Merc overnight hotel stay
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Hi replying regarding Merc hotel shops. They are excellent. Im going to do my fourth one in November. It looks more complicated when you read what you have to do but its not. The hotels that they have are great and to me it was worth the time out with my husband. There is no pay but they even pay for one of the meals which you do not have to report. Two of the hotels that I did had a credit by the hotel so it also helped out since we were able to use it and we did not have to report on it,since its actually hotel credit that they give you to use and if you don't use you lose it. As far as the assignment do not be afraid. Once you get the hang of it you'll do the next and next. Hope this helps and enjoy.
Spent a couple nights last week at a big city downtown hotel, my dime, gold elite member. They put me in a room w/nice view on the 21st floor etc. and kept bugging me this week to fill out the survey. It was basically the same as any MS survey...except now I answer as if I am getting paid lol....I need to snap out of it. lol
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2017 12:57AM by BarefootBliss.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2017 12:57AM by BarefootBliss.
Steve, how would you say these compare to a one-night Coyle hotel shop in terms of the time and effort required?
@SteveSoCal wrote:
I'm not saying that the shops are without merit. I'm saying that the MSC takes advantage of the compensartion-in-kind aspect of the shop when they keep the entire fee for themselves. Not all MSCs function like that.
Elsewhere in this forum, many others (including me) have spoken up against unpaid dining shops being unfair, and lowered fees for other types of assignments being snatched up by newbies as being a detriment to the industry. Many have also argued that reimbursements shouldn't count as earnings. How is this situation any different?
I get it that the status is a nice reward and has built in value. So does a free meal on occasion, but performing the shop does in fact actually cost you time/money to do...even if it's a small amount. That goes against my principles.
I would advise anyone to reject a shop that doesn't pay on principle. I have seen that argument made by many forum members regarding other assignments. That fact that this one offers a reward that's valuable to a particular person doesn't make the principle any different. When shoppers agree to work for lowered or no fee, it ultimately hurts the industry. I don't think it's bad advice to give out.
As far as platinum status goes, I was a paid a fee and and travel expenses for assignments that garnered me status with that particular hotel client, as well as others. I also earned a much higher hourly rate if you want to factor in reimbursements. You can attain free meals and status without sacrificing the stability of the industry (as something that people can actually make money at) for your own personal gain....
MSF,
Steve can speak for himself, but the Merc hotel reports are a breeze. Coyle reports are a chore and a half! Even for the short stays at nice, but not super, hotels, they are long, long, long and complicated.
Steve can speak for himself, but the Merc hotel reports are a breeze. Coyle reports are a chore and a half! Even for the short stays at nice, but not super, hotels, they are long, long, long and complicated.
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 don't think that you can fairly put reports in a particular category of difficulty based solely on the MSC offering them.
Yes, Coyle may have some long and involved reports. They also have some simpler ones. I've also done Merc restaurants that were equal to Coyle in terms of workflow.
These particular hotel overnights may be on the easy side, but the Coyle brand standard audits are 2 night stays that offer a fee and two meals, and essentially require no narrative reporting. You also get drinks at the bar and travel expenses/spa visit at the right properties. It takes some reading to understand the components but they are about the easiest hotel reports I have ever seen once you get them down. You get more hotel points with all of the food and two nights at the property as well.
Now, the amount of time it takes or desirability of the assignments is something that will vary between evaluators, but the lack of a fee is something that remains constant. Some might prefer less work and no money. I don't mind putting in work to get paid for my time....
Yes, Coyle may have some long and involved reports. They also have some simpler ones. I've also done Merc restaurants that were equal to Coyle in terms of workflow.
These particular hotel overnights may be on the easy side, but the Coyle brand standard audits are 2 night stays that offer a fee and two meals, and essentially require no narrative reporting. You also get drinks at the bar and travel expenses/spa visit at the right properties. It takes some reading to understand the components but they are about the easiest hotel reports I have ever seen once you get them down. You get more hotel points with all of the food and two nights at the property as well.
Now, the amount of time it takes or desirability of the assignments is something that will vary between evaluators, but the lack of a fee is something that remains constant. Some might prefer less work and no money. I don't mind putting in work to get paid for my time....
"No narrative reporting" ?? - my experience has been the opposite - lots of narrative reporting. You are right that Coyle just takes getting used to- but that can be said for any mystery shop. The more you do the easier it gets, and the more free time you have to enjoy the city.
@nmary wrote:
my experience has been the opposite - lots of narrative reporting.
I was specifically referencing the brand standard audits.
Coyle is known for having extensive narrative in most of their evaluations, but the brand standard reviews have almost none, and the subjective dinners require a very small amount of writing in comparison to scored evaluations.
I have been scared off trying a Coyle hotel shop. I see emails sometimes referencing a checklist shop. Is this the brand standard type? Would it be relatively easy?
@Threemom, they have a few different checklist-only shops, but the brand standards are one of them.
