Disclaimer- post has lots of venting

I am at a loss.

I completed a dinner shop for Coyle, a relatively inexpensive restaurant.

For other companies, I score 100% or a 10/10, or get some form of positive feedback.

I have three graduate degrees and am a lawyer. I write for a living. I tried to make sure I did the best job possible, and spent hours on the report.

The score report for the shop was emailed to me today. I got a 65. Really?

I even got an email today asking what time I went to the restroom. That was not part of the survey. I answered it, since I remembered I went right after ordering. I got dinged for not including this in the original report, even though it was not asked for or required.

The first shop I did for them scored 100%, but it was their "easy" intro dining shop.

I have another shop scheduled with them coming up. I do not want to even complete it.

What have your experiences been with this company?

With Coyle, one really must include a second-by-second listing of everything that occured, even things not asked about. Including the mundane - e.g. At 00:14:21 after entering, Electrician-1 (Female, 5'6", curly blond hair, wearing blue dickes, a white t-shirt, a reflective yellow vest with a logo reading, "Acme Electric," and a blue electrician's style hard hat) entered the restaurant, walked passed my table, and into the backroom. As she passed, I glanced at her and she smiled without stopping). At 00:34:19, Electrician-1 was escorted from the back room by Chief-1 (Male, 5'10", very short black hair, wearing a white chief's hat and jacket with a chocolate stain on the left arm) to the front door. Chief-1 was overheard to say, "Thanks for comming out so quick." Electrician-1 replied, "Anytime." Thier tones were pleasant and their interaction was professional. Their path accross the floor was not near my table and neither took note of me.

That was absolutely hysterical!!

@Rousseau wrote:

With Coyle, one really must include a second-by-second listing of everything that occured, even things not asked about. Including the mundane - e.g. At 00:14:21 after entering, Electrician-1 (Female, 5'6", curly blond hair, wearing blue Dickies, a white t-shirt, a reflective yellow vest with a logo reading, "Acme Electric," and a blue electrician's style hard hat) entered the restaurant, walked passed my table, and into the backroom. As she passed, I glanced at her and she smiled without stopping. At 00:34:19, Electrician-1 was escorted from the back room by Chief-1 (Male, 5'10", very short black hair, wearing a white chef's hat and jacket with a chocolate stain on the left arm) to the front door. Chief-1 was overheard to say, "Thanks for coming out so quick." Electrician-1 replied, "Anytime." Their tones were pleasant and their interaction was professional. Their path across the floor was not near my table and neither took note of me.

HOW did she smile? Was it in a friendly manner? Did the chef have facial hair? What color was the chocolate stain? Are you certain you're quoting Chief-1 verbatim? Or did he use the proper adverb "quickly"? Explain what you mean by "professional." Were they friendly or was it a flat professional tone? If the path was not near your table, where exactly was it? By what means did you determine that neither took note of you?

I have also found with Coyle that following the example survey helps tremendously. It's basically what Rousseau just wrote, lol

@Niner wrote:

I have another shop scheduled with them coming up. I do not want to even complete it.

What have your experiences been with this company?

There's an example restaurant survey. I think that it is a Mexican restaurant. Just follow that format exactly. It won't be that bad. I can knock it out in less than an hour at 25 wpm.

I put a template in my iPhone notepad.
Time In:
Time Greeted:
H#1: ____(write description here)
Time Seated:
Closing comment:

Time Greeted:
S#1 ____(write description here)
Etc.

Then I just add the info as it happens.

Take a photo of everything. The new phone will time stamp it, so I don't have to record the delivery timing in my notepad at all. Plus, you can then describe the food and plates (Jesus, do not forget to describe the plate itself - it was be returned weeks later if you do).

Personally, I have had so damn many $200 dinners, I can't be bothered to do these for their lousy fee. I'd rather do a $150 dinner with a $50 fee, all night long.

@SoCalMama wrote:

@Niner wrote:

I have another shop scheduled with them coming up. I do not want to even complete it.

What have your experiences been with this company?

