That's crazy that they want a receipt for your travel. It's none of their business how much the flight actually coat you.

Of course this is one of the worst companies in the history of mystery shopping companies so shouldn't be a surprise.

I always see the travel reimbursement as a way to get miles/car rentals and such at the client's expense, since the pay is so low. It would offend my sensibilities to be on a flight and not get mileage credit for it....

@bgriffin wrote:

That's crazy that they want a receipt for your travel. It's none of their business how much the flight actually coat you.

C'mon BG..it's standard business practice for any company in any industry to request a receipt for a business expense. Literally EVERY MSC I do travel shops for requires that. It goes to the client and it's a write off for them. It specifically IS their business....

Yup, when I travel for work I have to have receipts for hotels and receipts for meals, etc. for per diem reimbursement.

In the video World a travel bonus is for however you get there. They are paying for the fact that it's remote not because it costs you x amount to get there. if they're going to require e-receipt then they should reimburse the entire cost.

There are a set of shop sitting on a board right now in Alaska with a travel bonus on them. the shop specifically say that the travel bonus is enough to cover a flight from anywhere in the US but they're not asking for a receipt they don't care how much it costs to get there.

For tax purposes it makes no difference to them whatsoever. A travel cost of $200 for a flight and $100 for a c is the exact same tax cost as $300 payment to an IC.

I have only had one MSC ever asked for travel receipts. That one asks specifically because they pay all expenses from the beginning of the route to the end of the route. in that particular instance it is not a case of this is how much it costs us to do these shops it's a case of we're reimbursing actual.

If they are going to pay only a particular dollar amount for travel and not reimburse full expenses than that dollar amount needs to be looked at simply as a cost of doing business and not reimbursed travel.

But again this is a junk company so I'm not surprised

They specifically called this a travel fee and not a travel reimbursement

Quite frankly I would just buy refundable ticket and then get it refunded

@bgriffin it's specifically travel reimbursement with almost all hotel companies. If your travel is under the allowed reimbursement, you only get up to what you spent. It's not a bonus.

While it may seem the same to the end client, they will have travel budgets and they have bonus budgets, and they have shop fee budgets. The money ultimately comes from different places..

But it does all come from the same place. And let's face it, it's counterproductive to require receipts.

Let's say they have a hotel with a shop fee of $100 and $500 in travel. And let's say they have a bunch of people who would need all off that $500 but there's a local person who could do it. They obviously don't need travel but they don't think $100 is enough to do the shop and need $300. They can't bid any travel because OMG THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO FLY even though their total cost is less. That's stupid and shortsighted (from a stupid and shortsighted company). So stupid people just lost $200 in savings for being stupid.

Or let's say there's someone like me who flies free. The process is still a hassle and not as easy as buying a ticket, but they would be punished by Coyle for having that ability instead of rewarded.

Or my friend who is a private pilot. It's not that expensive, it's totally within the realm of possibility that people in their target market would be in this situation. He's not hurting but not making millions. Normal engineering job probably under $200k. He might want to fly to a location but would need the full reimbursement for fuel and wear and tear but wouldn't be allowed because he wouldn't have a handy wear and tear receipt.

While I've never done a shop for these people, I can't imagine you get a check from one bank account for the shop fee and a check from another bank account for the reimbursement and a check from a second bank account for the travel. So yes, the money absolutely comes from the same place.

The only reason they do it is to keep the profit on people with lower expenses.

@bgriffin wrote:

Or my friend who is a private pilot. It's not that expensive, it's totally within the realm of possibility that people in their target market would be in this situation. He's not hurting but not making millions. Normal engineering job probably under $200k. He might want to fly to a location but would need the full reimbursement for fuel and wear and tear but wouldn't be allowed because he wouldn't have a handy wear and tear receipt.

They don't require receipts for mileage - so in this case (actually in all of the cases listed) you or your friend could claim driving mileage and not need a receipt. Problem solved.

@bgriffin wrote:

While I've never done a shop for these people, I can't imagine you get a check from one bank account for the shop fee and a check from another bank account for the reimbursement and a check from a second bank account for the travel. So yes, the money absolutely comes from the same place.

The only reason they do it is to keep the profit on people with lower expenses.

Actually - sometimes you do get two checks (not in Coyle's came) but say TrueGuest - you get two checks, one for reimbursed expenses which comes from one place and another for the fee, which comes from a second account. Coyle pays via paypal, so it is impossible to tell if its coming from one account or multiple accounts.

