ACL promo shops?
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They only send promo shops to the shoppers that have a proven track record of writing quality, comprehensive, on-time reports. They are trying to win a new account, so they want to show their best work!
Thanks for letting me know! I haven't really done many shops for them, and only one above $100 so far. But the ones I have done I've spent probably more time than necessary writting up thorough narratives because I'm newer to this want to impress. I know they don't state shopper scores, so I hope this means I'm doing a good job 
Yes. As a former editor for ACL, I can tell you it's highly unusual for a new shopper to be offered promo shops. Kudos to you!
@JASFLALMT wrote:
Yes. As a former editor for ACL, I can tell you it's highly unusual for a new shopper to be offered promo shops. Kudos to you!
There seem to be two kinds of editors. Those who formerly worked as an editor for ACL and those who are current editors for ACL.
CEO The Mystery Shoppers Depot
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
And there is a third kind of editor who doesn't work for ACL and never worked for ACL.
I still shop for ACL and left the editing position on good terms, I just didn't like being chained to my desk for the number of hours required.
I still shop for ACL and left the editing position on good terms, I just didn't like being chained to my desk for the number of hours required.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
And there is a third kind of editor who doesn't work for ACL and never worked for ACL.
I still shop for ACL and left the editing position on good terms, I just didn't like being chained to my desk for the number of hours required.
Clearly i was being hyperbolic for humor :p. I never meant that it was on bad terms. They just have a lot of schedulers and many of the schedulers i know have done a stint with them.
CEO The Mystery Shoppers Depot
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
US Wide route shopper with 12k+ shops completed over 48 states and 6 countries.
Airbnb host based in Chicago and 10% discount if you mention this forum
I have done shops for ACL now for about 6 months. It seems like the last three or four I've done have been totally picked apart--never had this problem previously. Has anyone else had any issues with them?
It really just depends on the editor. Two different editors could review your same report and score them entirely differently. The ACL promo shops are a bit more challenging because the guidelines are generic. The editors will often ask questions about things that were not stated as requirements of the shop in the guidelines.
@jet468 wrote:
I have done shops for ACL now for about 6 months. It seems like the last three or four I've done have been totally picked apart--never had this problem previously. Has anyone else had any issues with them?
Indeed, some editors are extremely nitpicky. My rule of thumb for the most part was if the information was there and I did not need any clarifications, there was really no need to contact the shopper about anything. If I had 10 or more errors to fix in the report I might just point out one or two in the feedback and leave it at that. No need to run off shoppers by picking them apart, especially with shoppers that had not been with the company for very long.
It goes in waves. Sometimes, jobs get approved without any request for clarifications. Other times, I am getting grilled. The value doesn't matter. My high value jobs get approved with no questions where the very low value is asking for so much additional.
Overall, if I keep getting jobs and new schedulers are happy to take on my requests when I try to take on different clients (for variety and timing/location purposes), I will keep going.
Editing is such a subjective art, and I often take two shop locations of the same client (and this is a different client each month). The style and my notes are so similar, but the editing can be so very different. It drives me crazy as I think other companies have more consistent (same person) editing for a given client.
Overall, if I keep getting jobs and new schedulers are happy to take on my requests when I try to take on different clients (for variety and timing/location purposes), I will keep going.
Editing is such a subjective art, and I often take two shop locations of the same client (and this is a different client each month). The style and my notes are so similar, but the editing can be so very different. It drives me crazy as I think other companies have more consistent (same person) editing for a given client.
Back to promo shops....I have done a few for ACL. I like to take them when I can if I like the client as they do not always get the account ultimately and sometimes I never see that client shopped anywhere else so perhaps the client decided not to sign up with any msc. In any case it might be your only chance to shop that particular client.
I have not seen any of the ACL promo shops lead to regular shops for the potential client. Have you? Does doing a promo shop make you ineligible to shop that particular client in the future?
@sandyf wrote:
Back to promo shops....I have done a few for ACL. I like to take them when I can if I like the client as they do not always get the account ultimately and sometimes I never see that client shopped anywhere else so perhaps the client decided not to sign up with any msc. In any case it might be your only chance to shop that particular client.
Yes, I have seen two regional pizza chains in my area that I did the promo shops for get the client, and no, it did not prevent me from taking shops for that client. Yum.
I too have seen some promos turn into regular shops and yes, you are allowed to schedule them.
I have done 3 shops for ACL that have required long narratives in my city without any issues or further questions. Yesterday, I did one in a city I visited and was contacted with 17 questions by the editor, 15 of the questions about things I had already mentioned in the report. Super annoying since I had spent over 2 hours writing up very thorough narratives with times for every interaction, and then got follow up questions asking if I was checked on within two minutes when I explicitely stated the server checked on me exactly 3 minutes after the appitizer was delivered. Now Im worried that the editor will rate me low and mess up my 'secret rating'. Any experience with this?
I do gas station/convenience store shops for ACL for a bonus. If I do one of their restaurants, it has to be someplace I really enjoy eating at. I work for cash.