There's an example restaurant survey. I think that it is a Mexican restaurant. Just follow that format exactly. It won't be that bad. I can knock it out in less than an hour at 25 wpm.

I put a template in my iPhone notepad.
Time In:
Time Greeted:
H#1: ____(write description here)
Time Seated:
Closing comment:

Time Greeted:
S#1 ____(write description here)
Etc.

Then I just add the info as it happens.

Take a photo of everything. The new phone will time stamp it, so I don't have to record the delivery timing in my notepad at all. Plus, you can then describe the food and plates (Jesus, do not forget to describe the plate itself - it was be returned weeks later if you do).

Personally, I have had so damn many $200 dinners, I can't be bothered to do these for their lousy fee. I'd rather do a $150 dinner with a $50 fee, all night long.

So true about the plates! I have been asked weeks after a meal if the salad was served on a square plate or a round plate. Thank goodness for pictures!!

@MickeyB wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

@Niner wrote:

I have another shop scheduled with them coming up. I do not want to even complete it.

What have your experiences been with this company?

There's an example restaurant survey. I think that it is a Mexican restaurant. Just follow that format exactly. It won't be that bad. I can knock it out in less than an hour at 25 wpm.

I put a template in my iPhone notepad.
Time In:
Time Greeted:
H#1: ____(write description here)
Time Seated:
Closing comment:

Time Greeted:
S#1 ____(write description here)
Etc.

Then I just add the info as it happens.

Take a photo of everything. The new phone will time stamp it, so I don't have to record the delivery timing in my notepad at all. Plus, you can then describe the food and plates (Jesus, do not forget to describe the plate itself - it was be returned weeks later if you do).

Personally, I have had so damn many $200 dinners, I can't be bothered to do these for their lousy fee. I'd rather do a $150 dinner with a $50 fee, all night long.

So true about the plates! I have been asked weeks after a meal if the salad was served on a square plate or a round plate. Thank goodness for pictures!!

hahahahaha
Last time that they did this to me (Las Vegas), I just texted the photo to the scheduler and asked her to handle it for me.

You have to throw out a lot of what you've learned about "good" writing for these reports. Just like Rousseau's example, that wouldn't be considered good writing under most circumstances but it's exactly what they want. You'll get used to it the more you do it. Don't take it personally, just think of it as a pass/fail. The only thing that matters is are they going to pay & reimburse you, and are they going to assign you another one.

@hotsauce1 wrote:

The only thing that matters is are they going to pay & reimburse you, and are they going to assign you another one.

That's the heart of the matter. Don't be so invested in the score.

That said, @Niner, it seems like perhaps you did not read the Resource Center to prepare for items that are required on ALL Coyle reports. Just about every dining assignment they have, including the simple starter ones, require restroom timings. You cannot rely on your ability to write in a manner that other MSCs may find acceptable, nor base your reporting solely on the questions in the form.

For many, the same as yours: [www.yelp.com]

@Niner
What have your experiences been with this company?[/quote wrote:

UGH, I can't imagine doing another Coyle shop unless they let me video it and they could get exactly what happened.

@MSF wrote:

For many, the same as yours: [www.yelp.com]

@Niner
What have your experiences been with this company?[/quote wrote:

If those people had spent as long on reading the guidelines and the Resource Center as they did on their Yelp review, they would have been paid.
Seriously, an hour tops to do a fine dining report. Follow the format. It's not that hard. Or maybe it is....

IDK if I ever want to sign up with them based on all I've read about them

@SoCalMama wrote:

If those people had spent as long on reading the guidelines and the Resource Center as they did on their Yelp review, they would have been paid.
Seriously, an hour tops to do a fine dining report. Follow the format. It's not that hard. Or maybe it is....

For the most part I trust everything you say, but in this case it seems the normal response from people is that it takes upwards of 3-4 hours to do any of there reports. I am guessing you have done more then one? How long did the first one take you, because that is where most people stop with this company.