I would not say that's it's easy. You have to know the standards well and all the Coyle hotel policies...but after some experience and comprehending the client standards completely...the reporting process is really fast, with no separate narrative sections. You simply need to explain some answers on the checklist.
I would not recommend this for a first-time evaluation, but I have been able to do these assignments locally while working at my full time job. You don't get as much time to enjoy the hotel that way, but I've been working toward a certain amount of nights and brands visited in the year for the rewards that come from that. Having someone else cook me breakfast, do my laundry and park my car each day, plus being able to stay closer to work saves me more time in my work schedule than the reporting process takes away from it....
I would not say that's it's easy. You have to know the standards well and all the Coyle hotel policies...but after some experience and comprehending the client standards completely...the reporting process is really fast, with no separate narrative sections. You simply need to explain some answers on the checklist.
I would not recommend this for a first-time evaluation, but I have been able to do these assignments locally while working at my full time job. You don't get as much time to enjoy the hotel that way, but I've been working toward a certain amount of nights and brands visited in the year for the rewards that come from that. Having someone else cook me breakfast, do my laundry and park my car each day, plus being able to stay closer to work saves me more time in my work schedule than the reporting process takes away from it....
Steve,
Do they send the brand standards ahead of time so that a person new to the brand, can study up beforehand?
Do they send the brand standards ahead of time so that a person new to the brand, can study up beforehand?
No, they don't reimburse for travel. I've asked.
@BarefootBliss wrote:
Do they send the brand standards ahead of time so that a person new to the brand, can study up beforehand?
Yes; from the application page you can download the guide, read it and have a full understand of the assignment before applying.
So have I. However, I'm watching a few sit on the board and thinking that sooner or later, they're going to have to pay either a fee or travel.@stagemanagerluana wrote:
No, they don't reimburse for travel. I've asked.
"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
Has anyone been assigned this one-day Merc hotel shop without already being at the top tier of the hotel loyalty program?
Yes, a number of people have been upgraded to this level of status without being it when assigned. Frankly this is probably the deal of the century for anyone that is in the game of frequent flyer points/miles. The highest level of status for this particular hotel chain is valued at over $5000... I have to totally disagree with Steve on this one - for some people doing this shop is beyond worth it. I know it is to me - ranking up there with some of my all time favorite assignments in terms of sheer value. I sure hope the frequent flyer blogs don't learn of this way to gain this level of status or we are going to have people flooding in to do mystery shopping.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2017 07:33AM by MickeyB.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2017 07:33AM by MickeyB.
I have been a points/miles hobbyist for a few years. If I've learned anything about it, it's that the best opportunities vanish when exposed to the light of day, so to speak. I've done best when participating in groups or forums. A group of us have helped each other a great deal in earning nice travel rewards, etc.....when it leaks to the blogs or social media, we can set our clocks to the shutdown...so my point is that anything worth preserving is worth being kept off blogs or social media. Sorry for being so longwinded on this topic, but it's a key point to be made.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2017 12:21PM by BarefootBliss.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2017 12:21PM by BarefootBliss.
Yes! I have been upgraded several times to the highest level over the past 4 years or so.
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.
Lots of re-shops.... I wonder if this is because shoppers did not correctly complete the shops, the staff at the hotels didn't measure up, or a combination of both.
I'd love to know how you make 90% from hotels...Any tips on where to start?
How long is it taking for these to get reviewed? I've got one that's still pending from early last week, and I'd really like that money reversed.
@MSF wrote:
Lots of re-shops.... I wonder if this is because shoppers did not correctly complete the shops, the staff at the hotels didn't measure up, or a combination of both.
The reshops are due to the hotel, not the shoppers.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
When I'm fronting over $100 and it's reimbursement only, I have taken on all the risk for very little reward. I earned a dip in the pool.@walesmaven wrote:
Expecting to go swimming during peak hours is just not part of the deal unless you have earned the right to getting the two night shops at the resort hotels.
The last two I did took almost two weeks. They were also the first ones where I've received less than a 10 and came with feedback.@shopsuey wrote:
How long is it taking for these to get reviewed? I've got one that's still pending from early last week, and I'd really like that money reversed.
They clearly have someone new editing these that has much higher expectations.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Maybe it's just me, but I am having a heckuva time understanding how their job search feature works. I put in the filters for 90 miles from my zipcode. What I end up getting is a mix of international shops mixed with local shops - and for dates already passed ?? 
- any tips?
- any tips?
The want us all to know that if we are traveling they have great hotel shops all over! Also, I get several local shops per year by signing up as a back-up to shops that were assigned and have passed their "due" dates.
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.
@BarefootBliss wrote:
Maybe it's just me, but I am having a heckuva time understanding how their job search feature works. I put in the filters for 90 miles from my zipcode. What I end up getting is a mix of international shops mixed with local shops - and for dates already passed ??
Put in your state or the state you want to search.
I've performed several Marriott shops where virtually nothing was right. That's what caused the re-shops. I don't know if the reshops occur frequently because of mistakes by the shopper
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