Not sure how this degenerated into a how stupid is Coyle post... but I am definitely of the position that Coyle is not stupid. They are maddening, not particularly shopper friendly, have some crazy requirements that I admit I do not really "get" how they benefit the client measurably and sure do require a lot of work on the shopper's part - but they are NOT stupid. Show me any other company that has grown the way they have over the past 15 years and not really diversified outside of their core business.. they are one of the most successful companies (if you define success by profit) out there (outside of the larger behemoths like Ipsos, GFK, Martiz, where MS is only a small portion of their total company).

@MickeyB wrote:

They don't require receipts for mileage - so in this case (actually in all of the cases listed) you or your friend could claim driving mileage and not need a receipt. Problem solved.

So if I were doing a shop in Bermuda I could claim $200 in mileage? In my submarine?

@MickeyB wrote:

Not sure how this degenerated into a how stupid is Coyle post... but I am definitely of the position that Coyle is not stupid. They are maddening, not particularly shopper friendly, have some crazy requirements that I admit I do not really "get" how they benefit the client measurably and sure do require a lot of work on the shopper's part - but they are NOT stupid. Show me any other company that has grown the way they have over the past 15 years and not really diversified outside of their core business.. they are one of the most successful companies (if you define success by profit) out there (outside of the larger behemoths like Ipsos, GFK, Martiz, where MS is only a small portion of their total company).

Because it's my goal to turn every Coyle tread into a how stupid is Coyle post.
The "maddening, not particularly shopper friendly" part is why I have said a couple of times they are the worse company in the history of mystery shopping companies. Because they are.
My guess is they are successful because they do shopper unfriendly things like require receipts for travel that they're not even reimbursing in order to minimize shopper profit.

@bgriffin wrote:

@MickeyB wrote:

They don't require receipts for mileage - so in this case (actually in all of the cases listed) you or your friend could claim driving mileage and not need a receipt. Problem solved.

So if I were doing a shop in Bermuda I could claim $200 in mileage? In my submarine?

In this case I think you could submit mileage from your home to the airport you flew out of and back. I suppose which airport you fly out of would be up to you.

So yes I think you could submit $200 in mileage but to be honest I have never actually tried it.

I have never seen the likes & amount of luxury hotel clients outside of Coyle. Yes, others have them but not to the extent of Coyle. So I’m glad you think they are the worst and don’t work for them. I wish many, many more shoppers think that way!!!!

Here's a new one for you:

If Coyle disclosed the travel allowance was, say, $500.00, AND the coach fare was $250.00, BUT First Class was $500.00, would they cover $500.00 for First Class? Do they care what fare class you use to get to the property? Do they want you to arrive by steerage if they/the client is/are covering travel?

I'm not talking about the travel allowance being $500.00 and the coach fare being $500.00, and you choosing to go first class for an additional amount that you're covering.

I seem to recall experience with the latter, but not the former.

Anyone? Again, I'm looking at you, @SteveSocal and @MickeyB.

Many thanks in advance.

I don't know how Coyle would handle it but if I bid $500 for travel and it was accepted it is none of their concern if it's first class or coach.

@Professional Guest wrote:

Here's a new one for you:

If Coyle disclosed the travel allowance was, say, $500.00, AND the coach fare was $250.00, BUT First Class was $500.00, would they cover $500.00 for First Class? Do they care what fare class you use to get to the property? Do they want you to arrive by steerage if they/the client is/are covering travel?

I'm not talking about the travel allowance being $500.00 and the coach fare being $500.00, and you choosing to go first class for an additional amount that you're covering.

I seem to recall experience with the latter, but not the former.

Anyone? Again, I'm looking at you, @SteveSocal and @MickeyB.

Many thanks in advance.

I remember an email about 10 years ago from a company, and I am about 75% sure it was Coyle, that specifically said that airfare must be booked in coach and that any travel receipts seeking reimbursement that were purchased in first would be denied. I am pretty sure it was from Coyle - I definitely have it in my head that it is a no go. Steve - is your memory better than mine?

@MickeyB wrote:

@Professional Guest wrote:

Here's a new one for you:

If Coyle disclosed the travel allowance was, say, $500.00, AND the coach fare was $250.00, BUT First Class was $500.00, would they cover $500.00 for First Class? Do they care what fare class you use to get to the property? Do they want you to arrive by steerage if they/the client is/are covering travel?

I'm not talking about the travel allowance being $500.00 and the coach fare being $500.00, and you choosing to go first class for an additional amount that you're covering.

I seem to recall experience with the latter, but not the former.

Anyone? Again, I'm looking at you, @SteveSocal and @MickeyB.

Many thanks in advance.