I've done a lot of Coyle reports - though less now than I used to. I would say that a regular dining report takes me between 60 and 90 minutes - start to finish - depending on the amount of subjective/loyalty they have in the form. I don't remember how long my first one took - though it was over 2 hours I am positive, and I got a 16 (that was back when it was a 1-20 grade, and a 16 is NOT good). There is life after one poor Coyle report score.

Back then, Coyle was smaller and the resource center was much more prominent on the website (which was the old system) - you literally had to go out of your way NOT to find it. Now, it is buried and I can see how people think if they look at the form and the guidelines attached to their specific report form, they will be fine. So while yes - we can say over and over - if you want a good Coyle score and this is your first time doing one - read the resource center - but to the OP - you are probably in decent company for not reading the resource center as carefully as you otherwise might.

Back in the day - Coyle also did a lot more one-on-one interaction before hotel shops. I remember going through required telephone briefings with various Coyle staff, that were invaluable to helping me be successful on those first shops. Given how much bigger they are now (10X at least) I can see how that just isn't sustainable.

My point is - Coyle is different than it used to be. Those of us who have been around for a long time and saw them grow do have a bit of an advantage, as the actual style of the reports hasn't really changed - so we got a lot more hand holding and curating in the beginning than I think the new shoppers coming in now are.

I still maintain that Coyle is worth it for amazing experiences (especially hotels, not so much the dining, though I had an amazing experience at a restaurant last week that blew me away and had me going back to the same restaurant on my own two more times before leaving a city I was visiting) and the lifestyle shopper … but if you find that it is causing you more stress than pleasure - my advice is finish out what you agreed to do - take a breath and do some other company shops, and then maybe revisit again later. Don't burn bridges or ask to be deactivated or go off on them - it isn't going to do any good and is only going to limit your options in the future.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2018 03:13PM by MickeyB.

I always follow their example template and never had a problem. My biggest issue with Coyle is that they don't assign things to me that are sitting. I will apply not get them and then randomly they'll ask me to take it after I have cancelled my application.

I miss many of their former restaurant clients dearly. Compared to then, it's really slim pickings now.

I did my second restaurant report last night. I asked the editor about the "special Coyle formatting" that I had missed. I spent over five hours last night writing the report. I had the sample report open, as well as my notes about Coyle's rules. We will see what happens. If I still do not get a high grade, this will be it.

As far as clients, I agree. We are near two major cities, and there are not many opportunities.

First Coyle report- the "easy" restaurant, tgis took less than an hour, I scored 100%

Second report- the one I wrote about starting the thread, about 2.5 hours, restaurant under $100

Third report- asked to write more, this was for a sales evsluation, I spent around four hours total, "okay to pay," but no score given

Fourth report- last night, over five hours (restaurant, under $100)

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/2018 09:43AM by Niner.

@oteixeira wrote:

@SoCalMama wrote:

If those people had spent as long on reading the guidelines and the Resource Center as they did on their Yelp review, they would have been paid.
Seriously, an hour tops to do a fine dining report. Follow the format. It's not that hard. Or maybe it is....

For the most part I trust everything you say, but in this case it seems the normal response from people is that it takes upwards of 3-4 hours to do any of there reports. I am guessing you have done more then one? How long did the first one take you, because that is where most people stop with this company.

I’ve probably done 20 fine dining for them. I’ve also done night clubs as well. First time, maybe 2 hours (with a buzz, long finger nails and on a laptop). On my desktop at home, I can knock it out in a hour. I don’t give them a whole lot of yada yada. I follow that format exactly. If they want 3-5 words, that’s what I give them. My shop reports are great. In NV, you can see what everyone else got for their scores too. People get too wrapped up in unnecessary details and skip the basics. That’s why shops come back from editing.

TIP: If you have an iPhone and use the notepad function you can just send your notes to yourself and cut and paste them in the narrative and then re-create the experience.

After spending all day, literally, writing a report for a $100 burger place, I have not applied for any more of Coyle shops. Yes, they have great places, but I'm too ADD to write the reports I think. I did score well, but yikes, I just can't. Maybe someday.