especially with higher priced hotels a lack of rooms that can be booked at a rate that fits the shop guideline for maximum reimbursement can often mean that the assigned shopper cannot go on any of the dates when room rates would be acceptable. This issue means that shoppers who can work in real time with the schedulers to hunt for a mutually acceptable date will have a much better chance of actually completing a shop.
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.
I do the one-night hotel shops without a fee all the time. Hubby and I like to get away and this is as close to "free" as I can get. I have been paid a fee to do a re-shop. I have been able to line up as many as three in one city so I'd check out of one, finish the report and check into the next, same thing and check into the next. It was fun but I definitely needed to have one report finished before checking in to the next one so I didn't get the data confused! Keep a list of things you must do - which pictures you'll take, whether you'll have to get a new room key or ask housekeeping to fix a maintenance problem or check the public restroom in the lobby or make sure safety rules are posted in the fitness center and swimming pool - and make sure you get all of those things done as soon as possible. Then you can relax and enjoy!
@walesmaven wrote:
On the one hand, there may be reasons for re-shops other than shopper failure.
That's what I was saying. The reshop is because the location failed, not because the shop was rejected.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Sorry, BG, I missed your point on first reading. We agree.
I have had some epic security failures by the client location and certainly hope that those were promptly re-shopped!
I have had some epic security failures by the client location and certainly hope that those were promptly re-shopped!
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.
Yes, the amount of "re-shops" threw me off but I see your point, I agree, it may be for all so many reasons. I didn't want to spend $500 for one night stay and food and not get reimbursed, that's what I was afraid of. I have done one night stays as well but this client wants you to do one observation in the morning, from 7 am - 9 am, I think. I thought - poor shoopers who like to sleep in (like moi) failed to wake up and the shop was rejected haha
Me too, as far as the sleeping in. I am up most of the night with Mom and so sleep in when she goes to granny day care. I am doing my first hotel shop in a few weeks and hope they don't have that kind of early things to do. If so, I hope I can do them in my jammies and go back for a few hours of sleep! Good luck with your shop!
The ones that I hate require you to leave the hotel after 11 PM and before 6 AM to see if the exterior door requires the use of a room key to re-enter during that time period. I like to be asleep around 10 PM and not up and about as early as 6 AM. Setting an alarm to do that observation is a PITA. But, it is a rare requirement, fortunately. And, I do not actually recall what client/MSC combo asks for that.
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.
Right, I at least like to be in my pajamas at 10 even if I am not asleep yet.
Thank you for clarifying that. The number of reshops was concerning.@bgriffin wrote:
I believe the reshops are failures, not unaccepted shops.
Are these worth doing for reimbursement only? If you were shy a few nights for the status bump and you stay in this line of hotels, then yes. (The scheduler bumps your status before the shop.) We've already made use of the perks on our own dime. I'd say the shops were maybe 40% as difficult as 5 Diamond. Not sure we're going to do another; have already been told that they're not paying travel.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Both of the locations I completed last month are being reshopped and if I remember right, both did pretty well
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
hmmmm. Perhaps the client wants them shopped on a day when different staff are scheduled? I suspect that clients may, at times, be inscrutable.
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.
I've applied for these many times and never have received one. I believe the guidelines state that if you're a platinum member you will be more likely to get the assignment.
I have three times been upgraded to Platinum for a year in order to do certain shops. So, that may not be much of a barrier if you already have any rewards membership.
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.
@walesmaven wrote:
Well, of course, I would check the Trip Advisor reviews of any hotel before accepting a shop!
Speaking of which, should/should you leave a TA review if you had a bad stay during a shop evaulation? I had a few annoying things during a recent stay - the first of which was a dirty wet washcloth from the previous guest when I arrived. Completely unacceptable and if I were paying to stay there, I definitely would've left a bad review to include that and the rest of the things that went wrong. I don't think I will leave a review but I'm wondering what others would do.
@walesmaven wrote:
I have three times been upgraded to Platinum for a year in order to do certain shops. So, that may not be much of a barrier if you already have any rewards membership.
How long did your upgrade last? I was upgraded well over a year ago and still have it.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I don't think you should leave a review regarding anything that happens during the shop. I am just surprised to hear that things like that happen since it is a high end hotel chain
This is the most important line. You were there as a representative of the MSC.
@hotsauce1 wrote:
if I were paying to stay there
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.