I remember an email about 10 years ago from a company, and I am about 75% sure it was Coyle, that specifically said that airfare must be booked in coach and that any travel receipts seeking reimbursement that were purchased in first would be denied. I am pretty sure it was from Coyle - I definitely have it in my head that it is a no go. Steve - is your memory better than mine?

SoCalSteve in Coach? Laughable.

@SoCalMama wrote:

@MickeyB wrote:

@Professional Guest wrote:

Here's a new one for you:

If Coyle disclosed the travel allowance was, say, $500.00, AND the coach fare was $250.00, BUT First Class was $500.00, would they cover $500.00 for First Class? Do they care what fare class you use to get to the property? Do they want you to arrive by steerage if they/the client is/are covering travel?

I'm not talking about the travel allowance being $500.00 and the coach fare being $500.00, and you choosing to go first class for an additional amount that you're covering.

I seem to recall experience with the latter, but not the former.

Anyone? Again, I'm looking at you, @SteveSocal and @MickeyB.

Many thanks in advance.

I remember an email about 10 years ago from a company, and I am about 75% sure it was Coyle, that specifically said that airfare must be booked in coach and that any travel receipts seeking reimbursement that were purchased in first would be denied. I am pretty sure it was from Coyle - I definitely have it in my head that it is a no go. Steve - is your memory better than mine?

SoCalSteve in Coach? Laughable.

having sat next to him in on a SpiceJet flight from Chennai to Goa in coach, with our hands filled with hand sanitizer, trying to drown out the other "fumes" around us... it does happen... as he laments how his flip flops will never be worn again...

Said from my balcony overlooking Los Arcos (and $800 travel allowance to get here)....yeah, Coyle can be a pain, but if you can work with them and deal with the frustration involved, it pays off in spades.

@MickeyB Yes; I recall that first-class airfare is not reimbursed, but if you fly enough you will be doing it for miles, booking the coach ticket and getting the first class upgrade anyway. For what it's worth, we were #3 & #4 un the upgrade list to Cabo and slummed it flying here in coach

The reason for the issue is that they do provide the receipts to clients and never want the clients to feel gouged. That's also the reason for the "no filet mignon" & "no doggy bags" rule. It seems to work for them.

Off topic warning: for other MSCs that do allow for filet mignon & lobster, I’ve always thought that it was more advantageous for the client when I go over budget (and sometimes by a lot) because they are paying out less than what they are taking in?

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Said from my balcony overlooking Los Arcos (and $800 travel allowance to get here)....yeah, Coyle can be a pain, but if you can work with them and deal with the frustration involved, it pays off in spades.

@MickeyB Yes; I recall that first-class airfare is not reimbursed, but if you fly enough you will be doing it for miles, booking the coach ticket and getting the first class upgrade anyway. For what it's worth, we were #3 & #4 un the upgrade list to Cabo and slummed it flying here in coach

The reason for the issue is that they do provide the receipts to clients and never want the clients to feel gouged. That's also the reason for the "no filet mignon" & "no doggy bags" rule. It seems to work for them.

@LindaM wrote:

Off topic warning: for other MSCs that do allow for filet mignon & lobster, I’ve always thought that it was more advantageous for the client when I go over budget (and sometimes by a lot) because they are paying out less than what they are taking in?

I definitely think that ACL sells their product based on the fact that evaluators are going to order 3 courses and probably go over budget. Each has their own appeal, I guess.

I don't think the Coyle clients are tying to save a buck or they would not have hired Coyle to begin with, though. It's a different client base....

I've never seen more than $150-$200 travel reimbursement, as a casual shopper.

@Monk-N-Nut wrote:

I've never seen more than $150-$200 travel reimbursement, as a casual shopper.

It varies for resorts. $500 is often the cap and I'm combining 2 hotels to make the $800 mark (One is $500 and the other $300). I'm also taking restaurant shops each way on my layover to help cover the additional cost of a rental car AND using miles for the return trip just to get through the assignment and make about $3 profit.

That said, I have a less desirable location later this summer that pays $1500 for 2 guests.

Steve, I never meant to imply that over $200 is rare or exaggerated. Simply sharing that I, as a casual shopper don't have access to those jobs. I admire the hardworking, professionals of the MSC industry.

The travel allowance for Coyle is the maximum amount that you are reimbursed. If say the allowance is $300, but your plane fare is only $180, you are reimbursed for $180. You may choose to purchase first class, as there is no distinction. They just won't reimburse any amount above the $300. You must provide receipts for all travel (airfare, rental cars, etc) unless you are using miles; you then need to provide the number of miles for calculating the reimbursement.