"Easiest" and "Hardest" Companies

Hardest - Trueguest
2nd Hardest - Coyle
Easiest - ISS, GFK

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Best:
Second to None
Ellis

Worst:
I Secret Shop
Cenex/Zip Trip reveal audits

Everyone calling Coyle difficult has me nervous for my upcoming airport shops with them- two dining shops within a 4-hour layover. Any tips on how to succeed at a Coyle report?

Easiest Marketforce, Intel 360
None are hard, but then I have not done Coyle which seems the hardest based on everyone's comments, Ardent was hard in the beginning before they shortened their reports.

Most Detailed = Coyle
Biggest, Most Repetative PITA = TrueGuest
Easiest = Everyone else

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2018 02:39AM by Professional Guest.

@reidtait wrote:

Everyone calling Coyle difficult has me nervous for my upcoming airport shops with them- two dining shops within a 4-hour layover. Any tips on how to succeed at a Coyle report?

Their airport work is easy. I used to do them as "fillers."

Also, to preface, I only do restaurants, entertainment, and hotels- mostly for reimbursment but extra compensation is preferred..

I guess I won't say 'easy' so much as 'preferred' for time worth investment:
ISecretShop (360 Intel- at least the new/redesigned ones- I did one earlier in May for a place and hated it as it took an hour + but just re-did it and the report now only takes about 15-20 mins for reimburse for a $75 meal)
Reality Based Group (but only a certain pizza restaurant local to my area)
ACL (but only a certian chain company, all others are not worth it)

Long, but worth it:
Data Quest- surprised to see this on the 'hard' list for many. Yes, reports probably take about 2 hours for hotel, but my typical reimbursement is (super low end) 250 to (high end) 650- plus a 25 fee, plus 15 reimbursed for tips. Editors are also awesome- they email you to clarify anything and I've always scored 10/10 (even when I've received follow up questions).

Hardiest:
ACL (anything but a certian chain company mentioned above), mainly becuase the editors ask questions you already answered and ding you for everything

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2018 03:17AM by bunnychild.

I just did my first shop with Coyle and had no issues at all. The form was very simple as well.

Easiest Maritz (once you are familiar with their quirky system) and SeeLevel
Hardest : Automotive Insights (prepare to do battle in order to get paid and their scheduelers are boneheads) and Strategic Relections (late pay)

Tmouser - re Coyle - You are an outlier! Coyle is notoriously difficult to work with, from scheduling through editing!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2018 07:30PM by winemaker.

Intellishop is populated by crooked Grinches who take pleasure in accusing us of anything from senior abuse to fraud.....From a relationship standpoint (not the diiculty of the forms or their scheduling issues), Intellishop is the most hated of all MSC's. They can sue me if they like....stay away from those people!

Coyle is hands down my least favorite to write reports for. They have some really good clients, but the reports are absurd. They're also laid out in a confusing manner, where sections don't apply, or there is no section, but you're supposed to report on something.
I am absolutely smitten with ACL. I find there reports very easy and like the clients here. Once you've done one successfully, you can repeatedly churn out successful reports for them. I rarely have issues.

@Tmouser92 wrote:

I just did my first shop with Coyle and had no issues at all. The form was very simple as well.

You did the easy chinese restaurant one?

@winemaker wrote:

Tmouser - re Coyle - You are an outlier! Coyle is notoriously difficult to work with, from scheduling through editing!

Mouser is a new user whose only post is this one. Things that make you say, "Hmmm."

"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

Done bunches with Intell without any problems other than finding a scheduler to talk with

The reports are time-consuming but not difficult. They have an Evaluator Resource Center that gives tips for writing narratives and even sample reports. You can email their Support team and they can point you in the right direction. The most important things to remember:
-- get a receipt if food is ordered (even if you have to ask)
-- times for arrival/departure and order placing/delivery
-- staff names or descriptions for all encountered (Gender - height, hair color/length)
-- opening/closing staff quotes
-- make sure that ALL standards scored as YES are specifically supported by comments in the narrative
-- narrative should read like a story, beginning from the time you arrive until you leave

All that is true. And these reports take me a good four hours, sometimes more. I will get 100, but I am working like crazy for it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2018 07:36AM by Niner.