Every hotel and restaurant shop I have seen since 2005 has contained a stipulation that the shopper is barred from posting ANY on line comments or reviews of a property that they have shopped.
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.
I'm always amazed that people are willing to any shops for no fee...be it restaurants or hotels. I get that there are advantages to performing the shops, but there are also risks, and work involved.
The MSC is unquestionably getting paid, so the reality is that they are choosing to not share any of the fee with you, and there are very few hotels worth it in my book with so many other companies willing to pay a fee. I also find it ethically reprehensible. Low fees are offensive enough, but it will definitely cost you time and resources (i.e. money) to complete these assignments, and the logic remains that the only reason the shops are offered for no fee is that they can find shoppers willing to take them.
Yes, there is always the exception where a shopper can use that hotel for a stayover to pivot another shops from and save money, but the majority are simply people wiling to work for free. As someone who makes over 90% of his MS income from hotels, that ultimately hurts my bottom line!
The MSC is unquestionably getting paid, so the reality is that they are choosing to not share any of the fee with you, and there are very few hotels worth it in my book with so many other companies willing to pay a fee. I also find it ethically reprehensible. Low fees are offensive enough, but it will definitely cost you time and resources (i.e. money) to complete these assignments, and the logic remains that the only reason the shops are offered for no fee is that they can find shoppers willing to take them.
Yes, there is always the exception where a shopper can use that hotel for a stayover to pivot another shops from and save money, but the majority are simply people wiling to work for free. As someone who makes over 90% of his MS income from hotels, that ultimately hurts my bottom line!
I have one scheduled for 2 weeks from now. These shops are fairly easy. And it is not entirely without pay. It includes a room service order that does not require any reporting. The whole report might take 3 hours between the additional time for evaluations and the actual report. My average hotel cost runs about $125. Add $20 for dinner (I eat midrange and rarely drink, plus I try to eat light when trvaelling) and the shop is worth $145 to me. That's almost $60 an hour. On top of that I don't stay at enough of this brand to maintain Platinum status, but I do stay a decent amount. The upgraded status is worth a minimum of $250 a year. I normally only do 1 a year. So now that 3 hour shop is probably worth a good $400. That's decent money. Just because one person doesn't find value in the shop doesn't mean someone else doesn't.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Steve, you read my mind. I see that Coyle lowered their fees on some hotel shops....but this MSC once told me that the reimbursement is so great and awesome that the fee is not really, or shouldn't be expected needed (can't remember exact words) which I found slightly insulting. Even more insulting and annoying because I was interested in a hotel night in "developing country" where one night is $50, in a resort town that is located in not-such-a-safe area. I just happen to be familiar with the area...but was not going to drive for free...rant over haha but yes, I agree with you; just like you said: "Offensive"!
I do several a year since just within an hour of DC there are many high end properties that require a high rewards stats shopper. I like being able to have a very good room service dinner with no report. I bring my own wine for that. When I want to go to Manhattan to do very short, high fee valet parking video shops, I use such a hotel shop to anchor about $600 of those in 2 days, with a different hotel client. Then I pop over to the NJ side, stay a night or two with good friends and mop up some other video shops from there before either coming home or heading to CT for Thanksgiving or other holidays with family. That turns all but about 150 miles RT of the trip into a business trip. On NY/NJ trips my hotel shop time actually equates to about $90 per hour. On local shops, more like $50 to $60. Steve may sniff at that, but to advise that most shoppers should not do them seems a bit silly, IMHO. And, of course, I take some really nice vacations with all of those rewards points.
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.
Griff, I see your point and I agree. Ok thanks for mentioning room service not needing a report write up, that's cool, but room service is usually an "easier" part of a hotel stay. In my opinion, with your positive attitude and work ethics (I just got that impression, I don't know you 
you should ask for the fee or try higher paying jobs/stays
you should ask for the fee or try higher paying jobs/stays
Wales, good point. You are saying that we should look at the big picture and decide if it's worth it for us, as individuals. I have a child who loves to go swimming and being able to go the pool is the best thing ever. Just for that reason, one night stay, with no fee, even a long report, but a nice pool would be worth it.
I guess I should try one of these Merc shops. I've been signed up with them forever but haven't done more than few phone shops and one restaurant. Thank you for your comments.
I guess I should try one of these Merc shops. I've been signed up with them forever but haven't done more than few phone shops and one restaurant. Thank you for your comments.
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