That being said, when my scheduler and I were new to each other. she tried to get me to do a promo pizza shop. I told her I wasn't interested. Over the next few months, she begged and pleaded. I held my ground. She no longer asks, and it has not stopped me from getting the shops I enjoy doing.
That being said, when my scheduler and I were new to each other. she tried to get me to do a promo pizza shop. I told her I wasn't interested. Over the next few months, she begged and pleaded. I held my ground. She no longer asks, and it has not stopped me from getting the shops I enjoy doing.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I just did the screener test for ACL and I think I am pretty educated (as a teacher) and I am not sure if I passed!
Know that just because you do a fantastic job on the promo shop, it doesn't mean you'll actually get the real shop when it comes around. (Yes, I am annoyed over it.)
"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
iShop, exactly! And not doing the promo shops does not mean a shopper will be banned from their preferred shops.
When the new ACL scheduler was begging me to take the pizza shops, she actually said that I could give the pizza to a homeless shelter. Really?
When the new ACL scheduler was begging me to take the pizza shops, she actually said that I could give the pizza to a homeless shelter. Really?
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
@HonnyBrown wrote:
iShop, exactly! And not doing the promo shops does not mean a shopper will be banned from their preferred shops.
When the new ACL scheduler was begging me to take the pizza shops, she actually said that I could give the pizza to a homeless shelter. Really?
It's like everybody at ACL is in denial. If they were paying $25 or more and the pizza reimbursement, I might be willing to do the shop for the $25 and give the pizza to a homeless shelter .... or neighbor kids .... or leave it sitting on the table and walk away. But when the value of the shop is in the pizza, why would someone do the shop if they didn't want the pizza? Are they hiring schedulers who have never shopped and have no experience at all? Or are they under the impression that shoppers do this just for fun and don't care about the money or the food? Just the adventure of doing a shop for ACL and completing a long report?
I think your last sentence said it all.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I have seen many a msc advertise a job that is "fun and easy" with almost no pay. Some actually do have reimbursement for a fairly inexpensive meal where you are restricted in what you can order and by ordering their way it costs much more than if you went on your own and got a combo meal of some type or even (gosh) the sandwich you preferred for pretty cheap. No reports to write, no time restraints, no sandwich you feel you need to give away. This idea of a fun experience for the mystery shopper that turns quickly into a misery shop is not restricted to ACL. I imagine it is mainly those of you who live in high bonus areas that find any of these shops fun and easy and worthwhile.
If an email from a scheduler has "fun" or "easy" in the subject line, it gets deleted. Quickly. I don't even open it.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Yeah I recently got an email with a list of shops that have never been posted to the shop board. I had to respond letting them know I was interested. I'd never shopped for them before so I don't think it was an exclusive thing, at least not in my case. They may have been shops that were needing to be done ASAP.
I received an invitation via email to do a Promo Shop for ACL, and it's something I'm VERY interested in doing, so I accepted! I'll be doing it early next week, and I'm looking forward to it. And the thing is, I've only done ONE other shop for ACL, and that was about 18 months ago! But at the time, I received a lovely email from the editor commenting on how well my report was written, and inviting me to become an editor (which I declined!)
Now here's the thing....the Client for the Promo shop is one that I do REGULARLY for ANOTHER MSC! The questions are basically the same, and I was told in the email that it is a Client that ACL is hoping to get! So, at least if this Client changes hands, I'll know where to look!
Now here's the thing....the Client for the Promo shop is one that I do REGULARLY for ANOTHER MSC! The questions are basically the same, and I was told in the email that it is a Client that ACL is hoping to get! So, at least if this Client changes hands, I'll know where to look!
Congrats!!! That's exciting when you get a great shop.
Is this client nationwide or regional?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2018 06:35PM by kimmiemae.
Is this client nationwide or regional?
Kim
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2018 06:35PM by kimmiemae.
I got an email about a specific promo shop which was about 30 miles away a month or so ago. I did not take it but hoped they got it since there was a location very close to where I live. Starting the next week after that email I have seen this shop on my job board at the location near me quite a few times. It seems to be listed on several different dates in August and July too and all of them say promo on them. What is going on? Did ACL just forget to take the promo label off that shop or are they doing a round of 10 or more promos for them? I have been too busy elsewhere to take the shop but if it is still there next week I might.
The Client itself is national, but I'm not sure if the MSC that has them now shops them nationally or regionally. Sorry....don't know any more than that!@kimmiemae wrote:
Congrats!!! That's exciting when you get a great shop.
Is this client nationwide or regional?
Thanks for the reply, guysmom. I asked the question to see if I should look forward to getting excited or not...lol
@guysmom wrote:
The Client itself is national, but I'm not sure if the MSC that has them now shops them nationally or regionally. Sorry....don't know any more than that!@kimmiemae wrote:
Congrats!!! That's exciting when you get a great shop.
Is this client nationwide or regional?
Kim
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