Cirrus is the hardest to get paid from

I still have not been paid by Cirrus for a shop from Sept.

September shops for Cirrus are not processed until the end of December. You should receive payment in the first week of January.

@Niner wrote:

I still have not been paid by Cirrus for a shop from Sept.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

I like Intellishop. I'm a newbie but I've done most my work with them. Straightforward expectations. The complaints I have of them are universal to other MSCs.

I have enjoyed Intelli and not had issues lately. But there is one scheduler who really wronged me a few years ago and to this day, I won't pick up shops offered by that person.

I do a few for Intelli every month

@MFJohnston wrote:

September shops for Cirrus are not processed until the end of December. You should receive payment in the first week of January.

@Niner wrote:

I still have not been paid by Cirrus for a shop from Sept.

Really?? Wow.

@MFJohnston wrote:

September shops for Cirrus are not processed until the end of December. You should receive payment in the first week of January.

@Niner wrote:

I still have not been paid by Cirrus for a shop from Sept.

I actually did it Aug 29th, still not paid. There is a reason that was my one and only shop for them. They will not respond to emails either.

Perhaps I found a Closer look difficult, because they kept re sending and questioning my reports back to me I am a retired newspaper executive and found their constant questions ridiculous. I wrote detailed copy for 28 years. I shop for several other companies and no one has ever questioned a report. I am fortunately in a position to not depend on this money and do the shops because I enjoy them. So, if I do not like a company or the schedulers I just stop working for them. Happy Holidays everyone.

Best for me:
RBG, ACL
Hardest (due to recent changes in reviewer staff, I believe) Sentry. I've done lots of shops for them, but think I'll back off. It's just easier than the back and forth (some due to the editor not reading the full comments, one truly my fault, because I didn't check the guidelines on a shop I'd done twice in the last month, so assumed nothing had changed - it had) I'm going to miss them, but at least for awhile, think I'll just avoid the frustration. <sigh>

@JessicaV1979 wrote:

Easiest:
iSecretShop
Servimer

Hardest:
Sentry (especially the Brazilian steakhouse shop!!)

Can you elaborate on the steakhouse one? They are constantly asking me to help and I haven't yet. I would like to know what I'm in for!

@Niner wrote:

@Tmouser92 wrote:

I just did my first shop with Coyle and had no issues at all. The form was very simple as well.

You did the easy chinese restaurant one?

That was my thought too. That's how they hook you. Their reports take hours and they question you for days about things that aren't in the guidelines or sample report.

@BlueSkye wrote:

Perhaps I found a Closer look difficult, because they kept re sending and questioning my reports back to me I am a retired newspaper executive and found their constant questions ridiculous. I wrote detailed copy for 28 years. I shop for several other companies and no one has ever questioned a report. I am fortunately in a position to not depend on this money and do the shops because I enjoy them. So, if I do not like a company or the schedulers I just stop working for them. Happy Holidays everyone.

This is how I feel about them too. I have a journalism minor, so I am very detailed with my narratives. Ironically, it's the low end pizza shops that are the most problematic. Their high end shops are extremely detailed, but hardly ever kick back to me. The pizza ones would come back to me for days and days and become more hostile and aggressive with each email.

@reidtait wrote:

Everyone calling Coyle difficult has me nervous for my upcoming airport shops with them- two dining shops within a 4-hour layover. Any tips on how to succeed at a Coyle report?

When people say it is difficult, what they really mean is they are long, detailed and very thorough. If you don't have an abundance of detail expect them to come back to you. I find once you do a few for them you understand the detail they want and can get it done first shot. But they are long.

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